CCOM FORUM BLEND WEEKLY POLL 2: WRAPPER
Alex_Svenson
Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭
Just a quick recap. Thus far we have only decided body (medium for anyone catching up). Time to pick the wrapper. The wrapper is a critical decision as it imparts a great deal of the flavor and sets the foundation for aroma. Wrapper tends to play less effect into body, but since we chose medium, really any wrapper is doable. Again, when it comes to the flavor of the cigar, this is the most important step.
Below is a list of wrapper choices. Based on what fillers we pick, I will ultimately pick the priming so as to accomplish our medium bodied goal. Lets have everyone PICK TWO from the below list and the one biggest vote getter will win. Remember to throw in your reasons for why you picked what you did and lets get a nice discussion going. To clear up any questions which I am sure are going to come, habano seeds are all the same despite how people market them. Criollo, Corojo and Habano are all the same for all intensive purposes. If anyone wants the explanation, I can give it to you sometime but not in this thread.
Wrapper (pick 2)
Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro (dark, oily, sweet with a moderate flavor)
Mexican San Andres Maduro (sweet with hints of spiciness)
Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro (sweet like CT Broadleaf but also strong and spicy, rich.)
Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro (sweet and clearly ripe with a brown sugary core)
Brazilian Mata Fina Maduro (peppery maduro that is rich and leathery)
Habano Jalapa Nicaragua (reddish wrapper that is thin with a distinct sweetness)
Habano Condega Nicaragua (colorado wrapper that is leathery and smoky)
Habano Jamastran Honduras (tough wrapper that has a strong full flavor and long finish)
Habano Copan Honduras (spicy and sweet with a rich overtone and long finish)
Habano Ecuador (very nice wrapper. Leathery, spicy with a complex core. Pepin uses a lot of this)
Connecticut Ecuador (thin and sweet wrapper with woody, cedary notes)
Cameroon Africa (ugly yet toothy wrapper that is sweet and oily)
Sumatra Indonesia (a toothy wrapper that yields a mild to moderate flavor that is bitter and sweet)
Sumatra Ecuador (a sun grown wrapper made famous by the VSG. spicy and robust with some dry, toasty notes)
Can't wait to hear from everyone.
Below is a list of wrapper choices. Based on what fillers we pick, I will ultimately pick the priming so as to accomplish our medium bodied goal. Lets have everyone PICK TWO from the below list and the one biggest vote getter will win. Remember to throw in your reasons for why you picked what you did and lets get a nice discussion going. To clear up any questions which I am sure are going to come, habano seeds are all the same despite how people market them. Criollo, Corojo and Habano are all the same for all intensive purposes. If anyone wants the explanation, I can give it to you sometime but not in this thread.
Wrapper (pick 2)
Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro (dark, oily, sweet with a moderate flavor)
Mexican San Andres Maduro (sweet with hints of spiciness)
Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro (sweet like CT Broadleaf but also strong and spicy, rich.)
Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro (sweet and clearly ripe with a brown sugary core)
Brazilian Mata Fina Maduro (peppery maduro that is rich and leathery)
Habano Jalapa Nicaragua (reddish wrapper that is thin with a distinct sweetness)
Habano Condega Nicaragua (colorado wrapper that is leathery and smoky)
Habano Jamastran Honduras (tough wrapper that has a strong full flavor and long finish)
Habano Copan Honduras (spicy and sweet with a rich overtone and long finish)
Habano Ecuador (very nice wrapper. Leathery, spicy with a complex core. Pepin uses a lot of this)
Connecticut Ecuador (thin and sweet wrapper with woody, cedary notes)
Cameroon Africa (ugly yet toothy wrapper that is sweet and oily)
Sumatra Indonesia (a toothy wrapper that yields a mild to moderate flavor that is bitter and sweet)
Sumatra Ecuador (a sun grown wrapper made famous by the VSG. spicy and robust with some dry, toasty notes)
Can't wait to hear from everyone.
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Comments
Second pick: Sumatra Ecuador. I really like this wrapper, enjoyed in with another Fernandez blend, the La Herencia Cubana.
2. Habano Jalapa Nicaragua- wildcard vote, honestly. I believe the Graycliff 1666 has this wrapper, and it was damn good.
Second choice is Brazilian Mata Fina. I just happened to have another cusano paired maduro. Can beat peppery, rich and leathery, in my book. I was tempted to go Habano Ecuador...definitely a tough choice.
My second choice would be the Mexican San Andres maduro because it sounds interesting and something a little different while still giving the sweetness that I enjoy.
Second Vote- Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro -Have to be honest your description just sounded damn tasty !!!
#1 - Habano Ecuador - I assume this is what Don Pepin uses in the Cuban Classic, then. This is the kind of Habano I like, - some spice, but it doesn't annihilate all other flavors (like some seem to). I like my spice backed up with earth and other very rich flavors.
#2 - Habano Condega Nicaragua - Again, for complexity, for presence of smoke, earth (ususally smoky and earthy come together, no? I certainly could be wrong assuming this) and leather, and for spiciness without a nose-hair-singing pepper bomb.
Ron I have not tried those yet ...based on your recommend I may have to put on next order-Thanks Gene
Second pick - Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro; I also love naturally sweet Maduros, like the Vigilante Maduro, another of my favorite cigars.
2. Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro - I also, just in case people didn't know, love Maduro wrappers. Nothing is as aesthetically pleasing to me. But for the flavor profile, I like to find a very subtly sweet cigar; I think adding something that has a sugary core sounds like a cool idea; it is very different in it's description from the others, and so I picked it.
Remember, variety is the spice of life.
#2: Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro: CCOM Brazlilian maduro....need i say more!
so many good options. i like a good rich leathery maduro so...
Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro
but i also like honduran tobacco so much. I know it wont win, but...
Habano Copan Honduras
just for the fun of it...
my cigar (if i was the only one blending this right now) would have been full bodied with a Habano Copan Honduras wrapper.
I have a thing for the habano ecuador lately, my 5 vegas miami's have really been growing on me lately. Im gaining a real appreciation for the spiciness and complexity, as you said yourself.
However, im a sucker like many of the other guys for the Sumatra Ecuador. Ive just had too many excellent sticks with that wrapper to deny that it would be a wonderful medium style wrapper. I think it also has a wider appeal to everyone instead of something a little more niche such as a maddie/connie. Connies are too easily overwhelmed, and maddies have a distinct following, but not everyones a fan. Its hard to ever hear anyone complain about a Sumatra though if its a great blend.
Edit: I guess i shouldve just said ditto to joz, i didnt realize we had identical picks until i reread the replies, haha.
2nd choice would have to be the Cameroon I guess.
1. Cameroon Africa (ugly yet toothy wrapper that is sweet and oily)
2. Connecticut Ecuador (thin and sweet wrapper with woody, cedary notes)
Second choice: Sumatra Ecuador
1. Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro. Can't go wrong with a nice maduro.
2. Cameroon Africa. Seem to remember having a few sticks with this wrapper and they were pretty good.
2. Habano Jalapa Nicaragua - Love the color of this wrapper but also the sweetness with subtle spice - so for the same reasons I love the Cameroon.
My second choice is a bit of a wild card, but the Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro sounds fantastic.
Second choice would be Sumatra Ecuador. The VSG is an awesome cigar.
1. Connecticut. Broadleaf Maduro - a nice oily sweet wrapper, nice flavor, not too overwhelming 2. Habano Ecuador- a wrapper to add some spice and complexity to the smoke.
I tried picking wrappers that wouldn't overwhelm each other.
"Long ashes my friends."
Okay, my first choice. I am a Maduro ****, I must admit.
2nd Choice: Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro (sweet and clearly ripe with a brown sugary core)
My second choice. I absolutely love this wrapper on the C.Com Brazilian blend, and would love to see our cigar make use of this.
Sorry for coming into this late, I have not been active lately, but that is about to change given this thread. Fair warning...all my votes are going to take us in the direction of creating our own Triple Maduro
Second choice: Connecticut Ecuador
These are a couple of my favorite wrappers and the two I think are the most consistent with a medium body cigar. Starting off with either spice or sweet flavor and follow it up with either toasty or woodsy flavor (respectively) sounds like a good medium-type profile to me. Not too strong or long, just flavorful then woody/toasty then done.