Those who
are new to the complex and wide world of cigars ask themselves many questions;
one of the most frequent is: what is the difference between long-filler and
short-filler cigars?
Let's start
by defining what each of these two categories means:
What are
long filler cigars?
A long
filler cigar, also known as a long leaf cigar, is a handmade cigar that is
characterized by its internal construction and flavor. The way the tobacco
leaves are assembled establishes an important difference with other cigars. The
long filler refers to the filling of the cigar, which consists of whole tobacco
leaves, rolled one on top of the other along the entire length of the cigar.
Premium
handmade cigars only use long filler, resulting in what are known as
"premium cigars". A premium cigar generally blends between two and
five leaves of filler tobaccos. The whole leaves are long, folded or rolled
together, and form a tube wrapped by a binder and leaf wrapper.
Long filler
cigars are prized by tobacco connoisseurs for their quality and complexity of
flavor. The quality of the tobacco used, the skill of the torcedor (the person
who rolls the cigar) and the aging process of the cigar also influence the
smoking experience.
What are
short filler cigars?
Short
filler cigars, also known as chopped filler cigars, are a type of cigar usually
made by machine, whose filler is composed of chopped or shredded tobacco leaf
fragments instead of whole leaves.
The chopped
and shredded leaves are usually left over from the manual process of making
premium cigars. Short filler, also known as picadura, is used in various types
of machine-made cigars or in a hybrid of short leaves and some long leaves,
commonly known as Cuban sandwich or mixed filler cigars.
Differences
between long and short filler cigars
The
differences in filler composition between long filler and short filler cigars
have consequences both in the shape and burning time of the cigar and in its
flavor.
Differences
in combustion:
The whole
tobacco leaves from which long-filler cigars are made provide a uniform blend
of flavors and aromas as the cigar burns. Conversely, the variability of the
bite of short filler cigars tends to generate less uniform combustion, which
can result in uneven burn and flavor release.
Differences
in taste:
Because the
filler of long filler cigars is composed of whole leaves, their selection aging
and treatment have been subject to special care. In addition, the different
layers of tobacco are burned gradually and evenly, as a result of which, the
flavors tend to be smoother and more fully appreciated as they are
progressively released as the cigar is consumed, offering a smoother and more
complex smoking experience.
Short
filler cigars often offer a more concentrated and, in some cases, spicier
flavor compared to long filler cigars. Flavors can be more intense, but less
complex.
It is
important to remember that the choice between long-filler and short-filler
cigars depends largely on the personal preferences of the individual smoker.
Both types offer different smoking experiences, and the quality of the tobacco
used and the skill of the roller also influence the overall quality of the
cigar.
