| are comprised of surprisingly few component parts. | | | | exudes a pungent aroma and deeper flavor. |
| Unlike cigarettes, which usually have filters, two | | | | Fillers |
| different kinds and colors of paper, and filler | | | | Cigars are composed mostly of whats known as filler |
| ingredients other than tobacco, cigars are all tobacco. | | | | tobacco. Cigars can have filler comprised of three |
| What makes one cigar so different from another is | | | | basic types: Seco, Volado, and Ligero. Cigars with |
| the type of tobacco, where it's grown, when the | | | | Seco filler are drier and have a lighter flavor. Volado |
| leaves are picked, how the picked leaves are cured | | | | filler produces a mid-range of flavor. Ligero is the |
| and fermented, and how the finished leaves are cut | | | | darkest, oiliest filler, producing cigars with lots of bold |
| and rolled. Because cigars are made in so many parts | | | | flavors and aromatic smoke. |
| of the world, there is a diverse range of product, as | | | | One reason to choose thicker cigars (Churchills or |
| you'd expect. | | | | Double Coronas, for example) is that these cigars |
| Wrappers | | | | obviously have more room for filler tobacco. This |
| The outermost layer of cigars is called the wrapper. | | | | gives the cigar maker the ability to add blends of |
| It is made from the widest part of the tobacco | | | | Seco, Volado, and Ligero varieties. You will find that |
| leaves, and it has a big impact on the cigar's flavor | | | | these bigger cigars generally produce more varied |
| and aroma. Cigar wrappers vary in color, and because | | | | and complex flavor combinations. |
| the wrapper color is what is most visible, cigars are | | | | Filler is either whats known as long or short. Long filler |
| often described by the wrapper color. Here is a list, | | | | in cigars is comprised of whole tobacco leaves, |
| from lightest to darkest: | | | | whereas short filler contains a chopped mixture of |
| * Double Claro: very light color (sometimes with a | | | | leaves (sometimes just the leaves), stems, and other |
| green tinge); color comes from leaves that are | | | | plant materials. In most cases, cigars with long filler |
| picked while still immature and cured quickly. | | | | are of superior quality. |
| * Claro: light-brown or yellowish-brown color, which is | | | | Binders |
| the result of tobacco plants grown predominantly in | | | | Many low-end cigars only use wrappers and fillers. But |
| shade. | | | | the better quality cigars youll find on the market use |
| * Natural: light-brown or brown. | | | | another component binders. Binders are an |
| * Colorado Claro: medium-brown; most often | | | | intermediate layer of more elastic tobacco leaves |
| associated with Cuban or Dominican Republic tobacco. | | | | that help cigars hold the filler material together in a |
| * Colorado (or Rosado): reddish-brown. | | | | more cohesive manner. The best cigars have binders |
| * Maduro: dark-brown; very popular color among | | | | that also add another complementary flavor to |
| serious connoisseurs of cigars. | | | | enhance the overall smoking experience. |
| * Oscuro: very dark-brown to oily black; typically | | | | |