How to properly blend cigars

[Nico]

Is there a acceptable and unacceptable ways when you blend a cigar?
I’ve recently bought some tobacco so I have like 6 different ligero and 5 different viso, seco, binder and wrapper at my disposal.

This is an example of a blend I created

Filler: criollo Ligero, Mexican SA viso, corojo viso, olor seco, Peru seco, condega seco
Binder: DR piloto, Cameroon
Wrapper: Honduran conerico seco

When I see people posting their blends they have like 2 or 3 different types in the filler where mine has 6 different ones. Is this an improper way of blending?

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Do whatever works. Keep in mind that you might not know which tobacco is doing what, though, if your blends are always complex. Mine are usually three fillers, and a binder and wrapper, so it's easier to discern.

 

[Knucklehead]

Is there a acceptable and unacceptable ways when you blend a cigar?
I’ve recently bought some tobacco so I have like 6 different ligero and 5 different viso, seco, binder and wrapper at my disposal.

This is an example of a blend I created

Filler: criollo Ligero, Mexican SA viso, corojo viso, olor seco, Peru seco, condega seco
Binder: DR piloto, Cameroon
Wrapper: Honduran conerico seco

When I see people posting their blends they have like 2 or 3 different types in the filler where mine has 6 different ones. Is this an improper way of blending?

Flavor, strength, and burn qualities also influence leaf selection. Seco is lower on the plant than Viso or Ligero and primed earlier. It has the least strength in nicotine but typically burns the best and the flavor is mild. Viso is the middle position, and Ligero is strongest in nicotine and flavor and is from the upper leaves of the plant. Ligero can burn poorly but not always. I rarely use more than 1/2 to 1 leaf of Ligero to a cigar cause I’m a wimp, you may have different tastes. Each leaf position will influence the blend and so will different varieties.

 

[Nico]

Thanks for replying guys. Looks like I’m not doing anything wrong but I will try some simpler blends to compare with the more complex ones.
but let me rephrase the question, is there a reason why I haven’t seen any blends at this forum that looks like my example? Is it a money problem that people need to drop so much coin to obtain a diverse selection? Or is there another reason?

 

[deluxestogie]

With cigar blending, as with cooking, if you include a sufficient number of flavors, the results become indistinguishable. That is fine to do, if you like. But my preference is for an endless succession of distinctive cigars. There are times when I may have twenty or more different cigar varieties ready for use, but my cigar filler most often consists of one, two or three ingredients. I believe it all comes down to your personal preference.

Bob

 

[Nico]

That was what I was looking for “ if you include a sufficient number of flavors, the results become indistinguishable”. You think that’s happening here when I roll the complex blends? Should I dial back to something more like this? Filler: 1 corojo L, 2 criollo V, 3 olor S.

 

[deluxestogie]

The research indicates that 30+ combined flavors make it impossible for expert "smellers" to identify any of the ingredients. I don't think you're there yet. Just experiment, and relax more.

Bob

 

[Jb00]

When I roll cigars I usually do 10 or so at a time and I do 2-4 sticks with seco and ligero (3:1 mix) and then I’ll do some with different secos mixed together and ligero. I try to keep it between 2-4 different tobaccos in the filler, it keeps things simple and easily replicated.

 

[jclif43]

There are no rules, so experiment. As others have said , when there are more competing elements, it’s difficult if not impossible to discern what is doing what. Manipulate one type of filler at a time and it’s easier to detect subtle changes.

 

[GreenDragon]

Have you rolled small puro's of each single filler to smoke so as to get an idea of the flavor profiles of your stock? It will help if you know the general flavor profile of each leaf before trying to blend them together.

 

[Biglizard1]

My palate is adequate, I cook and enjoy cooking. When I've smoked a boutique cigar, I could tell some of those "descriptions"
Nutmeg, cinnamon, licorice etc.

With rolling my own, I have rolled cigars with 1 leaf type only, 2 different leaves same tobacco, or even mixed leaves, mixed priming, and even changed only wrapper element or binder element from a specific batch.
The more potpourri I make my blend, the less I can identify with a particular taste.
I can enjoy all of them as long as my cigar burns well, tastes good, and I enjoyed making my own.
I have a friend I gift cigars to, he has enjoyed cigars for 40 years or better. When he tells me, I like x cigar you made, I evaluate the particular blend against my intended goal and see if I hit the mark. Adjust from there and look to replicate my successes

 

[Nico]

Have you rolled small puro's of each single filler to smoke so as to get an idea of the flavor profiles of your stock? It will help if you know the general flavor profile of each leaf before trying to blend them together.

How would one go about to roll small cigars with one leaf?

 

[GreenDragon]

How would one go about to roll small cigars with one leaf?

My apologies, I was not clear. Take several leaves, all of the same type, use one for a binder/wrapper and the rest as the bunch, and roll as normal. I roll mine about 4" long.

 

[deluxestogie]

How would one go about to roll small cigars with one leaf?

Quick Stogies

A tale of two stogies: a one-leaf stogie and a two leaf stogie. The time to make them is roughly 1 minute per leaf, including stemming. Two-leaf Stogie: ~2 minutes No special skills or secrets here. Using two whole leaves of Criollo 98 viso, I make a 6" x ~30 ring stogie. The concept of...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

 

[Nico]

Quick Stogies

A tale of two stogies: a one-leaf stogie and a two leaf stogie. The time to make them is roughly 1 minute per leaf, including stemming. Two-leaf Stogie: ~2 minutes No special skills or secrets here. Using two whole leaves of Criollo 98 viso, I make a 6" x ~30 ring stogie. The concept of...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

Thank you so much!

 

[Danny M]

Try rolling each leaf and determine what characteristics each strain and leaf position offers. I don’t think it’s a matter of money as it is simplicity. In music there’s a saying..less is more. If you throw 6 different fillers, and two wraps that aren’t consistent I don’t think you could duplicate it with much luck. The most complex blend I’ve seen is 4 for the filler and that might even be questionable.

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum @Danny M. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Bob

 

[Knucklehead]

Try rolling each leaf and determine what characteristics each strain and leaf position offers. I don’t think it’s a matter of money as it is simplicity. In music there’s a saying..less is more. If you throw 6 different fillers, and two wraps that aren’t consistent I don’t think you could duplicate it with much luck. The most complex blend I’ve seen is 4 for the filler and that might even be questionable.

The space between B.B. Kings notes were as significant as his chords.
Welcome to FTT.

 

[MarcL]

what?

 

[MarcL]

he didnt play chords