Outstanding @AromatiX ! How did it turn out?
Pics of your Sticks!! 2023-2024
- Thread starter Biglizard1
- Start date
It tastes surprisingly close to Connecticut Broadleaf with a spicy tingle on the tongue and a slight taste and aroma like walking into a tobacco curing barn. I'm very impressed and so is my wife. She wants me to make some cigarillos with it. I'll definitely be growing more next year. Oh and it has similar veins and wrapability as Broadleaf.
...You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!
I don't think I've ever had the courage to wrap a cigar in a dark air-cured variety.
Bob
I don't think I've ever had the courage to wrap a cigar in a dark air-cured variety.
Bob
Patriotguy
Well-Known Member
First attemps of this year, I can tell I havent retained what I learned last time. I'll write notes down this time around so I have something at hand to reference. All PA broadleaf.
Welcome to the forum. And congratulations on your first cigar. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.
Bob
Bob
My first year was last year and my cigars were similar. In my second year I've got much better at both making cigars and growing the tobacco so I now have some wrapper quality leaves. For me the key was harvesting earlier so that they have longer to air cure.
I'm going to wrap the decent cigars from last year with this year's wrappers so that they are more presentable.
Finished up the remaining Padron Knock Off’s over the last few days. 2 filler variations as I ran out of Nicaraguan Ometepe Seco. Filler variation 1 on top and variation 2 on the bottom resting on top of the cigar mold. 6 sticks on the very bottom are hand rolled and molded with paper strips. 42 sticks total in the pic.
Quick reflection… When I ordered more leaf yesterday, I checked when I ordered my first starter kit. It was 11/29/2020. Almost hit the 3 year mark! Crazy how this “hobby” has came along!
Quick reflection… When I ordered more leaf yesterday, I checked when I ordered my first starter kit. It was 11/29/2020. Almost hit the 3 year mark! Crazy how this “hobby” has came along!
Padron was my favorite before I switched to WLT Nicaraguan. Ecuador Maduro as binder and wrapper with the Nicaraguan filler tastes just like Padron. Let us know what you think when you fire them off.
Right on Knucks! I may need to tweak it on the binder aspect. Here are my blend details:
Padron KO (variation 1)
W-Ecuadorian Maduro
B-Nicaraguan
F- 1/2x Nicaraguan ASP Ligero
1/2x Nicaraguan Estelí Ligero
1x Nicaraguan Condega Habano Viso
1x Nicaraguan Jalapa Viso
1x Nicaraguan Ometepe Seco
Padron KO (variation 2)
W-Ecuadorian Maduro
B-Nicaraguan
F- 1/2x Nicaraguan ASP Ligero
1/2x Nicaraguan Ometepe Ligero
1x Nicaraguan Condega Habano Viso
1x Nicaraguan Jalapa Viso
1x Nicaraguan Estelí Seco
Fingers crossed! Will update once I try em!
I’ll need to figure a way to make bands out of that! Love it!
This might be easier to work with:
Bob
EDIT: Here is a thread from ~6 years ago that wanders into the weeds on making your own custom bands.
fairtradetobacco.com
Bob
EDIT: Here is a thread from ~6 years ago that wanders into the weeds on making your own custom bands.
Cigar Bands
Last edited:
First box/trunk press attempt!
I wanted to roll up some of the first blend I put together that was actually good for my buddy. He wanted a few sticks for the Army vs Navy game today. I wanted to try something new with it and figured… why not!
R.O’B. Blend :
Wrapper-Brazilian Connecticut 2013
Binder-Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler-1x Black Ligero
2x T-13 Viso
2x Nicaraguan Condega Seco 2014
The process I used for box/trunk pressing was a little different than how I would roll a cylindrical type stick. The Connecticut Broadleaf binder took about 3-4 days “casing up” in the “casing chamber” aka cooler with drying racks. All filler leaf was “cased up” by spritzing every other leaf and putting in old/unused tobacco leaf bags to rehumidify. Bound up 10 sticks while each filler leaf is rolled “entubado” style. Each stick was put in a plastic 50 ring gauge mold to help prevent them from drying out too fast. After rotating the cigars in the mold for 1-2 days I wrapped them up and put in the box/trunk press. I was cut short on timing a little bit due to a 2 day work trip this week, so 1 cigar was able to be pressed over night and the rest were pressed and rotated twice for 1 1/2-2 hours this morning. Pressing at least overnight or for more time I would definitely say would improve the shape. 1 other side note that I noticed was the black Ligero. I cracked open a new lb from last year and noticed different aromas that I’d normally expect. This lb had the aroma of the black Ligero if left out to “air out”. Other than that, it smelled like it was fire cured or stored near fire cured tobacco. Fingers crossed the final cigar still has the regular blend aromas & taste to it. If not, no worries. Tobacco changes from batch to batch and perhaps this one may taste better!
Anyways, enough chatter. Here are some pics:
I wanted to roll up some of the first blend I put together that was actually good for my buddy. He wanted a few sticks for the Army vs Navy game today. I wanted to try something new with it and figured… why not!
R.O’B. Blend :
Wrapper-Brazilian Connecticut 2013
Binder-Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler-1x Black Ligero
2x T-13 Viso
2x Nicaraguan Condega Seco 2014
The process I used for box/trunk pressing was a little different than how I would roll a cylindrical type stick. The Connecticut Broadleaf binder took about 3-4 days “casing up” in the “casing chamber” aka cooler with drying racks. All filler leaf was “cased up” by spritzing every other leaf and putting in old/unused tobacco leaf bags to rehumidify. Bound up 10 sticks while each filler leaf is rolled “entubado” style. Each stick was put in a plastic 50 ring gauge mold to help prevent them from drying out too fast. After rotating the cigars in the mold for 1-2 days I wrapped them up and put in the box/trunk press. I was cut short on timing a little bit due to a 2 day work trip this week, so 1 cigar was able to be pressed over night and the rest were pressed and rotated twice for 1 1/2-2 hours this morning. Pressing at least overnight or for more time I would definitely say would improve the shape. 1 other side note that I noticed was the black Ligero. I cracked open a new lb from last year and noticed different aromas that I’d normally expect. This lb had the aroma of the black Ligero if left out to “air out”. Other than that, it smelled like it was fire cured or stored near fire cured tobacco. Fingers crossed the final cigar still has the regular blend aromas & taste to it. If not, no worries. Tobacco changes from batch to batch and perhaps this one may taste better!
Anyways, enough chatter. Here are some pics:
Quick review of the Ecuador grown Habano Ligero: Fantastic, deep Habano flavor... Possesses the classic Habano sweetness, along with the unique essence ( spice and certain Je ne sais quoi) that makes it Habano. I rolled a 4"x52 torpedo that was 100% Ligero - there was no uneven or slow burning, tongue bite, excessive bitterness, or acrid taste that sometimes results from a high-nicotine Ligero. This leaf has the thickness of a thin Viso - it would be a great binder leaf. IMO it would complement any blend of leaves. Excellent with coffee - I was perspiring slightly towards the end of the cigar, confirming it as what I'd call a medium strength Ligero leaf.
Or a crazier one, lol...
Completed a batch of 10 over the last couple days. This is a blend I revisited and put together from a leaf trade I did with the late @webmost. I hope you’re resting peacefully brother.
The Webslinger:
W-Indonesian Besuki
B-Dominican O’ lor
F- 1x Pelo D’ Oro Ligero
1x Piloto Cubano Viso
1x Dominican CV Seco
All WLT Leaf. 43 ring gauge.
Please bring back the Besuki! Outstanding wrapper imho!
The Webslinger:
W-Indonesian Besuki
B-Dominican O’ lor
F- 1x Pelo D’ Oro Ligero
1x Piloto Cubano Viso
1x Dominican CV Seco
All WLT Leaf. 43 ring gauge.
Please bring back the Besuki! Outstanding wrapper imho!
