WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
Yes, it's described as a good wrapper but the leaves are fairly narrow. I'm hoping it makes for a unique filler in regards to taste.
WillQuantrill 2024: starting on time.
- Thread starter WillQuantrill
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Vallejano (PI 112183) is an heirloom cigar filler from Mexico. Vallejano has a high nicotine content. It was collected by W.A. Archer from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, in 1935.
Bob
Bob
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
35 days in the kiln for Seco, and tonight I finally loaded my Long Red Viso and Ligero into the kiln. So currently there are 28 plants worth of cigar and DAC leaves in the kiln while the Burley is still hanging in the shed. Pleasantly surprised that there could be room for more in the kiln but gives the hands a chance to get some good air flow through them. 35 days of the kiln running 24/7 and added my 3rd gallon of distilled water to the humidifier...very pleased. Included a picture of my small white board posted to the outside of the kiln that keeps all my dates on track.
Skafidr
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Out of curiosity, what is the purpose of these wood pieces laying at the bottom?
WillQuantrill
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Aye, those are red spanish cedar "dead man" blocks of different odd sizes. The kind that are used in cigar boxes to fill void. I initially started using them as a humidity buffer when there isn't a whole lot of leaf in the kiln. But they do add a pleasant aroma as well.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
I am overkill with most ground up projects. When I built it last year I just kept telling myself "if I do it right I'll never need another one". But I'm glad I put casters on the bottom cuz the thing is atleast 200 lbs. Haha.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
43 days in the kiln and finally get to see the "almost" finished product. Pulled all the Seco that was hung on August 19 in the kiln and brought into medium case so I could unravel and flatten the leaves. I then weighed the first 2 varieties. First 2 pics are Vallejano and last 2 pics are Long Red. I vacuum sealed and labeled the individual varieties and from here I'll put it in the deep freeze for a couple days in case any insect larvae are present. I'll keep posting pics as I keep packaging the rest of the varieties. The leaves smell very nice, sweet like subtle light brown sugar with soft raisin. Haven't decided on a solid rule on how long to rest after the freezer quite yet but I'll probably sample each priming in a pipe to document profiles.
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WillQuantrill
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Same batch of Seco, first picture is FL Sumatra second is OG Criollo. Haven't sorted any wrapper grade out yet but FL Sumatra has produced the nicest leaf so far. And while Criollo is disappointing in size has a real nice milk chocolate color to it. I forgot to add one tip I learned from last year, when vacuum sealing I always stop the vacuum short to leave a small amount of air in the package, otherwise the bag acts like a press and it becomes a real pain trying separate the leaf.
WillQuantrill
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Thank you sir, I am really looking forward to tasting the separate varieties myself but even better... I should have enough wrapper grade this will be my first season I can roll some backyard puros.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
Second Primings and Criollo Ligero pulled from the kiln at 43 days pictured. So far have gotten the most wrapper from FL Sumatra which has the most color balance as well among the 4 varieties of Cigar leaf. And while Criollo leaves are lacking in size the overall yield so far has been pretty good with the Ligero having a very promising strength of aroma. Will make very nice filler. I will post yields on all varieties/primings for the year once fermentation is complete as my Long Red is about 2 weeks behind.
First picture is Vallejano Viso, nice slender leaves. Second is FL Sumatra Viso with great butterscotch color in nice broad leaf. 3rd is Criollo Viso and 4th is Criollo Ligero with some of the leaves curing pretty dark but beautiful smell.
This last is a Vallejano Viso leaf I smoke tested for science. I let it rest for a few days in my humidor then crumbled into a pipe. Tasting notes were excluded as the pipe brings flavor bias but it burned very well, bitter was non-existent, not very spicy but sharp retrohale. Nice fuzzy Nic presence. Overall very promising.
First picture is Vallejano Viso, nice slender leaves. Second is FL Sumatra Viso with great butterscotch color in nice broad leaf. 3rd is Criollo Viso and 4th is Criollo Ligero with some of the leaves curing pretty dark but beautiful smell.
This last is a Vallejano Viso leaf I smoke tested for science. I let it rest for a few days in my humidor then crumbled into a pipe. Tasting notes were excluded as the pipe brings flavor bias but it burned very well, bitter was non-existent, not very spicy but sharp retrohale. Nice fuzzy Nic presence. Overall very promising.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
2 varieties of Ligero fresh out of the kiln today. First picture is FL Sumatra, 2nd is Vallejano. Good results with both varieties. Between all 3 primings I have around 25 wrapper grade leaves from 4 FL Sumatra plants which I am very excited about. And Vallejano P3 is noticeably rich oiled and thick, about half of it could be used as wrapper but I think with the thickness, lower elasticity and slender leaf shape it will make a really nice binder. Really looking forward to blending this stuff!
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
Going back through my logs this week and looking at dates my P1 Burleys have been air curing for 10 weeks, KY17, and 12 weeks, local Gutter Burley. And since it makes me anxious knowing there is vacant space in my kiln, they started their fermentation today. First picture are the piles I misted to make the leaves a little more flexible on the trip to the kiln. Upon opening the door for the first time in 7 days I was pleasantly surprised to see my commercial cigar samples haven't split open and nothing abnormal happening to them. My SSBM 42 days in the kiln is Wednesday so I had to restrain myself from pulling it. Excited to see how they are coming along since they were so thick and sticky going into the kiln. As a bonus I included a picture of the Vallejano seed I harvested 2 weeks ago then stored in a dry box till today it went into the fridge with my collection.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
Pulled my SSBM at 43 days this week. It's getting late in my season so I'm getting lazy so I processed it into 2 primings, top and bottom. The very top leaves are very thick, but all are very oily. Upon drying back to medium case I noticed a velvety sheen uniformly covering the lamina. Very rich leaf. Now I understand why some of the old timers around here are so fond of the Dark Air Cured varieties. In my mind it reminded me of the first time I ever opened a pouch of leaf chew. Kind of the essence of tobacco. First picture is P1 followed by P2, third picture I tried to show just how much oil is in the leaf.
Love seeing your posts brother! Jealous of your kiln setup, but am really intrigued on the store bought cigars in there and how they will turn out… if any changes do occur. Very interesting experiment. Keep rocking it!!!
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
Day 248 of the 2024 grow and I have processed all of my cigar and DAC with pulling my Long Red Viso and Ligero out of the kiln at 41 days. First picture is the Viso, last is Ligero. I culled out quite a bit of Wrapper from this variety so that's fantastic. And upon freeing up some space in the kiln I put both Burleys P1 and P2 in with approximately 10 1/2 weeks air curing in the shed. Once again the kiln is loaded up (pics 3 & 4). Finally time to post yields for posterity
Cuban Criollo: 5.8oz- 5 plants= 1.2oz/plt
Vallejano: 10.5oz- 5 plants= 2.1oz/plt
FL Sumatra: 13.1oz- 4 plants= 3.4oz/plt
SSBM: 13.4oz- 7 plants= 1.9oz/plt
Long Red: 31.3oz- 5 plants= 6.2oz/plt
Long Red and FL Sumatra were the only 2 delivering wrapper grade.
Can't wait for the taste tests to begin.
Cuban Criollo: 5.8oz- 5 plants= 1.2oz/plt
Vallejano: 10.5oz- 5 plants= 2.1oz/plt
FL Sumatra: 13.1oz- 4 plants= 3.4oz/plt
SSBM: 13.4oz- 7 plants= 1.9oz/plt
Long Red: 31.3oz- 5 plants= 6.2oz/plt
Long Red and FL Sumatra were the only 2 delivering wrapper grade.
Can't wait for the taste tests to begin.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
Well shit! Went digging around my packaged leaf from this year and found some mold. My Vallejano Ligero is ruint, which sucks cuz I was really looking forward to tasting the more potent side of this variety. In an act of caution I pulled any leaf that may still feel like "medium" case back out to air dry so I can stop any more damage. I need to refine my process post freezer to insure the leaf is nice and dry for storage. The problem lies in bringing the leaf back into "high case" out of the kiln for sorting, this is when I will vacuum seal and put into the freezer but I may be better served hanging it or dry boxing till the case level is fit for storage. Still happy with the leaf so far and this year's losses are minimal compared to last.
Keeping leaves in cardboard boxes and letting them go in and out of case with local humidity works, too. I have yet to have a problem with mold this way.
(My house temperature is pretty cold, though)
A terrible tragedy….F
(My house temperature is pretty cold, though)
A terrible tragedy….F
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
I'm going to experiment with your idea and make sure it's storage ready before it goes into the freezer
