Thin Wrappers

[hellorockview12]

I managed to acquire a cab of Partagas Shorts. They're delicious little powerbombs perfect for winter in Canada....however....as the topic title suggests, they have thin wrappers. By time I get near the band 80% of them start cracking and unraveling. When I received the cab about 5 of them were cracked at that point and I repaired them with glue the best I could. Like I said, they're delicious but quite frustrating.

Anyone else run into this? Are there any recommendations for dealing with thin wrappers?

[Fugu]

You may count yourself lucky that you got thin wrappers.

Torn wrappers near the band, already on receipt as you say - prior to smoking in five of them, if I understand correctly - is certainly indicative of a moisture/humidity problem during storage. They may be or have been overhumidified at some point.

There is not much you can do about it, other than trying to get a replacement from your supplier, provided the fault has already been caused his end. Otherwise, don't smoke them outdoors under too extreme climatic conditions. But I suspect this piece of advice won't help you too much at the moment....

Paul

[hellorockview12]

Sorry, Fugu, thin wrappers are desirable?

Perhaps I'll reach out to the retailer.

[NSXCIGAR]

As Fugu said, this wrapper-cracking issue is probably a case of sub-optimal storage conditions or some other physical stress and not a problem inherent to the wrapper thickness itself. Thin wrappers alone wouldn't necessarily lead to cracking. In fact, many here including myself prefer the thinnest possible wrapper.

Any vendor worth his salt would be willing to replace or refund cigars cracked/damaged upon arrival (slight cracking at the feet is an exception). And always let the cigars acclimate for at least 2 weeks in the humidor upon arrival.

[hellorockview12]

Thanks guys. I did let the acclimate and always do. It's just good practice. Upon arrival 5 were damaged. I'd never complain about a small crack at the foot but when the cracks are near or behind the band....they're hard to ignore.

Thanks for the help understanding, guys. I may get in touch with the vendor. Is it possible that the sub-optimal storage conditions were the transportation itself? Or does it take a significant time period for this to occur over? I've had many boxes of cigars sent in the mail and never seen anything like this, winter or summer.

[Smallclub]

Sorry, Fugu, thin wrappers are desirable?

They are desirable and they are the norm in the world of habanos.

I remember an old TV documentary where Alejandro Robaina, in one of his casas de tabaco, explains how his better wrapper leaves are the thinner, the smoothest, more supple ones.

[NSXCIGAR]

Thanks guys. I did let the acclimate and always do. It's just good practice. Upon arrival 5 were damaged. I'd never complain about a small crack at the foot but when the cracks are near or behind the band....they're hard to ignore.

Thanks for the help understanding, guys. I may get in touch with the vendor. Is it possible that the sub-optimal storage conditions were the transportation itself? Or does it take a significant time period for this to occur over? I've had many boxes of cigars sent in the mail and never seen anything like this, winter or summer.

Wrappers can often crack or split while smoking when the humidity inside the humidor varies widely from the ambient temperature while smoking. Most of the time it's a drop in humidity.

Consider lowering the RH in your humidor if the ambient air is particularly dry or cold.

Here's some threads covering some of these points:

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=114274

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=72623

[Colt45]

in one of his casas de tabaco, explains how his better wrapper leaves are the thinner, the smoothest, more supple ones.

Yes, I'm another who prefers, thin, smooth, and silky - as long as they've retained their elasticity. Tissue paper thin and dryish can certainly be a problem.

[soutso]

If you put a perfect cigar in sunlight, the wrapper will split. Right up the sides.

This is because the sunlight is warming the cigar and the moisture in the cigar is drying out. The wrapper bears fe brunt of the sunlight and shrinks faster than the binder and filler. Hence it splits.

I'd say your cigars at some point were put in a position of of being in too dry an environment causing the wrapper to shrink faster than the binder and filler.

[LGC]

Wrapper issues can be caused by storage conditions AND/OR ambient conditions while smoking. Thin, smooth, and supple wrappers are always more desirable for me. You just don't see newer cigars with wrappers equivalent to the old corojo wrappers. A well rolled cigar with a thin wrapper will burn razor thin and never have to be touched up.

[JohnS]

It's true, thinner wrappers are desirable to prevent 'fireproofing' and uneven burns when smoking. I had a similar issue last year when I got some RyJ Exhibicion No. 4's. The first few had their wrappers split, but I let them acclimatise in my humidor for at least 2 or 3 months and they've been good ever since, full of flavour like your Partagas Shorts. It seems that there were 'moisture' spots in the cigars which evened out nicely upon resting.

[Fugu]

Sorry, Fugu, thin wrappers are desirable?

Most of your questions have been adressed meanwhile as it seems. But let me briefly add in providing you an explanation why this is so, that thinner wrappers are to be preferred, as most members here do:

It is all about a perfect burn. A thinner wrapper and as such usually also containing fewer and finer veins, will simply burn better and more even. This is not just an aesthetical issue. The burn line will not permanently stay behind and cause a poor ember ventilation. That in turn gives you more freedom with your smoking pace, finding the perfect rhythm of draws, which in turn leads to a better ember formation and a lower ember temperature, and as such providing an overall (much) better taste. This can really make a difference. A thick fireproof wrapper can spoil the best cigar tobacco, when it doesn’t allow you to get the burn right. And – as a side note – this is also, where moisture comes into play, as it is a potent determinant of burn and ember temperature.

All in all thinner, even and smooth wrappers, still retaining some elasticity (not papery brittle, as Cold points out), help for a better smoking and taste experience. Provided, of course, such a wrapper will not be combined with a leathery thick binder….

[Cuzz]

My advice would be to smoke the cracked ones quicker. Consider the cracks as extra air vents that will produce a better smoke if inhaled harder and faster. Trust me! You will enjoy them more.

[Fugu]

My advice would be to smoke the cracked ones quicker. Consider the cracks as extra air vents that will produce a better smoke if inhaled harder and faster. Trust me! You will enjoy them more.

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