After I expressed my opinion that Don's cigar leaf is better than home grown, I thought it politic for me to spread some love. So I opened the humidor holding cigars received from FTT members and selected DIY Pete's Blend #2. I've burnt one of his number twos before, and I can tell you they are a real crackerjack item.
Here's what Pete says goes into his Blend 2:
Criollo '98 wrapper
Double Dominican Binder
1 Aleman Ligero
1/2 Paraguay Flojo Viso
1/2 Brazillian Mata Fina
2 Piloto Cubano Seco
All very flavorful stuff. It can be overwhelming if taken too fast. But if smoked slowly while binding uppowoc perfectos, then relaxing in front of football, this right here makes a dandy smoke.
Clipped square as a die head and foot. This one was more consistent diameter than the first, and lacked the mold marks of his #1. The foot was softer and the head harder than the body. But the draw was impeccably easy and free.
I don't remember noticing that puppy on the band before. Usually, you think of south bound, you think of a horse; as in "He's as ugly as the north end of a south bound horse"; but here it's the port side of an east bound pup. What this pup or southbound have to do with do-it-yourself Pete, and why print out what appears to be a steaming pile behind him, this is a mystery which only Pete can clear up:
Entubado shows in the foot. It's a free draw unlit, with rich spice and dry chocolate. This one lit up easy as pie with one match, where the first one needed a blowtorch; so a couple months age have done wonders in that regard. Ample volume. Super smooth rich chocolate, sweet, but still with a marked ligero sting. And it bears repeating, this is a rich stick. Aromatic, floral and dry. Almost like an infused tobacco, but without the cloying burn which puts me off infused cigars. Retrohale was also floral, chocolate, and dry. The one flavor factor which seems to have toned way down with age was the woodiness. Very little wood after three months in the box. Rest after rolling seems to have done this blend well.
The burn was wavy and steady. Right in the middle, it went out, just as the first one had done. I lit it up promptly and enjoyed the rest. Here's an odd detail: The ash of it clinked in the tray when I knocked it off.
DIY's Blend # 2 is one helluva smoke.
Here's what Pete says goes into his Blend 2:
Criollo '98 wrapper
Double Dominican Binder
1 Aleman Ligero
1/2 Paraguay Flojo Viso
1/2 Brazillian Mata Fina
2 Piloto Cubano Seco
All very flavorful stuff. It can be overwhelming if taken too fast. But if smoked slowly while binding uppowoc perfectos, then relaxing in front of football, this right here makes a dandy smoke.
Clipped square as a die head and foot. This one was more consistent diameter than the first, and lacked the mold marks of his #1. The foot was softer and the head harder than the body. But the draw was impeccably easy and free.
I don't remember noticing that puppy on the band before. Usually, you think of south bound, you think of a horse; as in "He's as ugly as the north end of a south bound horse"; but here it's the port side of an east bound pup. What this pup or southbound have to do with do-it-yourself Pete, and why print out what appears to be a steaming pile behind him, this is a mystery which only Pete can clear up:
Entubado shows in the foot. It's a free draw unlit, with rich spice and dry chocolate. This one lit up easy as pie with one match, where the first one needed a blowtorch; so a couple months age have done wonders in that regard. Ample volume. Super smooth rich chocolate, sweet, but still with a marked ligero sting. And it bears repeating, this is a rich stick. Aromatic, floral and dry. Almost like an infused tobacco, but without the cloying burn which puts me off infused cigars. Retrohale was also floral, chocolate, and dry. The one flavor factor which seems to have toned way down with age was the woodiness. Very little wood after three months in the box. Rest after rolling seems to have done this blend well.
The burn was wavy and steady. Right in the middle, it went out, just as the first one had done. I lit it up promptly and enjoyed the rest. Here's an odd detail: The ash of it clinked in the tray when I knocked it off.
DIY's Blend # 2 is one helluva smoke.
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