Wrapper – The wrapper is the outer leaf of the cigar that holds the inner tobaccos (the filler and binder tobaccos). Aside from the brand (make) and shape of the cigar, the wrapper is one of the first things that will build the initial impression of your cigar. For this reason, cigar manufacturers are very discerning with the selection of this tobacco.  It must be smooth in texture, lustrous, flawless and attractive in appearance, suggesting a unique taste. An added advantage is that the leaf used must be large to avoid too many lines when rolling.

They are characterized by their color, the variety of seed, the country of origin (where the plants are grown), the fermentation process and the method of cultivation, which mainly determine the specific taste and aroma of the cigar. The wrapper leaf is the most expensive part of the cigar and receives the most attention and care in the cultivation, fermentation and production of premium cigars.

There are a lot of terms used to describe the wrapper leaf that may confuse you at first, but this article will clear it all up and is sure to help anyone just getting into the world of cigars.

What tobacco leaves are used for the wrapper leaf?

The ideal and attractive wrapper leaf is a thin and delicate leaf with as few visible veins as possible and a smooth texture, for this reason Ligero tobacco is not used as it is often too thick and rough. At the same time, the buttery sheen and intense aromas are considered quite important, which excludes the tasteless and dry Velado (Viso) leaves. The tobacco for the wrapper is therefore usually made from the Seco leaves of the plant. They are oily and aromatic without being too thick and stringy, nor too soft and brittle. You can read about Ligero, Seco and Velado leaves here: LINK

What are the different colors of the cigar?

Most basically, the colors are divided into two main categories: light brown (Natural) and dark (Maduro). The factors that influence the color, strength and taste are the amount of sunlight the plant receives, the duration and temperature during the fermentation process, etc. Natural are usually golden or light brown. The most common with this color are Connecticut Shade and Ecuador Connecticut. 

The term Maduro translated (ripe or aged) is actually used to refer to the fermentation process of the leaf or the way it is aged. These leaves go through a specific fermentation process, under special conditions of heat and humidity, to allow the natural oils of the leaves to come to the surface and develop to achieve a variety of dark brown colors and sweet, intense flavors. The most famous Maduro-colored tobacco is Connecticut Broadleaf.

Although the wrapper is only a small part of the cigar, its color can serve as an indicator of the cigar’s flavor and strength. Lighter colored Natural cigars are perceived as milder, with tasting notes of almonds, cashews, cedar and toast, with light to moderate hints of spice. While the darker Maduro cigars are more full-bodied and carry richer, more complex and sweet flavors. However, this is not entirely determinative and color is not always a reliable guide.  Although you can divide the majority of cigars into Natural or Maduro, there are more specific types of colors that fall into one of these two categories.

Candela Wrapper

AKA: Clarisimo, Double Claro, American Market Selection.

Claro Wrapper

Typical of Connecticut Shade.

Colorado Claro Wrapper

AKA – Natural.

Colorado Wrapper

Unlike Claro Wrapper, the fermentation process is longer.

Colorado Maduro Wrapper

A variant between the Colorado and Maduro leaves, as the name suggests. Some cigar experts and aficionados argue that because it is slightly less drying than the Maduro wrapper, the Colorado Maduro retains a more flavorful flavor profile.

Maduro Wrapper

The color is related to the fermentation process.

Oscuro Wrapper

Also known as: Double Maduro, Negro, Black. Like Maduro, Oscuro is taken from the tallest leaves exposed to the most sun. However, they are left on the plant as long as possible before being cut. Once cultivated, they endure a much more intense and longer fermentation process than Maduro, which can last for years.

Terminological glossary of the wrapping sheet

Brazilian

The most famous of the Brazilian cigar wrapper tobaccos is Mata Fina, grown in Recôncavo in Brazil, a strip of land near the northeast coast. They have a dark brown to black color, specific notes of coffee bean and pepper with a moderate sweetness. Popular blends with a Brazilian wrapper are Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Maduro, AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro, and some of the Kristoff series.

Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Maduro

Cameroon

Grown in Cameroon as well as in the neighboring Central African Republic. They are notable for their delicate, a little dry texture and are light to medium brown. The rich soils of the region yield interesting, unique flavors that offer a wonderful balance of natural sweetness and spice. Cigars you can try with this wrapper include the Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon, the Perdomo Reserve Limited Cameroon Edition, and the AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon.

AJ Fernandez New World Cameroon

Candela

These are the easiest cigars to recognize, specific for their green color.  The leaves are removed from the plant before they reach maturity. They are then stored under extreme conditions (high heat and humidity) for about 24 to 48 hours; they are then cooled quickly to preserve the chlorophyll colour, which gives it that characteristic green hue. Candela are very mild cigars, they have a grassy tea aroma with hints of cedar and pepper. A good start for first time smokers. We offer the interesting Drew Estate Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang Swamp Rat cigar, which has two types of wrapper: the Candela and the Natural from Sumatra.

Kentucky Fire Cured Swamp Thang & Swamp Rat

Candela Wrapper

Connecticut

Produced in the northeast region, around the Connecticut River Valley. The rich soils in this region produce unparalleled yields. They are usually golden brown in color. The taste is sweet, rich and creamy due to the lower intensity of sunlight in the region compared to other regions closer to the equator. There are several known variants of this wrapper leaf, these are Shade and Broadleaf.

Connecticut Broadleaf

The most famous Maduro-colored wrapper is the Connecticut Broadleaf. It has a dark brown buttery color, can be almost black. It is grown in direct sunlight. It has an authentic sweet flavor and notes of raisin, cedar, dark chocolate, chestnut, cassis and spice. The aging and fermentation process mellows the tobacco considerably, imparting a natural sweetness to the cigar that contradicts misconceptions that the wrapper color is responsible for the cigar’s strength. Great Connecticut Broadleaf cigars are the Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9, Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Serie UF-13, Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Serie Bauhaus, and the AJ Fernandez Enclave Broadleaf.

Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9

Connecticut Broadleaf

Connecticut Habano

А less common variant of the Connecticut wrapper. It is grown from Cuban seed (Habano). The reason so many regions of the world use Cuban seed is that some of the best cigar makers fled their country in the years after the revolution. With them they took the seeds they needed to continue their legacy. Nowadays, these seeds are mostly grown in Ecuador (Ecuador Habano). In recent years, experimental cultivation of these seeds has begun in the Connecticut region, which has created this flavor-rich tobacco.

Connecticut Shade

Is among the most prized varieties grown for premium cigars. With a golden-brown color, with a light silky texture. This tobacco is grown in the Connecticut River Valley, as the name suggests, the plants are grown protected from direct sunlight with a net erected over the crop. The effect simulates a naturally cloudy sky, shielding the plants from direct sunlight exposure. Cultivation is an expensive and risky process with high maintenance and labor-intensive harvesting. The result is a flawless tobacco leaf, with exquisitely balanced nicotine density. Creamy notes of almonds, cashews and coffee with cream characterize Connecticut Shade cigars. Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut and AJ Fernandez New World Connecticut are typical examples of cigars with this wrapper leaf.

AJ Fernandez New World Connecticut

Connecticut Shade

Corojo

A variety of tobacco that originated in Cuba and is mainly produced for wrapper tobacco. It is grown mainly in the Jamastran region of Honduras, and hybrid seed varieties of Corojo have been developed and are grown in other regions, such as Nicaragua and Connecticut. The color ranges from light brown to dark with a reddish-brown hue, a strong spicy flavor profile and a peppery yet sweet aroma. One of Rocky Patel’s best-selling cigars is The Edge Corojo. With Corojo from Honduras are the Rocky Patel Number 6. Cigars with Nicaraguan Corojo Oscuro are My Father Don Pepin Clasicos and My Father Don Pepin Original. The Corojo seeds were developed by Diego Rodriguez at his Santa Inés del Corojo farm in the province of Pinar del Rio. Preferred wrapper leaf by Christian Eiroa for CLE, Eiroa and Asylum cigars.

Rocky Patel Number 6

Corojo in the plantation of Christian Europe

Criollo

Another classic Cuban tobacco plant that has a centuries-old history. It translates as ‘native seed’. It can be traced back to the era when Columbus discovered the New World. Today Criollo is grown in Nicaragua, Mexico and Honduras. Criollos are reddish, earthy brown in color and contain notes of molasses, cedar, coffee beans and plenty of spice. Kristoff Criollo are medium to strong cigars with a Criollo wrapper grown in Honduras.

Kristoff Ligero Criollo

Dominican

Grown exclusively at Chateau de la Fuente in the Dominican Republic and are golden to reddish brown in color. They have a spicy intense flavor with a characteristic creaminess.

Ecuador

The predominant region for the production of wrapper leaves in recent decades.

Ecuador Connecticut

The result of Connecticut seed planted and grown in Ecuador. They are similar in color to Connecticut Shade with a golden, light brown color and are slightly drier. The taste features notes of white pepper, leather, nuts and a bouquet of spices. A great example of this type of wrapper is Drew Estate Undercrown Shade, My Father Connecticut and Rocky Patel The Edge Lite.

Drew Estate Undercrown Shade

Ecuador Habano

Cuban seed tobacco growing in Ecuador. They range in color from medium to dark brown, with some having a reddish tint. This tobacco has a rich spicy flavor accompanied by notes of coffee, spices and pepper. A wrapper preferred by many famous cigar makers. Rocky Patel with 15th Anniversary , RP Super Ligero and Rocky Patel LB1, AJ Fernandez with Enclave Habano and San Lotano Oval Habano, My Father Cigars with Flor De Las Antillas Maduro are cigars with this wrapper. As well as My Father La Antiguedad made Habano Rosado Oscuro with a unique reddish brown color.

My Father La Antiguedad

Ecuador Sumatra

Different from Indonesian Sumatra tobacco, as it is a cross between the Sumatra variety and Cuban tobacco, which originated in Cuba. Grown in Ecuador, where the conditions are perfect: natural cloud cover that filters out the sunlight and rich volcanic soils. The color is a rich, chocolate brown.  Ecuadorian Sumatra is richer, with a stronger and spicier flavor profile and aromas of cedar, raisins, pepper and leather. You can appreciate this wrapper with the Rocky Patel Vintage 1992, Rocky Patel Royale, Rocky Patel Decade, My Father The Judge and Drew Estate Undercrown Sungrown cigars with a sun grown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.

Drew Estate Undercrown Sungrown

Habano

Comes from tobacco with Cuban seeds. Two types of Habano and Habano 2000 have been developed. Both come from Cuba and are hybrids engineered for greater disease resistance. Mainly grown in Ecuador and Nicaragua. Extremely popular cigars, with a spicy and intense flavor. Dark in color and rich woody and earthy flavors with hints of coffee bean, leather and spice. Created especially for Best Cigars – Bulgaria and all our customers, El Mago by Rocky Patel is a cigar carrying all the qualities of this tobacco grown on Rocky’s plantations in the Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua.

El Mago от Rocky Patel

Habano 2000

Honduran

Premium cigar leaves are grown throughout Honduras, but the most important region is located north of the country’s border with Nicaragua in the southeastern region of Honduras in a province called El Paraiso. There are two areas where tobacco has long been grown: the Jamastran Valley with its fertile soil and the Danli area. These tobaccos have a deep brown colour, some with a mahogany tinge. They deliver notes of cocoa, wood and chili. One of Rocky Patel’s cigar factories is in Danli. This is the El Paraiso factory where Decade, Twentieth Anniversary, Sun Grown and all of The Edge’s varieties are made.

El Paraiso

Indonesian

Indonesian tobaccos are traditionally used in machine made cigars and less commonly for hand made. They are mainly used as filler and binder tobaccos and, on rare occasions, as wrapper tobaccos.

Mexican – see San Andrés

Nicaraguan

Nicaraguan tobacco leaves are world famous and all cigar lovers know what the reason is. This tobacco makes incredibly good cigars. Nicaragua’s rich volcanic soils are extremely good for growing tobacco. The Nicaraguan wrapper lends flavor notes of cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cedar, cocoa, black pepper and toasted nuts. Its color ranges from medium brown to dark chocolate brown. Famous types are Nicaraguan Habano, Nicaraguan Corojo and Nicaraguan Criollo. Production is mainly concentrated in Esteli and the Jalapa Valley. Tobacco is also grown in the Condega Valley north of Esteli, but the leaves of the Condega are most commonly used as binder tobacco. The town of Esteli is a thriving center of the industry, home to Rocky Patel’s TaviCusa boutique factory, the Tabacalera Perdomo factory and that of A.J. Patel. Fernandez.

Perdomo 20th Anniversary

Rocky Patel’s plantation in Nicaragua

Pennsylvania Broadleaf

Pennsylvania has a rich history in tobacco farming that dates back to the 17th century. It is primarily grown in the Lancaster area. Although the climate is similar to the Connecticut River Valley, the two regions produce very different tobaccos due to their different soils. Pennsylvania Broadleaf has a coarser texture, with a dark brown color. It is stronger and spicier than Connecticut Broadleaf. AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro are medium to strong cigars, with rich earthy flavors of molasses, nuts and pepper, made with Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro.

AJ Fernandez Last Call Maduro

San Andres

The San Andres Valley in the state of Veracruz, Mexico is a place with nutrient-rich volcanic soil suitable for growing exceptional tobacco. The humid climate and prevailing winds from the Gulf of Mexico are a great influence on tobacco crops. Mexican San Andres Negros tobacco seeds are even believed to have preceded Cuban seeds, spreading from Peru to Central America, into Mexico and then the Caribbean. The leaves are persistent, dense and lend themselves to prolonged fermentation. Dark brown to almost black in color, they can be buttery and glossy or very slightly dry. Notes of cocoa, pepper, coffee, dark chocolate and peppery spices are specific to these tobacco leaves. Our offerings with this wrapper leaf are Drew Estate Undercrown Dojo Dogma, Drew Estate Norteño by Willy Herrera, Rocky Patel Cigar Smoking World Championship, and AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Maduro.

Drew Estate Undercrown Dojo Dogma

San Andres Oscuro

Oscuro translated from Spanish means “dark”. Oscuro is achieved by a shorter fermentation period at a lower temperature, unlike Maduro. They are darker because they are harvested from the upper parts of the tobacco plant, which receive plenty of sunlight. As these leaves are exposed more time on the plant, they are thicker and darker in colour. The fermentation process results in a sweeter, richer flavour. San Andrés Oscuro have peppery notes of caramel, espresso, cocoa and make the cigars full-bodied and intense. My Father La Opulencia are strong and flavor-rich cigars, possessing all the characteristics of San Andrés Oscuro.

My Father La Opulencia

Sumatra

The Indonesian island of Sumatra produces bountiful harvests of tobacco. The most famous Sumatra wrapper tobaccos are actually grown in Ecuador from Sumatra seeds. The sweet, floral notes of cocoa, grass, cinnamon and earth make cigars with these wrappers mellow and perfect for smoking. Drew Estate’s infused Acid Cuba Maduro are cigars with Sumatra wrapper tobacco.

Drew Estate Acid Kuba Maduro

Sun Grown

Refers to the growing process, not a specific region or seed variety. Sun Grown covers are grown under direct sunlight without the use of a net to limit the light reaching the plant, as is done with Shade Grown. Wrapper leaves exposed to direct sunlight generate the natural oils in tobacco, so they are more saturated, thicker, glossier and stronger. They range in color from maroon to dark brown. Notes of nutmeg, cedar and sweet coffee are characteristic. Popular cigars include Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro, My Father Flor De Las Antillas, Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown, Liga Privada T52 and Drew Estates Undercrown Sungrown.

Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro

USA Connecticut

USA Connecticut is a way of categorizing Connecticut Shade and Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers that are grown in the USA (as opposed to Connecticut seed tobaccos grown in other countries, such as Ecuador).

Now that you’ve gotten this far, you’ll likely be able to better appreciate your favorite cigar and more easily navigate choosing a new one. Thanks for reading and remember, understanding comes with experience. Be curious and experiment.

The different parts of the cigar

The cigar can be divided into three functional parts

• HEAD – The head of the cigar is the enclosed area at the top of the cigar that touches your lips. The area where the cut is made before the cigar is lit;
• BODY – The body is the middle part;
• FOOT – The foot is the lower part where the ignition takes place.

These parts of the cigar are made up of different types of tobacco. Each of them has its own qualities and characteristics. The type of tobacco is determined by a combination of factors. The first is the variety of the tobacco plant or from what seeds it is sown, the second is where the plant is grown or in which region of the world. Next comes which part of the plant it was picked from, under what conditions it was grown, how long it was aged, what fermentation method was used and therefore what function it performs in the cigar thus made.

The different parts of the tobacco plant

A plant consists of three types of leaves arranged in different levels, each level determining different features and specific qualities of the tobacco leaves. These are the Volado, the Seko and the Ligero. Every cigar needs a combination of these three types, and the combination and the way it is created will have a direct impact on the taste and smoking experience of your cigar. Knowing these three basic types and their characteristics will greatly enhance your understanding of cigars and how they blend.

Tobacco Volado

The first level of the tobacco plant consists of the leaves located at the bottom near the base. They have less sun exposure than the other leaves, Volado or Libra de Pie are poor in flavors and aromas. At the same time they are a very thin and light tobacco that has excellent burning qualities, unlike the others. Therefore, it is included in the blend of tobaccos to ensure an even and consistent burn when smoked. Often the area between the Volado and the Seco is called the Capote. This is the Spanish word for binder tobacco and offers a balanced leaf with the characteristics of both levels. Volado is the leaf that is cut first at harvest.

Seco tobacco

As can be inferred from the name, Seco is from the second zone, located in the middle part of the plant. Unlike Volado, it is fuller-bodied and offers a mild flavor rich in aromas. Besides Seco, this area is sometimes called Uno y Medio depending on the seed. In addition, Seco occupies a fairly large area and includes a series of types within itself depending on the seed (tobacco variety): Centro Fino – fine leaves with rich but restrained strength. Centro Ligero – not to be confused with Ligero, it contains the majority of Seco leaves. Uno y Medio – the first layer of Seco, which often contains Capote leaves.

Ligero tobacco

The leaves collected from the tip of a tobacco plant are known as Ligero. Exposed to the most sun, it is a thick and heavy tobacco with an extremely powerful flavor and strength. To maximize its potency, it is left to mature as the last leaves to be cultivated. Since the previous layers have already been harvested at pruning, the nutrients will slowly concentrate in these remaining leaves to provide full flavour. The Ligero itself consists of several types, which vary by seed type: the Medio Tiempo – three or four thick, small leaves at the very tip, which are the most potent. Rarely used, it can basically be incorporated into some of the boldest and most intense cigars, but lacks subtlety for most flavor blends. Corona – the uppermost part of the Ligero below the Medio Tiempo.

Centro Gordo / Centro Alto – the thick and strong flavored leaf at the base of the Ligero. Ligero leaves are quite dense and thick and do not burn well. It is therefore important to use them in combination in lower portions to ensure an even burn and balanced strength. Ligero is generally less aromatic than Seco, which is why both are used together for a harmonious combination. While Ligero offers powerful flavors and strength, Seco offers enticing flavors. The more Ligero included in the cigar, the stronger it will be.

The use of types of tobacco in the cigar

Having clarified the varieties of tobacco from the different parts of the plant, we can now explain how they are used in the cigar. The different types of tobacco in the cigar, according to the functions they perform, are divided into the following three groups: wrapper tobacco, binder tobacco and filler tobacco. Each of the components of the cigar is made from different types of tobacco. Although a combination of several types of tobaccos are blended to create a unique flavor profile, attention must be paid to how the layers are typically arranged in the cigar.

Wrapper

There are differing opinions that all parts of the cigar are equally important, but in our opinion the wrapper deserves the most attention. It is both the most expensive and the most refined leaf used in the making of the cigar, and comes in a variety of colors, varieties and origins. The cigar wrapper is the outermost sheet that covers the cigar. This means that its appearance is as important as the qualities and aromas it offers. The attractive sheath is a thin and tender leaf with few visible veins and a smooth texture. The advice is that Ligero tobacco cannot be used as it is often too thick and coarse. So it is usually sourced from Seco leaves.

Once the tobacco is selected, a very careful grading process ensures that it is free of any defects and of the appropriate color. It is often desirable to be oily and shiny, which precludes the use of Volado leaves. During the growing process, the selected leaves are carefully cared for under special conditions. For example, some tobacco can be grown under gauze-like sheets to prevent it from becoming dense from the sun’s rays.

Binder

Since the wrapper is delicate, it is not strong enough to hold the contents of the cigar on its own. Therefore, a thicker sheet is often chosen to hold the filling securely. This is the binding tobacco, its function is to bind the contents of the cigar together while acting as a suitable surface for the wrapper. Seco and Volado tobacco can offer the qualities of a binder tobacco, so the commonly used leaves are supplied in the section between them. The leaves are known as Capote, and they are distinguished by certain characteristics of both layers. This is a medium thin but robust tobacco that contains few oils and is poor in aromas and flavors. However, it offers a superior, easy-to-burn consistency.

Filler

The filler makes up the bulk of the cigar’s tobacco. A well-blended selection of tobaccos is essential. Generally, a cigar consists of many different tobacco leaves of different layers to achieve this. The strongest Ligero leaves are often gathered in the center of the filling, as they burn the slowest and increase in intensity. With the addition of Seco leaves, the mixture is enriched in aromas, and with Velado, an even burn is ensured.

The cigar can consist of two types of filling. These are Long filler and Short Filler. The length of the filler leaves is often an indicator of the quality of the cigar. As a rule, only Long filler tobaccos are used to roll handmade cigars. Meanwhile, cheaper machine-made cigars consist of Short Fillers, which are small pieces of tobacco. However, there are cases where shorter leaves are used to fill the uneven areas in the cigars. However, this is a practice that is generally avoided with most premium cigars. Conversely, lower quality leaves are cut into smaller pieces so they can be rolled by a machine, sometimes treated with chemicals to adjust the taste. Therefore, handmade cigars are of much higher quality.

Next up: Cigar Wrapper – all about the cigar wrapper.

It is said that two hundred pairs of hands touch your cigar before it ends up in your humidor. Some even claim that the number is much higher. Suffice it to say that every time you light a cigar, it’s because many people with different skills have committed to bringing you the best hand-crafted product.

It all starts with the seeds. Crop selection and cultivation. The tobacco plant begins its development as a tiny seed planted in a pot and placed in a greenhouse. As soon as the plants reach a few centimeters in height, they are moved to the field where they will develop. When ripe, the leaves are picked by hand, stacked and dried in barns until brown. That’s a few dozen hands before the tobacco has even left the farm.

Raw tobacco is soft, unsorted and piled up – ready for fermentation. When ripe, the piles of tobacco leaves are separated and placed in dryers exposed to natural air flow. Then they are rearranged and sorted again.

After several years, the matured tobacco is sorted once again. It is rehydrated /moistened/ in special rooms with water vapor and is graded depending on its color. Here are a few dozen more hands.

We should not forget the process of rolling cigars and the people trained to do it with the correct, aged tobacco.

People who roll cigars are called TORCEDOR. They take their set of leaves to the table where they work and create the cigars according to the list of different tobaccos given to them by the master blender or brand owner, grouping and rolling them for each individual cigar. On hand! The combination of tobaccos is determined in precise proportions every time, so that the cigar smoking experience is special for you. A formula that involves more and more pairs of hands….

The finished cigars are sorted by color and sent to the aging rooms. Finally, they are put on paper rings, packed in boxes and sent to the stores. This is basically the basic technology of cigar production. Of course, there are many more quality control procedures that are mandatory at various stages of production and almost all of them are done manually. With that in mind, a hand-rolled cigar is a huge human effort, requiring the hand of an expert at every stage of its creation. To be continued.

Author: Gregory Mottola

Rakesh Patel (Rocky Patel)

The story of Rakesh Patel (later in America he changed his name to Rocky Patel) began in India. Born and lived in Bombay (Mumbai) until the age of 14, then immigrated to the USA with his parents. Rocky Patel lived and worked as a Hollywood lawyer in Los Angeles. Among the actors, directors and other figures of the cinema, cigar smoking was a common part of the Hollywood atmosphere.

So, watching the numerous films whose legal cases he dealt with, he met his passion, inhaling the strong smoke of Cuban cigars. Along with his work, Rocky became a member and then an investor of the Grand Havana room, where he gathered with celebrities to relax and smoke cigars.After some time, the idea came to turn his passion into his own cigar manufacturing business. No one believes in the success of the venture, but Patel proves to everyone: nothing is impossible, and today the whole world knows his name.

The perfectionist

Rocky is a true perfectionist, and before getting serious about the cigar business, he carefully studied this art for five years: he traveled and spent a lot of time in the plantations of Honduras and Nicaragua, studying the production process, fermentation and drying of tobacco. He blended and tried hundreds of tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic until he learned to recognize and combine them. So after full training and business research, he sold his law firm and moved to Florida.

In 1996, Rocky Patel, Indian by birth and without a drop of Cuban blood, devoted himself to his love, making cigars – unique and different. At that time in America, the period of the so-called “cigar boom”, the market was flooded by numerous cigar manufacturers with low-quality tobacco. Rocky Patel, used to doing everything the best way and no other way, bets on the true connoisseurs and connoisseurs.

To be continued …

The El Paraiso factory in Honduras, where Rocky Patel cigars are made, employs about 900 people, of whom 700 are torsedors. Each torsador is limited to a maximum number of cigars wrapped per day. According to Rocky, the only way to achieve the perfect quality is to do it conscientiously and take enough time. Tobacco leaves are sorted not only by length and size, but also by thickness.

Cigar production implies exact consistency not only in the origin of cigar tobacco and production technologies, but also in the original properties of each individual leaf. In the production of Rocky Patel cigars, a special Calfrista system is used, which allows for precise control of temperature and humidity during the drying process.

A passion for blending tobaccos is in Rocky Patel’s blood. This is fueled by Rocky’s Indian ancestry and pedigree: his mother is a famous chef. For the production of Rocky Patel cigars, he mixes tobacco from Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Mexican and Dominican tobacco. The end product is not just a good combination, because the best cigars, in his opinion, should not just be good, but necessarily interesting. Rocky believes that blending tobaccos from different regions requires more skill and knowledge so the end product can become an amazing cigar.This process takes time, and while experimenting with hundreds of blends, it can literally take a year or more to get the “perfect” blend. Thus begins Rocky Patel’s Vintage Series. It emphasizes quality control. Each cigar is inspected and tested. The taste of Rocky Patel cigars is very complex, even “motley”, but surprisingly harmonious.

A tireless brand endorser, he rarely sees his home and headquarters in Naples and Florida. Annually, he logs more than 300 days on the road and over 150,000 miles. He once visited 600 cities in 750 days! The time on the road is worth it, considering that in each city Rocky wins new customers and introduces more and more people to the Rocky Patel brand.

Thanks to charisma, enthusiasm, creativity and personal approach, the Rocky Patel brand thrives. Realized cigar sales exceed 20 million cigars per year. Despite the successes, Rocky continues to strive for perfection in his desire to create the perfect blend of tobaccos to make Rocky Patel cigars “immortal”.

Our store has the honor and pleasure to present and sell this unique brand, occupying leading positions in the cigar charts and maintaining the respect of its customers.

Don Jose Pepin is the CEO of El Rey de los Habanos, Inc., better known as My Father Cigars, founded in Miami, Florida. Pepin Garcia is one of the most skilled cigar makers in the industry and has been part of the creation of some of the most popular cigar brands in the world.

Born into a family of tobacconists and cigar makers in Baez, a small town in the province of Villa Clara in Cuba. He entered the cigar industry at an early age, starting work at the age of 11 in his uncle’s family cigar factory. Pepin García spent 30 years in Cuba, honing his skills as a torsador and establishing his name in cigar making. Won numerous awards for his tobacco blending skills, known for his fast work pace and attention to detail.He reached the highest possible level as a torsedor, grade 8. Among the awards he won was the productivity award: he rolled 320 Julietas cigars (7×48 vitolas) in just four hours. The Cuban press often compared the speed and dexterity of shrinking to that of a magician.

He is a Tabaquero Maestro (Master Blender) and also a “teacher of teachers’ ‘ in the art of blending and rolling cigars. While living in Cuba, he worked and helped blend tobacco for Cohiba, Montecristo and Partagas cigars. In the 1990s, he was responsible for quality assurance for the Cohiba brand and was a consultant to several Cuban cigar manufacturers. It was also then that he was declared the most productive master – Torcedor of Cuba.

In 2001, Pepin Garcia left Cuba and went to Miami, Florida. In 2002, he opened his own factory – El Rey de los Habanos. Pepin strives to create cigars that are in the Cuban style, but using the highest quality tobacco from Nicaragua. The result is a unique blend in medium to strong cigars. Don Pepin cigars are produced in a traditional Cuban style and finished with a triple wrap cap. Not only does he make his own brands of cigars, but he also creates brands for major clients, including Tatuaje, and boutique brands for several cigar stores. Due to the growing demand for cigars, in 2006 he opened the Tabacalera Cubana factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, rebranding the company to My Father Cigars. The name comes from a blend that his son Jaime Garcia makes especially for him.

My Father’s cigars reached the top of Cigar Aficionado’s charts when in 2012 the Flor de Las Antillas was named “Cigar of the Year” with 96 points. Their success was repeated in 2015 when Pepin decided to honor his own father with the brand “My Father Le Bijou 1922”, which received 97 points and became “Cigar of the Year” and Cigar Aficionado’s #1 Cigar of 2015. The My Father Cigars brand debuted in 2008 and has continued to grow and expand ever since. Don Pepin Garcia, his son Jaime and his daughter Gianni Garcia lead My Father Cigars from strength to strength, and their Esteli factory produces millions of cigars a year.

In the comfortable world of pleasure cigars, the peace is not infrequently disturbed by the wide variety of opinions and writings presented as facts. Often confusing and overwhelming even the avid smoker.

To help navigate this maze, we’ve selected a few facts and information to detail and introduce any cigar lover, whether they’re a novice or die-hard.

This will not be the “10 Commandments” of cigar smokers. Rather, it will be information that will illuminate some aspects of cigar making and why it is so specific /unique/. We have also added some valuable tips on how to get more pleasure from smoking and enrich your knowledge regarding the pleasure and quality of your favorite pastime.

Cigars are a natural / natural / craft product

Words like “natural” and “artisan” have become somewhat depersonalized by their frequent use in modern parlance, but high-quality, hand-crafted cigars have truly earned the right to be described as such. They are produced only and only from tobacco. Pure, unadulterated tobacco. Not a single leaf of the plant has been treated with chemicals or additionally flavored. Everything – from the taste to the color is natural and this is what gives the cigars their characteristic beauty.

In fact, few other products are as natural. The taste, whether sweet or hot, is natural. The many shades of brown that have appeared in the natural ripening of the leaves, without being further enriched with dyes, is in itself amazing. No preservatives, artificial or natural sweeteners are used. Such additives are inherent in the manufacture of cigarettes and machine-made cigars, which are mass-produced.

With hand-rolled cigars, the rolling process is a skill that takes years to master. Combining tobacco varieties is as much an art as a science, and due to the fact that tobacco is a natural product, the person who makes the selection of the varieties should be able to work with the raw material, changing and developing it from year to year, while being dependent on the crops.

As with wine, some vintages are better than others, but cigar makers do their best to ensure that their production is consistent and unchanged, despite the crops being subject to the vagaries of the weather.

The content of natural, unlike genetically modified varieties, always gives some minimal differences from cigar to cigar. As with any handcrafted product, no two cigars will be exactly alike. The best quality and most genuine cigars are a natural expression of the man who rolls them and the nature that created them. To be continued.

Author: Gregory Mottola