Ben Brand
Well-Known Member
I found this article on Burley only cigars. I would love to know which variety of burley it is!!!!
The “Caliqueños” style of cigars has a long tradition in the south of Spain. The cigars are completely handmade from natural Burley tobacco cultivated in the area of Valencia. | 
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Tripa (filler) cut up for burning qualities;
Capote (binder) a single strong leaf to hold the filler together;
Capa (wrapper) a single shade-grown leaf which contributes about 2% of the flavour. The shade cloth creates a greenhouse effect ensuring increased leaf growth
According to the late Theo Rudman, the 3-part cigar process originated in Spain and was exported to Cuba, where, in 1740, a Spanish Royal Decree created a tobacco monopoly. Spain and Cuba still maintain strong cigar links.
The Caliqueños is normally about 10cm long, with no addition or colorants at all – just pure Burley.
But this is a Burley plant which has adapted itself to growing under dry climatic conditions.
Now Burley, especially this varietal, is not a glamorous leaf.
The leaves are large, thick and threaded with prominent veins so the feel and look of the cigar is rough and irregular, the exact opposite of a glossy, silky, smooth Cohiba.
However in pipe tobacco, Burley is known and appreciated for contributing smoothness to a blend, and this is also the case in theCaliqueños.
So don’t be put off by the appearance, once the cigar is lit up the draw is effortless, the burn is even, the ash holds well and the taste is just amazing – spicy but mellow, with no “bitterness” at the end of the smoke.
The leaves are large, thick and threaded with prominent veins so the feel and look of the cigar is rough and irregular, the exact opposite of a glossy, silky, smooth Cohiba.
However in pipe tobacco, Burley is known and appreciated for contributing smoothness to a blend, and this is also the case in theCaliqueños.
So don’t be put off by the appearance, once the cigar is lit up the draw is effortless, the burn is even, the ash holds well and the taste is just amazing – spicy but mellow, with no “bitterness” at the end of the smoke.
My experience with the several that I have smoked and enjoyed:
• The draw was comfortably easy.
• The burn was even and held the ash beautifully.
• The flavour was full and rich, yet smooth and mellow.
• The smoking time was approximately 35 minutes (amazing for a half corona size cigar) and I was able to smoke it right down to as far as I could just hold it.
• The after taste was clean and pleasant.
• The draw was comfortably easy.
• The burn was even and held the ash beautifully.
• The flavour was full and rich, yet smooth and mellow.
• The smoking time was approximately 35 minutes (amazing for a half corona size cigar) and I was able to smoke it right down to as far as I could just hold it.
• The after taste was clean and pleasant.
The whole production of the cigar takes place in humid conditions. It is only after the finished cigars are packed in their boxes that the controlled drying out of the cigars takes place. The dryness of the cigar is the main feature of the Caliqueños cigar which gives it the advantage of not needing to be humidified, and of keeping all the properties, flavour and quality, for a longer time than other types of cigars.
For over 100 years farmers in the Valencia area allocated a small portion of their land to the growing of Burley tobacco. The tobacco was supplied to the housewives and daughters in the area which they then rolled into the Caliqueños cigars, passed on from generation to generation – in secret.
All very illegal -distribution and direct sales were forerunners of the bootleg liquor trade in the USA – you had to know somebody to find them – under the counter, in bars, newspaper stands…….
Legend has it that the Police would warn a location of a pending raid and then, when they arrived, confiscate the few cigars they found, probably proudly displayed on a table. All very cosy, and it helped the peasant folk put a little more food on the tables.
Yet with contemporary concerns, in that the packaging is recyclable and all waste goes to a Bio-gas plant.
Torres de Quart Caliqueños No.2
