Habana 2000

[ArizonaDave]

Last month, Don snuck in a couple of samplers in my order.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Habana 2000 Wrapper! Yes, it's lighter color, not quite as light as Connecticut. The taste of Habana 2000 was much much better. It does help smooth flavors of the Nicaraguan Habano Seco. It doesn't have the bad smell of Connecticut, the smell is like a light Habano, slightly earthy, woodsy, and slightly mellow. The Aroma is fantastic!!!

If you're thinking of trying it, I highly recommend it!!!

Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[deluxestogie]

When Habana 2000 first hit the commercial market (I think in 2002), it had some burning problems with the darker colors (higher stalk positions). Apparently, some modifications of the harvest timing and the curing details improved that, although it's still not a great burner--but burns reasonably well.

Don's light colored Habana 2000 (between a Spanish claro and EMS) is mildly aromatic, and not quite as flavorful as the Ecuador Shade. It stretches beautifully, and can often wrap perfectly without the need to trim the outer margin. Because of its excellent tensile strength, it makes a great wrapper for novice rollers. Its fine veins will please more experienced rollers. The average leaf size is impressive, and is more than enough to roll the largest cigars you would ever want to smoke. A little trickery (actually clippery) will yield 4 wrappers per leaf.

Downside: If you look forward to a burst of intense flavor, before you even light a cigar, then Habana 2000 may be on the timid side of things. If your brain insists on dark wrapper color to trigger your "awesome" switch, Ecuador Maduro would be a better choice.

While I wouldn't label the aroma of CT Shade as "bad," it does present a distinctive smell that is lacking in Habana 2000.

Bob

 

[ArizonaDave]

When Habana 2000 first hit the commercial market (I think in 2002), it had some burning problems with the darker colors (higher stalk positions). Apparently, some modifications of the harvest timing and the curing details improved that, although it's still not a great burner--but burns reasonably well.

Don's light colored Habana 2000 (between a Spanish claro and EMS) is mildly aromatic, and not quite as flavorful as the Ecuador Shade. It stretches beautifully, and can often wrap perfectly without the need to trim the outer margin. Because of its excellent tensile strength, it makes a great wrapper for novice rollers. Its fine veins will please more experienced rollers. The average leaf size is impressive, and is more than enough to roll the largest cigars you would ever want to smoke. A little trickery (actually clippery) will yield 4 wrappers per leaf.

Downside: If you look forward to a burst of intense flavor, before you even light a cigar, then Habana 2000 may be on the timid side of things. If your brain insists on dark wrapper color to trigger your "awesome" switch, Ecuador Maduro would be a better choice.

While I wouldn't label the aroma of CT Shade as "bad," it does present a distinctive smell that is lacking in Habana 2000.

Bob

Very interesting info on the history! Yes, I often roll big cigars, had one last week at 7" X 70. Most of my other tobacco from WLT has been med-full range, so I've been adding this wrapper to tone it down a bit, along with ⅓ filler of Piloto Cubano Seco. It turns out a little sweet, probably from the PCS. Running more experiments on that. I like the sweet cream undertones. I add ¼ leaf Mata Fina too, the combo of the two helps.

I did notice the huge wrapper, a big plus for me. The Ecuador Maduro may be one I try down the road, but I'm intrigued with the Red color of the Corojo Wrapper.

You're right about the Ct Shade, it's not bad, my wife just doesn't like the smell of that one, but does like the Habana 2000. In that sense, I'll keep it in my regular rotation and will add what you've recommended.

Usually, people add Dominican Volado for even burn in the binder as a 2nd leaf, but haven't ordered from the other company, I like WLT.

 

[ArizonaDave]

I think, the first roll I'm going to do is a Habana 2000 puro, to get a sense of the flavor spectrum. I know it goes well with Nic. Habano, and Piloto Cubano seco, but I'd like to try a different combo of secos, Visos, Ligueros.
Besides, my son likes the mellower blends.

 

[ArizonaDave]

When Habana 2000 first hit the commercial market (I think in 2002), it had some burning problems with the darker colors (higher stalk positions). Apparently, some modifications of the harvest timing and the curing details improved that, although it's still not a great burner--but burns reasonably well.

Don's light colored Habana 2000 (between a Spanish claro and EMS) is mildly aromatic, and not quite as flavorful as the Ecuador Shade. It stretches beautifully, and can often wrap perfectly without the need to trim the outer margin. Because of its excellent tensile strength, it makes a great wrapper for novice rollers. Its fine veins will please more experienced rollers. The average leaf size is impressive, and is more than enough to roll the largest cigars you would ever want to smoke. A little trickery (actually clippery) will yield 4 wrappers per leaf.

Downside: If you look forward to a burst of intense flavor, before you even light a cigar, then Habana 2000 may be on the timid side of things. If your brain insists on dark wrapper color to trigger your "awesome" switch, Ecuador Maduro would be a better choice.

While I wouldn't label the aroma of CT Shade as "bad," it does present a distinctive smell that is lacking in Habana 2000.

Bob

I was reading up on the Equador Shade, it does look excellent, so does the Maduro.

The shade, I will probably order soon. Have some Habana 2000 coming in tomorrow. I really like the Nic. Habanos very well, as most of my Cigars in the Humidor are Entubado rolled with this. Also found an excellent flavor tobacco in Piloto Cubano Seco. A light, sweet leaf that seems to go with just about everything!

On a new note, I've been rolling long and thin Cigars as of late using the Piloto Cubano Seco, with a small strip of mata fina, which is ending up a creamy sweet taste. Another friend of mine on this forum, has been using the Aleman Seco Banda as a wrapper with this mix. I have yet to try it, although he's sending me one next week.

Bob, what WLT leaves have you tried to date?

 

[deluxestogie]

Bob, what WLT leaves have you tried to date?

That's not an easy question.

Dominican Cigar Binder (probably Olor)
Habana 2000 Wrapper
San Andres Wrapper
Sumatra Cigar Binder
Piloto Cubano Seco
Piloto Cubano Viso
Flue Cured Virginia Red Leaf
Flue Cured Virginia Bright Leaf
Flue Cured Virginia "Lemon"
Maryland 609
TN 90 Burley
Aleman Oscuro Capa/Banda
Aleman Seco Banda
Corojo Wrapper
Criollo 98 Wrapper
Ecuador Shade Wrapper
Ecuador Maduro Wrapper
Aleman Ligero
Flojo Africa Viso
Criollo 98 Ligero
Criollo 98 Seco
Dominican Seco
Dominican Ligero
Dark Air
Nicaragua Habano Ligero
Nicaragua Haano Viso
Latakia 1997 Crop year
Nicaragua Habano Seco
San Andrés Wrapper
Besuki wrapper
Besuki binder
Brazil Mata Fina Filler
Prilep
Izmir
Bitlis
Bursa
Rabo de Gallo Negro
ZM/A 1542

plus over a dozen others that are no longer available.

Bob

 

[RidgeRunner]

How would you rank them in order from best to worst?

 

[deluxestogie]

How would you rank them in order from best to worst?

Give me a break. I've taken college courses that required less work and analysis. I have reviewed and commented on most of these.

Bob

EDIT: They're all good in their own ways.
EDIT2: The ZM/A 1452 has a splayed vein pattern that makes it difficult to use as a wrapper.

 

[FmGrowit]

Give me a break. I've taken college courses that required less work and analysis. I have reviewed and commented on most of these.

Bob

LOL

 

[moscca]

No tobacco from Honduras Bob ?



Jan.

 

[deluxestogie]

No tobacco from Honduras Bob ?
Jan.

I've grown Mexican, Columbian, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Bolivian, Brazilian and Costa Rican, but no Honduran. So, if Don hasn't carried it, I haven't gotten my hands on the leaf.

Bob

 

[ArizonaDave]

I've grown Mexican, Columbian, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Bolivian, Brazilian and Costa Rican, but no Honduran. So, if Don hasn't carried it, I haven't gotten my hands on the leaf.

Bob

LOL, I haven't even gone through the list on WLT yet, but working on it. I like the fact that Don carries many varieties as it stands, even though on occasion a blend will either sell out or back order before I get to work it in. Nevertheless, he does a great job keeping many types available at a great quality, and great price.
I'm catching up though. Received an order last week, and put in another order for this coming week. Looking forward to it like a kid on Christmas morning!

I received the Habana 2000 Wrapper this past week, and am very very pleased with it! Nice elasticity, clean looking leaf, nice burn, and my wife approves of the aroma! The color range of the leaf can be from a light conneticut shade type color (limited in this color), walnut brown, and reddish brown leaves. ALL look very nice on the finished product.
With all that stated, it is a very smooth tasting wrapper. I plan on keeping this in my regular rotation of leaves, as long as they are around.

 

[CT Tobaccoman]

I too liked Habano 2000 wrapper the first time I tried it. I was told by guys in the CT Shade business that it was at first found to be too susceptible to tobacco diseases and it faded away for a while. It was said that it wasn't commercially viable, not a large enough percentage of wrapper.

Habano 2000 is sometimes grown under shade, sometimes not. Nowadays, through selective breeding the seed must have been improved because it is being used a lot more on big name cigars.

The Montecristo wrapped in H-2000 is great.

 

[ArizonaDave]

I too liked Habano 2000 wrapper the first time I tried it. I was told by guys in the CT Shade business that it was at first found to be too susceptible to tobacco diseases and it faded away for a while. It was said that it wasn't commercially viable, not a large enough percentage of wrapper.

Habano 2000 is sometimes grown under shade, sometimes not. Nowadays, through selective breeding the seed must have been improved because it is being used a lot more on big name cigars.

The Montecristo wrapped in H-2000 is great.

Well, I've rolled close to 100 cigars now with Habana 2000, and I'm loving it with Habano Viso, and other Ligueros. Seems to bring a nice cool, note when needed. Will definitely keep this in rotation.

 

[Ivar Forkbeard]

To be honest, I would not recommend it for a noobie. Take this with a grain of salt because I am a beginner, but I found them thin and extremely fragile. Most of the kit it came with ended up wrapped in seco leaves I salvaged instead (which I had no problem wrapping). The Maduro wrapper in the other kit was a completely different story, strong, supple and beautiful. I am done with Habanna 2000 for a while. At least until my skills improve.

 

[FmGrowit]

Ivar,

Sorry to hear about the problem with the 2000. I really should do a video on hydrating wrapper. If someone beats me to it, I'll give them a pound of wrapper.

 

[deluxestogie]

Each novice roller selects a different aspect of cigar rolling technique to do wrong. If you're tearing your wrapper, you are asking it to do more work than it should. The binder should take care of compressing the bunch. Some wrappers are sturdier than others, and can add some compression, while others need to be wrapped onto the bound bunch with minimal tension.

The wrapper always needs to be brought into high case (floppy damp) for rolling. Just don't store it that wet.

Bob

 

[Ben Brand]

Has anybody sun grown Habana 2000 and Criollo 98 as wrappers, and if so how did they perform as wrappers. Still can`t decide if I must shade grow my wrappers.

 

[Frozenthunderbolt]

Has anybody sun grown Habana 2000 and Criollo 98 'as wrappers, and if so how did they perform as wrappers. Still can`t decide if I must shade grow my wrappers.

Hey Ben, get some 'Magnolia' wrapper to grow - it is strong, cures nicely and gives beautiful stretchy and relatively fine wrapper even grown in full sun.

 

[ArizonaDave]

Has anybody sun grown Habana 2000 and Criollo 98 as wrappers, and if so how did they perform as wrappers. Still can`t decide if I must shade grow my wrappers.

Good question. Don has both of those sold as wrappers, and the Habana 2000 is definitely shade grown. Haven't ordered the Criollo 98 yet, that's next. I would guess that the Criollo 98' is also shade grown, nice chocolate/licorice taste, with dry woody notes from what I hear.