What Is a Barber Pole Cigar? A Guide to Dual-Wrapper Cigars
If you've ever seen a cigar wrapped in two contrasting leaves spiralling around each other, you've probably been looking at a barber pole cigar.
Named after the traditional striped barber pole, these cigars stand out immediately because of their distinctive appearance. But a barber pole isn't just about looks. Using two different wrapper leaves can also influence the cigar's flavour, aroma and overall smoking experience.
What Makes a Cigar a Barber Pole?
Most traditional cigars are finished with a single wrapper leaf.
A barber pole cigar is different. Two contrasting wrapper leaves are carefully applied in a spiral pattern along the cigar, creating alternating bands of colour.
A common combination pairs a lighter Connecticut-style wrapper with a darker Maduro wrapper.
The contrast creates the signature striped appearance while allowing characteristics from both wrapper leaves to contribute to the smoking experience.
Does the Wrapper Really Matter?
Yes.
The wrapper is one of the most noticeable components of a premium cigar and can contribute significantly to its aroma, flavour and appearance.
Different tobacco varieties and curing methods can produce very different characteristics.
A lighter wrapper may offer smoother, creamier or more delicate characteristics, while darker Maduro tobacco can contribute richer sweetness, earthiness and deeper flavours.
With a barber pole cigar, the idea is to bring contrasting wrapper characteristics together rather than relying on a single wrapper from beginning to end.
Are Barber Pole Cigars Difficult to Make?
They require additional care.
The cigar maker needs to prepare and apply two wrapper leaves while maintaining the spiral pattern and creating an even, well-finished cigar.
Appearance matters, but construction matters even more.
A well-made barber pole should still provide the draw, burn and consistency expected from a premium handmade cigar. The striped wrapper shouldn't simply be decoration—it needs to function as part of the cigar's construction.
Do Barber Pole Cigars Taste Different?
They can.
The experience depends on the tobacco used for the wrappers, binder and filler rather than the striped appearance alone.
That's why two barber pole cigars can look similar but taste completely different.
The combination of wrapper leaves can add another dimension to the blend, particularly when the two wrappers have contrasting characteristics.
Meet the WE THA BUSINESS Executive Barber Pole
Our Executive Barber Pole takes the concept and puts it into our 7 × 48 Churchill format.
It features contrasting Ecuador Connecticut and Maduro wrappers, paired with premium Nicaraguan long-fillers.
The longer Churchill format gives the blend room to develop throughout the smoking experience while the contrasting wrappers give the cigar its unmistakable barber pole appearance.
It's part of the WE THA BUSINESS Executive Collection, alongside our Connecticut, Habano and Maduro Executive cigars.
[Shop the Executive Barber Pole – Box of 20]
Barber Pole Cigars: More Than Their Appearance
There's no question that a barber pole cigar catches the eye.
But what makes the style interesting is what happens beneath the appearance—the craftsmanship required to work with multiple wrapper leaves and the opportunity to bring different tobacco characteristics together in one cigar.
For cigar enthusiasts who enjoy exploring different wrappers and constructions, a barber pole offers something genuinely different from the traditional single-wrapper cigar.
Explore the Executive Collection at WETHABUSINESS.COM.