Newbie rolling

[nickgarrett]

I'm now working from a recipe and not just hacking leaves together.

Now all you have to worry about is the inconsistent quality of leaves from order to order. Like that last bunch of WLT Dom binder !

 

[blisscigarco]

Now all you have to worry about is the inconsistent quality of leaves from order to order. Like that last bunch of WLT Dom binder !

That's the tragic aspect of this. I've been keeping detailed track of hundreds of blends for years in an Excel spreadsheet, and it's basically for nothing. A few months down the road and the "same" leaf and recipe don't produce anything remotely similar to that wonder recipe I was trying to replicate, and often something much worse.

 

[webmost]

That's the tragic aspect of this. I've been keeping detailed track of hundreds of blends for years in an Excel spreadsheet, and it's basically for nothing. A few months down the road and the "same" leaf and recipe don't produce anything remotely similar to that wonder recipe I was trying to replicate, and often something much worse.

Very true. And so when you do find a gem you have to roll a stash batch from the leaves you have.

 

[Gdaddy]

I've been keeping detailed track of hundreds of blends for years in an Excel spreadsheet, and it's basically for nothing.

Agreed. My cigar collection is like a box of chocolates. I roll them, store them and hope for the best but I don't worry about a half of leaf here or there. I spend more time on leaf preparation prior to rolling than worrying about a hit or miss blend by simply pulling leaves out of the bag.

 

[Dominican56]

Well one thing from this morning testing. LO EC seco filler is harsh, strong with white and black pepper overlay. I can't think of a blend I would like it in. If you want it let me know.

If you like lots of pepper then this leaf is for you.

 

[Dominican56]

This is where the testing chroots go to die.

When they dry I rip em apart and burn them down.

 

[Dominican56]

Some only get wrapper on the smoking end.

 

[Dominican56]

On its own nic habano ligero is pretty good. I'm building a blend around it.
I "may" have it.
Panetella with corojo 98 seco, nic hab ligero, BMF, corojo Viso. Sumatra binder, EC ligero wrapper.
I'll try it again later when my tasters settle down a bit.

 

[Dominican56]

It might need a small amount of Dominican Volado Piloto Cubano.
Can't tell at the moment.

 

[Dominican56]

And so Friday I didn't heed @webmost advice of being careful with a cheveta.

While cutting leaf, I looked away while making a cut with my little finger in the way. I put a deep but short gash in it.
Rinsed profusely with alcohol then in the morning sealed it closed with superglue
First patch was with crazy glue which works well. When that came loose I used medical grade. That stuff works wonders.

 

[Marc L]

what the hell man.

 

[Dominican56]

I can't believe the weather here in late September

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Well one thing from this morning testing. LO EC seco filler is harsh, strong with white and black pepper overlay. I can't think of a blend I would like it in. If you want it let me know.

If you like lots of pepper then this leaf is for you.

I love the stuff and use it all the time in my cherry bomb blend

 

[Dominican56]

I love the stuff and use it all the time in my cherry bomb blend

Maybe I should try it in another blend
Care to share the Cherry blend? I'll give it a try

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Maybe I should try it in another blend
Care to share the Cherry blend? I'll give it a try

1:1:1 ec habano seco, corojo viso, criollo ligero, bound in ec habano seco, wrapped in ec habano ligero. The blend is not very spicy at all, mostly light baking spices.

 

[Dominican56]

Well, it's down the rabbit hole yet again.
More leaf on the way!
Pound each of
Corojo 99 Viso
Criollo 98 Ligero
Corojo 99 Ligero

 

[Dominican56]

Current inventory
***************** BINDER ******************
Sumatra Cigar Binder WLT
Dominican Cigar Binder WLT (this stuff is shit)
Ecuadorian Seco Binder LO (this is good enough for wrappers) Get more 9/1/17
onduran Binder LO sample

**************** FILLER ***************************
Mata Fina Filler (upper stalk position) WLT (2 Lbs)
Dominican Volado Piloto Cubano LO

****************** LIGERO ***********************
Criollo 98 Ligero WLT half pound or less remaining 9/21
Nicaragua Habano Ligero WLT
Dominican Ligero WLT
Dominican Ligero Olor LO
Aged Dominican Ligero Criollo 98 LO
Dominican Ligero Piloto Cubano LO
Criollo 98 Ligero WLT
9/26/17
Corojo 99 Ligero WLT
9/26/17

********************* SECO ********************
Corojo 99 Seco WLT
Criollo 98 Seco WLT
Nicaragua Habano Seco WLT
Nicaraguan Seco Long Filler LO
Dominican Seco WLT
Dominican Seco Criollo 98 LO pound
Dominican Seco Olor LO
Ecuadorian Seco Filler
Dominican Seco Piloto Cubano
Aged Colombian Seco

**************** VISO *****************************
Corojo 99 Viso WLT 2 pounds
Criollo 98 Viso WLT
9/26/17
Paraguay Flojo Africa Viso WLT 2 pounds
Jorge Jorge 1/2 pound left
Brazilian Habano Viso LO
Ecuadorian Viso Filler LO

***************** WRAPPER *******************
Honduras Habano Wrapper 2012 WLT
Corojo Oscuro Wrapper WLT
Ecuadorian Ligero Shade Wrapper LO
Brazilian Mata Fina Wrapper LO
Mexican San Andres Wrapper LO
CT 1LS Broadleaf LO
******************************************************

 

[Dominican56]

Last night wrapping event

 

[Dominican56]

 

[Dominican56]

For six months or more I followed the home rolling threads here and other places. Years ago I made my own all grain beer and most of it was OK and only rarely was it great.
I equated rolling cigars at home to making beer at home.

So I after thinking the home made cigars surely must be "yard gars" at best I continued to read how good they are. I gave it a try with a kit from LO. The ingredients really were pretty awful in the kit.

But I thought I'd just use the kit as a toss away simply to learn the process.
What the heck, 40 bucks I'm not out much.
From the kit I learned to roll a decently packed, wrapped cigar.

After learning the basic rolling technique, and from prompting from others here BH, Webmost, Marc L, bliss, and others I explored better leaf.

So now after a few months I'm now able to concoct a great blended cigar with a decent construction.

Home rolled cigars are superior in flavor to commercial cigars in every way.

I'm pleasantly happy and get great satisfaction from making my own cigars.

Yet, I have so much more to learn. What a fun journey this is.

Thank you to all of you darn enablers!!