Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today is the day when everyone is Irish, at least that’s what my Irish wife tells me. Being Italian, St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t that big of a deal, and as I got older, I went out a few times to celebrate with friends, but it was never a big deal. That is, until I met my wife. Today is her favorite holiday. Last weekend we were at the parade in town, wearing green. Today, she is making corn beef and cabbage, wearing green. Can you guess what color I’m wearing too…that’s right, green. So I figured that since green is the color of the day (for my wife, the week), I would choose a cigar that fit in with today’s festivities, one with a candela wrapper. A candela wrapper is cured differently to make it green. You are almost hesitant to smoke this, because when something is green, it’s usually because it’s raw, undeveloped, young, and with a cigar you want it to be aged. But that’s not the case with today’s cigar. The color doesn’t come from use of an underage leaf, but a special curing process which retains the green chlorophyll in the leaf. In the early 1950s, until almost the 1970, candela wrappers were the de facto wrapper of choice in the United States. In today’s market, it is almost impossible to find a candela wrapper now. Some manufacturers are still making them, so it will be interesting to see if the trend ever goes back to it.
Today’s review is the Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Claro (6 x 47). It’s a green cigar with an oily candela wrapper. The superior construction provides a long and steady burn with an excellent draw and consistent flavor throughout. It is toasty and creamy with a touch of sweetness to it. Overall a nice smoke, one I would go back to. Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day today with a green cigar, you’ll be happy you did.
Cigar Details:
Country: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Connecticut Wrapper
DS Cigars 