Ok, it's official: First cigars!

[Shundahai]

My WLT order came in today, and of course I had to give it a whirl. I selected the Terroso Profundo blend, and got down to bidness. I made up a couple of quickie molds from 3/4 pvc and inner tube strips to clamp them. I followed Gdaddy's video tutorial and modified entubado method, and it went smoother than I anticipated. I had to hydrate the wrapper a bit...just gave it a quick mist and set the leaf between a couple of barely damp paper towels while the cigars sat in the molds. First one is at the the top. On the second one, I did a better job of stretching the wrapper across its width and got a much smoother finish to it. Next go around I'll make them a hair fuller as they just barely filled my molds. I think wee bit more compression on that end will make them even more uniform. All in all, I'm quite pleased though, and I can only go up from here.

Here they are in all their...aspiring glory.

 

[deluxestogie]

Congratulations on your first stogies.

Bob

 

[Knucklehead]

Nice job. Let us know how they smoke.

 

[Shundahai]

Of course, I couldn't resist. Fired up the uppermost, uglier one. Regardless of its looks, it burned and smoked flawlessly. Real even burn, smooth cool draw and REAL tasty. Whoever came up with that blend did a great job. I smoked the whole damn thing. I'm going to let the other one rest for a while and compare to the fresh rolled. But it was good to go right off the rolling board as far as taste.

 

[DGBAMA]

They ain't gotta be pretty to be good..,. Congrats on your first rolled. You will never look at a cigar the same again.

 

[Gdaddy]

You are off to a great start!

If you want a more finished look you can finish press them in the mold after the wrapper goes on for a few hours or over night. However, it won't make them taste any better. Welcome to the club!

 

[bonehead]

Of course, I couldn't resist. Fired up the uppermost, uglier one. Regardless of its looks, it burned and smoked flawlessly. Real even burn, smooth cool draw and REAL tasty. Whoever came up with that blend did a great job. I smoked the whole damn thing. I'm going to let the other one rest for a while and compare to the fresh rolled. But it was good to go right off the rolling board as far as taste.

View attachment 15818

that looks like it is burning nice and strait. enjoy

 

[Shundahai]

that looks like it is burning nice and strait. enjoy

It burned like that all the way down, no relights or any other problems. It was a very memorable cigar...a feeling enhanced, no doubt, by the fact that I managed to make it myself

 

[FmGrowit]

Very nice. Glad to hear you like the blend.

 

[Hasse SWE]

It burned like that all the way down, no relights or any other problems. It was a very memorable cigar...a feeling enhanced, no doubt, by the fact that I managed to make it myself

You must be more than just proud of it.. Looking very good. I ain't a cigar boy but congratulations

 

[deluxestogie]

I ain't a cigar boy...

We need to remedy that.

Bob

 

[waikikigun]

Nice one, Shundahai.

If you're interested in the visual aesthetics aspect of the experience, you might try misting your binders a day or two before the rolling session and storing them in the humid bag for a night or two so that they will lay down smooth and flat like a wrapper. And then do the same with the wrapper leaves. These things are meant to slowly absorb moisture over time. Then they become smooth and supple.

 

[Shundahai]

I'm not *overly* concerned with the visual, I'm a Function First type of guy, though I do understand that there is a pretty good relationship between the two with this art.

 

[j2rizzy]

Good job!

 

[charlie G.]

Shundahai great looking start. You can only get better from here. May I suggest you put the last of your first rolled away to look back and see how you've improved over a year or so.
Also now that you know you can roll a great burning cigar, you can now tweak a blend to make it your own or a blend on this site to make it to your personal tastes. Making a blend you love on your own is the greatest accomplishments in this hobby. I learned in my first year to keep notes on cigars rolled, and on blends and tastes of certain tobaccos so you might know how it will work with other tobaccos and blends. You are off to a great start. Keep rolling and posting your cigars. Enjoy