BLENDING IN
The mystery surrounding how different tobaccos blend together to create a distinctive and consistent flavor can be attributed to the talents of the blender and the quality of tobaccos used. Of course other factors, such as the skill of the roller are also important, but the quality and aging of the tobacco itself and how each component (filler, binder, wrapper) intermarries is critical. The old saying “garbage in, garbage out” applies here, as there is no substitute for quality. The 3 different portions of a cigar contribute differently to a cigar’s strength, flavor, and how it smokes overall.
Filler Leaves: Filler is the bunch of tobacco found at the center of the cigar. Generally the filler is responsible for determining how strong a cigar will smoke. There are two types of filler: long filler, which contains the whole leaf running from the head to the foot of the cigar; and short filler, comprised of scraps of tobacco (often the trimmed, excess ends of long fillers). Great blenders can achieve identical, consistent flavor even with different types of tobacco - Rolando Reyes, Sr. for example, is renowned for his ability to “improvise” and create consistent-tasting blends even though the actual filler combination may vary from cigar to cigar.
Binder Leaf: Used to keep the filler tobacco together, the binder can add strength and complexity to a cigar. Generally a lower grade of tobacco than wrapper leaf, the binder is used primarily, although not solely, for functionality in holding the bunch together.
Wrapper Tobacco: The wrapper is the outside layer of tobacco on a cigar. It gives a cigar one of its primary flavor components. Wrappers are usually very high quality leaves and are available in colors ranging from double claro (the lightest) to Oscuro (darkest). Wrappers are the most expensive part of the cigar and many experts attribute up to 90% of the taste of a cigar to the wrapper. Wrappers also originate from various strains of tobacco which differ greatly from each other. The Corojo leaf can be used as a wrapper to give a cigar a strong peppery flavor whereas a Connecticut wrapper is used to give a cigar an even smoothness. Another type of wrapper leaf used is the Criollo. Used more frequently on cigars these days the Criollo leaf imparts a spicy flavor to the cigar.
Manufacturers often use the same types of tobacco in different sizes, producing different tastes. Often the consumer will perceive this as the same “blend.” There is a difference however - it's in the proportions of each type of leaf used. An experienced blender may use different proportions of the tobaccos in different sizes to account for size differences. In a smaller ring cigar, the binder and wrapper have a greater influence on the taste, for instance. The blender will allow for this difference by re-proportioning the filler blend. It's just one of those details that requires years of training among master blenders
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