maintaining blend with different ring gauge

[sneak_a_cigar]

Let's say that a 38 ring cigar has one leaf of ligero in the center. The maker makes a cigar in the same line that is 42 ring. So the blender has to add more ligero to the wider cigar. But in this case, adding one more leaf doubles the ligero in the blend without doubling the rest of the filler. So the hypothetical blend has to be different.

How can they make different rings and still be considered the same blend?

sneak

 

[javajunkie]

adding a half leaf? as in, cut vertical to the main stem, not short fill. i do not think they ALWAYS use one full leaf of each...

i know there are brothers who have seen and blended, though, so maybe someone who went on the safari? good question, at any rate!

 

[Nemo]

adding a half leaf? as in, cut vertical to the main stem, not short fill. i do not think they ALWAYS use one full leaf of each...

i know there are brothers who have seen and blended, though, so maybe someone who went on the safari? good question, at any rate!

Very good question indeed! You've definitely got my wheels turning with this one.

 

[Catfish]

I think you will find your answer where the same author has reviewed multiple vitolas of the same line. I've read many times the description of multiple cigars and their subsequent ratings vary greatly from one size to another. In my personal opinion, when you offer a 58RG Figurado and a 36RG lonsdale of the same line, I'm skeptical you can keep the same blend proportions.

 

[BMack]

Cigars are blended by taste.... the different sizes will always differ in flavor because of the amount of wrapper/binder to filler ratio though...but they will try to create consistency.

Just one cigar that comes to mind is Opus X. I will ONLY smoke Opus X(unless gifted) with a smaller RG because I much prefer the flavor of the smaller RGs...I also know some guys that will only smoke larger RG Opus X cigars.

 

[TheKidCigar]

I think you will find your answer where the same author has reviewed multiple vitolas of the same line. I've read many times the description of multiple cigars and their subsequent ratings vary greatly from one size to another. In my personal opinion, when you offer a 58RG Figurado and a 36RG lonsdale of the same line, I'm skeptical you can keep the same blend proportions.

This. A good example is the 7-20-4 I was just talking about in another thread. One size is called the Gagger (6x60) and the Dog Walker (4x40) Same blend, very different cigar. the Wrapper/ binder and filler ratio will be way off, creating a different flavor profile entirely. And I imagine they blend filler by volume, that just seems to make sense to me. It could be all mapped out through ratios and equations and the such, OR it could be real simple. They smoke four or five variations of the same size with different filler ratios and produce the one that is most consistent with the rest of the line...

 

[kuzi16]

this is the roll of the master blender.

if they tweak the bend to have them all taste the same in a line then it has to be done by taste. ligero is stronger than viso or seco. you add a half meaf of ligero how much more viso do you add? there is no formula. a blender doesnt just blend a cigar and look to the rollers and say "VAMANOS!!!!" they are blending and reblending the same cigar year after year to make sure that there is a consistency from size to size and year to year.


but as mentioned before: sometimes they dont blend to make sure the sizes all taste the same. they just have proportions to the filler.

 

[ssaka]

There are two approaches to this:

1) You adjust the blend with the intent of trying to keep all the sizes in the same wheelhouse flavor and body wise - and yes, in order to do so you must break the leaves into smaller strips in the narrower ring gauges.

2) You allow the different sizes be what they are flavor and body wise given the base blend.

I find that most makers kind of split the difference - they tweak the smaller ring's blends, but they seldom try to make them smoke identical to their larger brothers - it is really difficult to overcome the temperature differential between a burning corona vs a double corona.

That is why I often suggest to people to try different sizes within a blend - for example if you find the Toro a little boring, you might just love the lonsdale of the very same blend, or if you find the corona on the harsh side, then try the Double Corona - many times you can find a vitola within a blend that will suit you while other sizes will not.

BR,

Steve Saka
CEO, Drew Estate

 

[sneak_a_cigar]

Thanks for all the replies!

I had no idea that cigars are so different between sizes. I know that different sizes smoke differently, but didn't know that the blend was adjusted for the vitola.

Seems like a blend for a line has more to do with the particular tobacco sourced and some general proportions rather than rigid formulas.

Sneak

 

[BMack]

Thanks for all the replies!

I had no idea that cigars are so different between sizes. I know that different sizes smoke differently, but didn't know that the blend was adjusted for the vitola.

Seems like a blend for a line has more to do with the particular tobacco sourced and some general proportions rather than rigid formulas.

Sneak

Year to year too. That's why there are soo few quality blend guys around, it's a very difficult art to craft.