The wrapper is not decoration. It changes the pace, texture, aroma, and perceived weight of a cigar, and the 1689 Confession Line makes that difference easy to taste.
London, Westminster, and Savoy share a common Reformed confessional heritage, but they are not interchangeable. Each line brings its own blend identity, and each wrapper pushes that identity in a different direction. Connecticut softens and brightens. Habano adds spice and structure. Maduro deepens the experience with darker sweetness and fuller weight.
This side-by-side review compares the three lines across the wrapper spectrum, with a focus on the cigars that best show how Connecticut cigars, Habano cigars, and Maduro cigars can each shape a premium handcrafted blend.
The short version: which line should you choose?
- Choose London if you want the broadest range, from approachable Connecticut to a long, full-bodied Maduro.
- Choose Westminster if you prefer a balanced, structured profile with especially strong Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro options in the Toro format.
- Choose Savoy if you want a more focused experience built around Habano and a classic Maduro profile.
The names reflect historic confessional relationships: London represents the 1689 London Baptist Confession, Westminster recalls the 1646 Westminster Confession, and Savoy points to the 1658 Savoy Declaration. The cigars carry those names with a serious, traditional character, but the smoking experience comes down to tobacco, wrapper, construction, and your own palate.
For more from the company, visit the 1689 Cigars blends collection or browse the 1689 cigar reviews archive.
London: the most complete wrapper progression
London is the easiest line to understand as a progression. It starts with a mild-to-medium Connecticut, moves into a medium-strength Habano with medium-to-full body, and finishes with a full-bodied Maduro built for a longer session.
London Connecticut Gran Toro, 6 x 52
The London Connecticut Gran Toro is mild-to-medium in both strength and body, with an expected burn time of 60–75 minutes. It is the gentlest expression in the London family and the most natural entry point for smokers who want a refined cigar without heavy intensity.
The Connecticut wrapper keeps the profile lighter and more open. Expect the blend to feel smoother and less forceful than the darker London options, making this a practical choice for daytime smoking, a first cigar of the day, or anyone still developing a palate for premium cigars.
This is not simply a “weak” cigar. Mild-to-medium cigars can still offer balance, clean construction, and satisfying flavor. The London Connecticut is suited to smokers who want the craftsmanship and identity of the line without committing to a full-bodied experience.
London Habano Toro, 6 x 52
The London Habano Toro steps up to medium strength with medium-to-full body, while maintaining the same 60–75-minute expected burn time.
Here, the wrapper adds more presence. Compared with the Connecticut, the Habano version feels darker, more textured, and more assertive. It is a strong middle ground for smokers who want noticeable flavor and structure without the weight of a Maduro Gordo.
If Connecticut is the cleanest introduction to London, Habano is the best all-around expression. It gives the blend more authority while preserving enough balance for a wide range of cigar smokers.
London Maduro Gordo, 6 x 60
The London Maduro Gordo is the line’s most substantial format, measuring 6 x 60. It delivers medium-to-full strength, full body, and a longer 75–100+ minute burn time.
The larger ring gauge and darker wrapper make this the most immersive London experience. The Maduro character brings deeper flavor, heavier smoke, and a more persistent finish. It is best suited to an experienced smoker who wants a cigar to occupy the better part of an evening.
The London comparison is straightforward: Connecticut is the lightest, Habano is the most balanced, and Maduro is the most powerful and time-consuming.
Westminster: the most structured side-by-side set
Westminster offers the cleanest direct comparison because its Connecticut, Habano, and 1646 Maduro expressions are all Toro-sized at 6 x 52. That makes the wrapper differences easier to isolate.
Westminster Connecticut Toro, 6 x 52
The Westminster Connecticut Toro is mild-to-medium in strength and body, with a 60–75-minute burn time.
Like the London Connecticut, it is approachable without being empty. The Connecticut wrapper keeps the cigar smooth and restrained, allowing the underlying blend to remain accessible. The Westminster version is a good choice for someone who wants a calm, traditional smoke with enough presence to remain interesting through the middle and final thirds.
Compared with the London Connecticut Gran Toro, the shared size and strength range make them natural competitors. Your choice will come down less to intensity and more to which line’s blend character you prefer.
Westminster Habano Toro, 6 x 52
The Westminster Habano Toro moves into the medium-to-full strength and body range, still with a 60–75-minute expected burn.
This is where the wrapper makes the biggest practical difference. The Habano leaf adds weight, spice, and a more pronounced finish over the Connecticut version. It has the kind of profile that suits a smoker who has moved beyond mild cigars but does not necessarily want the deepest Maduro experience.
Among the three lines, Westminster Habano is one of the most dependable choices for a traditional premium cigar smoker: substantial, balanced, and direct.
Westminster 1646 Maduro Toro, 6 x 52
The Westminster 1646 Maduro Toro is also medium-to-full in strength and body, with a 60–75-minute burn time.
Because it remains in the same Toro format as the Connecticut and Habano Westminster cigars, the change in experience is driven more clearly by the wrapper and blend than by size. The Maduro adds darker character and a fuller impression while keeping the session within a manageable hour to 75 minutes.
Westminster Maduro is an excellent choice for smokers who want the richness associated with Maduro cigars but prefer a standard Toro rather than the larger, longer London Maduro Gordo.
Savoy: a focused approach to Habano and Maduro
Savoy is less about offering every step of the strength ladder and more about presenting a distinct identity. Its Habano expression offers medium balance, while its Maduro delivers the classic dark-wrapper profile associated with the line.
Savoy 1658 Habano Toro, 6 x 52
The Savoy 1658 Habano Toro is medium in strength and body, with a 60–75-minute burn time.
Compared with the fuller Westminster Habano, Savoy Habano is a little more measured on paper. That makes it a strong choice for smokers who want the spice and character of Habano tobacco without pushing into a medium-to-full experience.
The Savoy Habano is also a natural comparison against London Habano. Both are medium-format Habano cigars, but the line names represent different blend identities. If you prefer a more balanced and focused Habano profile, Savoy deserves a place in the rotation.
Savoy Maduro
The Savoy Maduro presents a classic Maduro profile. Rather than positioning it as a direct strength contest, it is better understood as Savoy’s darker, richer expression: the wrapper brings the familiar Maduro combination of deeper flavor, heavier texture, and a more lingering finish.
Savoy Maduro is for the smoker who enjoys the recognizable character of a dark wrapper but wants to explore that profile through the Savoy blend. It sits naturally alongside the London Maduro Gordo and Westminster 1646 Maduro, though the format and blend identity create different experiences.
What does the wrapper actually change?
Wrapper color alone does not determine strength. The filler and binder tobaccos, fermentation, construction, and size all matter. Still, the wrapper has a clear role in how the cigar presents itself.
Connecticut generally creates the lightest impression of the three. In the Confession Line, the London and Westminster Connecticut cigars are mild-to-medium in strength and body. They are smooth, accessible, and well suited to a shorter or more relaxed smoking occasion.
Habano brings more visible structure. The London Habano reaches medium strength with medium-to-full body, Westminster Habano moves into medium-to-full strength and body, and Savoy Habano remains medium in both. These differences show why “Habano” is not a single flavor profile. The same wrapper category can produce very different results depending on the blend beneath it.
Maduro supplies the darkest overall character. London Maduro is the largest and longest-burning option, Westminster 1646 Maduro delivers a fuller Toro experience, and Savoy Maduro offers a classic Maduro profile. None is simply “better”; they are designed for different levels of appetite, time, and intensity.
Final verdict: London vs. Westminster vs. Savoy
The best line depends on what you want the cigar to do.
London wins for range. Its Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro formats create the clearest movement from mild-to-medium through full-bodied, with the London Maduro Gordo standing out as the long-session option.
Westminster wins for direct comparison. With Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro expressions centered on the 6 x 52 Toro format, it is the easiest line for studying what the wrapper contributes.
Savoy wins for focus. Its medium-bodied Habano and classic Maduro expressions offer a more concentrated identity for smokers who already know which direction they prefer.
If you are new to the line, begin with the London Connecticut or Westminster Connecticut. If you already enjoy richer premium cigars, try the London Habano, Westminster Habano, or Savoy 1658 Habano. For the darkest and fullest experience, move toward the London Maduro Gordo, Westminster 1646 Maduro, or Savoy Maduro.
The Confession Line is built for comparison. Start with one wrapper, then cross the line and see what changes.
Riddle: I wear three coats but never leave the shelf. One is light, one is bold, and one is dark as night. What am I?
Answer: A cigar wrapper.
0 comments