There are three major components to the cigar: the wrapper, binder, and filler. Although the filler makes up a bulk of the tobacco, it is the wrapper that is the most important leaf in the stick. Normally when you think of a wrapper it’s usually just something that covers and protects the product and must be discarded before consumption. You would not want to do that with a cigar.

 So why is the wrapper such a big deal, when the filler tobacco is what determines the ring gauge of a cigar? Also, the binder leaf is equal in size so why does it take a back seat to the outer cover?

 I can sum it up with three words: beauty, strength, and taste. Since the wrapper is on the outside it is the first thing that grabs your attention. We are often attracted to things that are visually appealing. All we need to do is open up a magazine to see that ugly people aren’t pictured in very many ads. The same goes for cigars. If it’s not visually appealing then you probably won’t bother picking it up. Yes, sexy sells cigars, too.

 The second reason the wrapper is important is its strength and structural integrity. A good wrapper leaf has to be flexible or malleable enough to work with, but strong enough to stand up to the rough handling it will receive. A cigar with a cracked wrapper or one that looks like it is loosely attached is not one that anyone should ever purchase. It’s a sign of poor construction or bad wrapper stock.

 The final reason that wrapper reigns supreme is the great influence it has on the taste of the cigar. Although there will be flavors that come through from the binder leaf and filler tobaccos, it is the wrapper that is touching your mouth. It is the first thing you taste before you put fire to foot. The palate detects so many flavors from the wrapper that there are many cigar smokers who search for cigars solely based on wrapper leaf.

 So what tobaccos make a great wrapper? You can find quality wrapper production in every place in the world that produces cigar tobacco. But all wrapper leaves aren’t created equal and the prices on these tobacco varies greatly. The best leaves are those that are flavorful, are tough enough to stand up to the rigors of becoming a wrapper, and are flawless in their appearance.

 On the high end of the scale lies America’s own Connecticut Shade. This tobacco, which grows along the Connecticut River Valley, is the most expensive tobacco in the world. Many trace the origins of what we know as Connecticut Shade to Indonesian Sumatra seed tobacco. Whatever the first plantings were, when someone had the bright idea to grow it under cheesecloth they hit the jackpot. It is some of the most beautiful tobacco you will ever lay your eyes on. It is a soft, silky leaf that is the easiest tobacco to work with. I am not the greatest cigar roller in the world, but the Connecticut Shade tobacco that I have experimented with over the years made me actually look like I knew what I am doing.

If you want to take a step over to the dark side and stay in America then you can give Connecticut Broadleaf a shot. Unlike its shade brethren which is primed (picked a few leafs at a time), the broadleaf is stalk-cut.  This means that it is wacked off at the ground and all leaves harvested at once. Although the broadleaf is significantly less expensive than the shade, that doesn’t mean that it’s a cheaper way to make cigars. This tobacco can be very difficult to work with, especially when it comes to fashioning it into wrapper. It takes lots of extra fermentation and aging to get it right. As with anything, time means money, so you can have a lot of both invested in a crop of this tobacco before you ever roll your first cigar. It does holds up well to extended aging and can turn into some of the most amazing Oscuro and Maduro wrappers on the planet, so many take the gamble.

 A less expensive alternative to Connecticut Broadleaf is a Mexican leaf that has grown very popular in the last ten years. In the San Andreas Valley lies some of the richest tobacco soil in all of Mexico. This is the home of the San Andreas Negro which is a wonderful alternative to the more costly “gringo” version. It is less oily than the Connecticut Broadleaf, but many of the same flavor characteristics shine through. A great example of this is Drew Estate’s Liga Privada 9 series and their Undercrown cigars. While the more costly 9 series utilizes the Connecticut Broadleaf, the half priced Undercrown sports the San Andreas Negro. Yes, the 9 is one of the finest smokes in the world, but the Undercrown doesn’t disappoint by any means.

 You will also find wrappers from Africa, Indonesia, Ecuador, Brazil, Honduras, and Nicaragua just to name a few. Many of these regions have seeded tobacco that originated from their lands (African Cameroon) while others will use foreign seeds and allow their terroir to make it their own (Ecuadorian Connecticut). The beautiful part of all this international blending and genetic mutating means that we as cigar consumers will always have something new to try.

 I wish I had enough space to discuss all of the different flavor profiles of these wrapper leaves, but I guess that is a conversation for another time. Until then I encourage everyone to go out and try different wrapper types. You will never know what you truly like until you try it.

Long ashes--

Chris Gwaltney

@abccigarchris