Today I learned of the concept of the puro for the first time. Marvelous idea! Roll a tiny cigar totally of one kind of leaf to experience it on its own. To see what it brings to the party, if you will. So naturally I ran to my rolling table and broke out some packages.
Criollo was closest. Took a single leaf. One half went to the oven to dry [LP cooktop, heat off, pilot on, ~85f with convection driven air flow] while I hydrated and stretched the other. I accordioned the first and rolled it up in the second. A tiny bunch in a huge leaf. About 4 1/2 X 26. Cigarillo size. Back to the oven for a few.
This is a revelation! The Criollo tastes like no other cigar I have ever had [though I am admittedly a novice]. It's very delicate, and very nice. I am thinking about rolling up a box of these to carry around. Then a couple of puffs later it becomes very boring. Ah-ha! This is why we smoke blends. Another revelation.
Next is Piloto Cubano seco. I split a leaf and spent some time misting and stretching one half. The result is not very pleasant. It's a good thing it helps combustion. It obviously benefits greatly from the blend. Nevertheless I find it very interesting to see what its 'native' flavor is.
Habana 2000. The one in the photos. Much darker and heavier than Criollo, but smokable. Again I lose interest, not a lot going on in there. It seems that puros are just blandly one dimensional compared to blends. Of course you all knew that already, but it's blowing my mind.
Does everyone do this? Anyone? Suggestions? I've got a lot more packages to sample. Thanks for listening.
Criollo was closest. Took a single leaf. One half went to the oven to dry [LP cooktop, heat off, pilot on, ~85f with convection driven air flow] while I hydrated and stretched the other. I accordioned the first and rolled it up in the second. A tiny bunch in a huge leaf. About 4 1/2 X 26. Cigarillo size. Back to the oven for a few.
This is a revelation! The Criollo tastes like no other cigar I have ever had [though I am admittedly a novice]. It's very delicate, and very nice. I am thinking about rolling up a box of these to carry around. Then a couple of puffs later it becomes very boring. Ah-ha! This is why we smoke blends. Another revelation.
Next is Piloto Cubano seco. I split a leaf and spent some time misting and stretching one half. The result is not very pleasant. It's a good thing it helps combustion. It obviously benefits greatly from the blend. Nevertheless I find it very interesting to see what its 'native' flavor is.
Habana 2000. The one in the photos. Much darker and heavier than Criollo, but smokable. Again I lose interest, not a lot going on in there. It seems that puros are just blandly one dimensional compared to blends. Of course you all knew that already, but it's blowing my mind.
Does everyone do this? Anyone? Suggestions? I've got a lot more packages to sample. Thanks for listening.