Part Four:  Binders – The Other Wrapper Leaf

Pork may be the “other white meat,” but cigar binders are the “other wrapper leaf” on modern cigars.

Cigars as we know them, composed of wrapper, binder and filler, are relatively new inventions.  Dating back to the 1640’s, the first cigars constructed using all three components were constructed in Seville, Spain.  Prior to the development of the three layers, “cigars” were constructed of loose tobaccos shabbily bound with a single outer leaf.  These “cigars” were not very popular and most tobaccophiles of the time opted to smoke their tobacco in a pipe.  It wasn’t until the Peninsular War in 1808 that the modern cigar caught on in Europe and began to spread across the world.

But what is it about the addition of the binder leaf that makes a modern premium cigar?

Binder Basics:

The binder leaf, called “la banda” or “capote” in Spanish, is known as “the first leaf on the table,” a reference to the fact that as a torcedor prepares to roll a premium cigar, the process begins with the binder leaf being placed on the work table and smoothed flat.

The filler blend is then formed in the torcedor’s hand and placed on the binder leaf.  The binder and filler are then rolled together forming the “bonche.”  The finished bonches are then placed in molds and pressure is applied to give the cigars their finished shape.

Finally, after being removed from the molds, the shaped bonches are at last surrounded with their wrapper leaf, completing the cigar.

In order for this whole process to be successful, there are certain criteria a binder leaf must meet…

Physical requirements of a binder leaf:

Strength and pliability:

In order to be used in a premium cigar a binder leaf must be strong and flexible enough to endure the rigors of the rolling and molding processes.  As the torcedor wraps the filler leaves in the binder leaf, pressure is used to form the bonche into a rough cigar shape. This manual pressure puts a strain on the binder leaf as it is squeezed to contain the filler leaves and prevent the filler leaves’ natural desire to relax and expand.  An inadequately elastic or weak binder leaf can tear as the bonche is being formed or burst as filler tobaccos expand.

The completed bonches are placed into a cigar mold and pressure is applied using a press, squeezing the molds to create the finished shape of the cigar.  This molding process places a great strain on the binders as they are squeezed to conform to the shapes of the cigar mold.  An inelastic or thin binder leaf can split, crack, or burst during this process, resulting in the bonche having to be re-rolled using a new binder.

The binder leaf is also critically important to how well a cigar burns. By creating a smooth surface onto which the wrapper leaf is applied the binder leaf serves as an “interface” between the burning filler leaves and the wrapper.  If the binder does not maintain contact with either the filler or wrapper the burn of the cigar can be affected creating uneven burns, split wrappers, or worse.

Quality and condition:

In order for the cigar to have a finished, smooth appearance the binder should be of high quality, with minimal veining and no large imperfections.  Problems such as bumps or veins in the binder can usually be appreciated through the wrapper leaf diminishing the physical beauty of the finished cigar.

Burning properties:

The binder must have sufficient combustibility to ensure a proper burn.  An inadequately aged or low quality binder may burn slower or faster than the other tobaccos, leading to an uneven or irregular burn.  Tunneling and “canoeing” are often the result of problems with the combustion rate of the binder.

If you find your cigar is burning faster down one side (“canoeing”) try touching up the slower side by focusing your lighter’s flame under the unburned binder leaf (red lines).  If you can relight the binder (along the orange line), the wrapper and fillers should catch up.

The binder’s contribution to overall aroma and taste:

One of the most often overlooked contributions binder leaves make to premium cigars is the degree to which they add to the overall aroma and taste of each blend.

Many binders are often actually wrapper leaves that have been “downgraded” due to physical flaws such as a hole or tear on one side of the leaf.  A wrapper turned binder will contribute similar qualities to the cigar as it would if it were used a wrapper.

The same aromas and tastes are conveyed by each particular tobacco varietal when used as binders, although sometimes to a lesser degree.  A Connecticut Broadleaf binder will contribute a sweet-smoky rich profile, a Cameroon binder a sweet-spicy one.  Each unique tobacco varietal, each priming, will contribute its own unique qualities to the finished product, the blend.

Binder leaf selection and processing:

Binder leaves are typically taken from the lower primings of the tobacco plant, usually the 2^ndthrough the 4^th.  These lower primings tend to produce larger, thicker, more elastic leaves, all qualities vital to a binder leaf.

Binder leaves are processed in much the same fashion as filler and wrapper leaves.  During the process of “asentamiento” leaves that do not meet the physical requirements to be used as wrappers are separated and reclassified as binder leaves.  The binder leaves are then classified into 4 “tiempos:”  Seco, viso, ligero and medio tiempo.  The classification of the leaves into tiempos is based mainly on the size, color, thickness, and smoking qualities (combustion) of the leaves  – not on physical appearance.  The tiempos also correlate closely to the priming the leaves came from (the height of the leaf on the plant).

Each tiempo has its own unique characteristics:

Tiempo Seco:
– Usually thin and less oily
– Have good combustion
– Require shorter fermentations
– Must be physically perfect (otherwise they are reclassified as fillers)

Tiempo Viso:
– Thin with some oils
– Thicker than tiempo seco
– Need more humidification when used
– Have more balanced characteristics (from middle primings)

Tiempo Ligero and Medio Tiempo:
– Not typically used as binders, but this trend is changing
– Taken from high primings
– Contain high quantities of organic compounds and few minerals
– Require prolonged fermentation

Taken from the center of the plant, tiempo viso leaves are considered by many to contribute the majority of a cigar’s aroma.

Once the binder leaves have been classified into tiempos, they are sorted again, this time by strength or “forteleza.”  Forteleza is measured on a 1 – 4 scale with 1 being the mildest and 4 being the strongest.  Binder leaves classified as forteleza 3 and 4 are once again reclassified, this time becoming filler leaves.

Aging binder leaves:

The sorted binder leaves now begin the curing process.  Binder leaves are stored “en tercio” for differing lengths of time based on their tiempo:

Tiempo volado – 3 months

Tiempo seco – 6 months

Tiempo ligero – 9 months

Maduro (such as Broadleaf and San Andreas Negro) – 12 months or more

After the binder leaves have been cured they are sent for slow aging before finally being used in the manufacture of premium cigars.

Tasting Guide: A Selection of Premium Cigars with unique wrapper/binder combinations

Alec Bradley Family Blend – Honduran Criollo ’98 wrapper with an Indonesian binder

Alec Bradley MAXX – Nicaraguan habano seed wrapper with a Costa Rican binder

Camacho 10th Anniversary – Honduran corojo (non-hybridized, original varietal) wrapper and binder

C.A.O. Concert – Ecuadorian habano seed wrapper and US Connecticut Broadleaf binder

Cohiba Edicion Diamante – Aged Cameroon wrapper and Indonesian binder

Gurkha Legend – Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with a Cameroon binder

Gurkha Ninja – Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper with a  Dominican Criollo binder

H. Upmann Sun Grown – Ecuadorian Sungrown wrapper with a  US Connecticut Broadleaf binder

Carlos Torano Vault – Nicaraguan shade-grown wrapper with a Honduran (from the Jamastran Valley) and Nicaraguan (from Isla Ometepe) double binder

Origen by J. Fuego – Brazilian Corojo wrapper with a Costa Rican Corojo binder

Vega Fina – Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with an Indonesian binder

Zino Platinum “Z-Class” – Dominican wrapper (from the Yamasa region) with a Peruvian Pelo d’Oro binder

Sancho Panza Double Maduro – US Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper and binder

One of the principle reasons we enjoy premium cigars is that each new blend offers a unique flavor and aroma profile which affords us a new smoking experience with each new brand sampled.  As you look to try new cigars, don’t overlook the binder leaf in the blend.  Each different tobacco varietal, each different type of leaf, contributes its own different characteristics to the cigar as a whole.

And remember, that in order to know what cigars best suit our palates, we need to know the cigar we are smoking:  wrapper, binder, and filler.

Each cigar truly is the sum of its parts.

Read the other parts of the Frugal Aficionado here….

Good smokes!

Marty Klausmeier, Contributor

An Introduction to Cigar Wrapper Tobaccos

I hate to start an article with a bad pun, but, it took a while for me to wrap my head around how to best approach the topic of cigar wrapper tobaccos and simplify what is in fact a very complex topic.

In Part One of this series we discussed the minimum information needed to make an informed decision when selecting premium, handmade cigars and introduced the idea of note keeping.  In Part Two, we expanded on this by learning how to “read” cigar leaf information by identifying country of origin, varietal, and other data and what this information can teach us about a cigar.

Now in Part Three, we will begin our study of the three component parts of a premium cigar; the wrapper, the binder, and the filler.  Each different component of a premium cigar has a unique roll it must fulfill.  Similarly, each different component tobacco has a unique set of standards and requirements it must meet before it will be used in a premium, handmade cigar.

More so than any other type of cigar tobacco, cigar wrappers are the topic of great debate.  Many feel that the wrapper contributes the majority of the flavor and aroma to a cigar others disagree giving this responsibility to the filler blend.  There are those cigar smokers who are devotees of a single wrapper type, say, Shade grown Connecticut-seed (also known as the “light ones…”) while others will only smoke a Maduro wrapper.  Many smokers favor a wrapper from one particular growing region such as a Mexican grown San Andres.

When I look at a cigar, in order to ascertain its character, I start by looking at and evaluating the wrapper leaf data I have collected.  At a minimum, I will search out the following three pieces of information which I believe necessary:

• Kind
• Color
• Country

By learning this data, the aficionado can begin to narrow their cigar searches and concentrate on brands that meet the demands of their individual taste.  By breaking down what we know about a cigar’s wrapper leaf we can learn a good deal about what the leaf will taste like, smell like, and even smoke like.  When this knowledge is combined with an understanding of binder and filler leaves, the aficionado can predict with fair accuracy the character of any given cigar.  This ability is what defines the true cigar aficionado, and it’s this ability that will save you countless dollars as you explore the wide variety of premium cigars available today.

When we talk about the kind of leaf used to wrap our favorite premium cigar we are talking about a varietal of black tobacco.  Most experts agree that there are five “progenitor” species of black tobacco.  Nearly every variety of premium cigar tobacco in use today has been developed by hybridizing one or more of these basic five tobaccos:

• Habanesis species:  The “habanesis” species are the “native” Cuban tobaccos and their hybrids.  Leaves in this category include Connecticut Shade, Corojo, Criollo, Habana2000, Piloto Cubano, San Vincente, and others.  The generalized “habano-seed” wrappers also are Habanesis species.  Because there are so many varietals, it is difficult to describe the qualities of all as one.  Wrappers vary from smooth and creamy Connecticut Shade-grown to full flavored Corojo wrappers.
• Broadleaf:  Broadleaf tobaccos are known for large, thick leaves.  Due to their size and thickness, Broadleaf wrappers are most frequently used to create “maduro” wrapper leaves through an extended fermentation which results in an oily, dark brown wrapper leaf.  Broadleaf is grown across the cigar countries, but is most notably grown in the US (Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland) and Mexico.  Broadleaf maduro wrappers impart a smoky, woody, sweet character to a cigar.  Tastes of chocolate and coffee are frequently noted by smokers of these cigars.
• San Andres:  The San Andres tobacco seed is a Mexican strain transported during population migrations from South or Central America thousands of years ago.  Grown principally in the Las Tuxtlas area of Mexico the wrapper is often defined by its color as in “San Andres Morron” and “San Andres Negro” wrappers.  San Andres seed wrappers tend to add a dry, spicy component to cigars and, if grown in Mexico, a characteristic “Mexican” flavor which is loved by many and despised by others.
• Bahia:  Mata Fina, Mata Norte, and Arapiraca are all varieties of Bahia seed tobaccos.  Grown from native seeds in Brazil, these wrappers are frequently used for “maduro” wrappers.  These wrappers tend to have a dry, sweet, earthy quality with a slight spice and a medium body.
• Sumatran:  Transplanted by the Dutch in the 15^th and 16^th centuries, Sumatra-seed tobacco has developed in sufficient isolation to be considered its own species.  Besuki and Jember are the two main varietals grown today and contribute a spicy, sweet character to cigars.  Cameroon cigar tobacco is grown in West Africa from seeds originally of Sumatran origin.  For this reason, Cameroon wrappers are known to contribute a sweet, spicy character to premium cigars.

The color of a cigar wrapper leaf is derived through several factors.  Beginning in the field, the varietal of tobacco grown is the first factor affecting the end color of a wrapper leaf.  After the wrapper leaves are harvested, different methods of processing the leaves (fermentation, aging, etc.) have added impact on the color of the finished cigar wrapper.  These factors have also a great impact on the flavor of the wrapper leaf.

Cigar wrapper leaves come in a spectrum of colors ranging from pale green to near black.  In fact, in Cuba, cigars are routinely sorted into 64 color gradations based on the tone of their wrappers.  The color of the wrapper leaf on a cigar can provide insight into its tastes, aromas, and smoking qualities.  The basic wrapper colors used by most manufacturers outside Cuba today are:

• Candela, Double Claro, American Market Selection (AMS) or Jade:  For well over a century, this was the cigar wrapper of choice in the United States, leading to it being referred to by many as American Market Selection.  Candela wrappers get their green tones through a drying process that uses added heat rather than ambient temperatures to dry the leaves.  By forcing the drying process, the chlorophyll in the leaves does not have a chance to breakdown as it does in leaves that are naturally dried and aged.  Candela wrappers are very, very mildly flavored with little aroma.  When considering a Candela wrapped cigar, it is important to consider the binder and filler blends than with other wrappers to ascertain the true nature of the cigar.  Rocky Patel recently added The Edge – Candela to his already vast portfolio.
• Claro:  Claro wrapper leaves vary from light yellow-brown to light tan in color.  Typically mild in taste and aroma, Claro wrappers are frequently found on mild bodied cigars, although this is not always the case.  Connecticut Shade grown wrapper leaves are typical of this coloration.  Earthy and creamy are two words often associated with Claro wrapped cigars.  The Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne uses a stunning yellow-brown Claro wrapper.
• Colorado Claro or English Market Selection (EMS):  A more flavorful and aromatic wrapper leaf, Colorado Claro or English Market Selection leaves are frequently lumped together under the term “Natural.”  Much spicier than the Candela or American Market Selection wrapper, these leaves were favored by European cigar aficionados for years, hence the name English Market Selection.  Punch cigars are a great example of a brand that employs some of the finest EMS wrapper leaves in the business.
• Colorado and Colorado Rosado:  The Colorado and Colorado Rosado wrapper leaves have a reddish hint to the leaf, accompanied by more oils, not present in a Colorado Claro leaf.  More aromatic and rich than the Colorado Claro leaf, the Colorado and Colorado Rosado tones are by-products of the aging process.  Certain leaves attain these colors during the aging process and are sufficiently different in character to be separated from the Colorado Claro leaves.  The Corojo and Habana2000 varietals are known for producing beautiful Colorado and Colorado Rosado wrapper leaves.  The Partagas Spanish Rosado line, as the name implies, uses a beautiful rusty brown Colorado Rosado wrapper grown in the San Augustin Valley of Honduras
• Colorado Maduro or “Maduro”:  Colorado Maduro wrapper leaves, or Maduros, have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.  Maduro cigar wrapper leaves are the product of a combination between thick and hearty leaves and an intense curing process.  Maduro wrappers are fermented longer and at higher temperatures than other wrappers.  It is due to the intensity of the fermentation that maduro wrappers call for the thickest of leaves.  The extended fermentation process not only creates a dark color, but as the leaves dry allows the carbohydrates in the leaves to further decompose forming sugars resulting in the characteristic “sweetness” of a Maduro wrapper.  More than any other wrapper, Maduro wrappers contribute flavors and aromas to the smoke of the cigar with a characteristic spicy-sweetness and woody and spicy aromas.  The Camacho Triple Maduro and the A. Turrent Triple play are examples of high end premium cigars composed entirely of maduro leaves; wrapper, binder, and filler, for maximum Maduro pleasure.
• Oscuro or “Double Maduro”:  A darker shade of Maduro, the Oscuro wrapper approaches near black tones.  Achieved through extra fermentation, over and above that of a Maduro wrapper, the Oscuro wrapper is gaining popularity.  Found on cigars such as the Rocky Patel “Patel Brothers” line as well as several General Cigar lines, Oscuro wrappers offer a more intense degree of the same flavors and aromas found in a typical Maduro wrapper.  Think of Oscuro like a Maduro on steroids and you get the idea.  The Partagas Black Label line features a maduro leaf that is so dark it can be called an Oscuro.

The final factor that can affect a cigar wrapper leaf is the country the leaf was grown in.  When one considers that by the time the cigar wrapper leaf has been processed all that remains is the vegetal structure of the leaf (cellulose), water, and the mineral components it becomes more evident how the same seed grown in a different area could have such a different flavor and aroma.

The majority of cigar tobaccos are grown in river valley regions where nutrients and minerals are concentrated.  These nutrients are converted by the tobacco plants as they grow into the basic plant structures such as stems and leaves.  When harvested and processed, water is removed from the tobacco leaves resulting in a concentration of these plant and mineral compounds.  As a cigar is smoked, the plant materials are consumed by the burning cigar leaving behind the mineral components in the form of the ash.

The differing concentrations and combinations of these critical nutrients lead to differing tastes and aromas from cigar wrapper tobaccos.  Cigar wrappers are grown in almost all major cigar tobacco producing nations, including:

• Honduras:  Tobaccos from Honduras are considered “strong” by most however most varietal, including Connecticut Shade, are grown in Honduras.  Honduran tobaccos are known for a spicy component and are considered by many to be the closest in character to Cuban leaf.
• Nicaragua:  Nicaraguan tobaccos are known for a deep, woody characteristic with a very aromatic presence.  Nicaraguan tobaccos have improved steadily over the last three decades and are now found in some of the most sought out cigar brands in the world.  Many varietals of wrapper leaf are grown in Nicaragua.
• Dominican Republic:  Be sure not to confuse a Dominican cigar with a Dominican wrapper.  Although Dominican produced cigars are known for being mild, the same cannot be said of Dominican wrapper tobaccos.  A great many varietals are produced in the Dominican Republic including the same varietal grown in Africa to produce Cameroon wrappers.  One of the most notable Dominican wrappers can be found on the Fuente Fuente Opus X line.
• Brazil:  When most cigar smokers think of Brazilian wrappers their minds go to Maduros, and with good reason.  The varietals grown primarily in Brazil, including Mata Fina and Arapiraca, produce fantastic Maduro wrappers.  Brazilian Maduro wrappers tend to be very aromatic and flavorful with a dark color and oily, bumpy texture.  Brazilian Maduro wrappers are, to my taste, not as sweet but rather contribute a headiness to the smoke other Maduros do not.  The C.A.O. Brazilia line features one of the darkest and oiliest Maduro wrappers I’ve ever seen.
• Mexico:  Mexican cigar wrappers, like other Mexican grown cigar tobaccos, tend to be something you either love or hate.  Mexican cigar tobaccos, grown principally in the Las Tuxtlas region, have a very characteristic flavor and aroma profile.  Dry, earthy, spicy and strong are all attributes I’ve experienced with Mexican tobacco.  Mexican San Andres Maduro wrappers tend to be much less sweet than other Maduros, while still adding that “Mexican” flavor.  Many premium cigars feature Mexican grown binders, many of which are downgraded wrapper tobaccos.  Some cigar companies are experimenting with other varietals such as Criollo in Mexico.
• Ecuador:  Ecuador, due to its geographic location and topography, is a quickly evolving wrapper leaf producer.  In the last decade or so, the cigar industry has seen a proliferation of Ecuadorian wrappers.  Varietals typically “shade grown” under cloth in other countries are being grown in Ecuador under the natural shade of the cloud cover prevalent there.  This cloud cover leads to cost savings for growers by eliminating the costs and labor associated with typical shade growing.  These economies are then conferred to the smoker in a lower cost per cigar.  Many varietals are being grown in Ecuador most notably Connecticut Shade and Sumatran wrappers.  Ecuadorian wrappers can be found on a wide selection of premium cigars including the Oliva Serie V Melanio line which uses a superb Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed leaf.
• Indonesia:  Indonesia is an island group near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, north of Australia.  Black tobacco seeds were introduced to the islands by the Dutch in the 15^th and 16^th century and have developed in isolation there since.  It’s this genetic isolation that has led to Indonesian, or Sumatra seed, tobaccos being considered a unique progenitor species.  Sumatra seed tobaccos have a very spicy yet slightly sweet characteristic that is loved by many cigar aficionados.  For a long time Indonesian wrappers were associated with lower quality cigars and this unfortunate association still persists to a degree today.  Indonesian cigar tobaccos can be outstanding and are found on several high end premium cigars including the very popular Romeo y Julieta 1875 line and several Drew Estate Acid cigars.  Indonesian binders, which are usually downgraded wrappers, are also used on a great many premium cigars.
• Cameroon/West Africa:  Of all the wrapper tobaccos produced worldwide, Cameroon wrappers are among the most sought out, most difficult to produce, and most expensive there are.  Grown in jungle covered river valleys in the African nations of Cameroon and West Africa, high quality Cameroon wrapper leaves require intensive investment and great manual labor to produce.  Known for a very characteristic caramel-sweetness with substantial spice, Cameroon wrappers are featured on some of the most popular premium cigar brands in the world including the Arturo Fuente Hemingway line, Partagas, and Cohiba.
• Costa Rica:  A small Central American nation situated between Nicaragua to the North and Panama to the South, Costa Rica is becoming well known for its cigar wrapper leaves, although it is still not a major producer of cigar tobacco.  Costa Rican Maduro wrappers are slightly sweeter than other Maduros with a mild spice and deep, earthy tastes.
• United States:  The two principle black tobacco growing regions in the United States are located around the Connecticut River Valley near Hartford, Connecticut and extending south into Pennsylvania.  The two most prevalent varietals grown here are US Connecticut Shade and US Broadleaf.  While the same Broadleaf tobacco is grown in both Connecticut and Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Broadleaf is sufficiently different in flavor and aroma to be named separately from Connecticut Broadleaf.  Connecticut Shade wrappers add a characteristic creamy texture to a cigar while adding an earthy, clay-like taste.  Connecticut Shade wrappers are found on many of the world’s leading premium cigars such as Macanudo, Davidoff, and Montecristo.  Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers can be found on a wide variety of cigars while Pennsylvania Broadleaf is less common.  Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers, downgraded, are featured as binders on a number of premium cigars.

I hope you’ll read or re-read Part One and Part Two of this series and the information contained there. Hopefully, some of the pieces will start falling in place.

Your homework: make some notes about the cigars you’ve smoked recently; their wrappers, binder, and fillers, and where they came from.  Add some tasting notes about how the leaves worked together to create a unique cigar experience.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Were your cigar choices mild, medium, or full bodied?
• Did you smoke cigars of only one wrapper variety?
• If you smoked several cigars with different wrapper varieties, which one was your favorite?
• Who made your cigars and have you tried other cigars by the same manufacturers?
• What was your overall impression of each cigar?
• Would you buy any of these particular cigars again?  Why?  Why not?

These are some of the questions an experienced aficionado asks of each new cigar brand they sample.  Knowing the answers to these questions can guide the aficionado to other cigars with characteristics matching their individual tastes.

Through research and note keeping you can hone your cigar knowledge and develop the skills needed to properly evaluate a premium cigar before you buy.  And, by knowing what you like you can avoid buying what you don’t.

“Learning the Language of the Leaf.”

(note: If you have not read Part One of the series, please click here to read it.)

As I began laying out my notes for the second installment of The Frugal Aficionado, fully intending to discuss cigar wrapper leaves, it occurred to me that there was one topic that warranted review before we can properly discuss the different tobaccos contained in a premium cigar.

Before we discuss such things as wrappers, binders, and filler blends it is very important that we “Learn the Language of the Leaf.”

Flipping through the pages of any cigar magazine, Mike’s Cigars catalog or website one finds a virtually unending array of wrapper, binder, and filler tobaccos used in the creation of premium cigars.  Manufacturers offer names, some easy to understand, some not so easy, some which are outright confusing, to describe the leaves selected for their secret blends.

What is the budding aficionado to do?

“Read” the leaf!

Fortunately, the way in which premium cigar tobaccos are named follows something of a “rule.”  Cigar tobaccos tend to follow an “A+B+C” formula, which once understood will serve as a guide for the aficionado assessing a premium cigar to ascertain its characteristics.  In this article, I will explain how premium cigar tobaccos get their names, what the names mean to the cigar, and how to use your new found knowledge to locate cigars likely to fit your individual tastes.

In Part One of this series, we learned how to take notes about our cigars which contains the basic information about each cigar brand we sample.  We learned that at a minimum, we should know the country of origin of each leaf; wrapper, binder and filler.  In addition to knowing where each leaf was grown, there is often much more information available.  Here are some of the finer details that often accompany the country of origin of each leaf.  Below is an example of some notes from Part One, the cigar; the Oliva Serie V “Melanio.”

As you can see, I’ve noted the wrapper is an “Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed,” the binder “Nicaraguan,” and the filler blend, also from Nicaragua.  Often, manufacturers will include more information about their blend including…

1. Wrappers
   1. Country of Origin
   2. Varietal
   3. Growing method
2. Binders
   1. Country of Origin
   2. Varietal
   3. Growing method
   4. Single or Double binder
3. Fillers
   1. Country of Origin
   2. Varietal
   3. Priming

A tobacco varietal, or type of seed, is often referred to as a “genotype,” from the genes carried in the tobacco seed.  The combination of genotype plus external factors like country of origin and production methods together is called the “phenotype.”

Learning to “read” tobacco leaf information is easiest if you think about it like diagraming a sentence.  (Remember this from grade school?)  Most every manufacturer shares some information about the three basic components of their product: wrapper, binder, and filler blend.

Below I’ve listed some examples of wrapper varietals from several premium cigars featured in the most recent issue of Cigar Journal.  I’ve used a single underline to highlight the country of origin, bold to indicate the tobacco varietal, and a bold underlined to highlight any additional “clues” pertaining to character the leave.  Each cigar brand name is linked to more information about the brand for reference.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1990:     Honduran Broadleaf

CAO Concert:     Ecuadorian Habano Rosado

Oliva Serie V “Melanio”:     Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed

Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real:     Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed

Alec Bradley American Classic Blend:     Honduran Connecticut-seed

Torano Vault:    Nicaraguan Shade-grown

As you can see from the examples above, there is a huge variety of black cigar tobacco grown throughout the world.  Most cigars blend leaves from several growing regions, different primings, and different types to develop the taste and aroma profile desired.

Now, let’s take a look at a few of these leaves and “diagram” them…

Example 1:   Nicaraguan Shade-grown

Our first example is the most basic.  The Torano Vault utilizes a shade-grown leaf from Nicaragua.  We’re not told the varietal of tobacco, although one can imply some “Habano” seed variety.  Knowing the wrapper leaves were grown under shade, as opposed to “sun-grown,” hints that they will be a milder, smoother leaf.

Example 2:  Mexican San Andres maduro

The Siglo Limited Reserve Maduro from Altadis, USA features a San Andres seed, maduro wrapper leaf grown in Mexico.  The San Andres seed is one of the few “pure” black tobacco varietals and produces a thick and hearty leaf.  Knowing the wrapper is from Mexico gives us an idea about the character of the leaf, its flavors and aromas.  The fact that the wrapper is a maduro we can also imply that there will be a slight sweetness to the wrapper.

Example 3:  Ecuadorian Habano Rosado

Here is an example of a manufacturer utilizing a wrapper of a specific color, Rosado, in the manufacture of a blend.  For the C.A.O. Concert line, leaves of a particular color (or “wrapper shade”) were separated as part of the wrapper sorting process and set aside.  When preparing the blend for the C.A.O. Concert, the C.A.O. blend team purchased these leaves specifically for their color and the character the leaves impart to the blend.  The leaves are from the cloud covered fields of Ecuador, so they will be a finer leaf, thinner than a sun grown wrapper.  Finally, they are derived from a “Habano” seed varietal which gives us an idea of their flavor and aromas.

Now we’ve seen how the different cigar tobaccos names are derived, let’s look at how this can help us.  If you’re reading this, and made it this far, it’s likely that you are more than a one or two-a-year cigar smoker.  Based on this assumption, I feel it’s likely that you’ve sampled at least five or ten different brands of premium cigars in your career.  It’s also likely that you have one or two that you really prefer.

What we’re going to do is a little homework assignment.  Hey, this is “cigar school” after all… Did you really think you’d get off that easy?

Here it is:

1. If you haven’t already read Part One of this series, please click here to read it.  It will help in your understanding of this lesson.
2. The written assignment…  Take out a sheet of paper, 3×5 cards, or whatever you’ve chosen to keep your cigar notes on.  (You read Part One and picked a method, right?)  Go online and look up your favorite two or three cigar brands. (Try MikesCigars.com)  Once you find them, using your chosen note keeping method, record the wrapper, binder, and filler leaf information.  Be sure to note what country your cigars were made in and if possible, by what company.  Document as much information about the tobaccos found in your cigars as possible.
3. Cigar thought:  Look at the brands you chose for the written exercise.  Think about each cigar individually.  What draws you to this particular brand?  Are there particular flavors or aromas that you find pleasing in the blend?  Is it mild, medium, or full bodied?  How about the others?  Are there similarities and differences in the cigars’ characters?  Are there similarities in the leaves used in each blend?
4. Keep your notes handy, we’ll be using them in Part Three of The Frugal Cigar Aficionado soon!

Being able to identify those features one prefers in a cigar, be it flavors, certain spices or aromatic qualities, full-bodied boldness, or mellow, refined mildness, which one prefers in a cigar is the first step in becoming an educated cigar aficionado.

By learning the particulars that make up your individual tastes will be invaluable as you look to expand your repertoire of cigars.  As you begin to invest in cigar accessories like humidors, you will save countless dollars by stocking up with cigars that you know you like rather than some you simply smoke.

Cigars are a unique treat to be slowly savored and enjoyed.  Not many things in life can be appreciated at the level of a fine, handmade premium cigar and the deeper your understanding, the deeper your appreciation.

Good smokes!

Marty Klausmeier, Contributor

To continue reading Part Three of the series click here

Part One: The Very Least You Should Know

Let’s face it, premium cigars are not cheap.  And quite often cheap cigars are far from premium.  As a new aficionado of fine cigars, there some pieces of knowledge that will go a long way toward increasing your enjoyment of these incredible delicacies and help keep some of that hard earned cash in your wallet.

According to the most recent Perelman’s Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars (read book review here…) there are close to 1,500 premium cigar brands in national distribution.  This number does not include many of the small, boutique cigar brands and excludes the majority of “house brands” as well.

With so many cigars to choose from and constant releases of new blends there is a dearth of cigar brands for the newcomer to sort out and select from.  So, how is one to become a connoisseur of fine cigars without having to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy?  We’ll begin with some of the basic knowledge a cigar smoker needs to know… the nature of the blend being smoked.

It is not uncommon for the beginning cigar smoker to select cigars based on name recognition or on the suggestion of a friend.  While neither of these methods of selection is inherently bad, they do not take into account the individual smoker’s preference, or lack thereof.

Determining your preference in cigars is part of the joy of cigars and will save you money spent on cigars that, had you known better, you would not have bought.  I’ve heard many a smoker say, “I tried a so-and-so (insert full-bodied cigar brand here) and it was awful.  I thought I was going to puke half-way in.  It was so bad I threw it away.”

Most often, the uninitiated cigar smoker has purchased a high quality, premium cigar without taking into consideration the blend, its strength, and flavor profile.  Many of the highest rated cigars, according to Cigar Aficionado, such as the Alec Bradley Prensado, the Camacho Corojo, and Rocky Patel Decade are very full bodied smokes that are best left to the experienced smoker.

So, what then is the beginner to do?  Simply put, a little research before purchasing any cigar will prove invaluable to the smoker selecting a new cigar brand to smoke.

First and foremost, you need to know what cigars you’ve tried that you liked and which you did not.  Keeping track of the brands that you find most pleasing will help you identify more, similar brands.  By concentrating on brands of composition similar to cigars known and enjoyed, the beginner can sample a spectrum of cigars that are suited to his or her individual tastes.

So, what then should the discriminating cigar smoker look at when evaluating a new blend?  I believe there are 7 points that should be noted about each new cigar brand sampled.  Knowing these seven simple facts about your cigars will aid you immensely as you begin the adventure of cigar smoking:

1. Brand name and line
2. Country of manufacture
3. Manufacturer (or Distributor)
4. Size and name
5. Wrapper type and origin
6. Binder type and origin
7. Filler blend and origin(s)

In addition to these seven points, it is helpful down the road to make basic tasting notes and record your thoughts on each new cigar brand sampled.

There are three ways I use to keep my cigar notes.  The first, and by far easiest, is using 3” x 5” cards.  The seven points listed above fit neatly onto the front of a 3” x 5” card with a bit of room at the bottom for notes.  Simply completing a new card for each new cigar brand smoked, the evolving aficionado will become increasingly more and more familiar with the key components of various blends and will develop a better understanding of which cigar have features they favor, and which they cigars they do not.

The second way I keep track of cigar brands I smoke is to simply highlight the brand in the latest volume of Perelman’s Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars.  This book, published annually, lists all major brands in national distribution.  The most recent version, the 2011 Edition, lists 1,321 handmade brands and 77 machine made lines.  Each entry includes the basic information including the Country of Manufacture, the Country of Origin for the Wrapper, Binder, and Filler blend, the Sizes the cigar is available in, and basic notes about the cigar line.  Easily carried, and alphabetically listed for easy access, the information in Perelman’s Cyclopedia is limited by only by being a paper publication with a fixed publication date.  As smoke new cigars that are too new to be found in the most current version, I fall back on 3” x 5” cards to note the pertinent cigar information.

The third option I have used is to create a “Cigar Notebook.”  Just about any notebook will work, however I suggest something durable as in all likelihood, you’ll be thumbing through the pages repeatedly.  At my local artists’ supply store, I found these cool, leather-bound sketch pads.  Each page is large enough (roughly 3” x 5”) to record the seven factors mentioned above, with room for the cigar band and notes.  While I use this method to collect cigar bands more than I do to record information about the cigars (I use the first two methods for this), these books are another great option.  The books I use have an elastic strap that holds the cover closed and a pocket inside the back cover that is perfect for stashing bands until I get a chance to glue them in.  I’ve found that I can safely fit 125 cigar bands in each book, and although there are more pages adding too many bands swells the book and tends to tear at the bindings.

A final option is to use computer software, either spreadsheet or database, to create a list of cigars.  While this method has some strong advantages, I’ve found that I just never seem to find the time to type in all the information.  There are also a great number of IPhone and Droid apps on the market that can help the up and coming cigar smoker make educated selections.  Some of the better apps have sections for adding favorites, notes, and even pictures.  But alas, this subject too is beyond the scope of this article.

So, to review…

• Learn and not what you smoke
• Learn what you like and what you do not
• Start slowly
• Start mild
• Don’t be afraid to try samplers!