There is no such thing as too strong! I am nicotine proofMy last blend was a little too strong. Tweaked it a bit and rolled a few to see if I like this one better before rolling a bunch. Wasn't really feeling it today so they turned out kinda rough.
1 leaf Nica Habano seco, 1 1/2 leaves corojo viso, 1/2 leaf Dominican ligero, Dominican binder, and PA broadleaf wrapper. Now to wait and see how they turned out. Will probably give one a shot next weekend.
The flavors just got to be too much. The nicotine wasn't the issue. With some age I'm sure the blend will be good, the first half of the stick was very enjoyable but I usually don't have the patience to age them.
I'm going to put in another order for more whole leaf too. Not sure what I'm going to get - might just get another couple kits again - thinking I'll get the Terroso Profundo and Oscuro y Rico. I'm also going to go ahead and get a chaveta and was thinking I'd pickup this one.
Those are massive!!! For rolling free hand and just starting that ain't bad at all. It's amazing the difference a mold makes and finding the leaf that works well for wrapping and binding. The Terroso Profundo kit is what I ordered initially and I loved the blend. Lots of spice, some sweet tobacco with hints of leather and earth. The kits aren't a bad way to go, but now that I am getting a feel for the varieties and their flavors I'm comfortable getting my filler leaf by the pound. The Dominican binder is tough, easy to work with, and works extremely well and that's what I use except for the PA broadleaf that is mostly wrapper grade but some of it is only good for binder. Corojo and criollo have been my favorite filler combo to date, but adding some Nica Habano adds some more chocolate, cream, and earth to the spicy and sweet.I'm going to put in another order for more whole leaf too. Not sure what I'm going to get - might just get another couple kits again - thinking I'll get the Terroso Profundo and Oscuro y Rico. I'm also going to go ahead and get a chaveta and was thinking I'd pickup this one.
I tried rolling with the Melodioso Cremosa kit this evening... @HIM* wasn't kidding when he mentioned that kit being a little more difficult to work with. The wrapper was super thin - very hard not to tear it. The binder also wasn't nearly as tough as the binder in the Azucarodo Oscuro kit. I only made three cigars this evening - they ended up being gigantic and I had to use a whole lead of binder and a whole leaf of wrapper on each one to get to a point where I thought they'd be smokable. I had half a leaf of wrapper from the first kit so used that on one of them.
I think they'll smoke, even thought they're not remotely pretty!
I think what I want to do is go with the kits one more time and hopefully I'll be a little more confident by the time I'm through them. Then I'll start buying pounds of leaves. Been eye-balling the molds on there too. But at 90-bucks, that'll have to wait a while. I'm just using strips of magazine as a mold right now and I'm really amazed at how well it works. Looking forward to getting to the point where a mold makes sense though!
Try using strips of paper towel. A little more money, but a lot more absorbent and will help your sticks dry out and be ready to smoke sooner.
Welcome to the forum and the thread! Just checked out your photo album you uploaded, very impressive. Any tips or pointers you can give on wrapping perfectos is greatly appreciated.
Absolutely! Mesa is a dry place. It's all about pliability as you already know or, will need to know? Know your leaf. thicker leaf wants more prep time to absorb moister. it should not be rushed, it likes to set at it's own pace. Get a feel for pliable perimeters.
RDWHAHB?
