The Comeback of Connecticut Wrapper

Posted on August 25 2020

The Comeback of Connecticut Wrapper

The Comeback of Connecticut Wrapper When asked about people's first cigar experience, the scale tends to tip more on the lighter shaded cigars, Connecticut wrappers than the darker shaded ones, Maduro wrappers. That is the result in the myth of lighter wrappers are a lighter smoke. I am here to tell you a story about the rise, the fall and the comeback Connecticut wrappers. Connecticut Wrappers 101 Just like the name suggests, Connecticut wrappers are tobaccos cultivated in the Connecticut River Valley. It is unclear exactly when and whom started the idea of growing tobacco in the river valley, but it was already a practice by the natives when the first settler arrived in the 1630s. It wasn't until 1820s, where Connecticut shade tobaccos were recognized for their delicate, mild and pristine quality. Thus, it began being exported to Europe and used as a cigar wrapper leaf instead of pipe tobaccos. There are three categories of wrappers under the Connecticut tobacco name; Connecticut Broadleaf, Connecticut Shade and Ecuadorian Connecticut. Many cigar companies eventually turned to Ecuador to cultivate Connecticut tobacco seed as a cheaper alternative while still meeting the richness of the soil from the country's active volcanoes. Not to mention, the end product of Ecuadorian Connecticut tobacco is milder than Connecticut grown and it takes less time to ferment and age. A good example would be Davidoff of Geneva. After escaping to Dominican Republic from Cuba, Davidoff used Connecticut Shade wrappers as their signature wrapper. However, that changed in 2001 when they switched to Ecuadorian Connecticut for higher yield rate and lower cost. More Than Mere Smokes in the Air After joining Luxury Cigar Club, I was being reintroduced to Connecticut wrappers. It all started with the 2019 September monthly box — an Atabey in Idolos size. By January 2020, with a Roma Craft Intemperance EC XVIII, I was convinced that Connecticut wrappers were making a comeback. Honorable mentions: Drew Estate Undercrown Shade Charter Oak Rothschild Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Gran Habano Blue in Green Mike G Super Connecticut Persian King Rajah Protocol Themis Avo Syncro Nicaragua Caldwell Eastern Standard Tell us what are some of your favorite Connecticut Shade wrappers that pack a punch in terms of flavors and/or strength. - Kevin Sun

2 comments

Melman: November 17, 2020

The best one on your list is the Eastern Standard.
Nigel D. Alston: August 25, 2020

BLTC Porcelain Deliverance!