Different wrapper leaf for different vitola of same blend?

[megladon8]

This question came to me when I was looking at a recent split I did with Jeremy (Dr. Xikar) of some 5 Vegas stuff.

We split on a box of 5 Vegas Gold Maduro Bricks (the 5.5 x 55 box press) and we each got a sampler of torpedoes.


Looking at one of the box press sticks and one of the torpedoes side-by-side, the wrapper leaves look and feel completely different.

The box-press:

-very thin and soft wrapper leaf
-a dark chocolate, brown colour
-smooth, satiny feel to it


The torpedo:

-incredibly thick, leathery wrapper leaf
-coal black colour
-toothy from head to foot, like sandpaper - reminds me of LP T52 wrapper


Are different leaves used to wrap different vitolas of the same blend?

Does the difference in both appearance and texture of the wrapper leaf have anything to do with the vitola itself?

 

[Docbp87]

Forgive my cynicism, but I think the CI origin is part of the issue.

 

[Dread]

Interesting, the box pressed version definetly doesnt sound like PA Broadleaf by what you described.

 

[danthebugman]

Forgive my cynicism, but I think the CI origin is part of the issue.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head.

Dan

 

[megladon8]

Actually 5 Vegas has proven to be one of the more consistent brands I've encountered.

5 Vegas sticks I've had issues with - zero

Liga Privada sticks I've had issues with - four (out of 7 smoked, total)

 

[megladon8]

And seriously, let's not turn this into a CI/5 Vegas hate thread.

It's a legitimate question, and I've encountered this "issue" with other brands and sticks as well, it just happened that the 5 Vegas Gold Maduro was what I was looking at tonight and inspired me to make the thread.

 

[danthebugman]

And seriously, let's not turn this into a CI/5 Vegas hate thread.

Wasn't meant to be. What I was referring to, and didn't do a good job explaining, traces to some discussion in another thread (which now that I want to link to it, can't find) about differences in cigars bought from CI (and other similar online sites) and those at your local. Not saying it's good or bad, just an observation and a statement. I'm to tired right now to go into details, but suffice it to say I would not be surprised if they were at least different grades of wrappers. It is customary when they're sorting cigars to put like ones in the same box...perhaps there is a box of 5 Vegas Bricks with dark, leathery wrappers and some torps with the other type wrapper you described :dunno:.

Dan

 

[megladon8]

Wasn't meant to be. What I was referring to, and didn't do a good job explaining, traces to some discussion in another thread (which now that I want to link to it, can't find) about differences in cigars bought from CI (and other similar online sites) and those at your local. Not saying it's good or bad, just an observation and a statement. I'm to tired right now to go into details, but suffice it to say I would not be surprised if they were at least different grades of wrappers. It is customary when they're sorting cigars to put like ones in the same box...perhaps there is a box of 5 Vegas Bricks with dark, leathery wrappers and some torps with the other type wrapper you described :dunno:.

Dan

OK so similar to the way Cubans are often sorted - say, for example, a "batch" of PSD4's have a slightly more greenish hue to their wrappers, then they'll be boxed together.

So that the sticks in the box look consistent with each other.

 

[danthebugman]

It's not just CCs, all cigars (to my knowledge) are sorted/boxed that way. It's more aesthetically pleasing and helps lend credibility to the quality control aspect of the brand.

Dan

 

[Craig Mac]

It's not just CCs, all cigars (to my knowledge) are sorted/boxed that way. It's more aesthetically pleasing and helps lend credibility to the quality control aspect of the brand.

Dan

ding ding ding... we have a winner

 

[thegoldenmackid]

ding ding ding... we have a winner

Yes.

This and the CI help to explain it.

Some manufacturers do however sort leaf shade to vitola, Brown Label would be an example of that.

 

[Le Buzz]

Don't worry too much... wrapper leaf can look and feel different even if it's the same leaf variety. Especially Broadleaf, I've seen some very dark and some very light. It's just box sorting, your smokes are fine.

 

[cartisdm]

OK so similar to the way Cubans are often sorted - say, for example, a "batch" of PSD4's have a slightly more greenish hue to their wrappers, then they'll be boxed together.

So that the sticks in the box look consistent with each other.

This is interesting. Would it be safe to say if you receive a box of greenish wrappers, they should be aged before smoking? Over time will the wrappers of different batches approach the same tint if aged?

 

[Jwrussell]

This is interesting. Would it be safe to say if you receive a box of greenish wrappers, they should be aged before smoking? Over time will the wrappers of different batches approach the same tint if aged?

No. And keep in mind that when he mentions "green" it's just a shading issue, he's not saying the sticks are green. To my knowledge, the shade of the wrapper will not change dramatically over time. At least it's not something I've ever noticed.

 

[tmoney2007]

This is interesting. Would it be safe to say if you receive a box of greenish wrappers, they should be aged before smoking? Over time will the wrappers of different batches approach the same tint if aged?

Nope, the color is pretty much set during the curing process. Controlling the curing temperature and duration can control the color to a certain extent. Aging won't bring 2 different colored wrappers closer to the same color to any appreciable extent.

 

[cartisdm]

No. And keep in mind that when he mentions "green" it's just a shading issue, he's not saying the sticks are green. To my knowledge, the shade of the wrapper will not change dramatically over time. At least it's not something I've ever noticed.

Nope, the color is pretty much set during the curing process. Controlling the curing temperature and duration can control the color to a certain extent. Aging won't bring 2 different colored wrappers closer to the same color to any appreciable extent.

Gotchya. I have some slightly green connecticut shade perdomos in my humidor at the moment, but I haven't tried them yet. I've never had a place to store cigars until recently so aging is new to me. I can't wait to have some sitting in my humi for a few months then try 'em out!

 

[tx_tuff]

As stated above wrapper colors are sorted by box and you can have slightly different color wrappers from box to box. But this may not be the answer to your box pressed cigars. While I have never heard of using different wrappers in the same blend per vitola size, not ever wrapper is easy to box press. Some wrappers are more pliable and easier to use in a box press when wet. So if it is a different wrapper it could have more to do with the box press then the size of the cigar

 

[BSBONO]

one other thing to keep in mind when buying at the B&M. I have seen B&M's use some direct lighting in their humidors that literally over time causes a wrapper and bands to change color. So much to the point where I think I am looking at fakes.