Cigar 101
The Art of the Ritual: Unboxing and Unwrapping the Layers of Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars
Cigars are ritualistic in nearly every facet. From creating them to enjoying them, they are quite literally wrapped in tradition. Of course, for the smoker, that ritual begins with the unboxing. For the creators, it begins long before that. An indulgence, both in practice and production, let’s take part in something that has become a part of the lexicon of a ritual: the unboxing (or rather the unwrapping).
This isn’t your typical unboxing. A trend that somehow revolves around the suppsodely second hand pleasure (at least according to social media) you can receive from watching someone else open a box - we are undertaking a different kind. An unwrapping, if you will. A deconstruction of the layers of a Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented cigar (metaphorically only, of course, we wouldn’t dare sacrifice one of these favored smokes for a project that doesn’t take advantage of its raison d’etre).
Appreciating cigars takes a certain level of understanding. Just as true bourbon connoisseurs understand the depth of flavor that is only achieved after a certain amount of time spent in an especially crafted oak barrel, a cigar is a delicate balance, a well-crafted piece of art, designed to be enjoyed. To appreciate each layer of flavor, you must first understand each layer of the cigar and the process itself.
Up first, WHY do wemake Cigars:
Since 2014, we have partnered with cigar experts, Drew Estate, to bring you our specialty premium Pappy Van Winkle cigar collection. Introduced via a mutual connection in the cigar world, it was clear immediately that the passion and innovation at Drew Estate made them the right partner to launch our cigars with. Cigars were one of the very first products we wanted to make when we founded Pappy & Company. To us, they have always been an obvious connection.
Not only are cigars an ideal accompaniment to bourbon, but they are also deeply rooted in tradition and require an equally stringent level of time, patience, and craftsmanship. They are also indelibly tied to Pappy’s legacy and forever linked to his name, in the enduring image selected by our dad, Julian Van Winkle, that is featured on the iconic bottle of Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve.
When our dad, Julian Van Winkle III, was beginning his bourbon label in hopes of honoring his grandfather, Pappy, an old black-and-white picture in a basement file provided the necessary inspiration. A striking image, where Pappy is sitting, dignified in repose, lighting a cigar. Plumes of smoke waft almost etherally around his head, giving a mythical sense to a man before he became a mythically legendary figure. Originally taken by a journalist from theLouisville Times for a profile about Pappy, then 85, and unremarkable in what would have then been an entirely routine moment, simply lighting a cigar in his office, has come to represent so much more.
That image continued to inspire, and today represents not only a bourbon crafted in his name, as well as our entire collection of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Gourmet, barrel-crafted and bourbon-inspired collections, and Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented cigars crafted to honor his beloved pastime, his bourbon heritage, and the dedication and craftsmanship of each.
Core collection vs limited release:
When we introduced our premium line of cigars, we began with a core collection of cigar vitolas(catch up on that oh so specific cigar lingo here) featuring three Barrel Fermented Vitolas that would be available year-round:
Churchill: Long, thin and perfect for all smoker levels, a sophisticated smoke for 60-90 minutes.
Toro: Robust ring-gauge, meant to be savored and enjoyed, 45-60 minutes.
Robusto: One of the most popular vitolas, with a wide ring gauge and a smoke time under an hour.
We also have a curated selection of limited release cigars that are only available a few times of year:
Gordo: our largest limited release vitola, for greater volume of flavor and a longer finish.
Flying Pig: Highly desirable vitola, thick and short, with a signature pigtail requiring specialized training.
Limitada: Trio of portably sized cigars, lasts nearly two hours.
Corona Viva: A classic cigar in a portable and sleek size, promises subtle yet defined luxury.
Sampler Pack: Greatest hits of our Barrel-Fermented vitolas, offering one each of our limited release vitolas.
Let’s unwrap this, shall we?
Cigars are, quite literally, layered. Layered in depth, flavor, and complexity, of course, but they are truly comprised of layers of tobacco. The anatomy of a cigar is made up of the body, the foot, and the cap (those would be pretty self-explanatory), and just like personality, you’ve got to look below the surface to see what’s there. So let’s break down the layers.
Blend: Barrel Fermented. The term barrel fermented refers to a very specific and unique process called perique, whereby the tobacco used for our wrapper is fermented in a retired Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrel.
Tell me more about these layers:
The wrapper, binder, and filler
The wrapper, as indicated by its name, is the “what you see is what you get” part of the cigar. The wrapper is pretty important. As the outermost layer, the wrapper needs to be the most aesthetically pleasing, and as the cover for the entire cigar, it holds it all together. Last but certainly not least, it happens to be a primary source of flavor. Therefore, the leaves for the wrapper are carefully selected for aroma, appearance, texture, color, and overall flavor.
Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Wrapper: Tapa-Negra-style Kentucky Fire-Cured and barrel-aged wrapper over a base wrapper of Mexican San Andres.
Tapa-Negra Style: Ever had a black and tan, a dark and stormy, or even one of New York's famous black and white cookies? Then you understand the layering component of a tapa-negra style wrapper. The two-tone tapa negra wrapper is created when two different tobacco leaves are used, with one layered over the other.
In the case of our Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented cigar, a Kentucky fire-cured tobacco covers the cap, which is layered over a base of Mexican San Andres tobacco.
A cigar wrapper is described by its color and flavor profile. The Mexican San Andres leaf of a tap-negra style wrapper is a Maduro leaf. Maduro, the Spanish word for mature, is a dark, thick leaf taken from the top of the plant. Exposed to more sun, the maduro leaf has a darker, oilier texture and a depth of flavor, with singular notes of chocolate and coffee.
Of course, the real distinction of the barrel fermented wrapper is the process of fire-curing and barrel fermenting the tobacco leaves. Vibrant green Kentucky-grown tobacco leaves are carefully strung from the rafter of a barn over a smoldering and crackling fire. Over a few days, the wafting notes of smoke linger, meeting the earthy ripeness of fresh tobacco leaves as the fire absorbs the moisture and they take on the signature flavors of charred fire and cedar.
These fire-cured leaves are then sent to St. James Parish, Louisiana, where our retired Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels are waiting to undergo the intensive, lengthy perique process of barrel fermentation. Fire-cured tobacco leaves are layered and pressed into freshly dumped Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels, where the barrel staves are still soaked with the signature remnants of flavor. Under extremely high pressure, the tobacco leaves are slowly fermented, taking on the signature Pappy Van Winkle notes of sweetly charred oak.
The result is the Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel Fermented, Kentucky Fire-cured Wrapper layered over the Mexican San Andres for the desired flavor profile, boasting notes of chocolate, coffee, cedar, charred wood, and an overall smoky sweetness.
Learn more about our signature Drew Estate Barnsmoker Events and Perique Barrel Fermentation process.
Up next, the Binder: Once you’ve unpeeled the layer of (metaphorically, of course, you don’t need to take apart your cigar) the wrapper, you reach the binder. The Binder is the leaf that holds the filler in place, creates the shape, and keeps the cigar intact while you smoke. While a highly necessary component to the structure of the cigar, it also imparts crucial notes to the overall flavor profile.
Our Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars feature a binder composed of 100% Nicaraguan tobacco, personally selected by Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate. It delivers an earthy, subtly sweet, and leathery, full-bodied smoke and contributes to the intensity and bold flavor of our barrel fermented cigars, while helping maintain an even burn for a smooth smoking experience.
The final component: the filler. Another cigar term that is essentially exactlywhat it sounds like - the filler is the contents of the inside of the cigar. Known as tripa in Spanish, which roughly translates to guts, you can pretty much grasp the concept. For our Barrel Fermented Cigars, we use a 100% long-filler blend of Kentucky Fire-Cured and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Long filler is a signature indicator of a premium cigar, indicating that the filler is composed of whole tobacco leaves (rather than a short-filler cigar, which is made of bits of leftover tobacco leaves), and it provides a more consistent flavor and burn.
Now, onto the real unwrapping. Begin the ritual of enjoying a cigar. Carefully remove the cigar from the outer plastic. Pause to inspect the incredible craftsmanship that reflects decades of tradition and heritage as you hold the cigar, inhale the enticing aroma, and begin to decipher the complex notes in each layer. Select a cutter, a lighter, the ideal time and location, and, of course, the cocktail or tasting to highlight the flavors and sink into the decadent layers of luxurious time, ritual, and flavor that a cigar demands.
