Fundamentals of the Cigar Wrapper

A cigar wrapper is easy to understand if you remember their are seven basic colors. There are variations on these, but the information provided on this page will allow you to identify the wrappers.

The Colorado is medium brown with a reddish hue. These are usually shade-grown and often offer hints of spice and can exhibit a bit of strength.

A Colorado Claro has a medium brown color and is also referred to as a Natural. These are mostly sun-grown, but not always. This produces a smooth, medium taste.

Colorado Maduro is in between a Colorado and a Maduro.

Claro has a light tan color. These plants are usually grown under netting, harvested before reaching maturity and dried quickly. This produces a very mild wrapper.

The Double Claro wrapper is a light green color with a slightly sweet taste. The light green comes from the wrapper being dried quickly with the use of heat. These were once popular, but not found much today.

Maduro can go from dark brown to almost black. The fermentation process for these takes longer than others. Don't be deceived by its looks. These are generally smooth and rich.

The Oscuro cigar wrapper is very dark, actually black. This tobacco leaf is at the very top of the tobacco plant and is harvested last. This produces a wrapper with a very distinct, strong taste, which is too harsh for many cigar smokers.

The debate over how much a wrapper affects the flavor of your cigar is ongoing. It's true that a wrapper consists of 10% or less of a cigar, but many insist it has the most overall effect. Yet...

Others say that the binder and filler has the most bearing on taste, because, after all, it makes up 90% of the cigar.

My opinion?....

I believe the wrapper has much more than a 10% effect on a cigar. This is the first thing you see and hold between your fingers. Your senses have a lot to do with your overall smoking experience. Of course, a Claro would have less of an effect than a Maduro, because it is a much milder wrapper, but it is still a vital part of the overall experience and taste.

As we remind you throughout this site, you will form your own opinions, which may be totally opposite mine. Guess what?....

No one is wrong. We are all individuals with our own individual tastes, including when it comes to cigar wrappers!

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