Cigar Lifestyle

Difference between Connecticut and Habano Cigar Wrappers

Reading Time: 5 minutes

What makes these cigar wrappers so distinctive?

It’s not really a contest. Different types of cigar wrappers are as divergent as dog breeds. They each have their own unique qualities and personalities. Some wrapper leaves have a hearty bark, while others exhibit a more even-tempered character. Take Connecticut shade cigar wrappers and Habano cigar wrappers for instance. When well-fermented and aged, they’re both delicious, but to use another comparison about their natural flavor properties, Habano would be more like New York City, whereas Connecticut would be more like Los Angeles.

U.S. Connecticut Shade Wrappers

Generally speaking, Connecticut cigar wrappers tend to be more mellow and sweeter in flavor. But there is more than one type of Connecticut wrapper used for premium handmade cigars. The original U.S. Connecticut Shade wrapper leaf is grown in the state of Connecticut. Like most cigar tobaccos, the source of the seed is Cuban, but over time has acclimated to the climate and soil of Connecticut, particularly in the state’s Windsor and Housatonic Valleys, to produce a very unique tasting tobacco.

Connecticut Shade cigar wrappers soil
So, when you see a cigar blend that refers to having a U.S. Connecticut Shade wrapper, like the Macanudo Hyde Park, or the Montecristo Classic for example, that’s where the leaf was grown and cured. Grown under massive tents covered with a translucent nylon material to prevent the leaves from getting too much sun, the resulting leaf has a very silky feel, offers a milder flavor, a sweet aroma, and the color can vary from very light golden brown, to more of a darker bronze hue. It is also considered among many to be the finest of all Connecticut Shade wrappers.

Connecticut Shade cigar wrappers

Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade Wrappers

The other most often used Connecticut wrapper is Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade. Basically, they’ve taken U.S. Connecticut seeds and planted them in Ecuador. Due to its rich volcanic soil, climate, and naturally cloud-filtered sunlight, Ecuador has become THE country for growing a number of wrappers that originated in other countries, including Habano, which we’ll get to shortly.  The Connecticut-seed shade wrapper grown in Ecuador has many of the same qualities as the indigenous Connecticut tobacco. It’s generally mild, silky, and offers a sweet aroma, except it is slightly richer in flavor and a bit darker in color than U.S. Connecticut Shade. Good examples of cigars with excellent Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrappers include Alec Bradley Connecticut, Romeo House of Capulet, and CAO Gold cigars.

Ecuadorian Connecticut cigar wrappers

Nicaraguan Habano Cigar Wrappers

Habano cigar wrapper is a leaf grown from a Cuban seed, hence the word “Habano” or “Havano,” referring to Cuba’s capitol. Habano tobacco wrapper is darker in color, has a much spicier flavor, a richer aroma, and has been grown in Nicaragua’s Jalapa Valley and Estelí since the 1990’s. The volcanic soil and ideal climate of both regions contribute greatly to the Habano wrapper’s unique, Cuban-like flavor profile. Leaves grown in the Jalapa Valley are particularly good for wrapper because the Jalapa soil, which is very similar to Cuba’s Vuelta Abajo region, produces a rich-tasting leaf that’s also naturally sweet. Habano has also been hybridized and cross-bred to create other varietals such as Habano Rosado, Habano Criollo, and Habano Corojo. A good example of some of the best Nicaraguan Habano wrapper can be found on the Perdomo Habano Maduro selection, Gran Habano Corojo #5, and the Alec Bradley American Sun Grown, which uses a Jalapa-grown Habano wrapper.  There’s also a review of the BG Meyer Standard Issue Robusto on Cigar Dojo that will give you a good idea of the flavors you may find in Nicaraguan Habano wrapper leaf.

Nicaraguan Habano cigar wrappers

Ecuadorian Habano wrappers

Although many Nicaraguan cigar manufacturers like Padrón and Perdomo use native-grown Habano wrapper on their cigars, as we’ve seen with Connecticut Shade wrapper and others, Ecuador has become a haven for growing most of the world’s best wrappers. Moreover, Ecuadorian Habano is arguably the most widely used wrapper today for rolling premium cigars.  The Oliva Tobacco Company (not to be confused with Oliva Cigars), was the first to begin planting Habano in Ecuador, and today, 70% of their farmland is used for growing Habano wrapper leaf.

Growing Habano cigar wrappers leaves
The plants are grown in both Shade and Sun grown varieties, and since, the seed is so malleable for cross-breeding, Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is grown in numerous varieties. As a result, depending on how they’re cured, fermented and aged, Ecuadorian Habano can range from very bold and spicy to more medium-bodied and sweet, making it also one of the most complex wrapper tobaccos. When Ecuadorian Habano is done well, it’s also hard to tell the difference between it and Habano grown in Nicaragua. Some excellent cigars rolled in Ecuadorian-grown Habano leaves include CAO Concert and MONTE by Montecristo cigars.

Ecuadorian Habano cigar wrappers

In the Mood

Whatever wrapper leaf you prefer, if you do have a preference, whichever cigar you pluck from your humidor is usually determined by your mood. Naturally, if you’re in the mood for a smoke that’s more on the milder side, something that pairs well with coffee and is not too overbearing, a cigar with a Connecticut wrapper might be the best way to get your day started. Maybe you want a smoke that’s more robust and complex, so you reach for a cigar with a particular Habano wrapper that you pair with a fine bourbon or single malt.

Just so there is no misunderstanding, the sword cuts both ways. There are many cigars with Connecticut wrappers that are quite stout, while there are cigars with Habano wrappers that are milder in body. Nor is it necessary to know the difference between an Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut and a U.S., or a Nicaraguan Jalapa Habano and an Ecuadorian Habano. As you continue to smoke more cigars, you’ll eventually begin to pick up the subtleties in different blends. You’ll also begin to pay more attention to the blends of the cigars you enjoy the most, and it may turn out that all of your favorite cigars are rolled in the same type of wrapper leaf. Just remember that the reason you’re drawn to certain cigars goes way beyond what’s on the outside; it’s what’s on the inside that counts, too.

Subscribe
Notify of
9 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Clifford Blaze
6 years ago

Can habano tobacco be from Mexico?

Ryan
4 years ago
Reply to  Clifford Blaze

Yes. It would be a habano seed grown in Mexico. Mexico has good San Andres tobacco. Check em out.

Wayne Erdman
3 years ago

Thank you very much for the explanation of wrappers. I have been enjoying cigars over 20 years but lately Thompson Cigars have been harsh and dry. So I thought I would try something different. Have a great day and stay healthy.

Top 5 Best-Rated NUB Cigars – Puff Pass Repeat
2 years ago

[…] Habano wrappers are known to be spicy, but the beauty of NUB Habano 466 is that its pepper and spice are tamed by over an inch of width from its 66-ring gauge. That means you get all the flavor benefits of its full-bodied temperament without flash frying your nose and throat with each puff. It’s just smooth sailing for nearly an hour with a blanket of bold flavors like earth, sweet spices, wood, coffee, and black pepper. Large ring gauge fans will love it, and even if you aren’t, the benefits make it well worth your while. […]

GRAVITY PIPE - Blog and Shop
2 years ago

[…] Habano wrappers are known to be spicy, but the beauty of NUB Habano 466 is that its pepper and spice are tamed by over an inch of width from its 66-ring gauge. That means you get all the flavor benefits of its full-bodied temperament without flash frying your nose and throat with each puff. It’s just smooth sailing for nearly an hour with a blanket of bold flavors like earth, sweet spices, wood, coffee, and black pepper. Large ring gauge fans will love it, and even if you aren’t, the benefits make it well worth your while. […]

Top 5 Best Nub Cigars by Oliva | Cigar Advisor
4 months ago

[…] Habano wrappers are known to be spicy, but the beauty of NUB Habano 466 is that its pepper and spice are tamed by over an inch of width from its 66-ring gauge. That means you get all the flavor benefits of its full-bodied temperament without flash frying your nose and throat with each puff. It’s just smooth sailing for nearly an hour with a blanket of bold flavors like earth, sweet spices, wood, coffee, and black pepper. Large ring gauge fans will love it, and even if you aren’t, the benefits make it well worth your while. […]

CA Report: The Essential Cigar Advisor Guide to Oliva Cigars
1 month ago

[…] the Cain Habano is baptized by fire, the initial draws are dominated by a robust spiciness—setting the tables for […]

10 Best-Rated Rocky Patel Cigars | Cigar Advisor
10 days ago

[…] Expertly crafted with a blend of premium tobaccos, this blend showcases a beautiful Nicaraguan Habano wrapper and delivers a bold and intense flavor profile. Expect a harmonious blend of earthy, spicy, and […]

Gary Korb

Gary Korb

Executive Editor

Gary Korb has been writing and editing content for CigarAdvisor.com since its debut in 2008. An avid cigar smoker for over 30 years, he has worked on the marketing side of the premium cigar business as a Sr. Copywriter, blogger, and Executive Editor of Cigar Advisor. A graduate of the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, prior to his career in the cigar business, Gary worked in the music and video industry as a marketer and a publicist.

Show all Gary Korb's Articles
cigar advisor news – crowned heads releases mil días maduro – release – cover

Cigar News: Crowned Heads Releases Mil Días Maduro

Reading Time: 2 minutes Released as a new regular production line extension, Crowned Heads Mil Días Maduro cigars boast a dark, Grade-A Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper, and more, including a new all-Nicaraguan core blend. Read all about it here.

Read More
cigar advisor my weekend cigar review new cuba superior connecticut - vcover

My Weekend Cigar Review: New Cuba Superior Connecticut

Reading Time: 3 minutes The New Cuba Superior Connecticut cigar selection boasts a long-filler blend aimed at newer cigar smokers and others seeking an Aganorsa cigar that’s “approachable in flavor, and affordable in price.” Does Gary’s review of the Toro agree? Watch now.

Read More
cigar advisor news – famous smoke shop adds house of romeo and capulet nicaragua lines – release – cover1

Cigar News: Famous Smoke Shop Adds House of Romeo and Capulet Nicaragua Lines To Their Exclusive Cigar Line-Up

Reading Time: 3 minutes Famous Smoke Shop has added two new cigar lines by way of Nicaragua to their bestselling Romeo y Julieta “House Of” selections. Named House of Romeo Nicaragua and House of Capulet Nicaragua, get the story behind these exclusive new cigars here.

Read More
Cigar advisor Playlist 12 pairing cigars and music Cigar advisor cover

The Cigar Advisor Playlist: Vol. 12

Reading Time: 7 minutes Catch up with the Cigar Advisors’ continued journey of finding cigar and music bliss with this month’s edition of Cigar Advisor Playlist, featuring master blender Rick Rodriguez of CAO Cigars.

Read More