BarG
Founding Member
I like this site to have fun talking about tobacco stuff.
Pics of your sticks!! 2025-2026
- Thread starter WillQuantrill
- Start date
BarG
Founding Member
We're not all professional rollers but we get the job done.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
Wanted to follow up on this as I smoked the first one this afternoon. As it was 50* today we enjoyed some time outside. Few things worth noting. When I grew the FL Sumatra in 2024 even after research I assumed the Sumatra in the name was attributed to leaf attributes or maybe genetic cousin to actual Sumatra but I was wrong. The FL Sumatra strain tastes very close to the strain I know and love. Im not as competent with the verbal flavor wheel but the closest I can get is a floral nutmeg. Also, compared to the Sumatra I have bought and rolled with, my homegrown is a bit thicker and seems to have more elasticity. Outstanding variety for wrapper I am looking forward to growing again as my growing skills improve since 2024. Now to the Filler, this cigars transitions were exciting. First inch or so was medium body even had a nice spice from the Corojo. Here is where it gets interesting, as the Perique started to burn for a couple puffs came Vanilla. Like the cheap mostly alcohol Vanilla extract. Once the Perique kicked in body went to full and it became a very different smoke. I enjoyed the hell out of it actually. Shootin straight with probably 2" left it devolved into a very bitter experience and I put it out. But overall Id say its a win! Word to the wise, it does not take much Perique at all to force a flavor transition. Like 1" x 3" strips are what I put in. I do believe the added flavor would blend better with more Nicaraguan dark flavors and I am intrigued to try it in a blend I disperse to friends, my palette is biased as I was aware of the hidden Perique. The bitter end I can attribute to very short aging as a whole cigar at 3 weeks, would do well at 9 months and more.
Indonesian Tobacco - a discussion
Discussion of Indonesian Tobacco Towering fields of shade-grown TBN tobacco. (Perantara) Why Indonesia? First of all, we should recognize that the former Dutch colony of Indonesia has a distinguished history of tobacco growing that dates back hundreds of years. Early Dutch traders were...
Bob
Fleabag
Active Member
I rolled this monster the other day for a quick smoke. One bit of way over cooked Florida Sumatra leaf cut into thin long strips wrapped with another bit. A very quick smoke.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
So first picture is a blend I've previously posted about but I bought some NEW cellophane to put them in. Pleased with the results and especially happy the cellophanes came with precut circular tabs of tape to seal em up with all pull tight. Having just recycled cellophanes to this point I will say new ones are much easier to work with.
Pictures 2-5 are a "short filler project I have been working on for a couple weeks still in a dry box. Inspiration for the name and band came out of a conversation with another member here about how anything in the cigar world can adopt the Spanish term and sound "fancy" and also a posthumous tribute to Arnold Ziffel. I believe another cigar company has made a "Chicharrones" but Im rolling the dice they dont have as extensive legal team like Gurkha. Haha.
Pictures 2-5 are a "short filler project I have been working on for a couple weeks still in a dry box. Inspiration for the name and band came out of a conversation with another member here about how anything in the cigar world can adopt the Spanish term and sound "fancy" and also a posthumous tribute to Arnold Ziffel. I believe another cigar company has made a "Chicharrones" but Im rolling the dice they dont have as extensive legal team like Gurkha. Haha.
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
My favorite line- "Sewer rat may taste like Pumpkin pie but I wouldn't know cuz I wouldn't eat the filthy mother*******."
Tutu
Well-Known Member
Been messing around with making some sticks
WillQuantrill
Well-Known Member
That one on the right looks like a jawbreaker! Wrappers look nice.
Koedman
Member
Decided to experiment with all my left over bits. Sprayed them down with rum, rolled them in Maduro, Corojo and Jalapa wrappers. Now sitting in a bag with a shot of rum to further infuse. Next month I’ll jar them up with some coffee grounds inside.
I really like your humidor.
Tutu
Well-Known Member
Made a few cigars on friday afternoon, but only made a couple of pictures of the wrapper cuts and not of the end result.
It looks like you are wrapping from the head toward the foot. If you begin wrapping at the foot, the wrapper does a better job of staying wrapped while you smoke the cigar. (Beautiful dark wrapper!)
Bob
Bob
Tutu
Well-Known Member
No no it's actually the foot, not the head, just looks a bit like that because I take a relatively wide space before the start at the foot to wrap and thus in the picture it looks like the cigar bends.
Will take some pictures on monday when I'm back at my rolling quarters haha!
Will take some pictures on monday when I'm back at my rolling quarters haha!
Now I see that sharp margin of the bottom of the foot, and the rounded heat at the other end.
Bob
Bob
Finished up a few of a new blend I was working on. Tried one of each wrapper type today and will say that both types turned out pretty tasty.
Wrappers:
-Mexican San Andres
(Had a little sweetness & wonderful “umami” flavors. The MSA/ Nicaraguan/CTBL combo really shined)
-Ecuadorian Los Rios
(More creaminess than sweetness. Lots of notes of what I could describe as when you take a nice whiff of rich smelling tobacco… put to flavors.)
Binder:
-Nicaraguan (Maduro)
Filler:
-Dominican San Vicente Ligero
-Dominican CV Corojo Ligero
-Dominican Rene Viso
-Connecticut Broadleaf Viso
-Brazil Arapiraca Seco
-Nicaraguan Condega (2015) Seco
*Both are blends that I plan on keeping leaf of on hand if I can to make more!
Wrappers:
-Mexican San Andres
(Had a little sweetness & wonderful “umami” flavors. The MSA/ Nicaraguan/CTBL combo really shined)
-Ecuadorian Los Rios
(More creaminess than sweetness. Lots of notes of what I could describe as when you take a nice whiff of rich smelling tobacco… put to flavors.)
Binder:
-Nicaraguan (Maduro)
Filler:
-Dominican San Vicente Ligero
-Dominican CV Corojo Ligero
-Dominican Rene Viso
-Connecticut Broadleaf Viso
-Brazil Arapiraca Seco
-Nicaraguan Condega (2015) Seco
*Both are blends that I plan on keeping leaf of on hand if I can to make more!
May I ask if using two different types of Ligero in the same blend tends to muddy the flavors?
Do you have any recommendations regarding the proper proportions?
Also, would you suggest using a double binder specifically to enhance the flavor profile?
Thanks for sharing—I saw your post about the Padron clone earlier and have been wanting to give it a try myself.
**I’ll answer based upon my experience, which may not be agreed upon by everyone.
With Ligeros, it really depends on leaf types. For example, if you take a broadleaf Ligero and blend it in with say Cameroon or a Ligero with less oils or nicotine strength, then the stronger one could very well over power the blend. So, if I want to try to make both shine, look at leaf types that are complementary in thickness/strength. Now, something I’ve been experimenting with are leaf positions to try to get different flavor transitions. It’s worked for some blends. Basically, have the “tips” of 1 Ligero or leaf type towards the foot of the cigar. The second Ligero have the tips be towards the head of the cigar. I’ve found that it can help with some flavor transitions.
In regards to proper proportions, it depends on leaf types thickness & length’s of varieties plays a factor here. To be the most consistent, weighing each leaf will provide the most consistency. I don’t have the time to weigh each leaf type at the moment. I tend to measure by 1/2 or whole leaves. I also always remove big center stems. Small center stems in the upper 1/4 of a leaf I may leave in. This would be for structure assistance or extra strength/flavor. Again, it kinda depends on leaf types & its structure. Don’t want really big stems left in to plug up the airflow in a cigar.
Double binder- depends on leaf type as well. However, another example would be a broadleaf, I’d only use 1x 1/2 leaf. It’s thick and stretchy and does the trick. No “rules” saying that you can’t double bind it though. This will add to the ring gauge size though, in case you’re trying to target a specific size. Now, I’d say I’m binding with a very thin leaf, I may double bind it, just to prevent any big rips or tears in the binder leaf.
I’ve also done some blends where I’ve double bound two different leaf types. I’ve found to help with some flavor transitions to start binding with 1 leaf type and get it to about the 1/2 way point and then use a different leaf variety for the last 1/2. When I do this, I tend to use a leaf that is lighter/thinner/less nicotine content in the first 1/2. Reason why, is that when nicotine builds up as you smoke it, it doesn’t over shadow that binder in the last 1/2. At least that’s how I look at it. Hmmm, sounds like I may want to try the inverse way just to test out. Lol. So many variations can be done, I’d anticipate that it would depend on which leaf types are used.
Try the Padron clone if you can! I’ve done many iterations of the blend and some turn out a little better than others, but regardless are still enjoyable. The “Base” of the blend I stick to is an Ecuadorian Maduro or Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. I keep the wrapper & binder the same, but play around with the fillers.
Thank you for giving me some ideas. Currently, I'm mainly using seeds from a certain Cuban Corojo variety and other local hybrids. The variety options are currently limited.
I want to create a full-body Corojo style, with floral/spice/earthy/cocoa/creamy/sweet notes.
I should experiment more and learn more about the foliage.
