Connecticut wrappers are one of the main wrapper types used on premium cigars and can refer to tobacco grown in the Connecticut River Valley or simply tobacco grown elsewhere using Connecticut-seed tobacco. Most commonly, this location is Ecuador.
There are two major kinds of Connecticut wrappers used to cover cigars: shade and broadleaf.
Connecticut shade tobacco is a light brown or even blonde color (somewhere on the cigar color grading spectrum from claro through colorado). This tobacco has been used on a variety of highly-rated classic cigars, most notably from Davidoff, Ashton, Macanudo, Montecristo, Drew Estate, Rocky Patel, and many others. It provides a flavor that is mild and often has notes of cedar, coffee, cream, and toast. Unlike spicy, full-powered blends, Connecticut wrappers that are shade-grown are used to create cigars that are mellow and subtle – perfect for a morning wake-up smoke.
Connecticut wrappers that are the broadleaf varietal are quite different. Broadleaf, true to its name, is a bigger, stronger leaf. Unlike shade-grown tobacco, which can be ready for enjoyment in just a few weeks after harvesting, broadleaf needs to be fermented and aged quite a bit longer – months, often. This results in a dark brown Maduro or Oscuro wrapper leaf that brings a wealth of earthy flavor, along with some additional sweetness on the finish. Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers have been used to great effect on the Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro, Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9, CAO Flathead, and more.
As we said above, Connecticut wrappers can be grown in a variety of locations. The Connecticut River Valley itself stretches from Canada to the Long Island Sound. There, mostly broadleaf is grown now, although you can still find a farm or two growing Connecticut wrappers in shade tents. These are fabric coverings stretched over the tobacco, often allowing for partial light to come through for optimal leaf development. Allowing the full sun to reach the tobacco would result in the wrong leaf characteristics, but shade-growing techniques strike just the right balance, creating a leaf that’s the right size and flavor for use on premium cigar blends.
Down in Ecuador, the natural cloud cover helps farmers grow Connecticut wrappers that are similar to shade-grown. This is where Connecticut-seed tobacco is grown more cost-effectively than that raised stateside, and it’s ready for smoking with less prep time. For that reason, most cigar makers have switched to Ecuador Connecticut tobacco when they want shade-grown Connecticut wrappers. That said, some still hold true to the genuine article and insist on CT tobacco grown right here at home.
Whatever type you prefer, Connecticut wrappers are here to stay, offering a flavor other leaves simply can’t match.
Please browse our selection of cigars with Connecticut wrappers at your leisure.
