The use of long filler is the primary distinction between premium and mass-market. Long filler means that the leaves are complete, while short filler means the leaves are chopped up. A premium cigar may contain anywhere from two to four leaves of filler tobacco that are bunched together within a single binder leaf. The wrapper is then rolled on over the binder. The vast majority of machine-made cigars use short filler tobacco, which consists of chopped scraps of leaf.
Short filler burns hotter and quicker than long filler cigars.