{"id":24298,"date":"2016-11-28T13:29:51","date_gmt":"2016-11-28T18:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.mikescigars.com\/?p=24298"},"modified":"2023-03-22T17:06:02","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T21:06:02","slug":"guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mikescigars.com\/blog\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Premium Cigar Selection and Enjoyment \u2013 Part Four"},"content":{"rendered":"
Part Four:\u00a0 Binders \u2013 The Other Wrapper Leaf<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Pork may be the \u201cother white meat,\u201d but cigar binders are the \u201cother wrapper leaf<\/i>\u201d on modern cigars.<\/p>\n

Cigars as we know them, composed of wrapper, binder and filler, are relatively new inventions.\u00a0 Dating back to the 1640\u2019s, the first cigars constructed using all three components were constructed in Seville, Spain.\u00a0 Prior to the development of the three layers, \u201ccigars\u201d were constructed of loose tobaccos shabbily bound with a single outer leaf.\u00a0 These \u201ccigars\u201d were not very popular and most tobaccophiles of the time opted to smoke their tobacco in a pipe.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until the Peninsular War in 1808 that the modern cigar caught on in Europe and began to spread across the world.<\/p>\n

But what is it about the addition of the binder leaf that makes a modern premium cigar?<\/p>\n

Binder Basics:<\/p>\n

The binder leaf, called \u201cla banda\u201d or \u201ccapote\u201d in Spanish, is known as \u201cthe first leaf on the table,\u201d a reference to the fact that as a torcedor prepares to roll a premium cigar, the process begins with the binder leaf being placed on the work table and smoothed flat.<\/p>\n

The filler blend is then formed in the torcedor\u2019s hand and placed on the binder leaf.\u00a0 The binder and filler are then rolled together forming the \u201cbonche.\u201d\u00a0 The finished bonches are then placed in molds and pressure is applied to give the cigars their finished shape.<\/p>\n

Finally, after being removed from the molds, the shaped bonches are at last surrounded with their wrapper leaf, completing the cigar.<\/p>\n

In order for this whole process to be successful, there are certain criteria a binder leaf must meet\u2026<\/p>\n

Physical requirements of a binder leaf:<\/p>\n

Strength and pliability:<\/p>\n

In order to be used in a premium cigar a binder leaf must be strong and flexible enough to endure the rigors of the rolling and molding processes.\u00a0 As the torcedor wraps the filler leaves in the binder leaf, pressure is used to form the bonche into a rough cigar shape. This manual pressure puts a strain on the binder leaf as it is squeezed to contain the filler leaves and prevent the filler leaves\u2019 natural desire to relax and expand.\u00a0 An inadequately elastic or weak binder leaf can tear as the bonche is being formed or burst as filler tobaccos expand.<\/p>\n

The completed bonches are placed into a cigar mold and pressure is applied using a press, squeezing the molds to create the finished shape of the cigar.\u00a0 This molding process places a great strain on the binders as they are squeezed to conform to the shapes of the cigar mold.\u00a0 An inelastic or thin binder leaf can split, crack, or burst during this process, resulting in the bonche having to be re-rolled using a new binder.<\/p>\n

The binder leaf is also critically important to how well a cigar burns. By creating a smooth surface onto which the wrapper leaf is applied the binder leaf serves as an \u201cinterface\u201d between the burning filler leaves and the wrapper.\u00a0 If the binder does not maintain contact with either the filler or wrapper the burn of the cigar can be affected creating uneven burns, split wrappers, or worse.<\/p>\n

Quality and condition:<\/p>\n

In order for the cigar to have a finished, smooth appearance the binder should be of high quality, with minimal veining and no large imperfections.\u00a0 Problems such as bumps or veins in the binder can usually be appreciated through the wrapper leaf diminishing the physical beauty of the finished cigar.<\/p>\n

Burning properties:<\/p>\n

The binder must have sufficient combustibility to ensure a proper burn.\u00a0 An inadequately aged or low quality binder may burn slower or faster than the other tobaccos, leading to an uneven or irregular burn.\u00a0 Tunneling and \u201ccanoeing\u201d are often the result of problems with the combustion rate of the binder.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nIf you find your cigar is burning faster down one side (\u201ccanoeing\u201d) try touching up the slower side by focusing your lighter\u2019s flame under the unburned binder leaf (red lines).\u00a0 If you can relight the binder (along the orange line), the wrapper and fillers should catch up.<\/p>\n

The binder\u2019s contribution to overall aroma and taste:<\/p>\n

One of the most often overlooked contributions binder leaves make to premium cigars is the degree to which they add to the overall aroma and taste of each blend.<\/p>\n

Many binders are often actually wrapper leaves that have been \u201cdowngraded\u201d due to physical flaws such as a hole or tear on one side of the leaf.\u00a0 A wrapper turned binder will contribute similar qualities to the cigar as it would if it were used a wrapper.<\/p>\n

The same aromas and tastes are conveyed by each particular tobacco varietal when used as binders, although sometimes to a lesser degree.\u00a0 A Connecticut Broadleaf binder will contribute a sweet-smoky rich profile, a Cameroon binder a sweet-spicy one.\u00a0 Each unique tobacco varietal, each priming, will contribute its own unique qualities to the finished product, the blend.<\/p>\n

Binder leaf selection and processing:<\/p>\n

Binder leaves are typically taken from the lower primings of the tobacco plant, usually the 2nd<\/sup>through the 4th<\/sup>.\u00a0 These lower primings tend to produce larger, thicker, more elastic leaves, all qualities vital to a binder leaf.<\/p>\n

Binder leaves are processed in much the same fashion as filler and wrapper leaves. \u00a0During the process of \u201casentamiento<\/i>\u201d leaves that do not meet the physical requirements to be used as wrappers are separated and reclassified as binder leaves. \u00a0The binder leaves are then classified into 4 \u201ctiempos<\/i>:\u201d\u00a0 Seco, viso, ligero and medio tiempo.\u00a0 The classification of the leaves into tiempos is based mainly on the size, color, thickness, and smoking qualities (combustion) of the leaves\u00a0 \u2013 not<\/i> on physical appearance.\u00a0 The tiempos also correlate closely to the priming the leaves came from (the height of the leaf on the plant).<\/p>\n

Each tiempo has its own unique characteristics:<\/p>\n

Tiempo Seco:
\n\u2013 Usually thin and less oily
\n\u2013 Have good combustion
\n\u2013 Require shorter fermentations
\n\u2013 Must be physically perfect (otherwise they are reclassified as fillers)<\/p>\n

Tiempo Viso:
\n\u2013 Thin with some oils
\n\u2013 Thicker than tiempo seco
\n\u2013 Need more humidification when used
\n\u2013 Have more balanced characteristics (from middle primings)<\/p>\n

Tiempo Ligero and Medio Tiempo:
\n\u2013 Not typically used as binders, but this trend is changing
\n\u2013 Taken from high primings
\n\u2013 Contain high quantities of organic compounds and few minerals
\n\u2013 Require prolonged fermentation
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Taken from the center of the plant, tiempo viso leaves are considered by many to contribute the majority of a cigar\u2019s aroma.<\/p>\n

Once the binder leaves have been classified into tiempos, they are sorted again, this time by strength or \u201cforteleza<\/i>.\u201d \u00a0Forteleza is measured on a 1 \u2013 4 scale with 1 being the mildest and 4 being the strongest.\u00a0 Binder leaves classified as forteleza 3 and 4 are once again reclassified, this time becoming filler leaves.<\/p>\n

Aging binder leaves:<\/p>\n

The sorted binder leaves now begin the curing process.\u00a0 Binder leaves are stored \u201cen tercio<\/i>\u201d for differing lengths of time based on their tiempo:<\/p>\n

Tiempo volado \u2013 3 months<\/p>\n

Tiempo seco \u2013 6 months<\/p>\n

Tiempo ligero \u2013 9 months<\/p>\n

Maduro (such as Broadleaf and San Andreas Negro) \u2013 12 months or more<\/p>\n

After the binder leaves have been cured they are sent for slow aging before finally being used in the manufacture of premium cigars.<\/p>\n

Tasting Guide: A Selection of Premium Cigars with unique wrapper\/binder combinations<\/p>\n

Alec Bradley Family Blend<\/a> \u2013 Honduran Criollo \u201998 wrapper with an Indonesian binder<\/p>\n

Alec Bradley MAXX <\/a>\u2013 Nicaraguan habano seed wrapper with a Costa Rican binder<\/p>\n

Camacho 10th Anniversary \u2013 Honduran corojo (non-hybridized, original varietal) wrapper and binder<\/p>\n

C.A.O. Concert<\/a> \u2013 Ecuadorian habano seed wrapper and US Connecticut Broadleaf binder<\/p>\n

Cohiba Edicion Diamante <\/a>\u2013 Aged Cameroon wrapper and Indonesian binder<\/p>\n

Gurkha Legend<\/a> \u2013 Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with a Cameroon binder<\/p>\n

Gurkha Ninja<\/a> \u2013 Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper with a\u00a0 Dominican Criollo binder<\/p>\n

H. Upmann Sun Grown \u2013 Ecuadorian Sungrown wrapper with a\u00a0 US Connecticut Broadleaf binder<\/p>\n

Carlos Torano Vault <\/a>\u2013 Nicaraguan shade-grown wrapper with a Honduran (from the Jamastran Valley) and Nicaraguan (from Isla Ometepe) double binder<\/p>\n

Origen by J. Fuego\u00a0<\/a>\u2013 Brazilian Corojo wrapper with a Costa Rican Corojo binder<\/p>\n

Vega Fina<\/a> \u2013 Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with an Indonesian binder<\/p>\n

Zino Platinum \u201cZ-Class\u201d<\/a> \u2013 Dominican wrapper (from the Yamasa region) with a Peruvian Pelo d\u2019Oro binder<\/p>\n

Sancho Panza Double Maduro<\/a> \u2013 US Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper and binder<\/p>\n

One of the principle reasons we enjoy premium cigars is that each new blend offers a unique flavor and aroma profile which affords us a new smoking experience with each new brand sampled. \u00a0As you look to try new cigars, don\u2019t overlook the binder leaf in the blend.\u00a0 Each different tobacco varietal, each different type of leaf, contributes its own different characteristics to the cigar as a whole.<\/p>\n

And remember, that in order to know what cigars best suit our palates, we need to know the cigar we are smoking:\u00a0 wrapper, binder<\/i>, and filler.<\/p>\n

Each cigar truly is the sum of its parts.<\/p>\n

Read the other parts of the Frugal Aficionado here\u2026.<\/a><\/p>\n

Good smokes!<\/p>\n

Marty Klausmeier, Contributor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part Four:\u00a0 Binders \u2013 The Other Wrapper Leaf Pork may be the \u201cother white meat,\u201d but cigar binders are the \u201cother wrapper leaf\u201d on modern cigars. Cigars as we know them, composed of wrapper, binder and filler, are relatively new inventions.\u00a0 Dating back to the 1640\u2019s, the first cigars constructed using all three components were…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[431],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cigar-lifestyle"],"yoast_head":"\nA Guide to Premium Cigar Selection and Enjoyment \u2013 Part Four - Mike's Cigars Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A Guide to Premium Cigar Selection and Enjoyment \u2013 Part Four\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mikescigars.com\/blog\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Guide to Premium Cigar Selection and Enjoyment \u2013 Part Four - Mike's Cigars Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A Guide to Premium Cigar Selection and Enjoyment \u2013 Part Four\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/mikescigars.com\/blog\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mike's Cigars Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mikescigars\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-11-28T18:29:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-03-22T21:06:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/mikescigars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/cigar_humidors-1-l.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mike\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mike\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mike\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/31c8c4a84193d93a1cbf294395c5ddfc\"},\"headline\":\"A Guide to Premium Cigar Selection and Enjoyment \u2013 Part Four\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-28T18:29:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-22T21:06:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1488,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/cigar_humidors-1-l.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Cigar Lifestyle\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mikescigars.com\\\/blog\\\/guide-premium-cigar-selection-enjoyment-part-four\\\/\",\"name\":\"A Guide to Premium Cigar Selection and Enjoyment \u2013 Part Four - 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