Among the Spanish-rich language of cigars — from figurado to puro — one word stands out: Connecticut. No doubt you’ll see it if you peruse your local store’s walk-in humidor. The Connecticut wrapper is one of the more common cigar wrappers, and it’s one of the most unique, too.
Along with filler and binder tobacco, a cigar’s wrapper affects flavor and aroma, and it plays an important role in the way a cigar burns. The Connecticut wrapper, as opposed to the excellent Maduro or Habano wrappers grown in the Caribbean or elsewhere, is silky-smooth to the touch and extremely light in color. Even if the filler tobacco of a Connecticut-wrapper cigar is full-bodied and spicy, the light leaf lends a creamy mildness to the smoke. This makes Connecticut wrappers ideal for a new smoker; yet when paired with something more pungent, it adds the complexity and subtlety veteran smokers love.
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The Connecticut tobacco industry has contracted in the past decade. Fewer people smoke cigars today than they once did; plus, growers in the Caribbean have figured out how to grow Connecticut-seed tobacco just as well, at a fraction of the cost. So, it’s likely that your Connecticut wrapper was actually grown in Ecuador or the Dominican Republic. Consider the geographical contradiction good conversation fodder while you’re enjoying your next one.
Nat Sherman Sterling Series
For decades, Nat Sherman was mainly a cigarette maker. But since a revamp in the 2010s, they’ve resurfaced among cigar smokers as a solid, affordable brand. Their Sterling series is a great introduction to Connecticut wrappers, with mild flavors and the right price tag.
