Premium Long Filler Cigars

Premium cigars are considered the cream of the crop, connoisseur cigars.  They use only long filler tobaccos and are made by hand.  Long filler refers to the whole leaves that are used in the cigar, also known as the bunch.  Long filler allows a cigar blender to use the leaf’s natural composition to create complex blends that can vary in body strength and flavor profiles.  There are four main components to premium cigars: filler tobaccos, a binder, a wrapper and a cap.  Each component is carefully selected depending on the cigar blender’s recipe.  If one leaf in the blend is changed, the end result is remarkably different.

Mixed Filler Cigars

While these types of cigars are still made by hand, they utilizes long fillers and short fillers (small pieces of tobacco) and is called a mixed filler cigar, also known as a Cuban Sandwich.  Traditionally in Cuba, more pieces of long filler were placed at the head (the part you smoke from).  That way you would not get tobacco pieces in your mouth while smoking the cigar.  Some manufacturers make mixed filler cigars with the cutting from premium long filler brands.   The tobacco can be excellent in quality but what it may have in flavor, it could lack in complexity.

Short Filler Machine Made Cigars

Mass produced short filler cigars are basically made in the same manner as cigarettes.  They are machine made and not comprised of 100% tobacco with a homogenized wrapper and/or binder.  Short filler cigars can’t compare to premium handmade cigars.  These cigars can be found in most gas stations and convenient stores.  These cigars are inexpensive, more times than not use cheaper chopped up tobacco and lack complexity.

Choosing the Cigar for You

Every cigar offers something unique and every cigar has its place, whether sitting back to enjoy something beautifully crafted or just something to puff on while cutting the grass.  It just depends on what you want to get out of the experience. The most important thing is to enjoy a cigar no matter what your tastes are.  The different components of a cigar can dramatically affect the overall experience from flavor, complexity, body and nicotine strengths.  How do these different components affect flavor?  Check out this in-depth article written for us by Hendrik Kelner Jr. on the affect wrapper tobacco has on flavor (click here).