Are Dark Cigars Stronger?
New cigar lovers often assume dark cigars are stronger than lighter ones. In many cases, dark cigars, blended with a thick, oily wrapper leaf, are stronger than light-colored cigars, but not always. And while plenty of the most popular mild cigars come in a light-tan or blond wrapper, not all light-colored cigars are mild. It all depends on the full recipe of tobacco that goes into the blend. Many beginners want to know how to tell if a cigar is mild before they smoke it, and judging the cigar’s color seems like an obvious strategy. However, there’s more to a cigar’s strength than meets the eye.
Cigar Color & Strength: How Do They Relate?
It’s best to examine any correlation between a cigar’s color and its strength on a case-by-case basis. The broadest classification for a cigar’s wrapper, the outermost layer of tobacco, is Natural versus Maduro. Natural cigars are light in color, whereas Maduros are dark in color. The darkest Maduro is called an Oscuro. But we really need more information, like the seed varietal of the wrapper leaf and the region where it’s grown. It’s also important to keep in mind that all of the tobaccos in a premium cigar play a role in its strength.
How the tobacco is grown also influences the color of the wrapper. For example, Shade Grown tobaccos are grown under nylon mesh, which filters the sunlight and results in the leaves on the plant maturing with a golden, light-blond color commonly associated with Connecticut Shade and Ecuador Connecticut wrapper leaves. Thicker, heartier tobaccos, like Connecticut Broadleaf and San Andrés varietals, are grown under direct sunlight, giving them a darker, oilier complexion. Plus, these tobaccos are stalk cut, meaning the whole plant is cut at the stem when they’re harvested, as opposed to undergoing a labor-intensive priming where different sections of leaves are harvested at different times. And stalk-cut tobaccos undergo a longer fermentation after they’re harvested because the leaves are thicker and can withstand the heat of a more aggressive fermentation, which creates a smoother, more approachable flavor. All of these factors contribute to a wrapper’s color, its nicotine content, and its taste.
Wrapper, Binder, and Filler Tobaccos Affect Strength
There are three main components in the anatomy of a cigar: the wrapper, the binder, and the filler. Together, each of these components creates a cigar’s flavor but with varying degrees of influence, which change from one blend to another and from one cigar size to another. We’ve discussed the differences between thin versus thick cigars and long versus short cigars when you want to understand how the ratios of binder, filler, and wrapper tobaccos are adjusted based on a cigar’s size. Generally, a cigar’s wrapper leaf holds significant sway in its taste as well as its strength. The binder and filler tobaccos are there to create combustion and complement and enhance the flavor of the wrapper leaf.
Examples of Cigars That Vary in Color & Strength
The best way to illustrate the relationship between a cigar’s color and its strength is by highlighting some specific blends that both reinforce and contradict our natural assumptions. Below, we offer examples of mild and strong cigars that are light in color, followed by examples of strong and mild cigars that are dark in color.
A Light-Colored Mild Cigar: La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut
An Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, for example, is a Connecticut-seed wrapper that’s grown in Ecuador, where the region’s natural cloud cover filters the sunlight, resulting in a lighter wrapper that’s traditionally mild and nutty. La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut is an excellent mild cigar finished in an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper. This cigar is blended from vintage Nicaraguan long-fillers in seven popular sizes. Tasting notes of almond, cedar, cashew, and coffee bean mingle with hints of buttercream in a mellow, approachable smoke. La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut tastes exactly how you might expect it to, based on its color.
A Light-Colored Strong Cigar: My Father Connecticut
My Father Connecticut is also blended from an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper over a well-aged recipe of Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. But My Father Connecticut is medium to full-bodied and considerably stronger than most cigars finished in a light wrapper leaf. Woody notes of oak, herbs, and white pepper make a powerful showing in a golden-blond Connecticut-seed wrapper that most folks assume is mild, which is not the case here. The binder and filler tobaccos are stronger and influence the profile significantly. You’ll want to eat before you enjoy this hearty smoke.
A Dark-Colored Strong Cigar: Arturo Fuente Añejo
Arturo Fuente Añejo is an exceptionally rare and sought-after cigar blended from a dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper aged in a Cognac barrel. Inside are premium Dominican long-fillers grown and aged by legendary cigarmaker Carlito Fuente. This oily, decadent smoke develops with supreme tasting notes of dark chocolate, molasses, earth, and pepper with a buttery spice from the first puff to the last. The cigar’s naturally sweet taste can mask its power. But Añejo is a cigar that looks strong and is strong. Its dark-brown complexion conceals a robust blend of tobaccos.
A Dark-Colored Mild Cigar: Ashton Aged Maduro
One of the most popular Maduros in the world is Ashton Aged Maduro. Here, we also have a dark and oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper blended over vintage Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. But Ashton Aged Maduro is a much milder cigar. Tasting notes of almond, dark chocolate, molasses, maple, and black pepper come together in a nutty and mellow smoke that’s perfect for a beginner. Millions of cigar lovers relish Ashton Aged Maduro for its rich taste because it isn’t overwhelming or too spicy.
Learn More About Cigar Wrappers
One of the best ways to understand the relationship between a cigar’s color and its strength is to learn about the most popular wrapper leaves that cigarmakers work with. Connecticut Shade wrappers are primarily mild and creamy, just like their golden color would indicate. Cameroon wrappers are a toothy, medium-brown color, and they impart a mellow and nutty taste. Ecuador Habano wrappers are usually dark and oily but not as dark as a Broadleaf wrapper. They’re also hearty and spicy. Ecuador Sumatra wrappers can be oily, dark, and strong. San Andrés wrappers from Mexico are also on the darker side and often show a mix of sweet, nutty, and spicy flavors. Dominican wrappers are rare and often reserved for high-end cigars, like Fuente Fuente Opus X and Ashton ESG. Nicaraguan wrappers are generally found in darker, stronger cigars. As you develop your palate, you’ll learn to recognize the similarities between different cigars that are blended with wrappers from the same region.
