Blending Experiment

[Lynn]

You must have missed the Mixture No. 79 contests! This place is lousy with highbrow writer-types when it comes to reviewing tobacco.

I aint got no top hat just a stetson..neverbend has me reedin all the time with his posts..that BUM is bad news within his descriptions...

[NeverBend]

Evening Gents,

You say that Mixture A tastes like cigarette tobacco? That didn't sound right so I tried it. No, it's tastes like bad cigarette tobacco.

Mixture B has a heavy citrus top note and is one-dimensional? (well, I found this on my own). Not supposed to be that way.

I think I have some answers.

Mixture C is the only one with Latakia. Mixture D was made much more recently, never jarred and it (like Mixture C) has a strong component.

Mixtures A, B & C were all made in mid-September and then stored under forced hand pressure in 2 mason jars per blend. Just before shipping your samples I combined and gave them a good re-mixing and my remaining samples are re-mixed now too. The re-mixing, I believe, caused the phenomena that I earlier explained to Matt where newly blended tobacco tastes flat. Not sure what it's called or exactly what's going on but it's the other side of the effect is where a newly opened tin will improve with a few days (I call it decanting), especially if it has some age. I'll refer to the phenomena as Aeration Affect (AA). When mixed you need to lose some and when opened you need to add some. Make sense?

I always encounter AA when I blend (non-aromatics) and I make allowance for that. Right out of the blending bowl mixtures tend to be one-dimensional but they gain complexity starting in a week or so. I blended Mixture A last August as a test of ribbon Virginia types and it was a dud. Probably tasted like bad cigarette tobacco but it was so forgettable that I forget how bad it tasted and it languished in a mason jar for a year. Tried it this September and it was very different, (13 months). Aromatics don't exhibit much AA. Lesson for Pete, re-mix of relatively new blended tobacco has strong AA.

I'm smoking (as I write) Mixture C (from the same, re-mixed, sample batch sent to you) and the latakia is too pronounced because the other flavors are muted, but it's closer to intent than either Mixture A or B taste like right now. Mixtures with a strongly flavored or acidic component(s) don't seem to be as AA flat but you taste too much of that component.

Your samples of Mixture B uses Lemon VA instead of Bright VA (used in my earlier tests) and that could be part of the citrus top note along with AA. The extra acid in the Lemon VA comes through and this mixture tastes one-dimensional.

Mixture D was blended on 10-14 and sent without having been stored or re-mixed so I'd imagine that the flavors are somewhat more distinct although it too has some AA from initial blending. Cigar makers advise waiting 30 days after rolling to smoke a cigar, so that may be a good benchmark for these mixtures, meaning that they should start to come to life in a couple of weeks. My apologies and despite my earlier reminders to re-mix, do so gently since I suspect (now) that vigorous mixing amplified the AA.

None of your personal mixtures were re-mixed but they may be better in a couple of weeks as well.

My thoughts on what age will do to each mixture:
A = I know that it blooms with age and sucks with AA. I have to wait but I was going to mix a pound of this for myself.
B = I changed Bright VA to Lemon VA and that may be the amplified citrus but the batch (that led to your samples) became nice ~8 weeks out from blending. The citrus should recede and it should gain considerable complexity.
C = This is a finished blend, as long as I can reproduce it regularly (I had thought that I could). The latakia prevents it from being flat like the others but it won't be as intended until the AA wears off and then the latakia is more in a supporting role.
D = Needs a lot more time than it has had, as you have it. It needs to assimilate and smooth one of the components (especially). I suspect it will be much better with about 6 months of age.

I was smoking samples of Mixtures A through C for a few weeks before I re-mixed them and they were on track. Hope we can get back to that point soon and my apologies for holding up the show.

Regards,

Pete

[NeverBend]

Some blending notes:

I found a decent Perique but it's not (and never will be like the original St. James). I now have a single varietal of Carolina but haven't yet started to test blend with it.

One of you has a version of Thomas Hariot made with this Perique instead of Kentucky Dark Fired.

Made one of the remaining personal mixtures today and I've put it in the press. I hope to have the rest of the personal mixtures done and sent by this coming week.

Oriental tobaccos are transplanted Virginia strains. Just as Cuban seed in countries like Nicaragua have become unique and special over time, so it would appear that this has occurred with Orientals.

Smyrna is the lighter and more subtle. Overwhelm it and it disappears. With time it develops into a nice cream. Lightly spiced.
Izmir is more coarse and heavy in flavor but it works well in with other Orientals and latakia. Comes through without being featured and can add some sour character.
Macedonian is a tiny cut that looks innocuous but it packs the biggest punch. Must be used in condiment amounts, (<10%) but it adds some deep character and Eastern spice.

They work together well and can add complexity, depth, spice and nuance. Less nicotine than burley but more than VA (in most cases).

[BryGuySC]

Evening Gents,

You say that Mixture A tastes like cigarette tobacco? That didn't sound right so I tried it. No, it's tastes like bad cigarette tobacco.

Mixture B has a heavy citrus top note and is one-dimensional? (well, I found this on my own). Not supposed to be that way.

I think I have some answers.

Mixture C is the only one with Latakia. Mixture D was made much more recently, never jarred and it (like Mixture C) has a strong component.

Mixtures A, B & C were all made in mid-September and then stored under forced hand pressure in 2 mason jars per blend. Just before shipping your samples I combined and gave them a good re-mixing and my remaining samples are re-mixed now too. The re-mixing, I believe, caused the phenomena that I earlier explained to Matt where newly blended tobacco tastes flat. Not sure what it's called or exactly what's going on but it's the other side of the effect is where a newly opened tin will improve with a few days (I call it decanting), especially if it has some age. I'll refer to the phenomena as Aeration Affect (AA). When mixed you need to lose some and when opened you need to add some. Make sense?

I always encounter AA when I blend (non-aromatics) and I make allowance for that. Right out of the blending bowl mixtures tend to be one-dimensional but they gain complexity starting in a week or so. I blended Mixture A last August as a test of ribbon Virginia types and it was a dud. Probably tasted like bad cigarette tobacco but it was so forgettable that I forget how bad it tasted and it languished in a mason jar for a year. Tried it this September and it was very different, (13 months). Aromatics don't exhibit much AA. Lesson for Pete, re-mix of relatively new blended tobacco has strong AA.

I'm smoking (as I write) Mixture C (from the same, re-mixed, sample batch sent to you) and the latakia is too pronounced because the other flavors are muted, but it's closer to intent than either Mixture A or B taste like right now. Mixtures with a strongly flavored or acidic component(s) don't seem to be as AA flat but you taste too much of that component.

Your samples of Mixture B uses Lemon VA instead of Bright VA (used in my earlier tests) and that could be part of the citrus top note along with AA. The extra acid in the Lemon VA comes through and this mixture tastes one-dimensional.

Mixture D was blended on 10-14 and sent without having been stored or re-mixed so I'd imagine that the flavors are somewhat more distinct although it too has some AA from initial blending. Cigar makers advise waiting 30 days after rolling to smoke a cigar, so that may be a good benchmark for these mixtures, meaning that they should start to come to life in a couple of weeks. My apologies and despite my earlier reminders to re-mix, do so gently since I suspect (now) that vigorous mixing amplified the AA.

None of your personal mixtures were re-mixed but they may be better in a couple of weeks as well.

My thoughts on what age will do to each mixture:
A = I know that it blooms with age and sucks with AA. I have to wait but I was going to mix a pound of this for myself.
B = I changed Bright VA to Lemon VA and that may be the amplified citrus but the batch (that led to your samples) became nice ~8 weeks out from blending. The citrus should recede and it should gain considerable complexity.
C = This is a finished blend, as long as I can reproduce it regularly (I had thought that I could). The latakia prevents it from being flat like the others but it won't be as intended until the AA wears off and then the latakia is more in a supporting role.
D = Needs a lot more time than it has had, as you have it. It needs to assimilate and smooth one of the components (especially). I suspect it will be much better with about 6 months of age.

I was smoking samples of Mixtures A through C for a few weeks before I re-mixed them and they were on track. Hope we can get back to that point soon and my apologies for holding up the show.

Regards,

Pete

Thanks for all of this interesting info, Pete!
My family is going camping this weekend, and I'm bringing the A-D blends so I can take some baseline notes for comparison later.

[c.ortiz108]

Thanks, Pete - interesting stuff. So I guess AA is almost like pipe tobacco's "sick period." Is it that the tobaccos need some time to meld, and basically settle into being blended, and the aeration inhibits that?

I think you're selling B short, 'cause I enjoyed it! But I'm looking forward to trying it again in another few weeks to see how it develops. I'll be interested to see how C changes, too, since I liked that one so much already. I may just give D a try this weekend so I can see how it changes, too, then leave it (and A) for 6 months as you say.

[AndyCAYP]

This has been an amazing read for someone who's new to blending, but wanting to soak up as much info as possible. Pete, you're great.

Not to take this off track, but are you sourcing your leaf from one place or a mixture of vendors?

[Emperor Zurg]

Evening Gents,

You say that Mixture A tastes like cigarette tobacco? That didn't sound right so I tried it. No, it's tastes like bad cigarette tobacco.

Mixture A is the only sample I've tried besides the 2 custom blends Pete made for me.

First, let me say that I only ever tried 1 cigarette probably 30 years ago so I don't remember much of what they tasted like... I seem to remember a rather acrid flavor along with the taste of burning paper. This tobacco didn't taste like that.

I won't say I was blown away by it or anything but it didn't seem all that bad to me. I've only had 1 bowl of it - and a small one at that - but my initial impressions were that it was pretty sweet up front with a nutty characteristic. As the bowl burned down, it began to remind me of that smell you pick up when you crack open roasted almonds - not that of the almond itself but of the cracking shell. I'll have a few more tries at it here in the near future.

Taking it a bit slow and alternating between the two customs. A report will be forthcoming.

[Alligator Gar]

Before this thread existed I sent my initial tasting notes to Pete. The two blends were Seminole Red and Outdoor Incense. The SR was envisioned as having the VA heavy sweetness and tang offset by a burley nut and some Lat creaminess. Also a smidgen of Oriental. As you read on you will discover I did a terrible job of explaining my concept. The second blend, Outdoor Incense, was a more focused idea and the results were consistent with the vision. The genesis of OI was the smell of Piñon pine burning in the air during fall evenings in the American Southwest. I also wanted to capture the smell of incense during High Mass at Cathedrale Notre-Dame, or at least make my back porch smell like it. Here are the notes:

Initial feedback. Surprised on both counts. The Seminole Red was not as sweet and fruity (ripe) as I'd hoped. Maybe drop back on the Black Cav and/or the bright VA and add red flake. Maybe less burley, though burley and red are very complimentary, IMHO. (Pretty sure it's not the burley upsetting the apple cart.) Maybe it needs a spot of perique, but I'm not looking for another VaPer, per se. I will need to smoke and study, smoke and study. It is complex with lots of shifts, which I like in a tobacco. Needs more gravitas, more dark draperies smothering the brightness of the everyday. Maybe a simple addition of moisture will help. Burned perfectly, no bite.
Not so with Outdoor Incense. From the name to the pack, burn and taste, it is dead on. Wouldn't change a thing. The Izmir adds that je ne sais quoi I look for and crave. It is close to Star of the East, piquant, bright, censorial and heady. The bottom of the bowl really boasts a bass note when the bright burns away. I know I'm mixing my metaphors but I'm kind of excited right now!

Pete speculated that it was indeed a case of burly-blocking in the first blend. He has some tweaks in mind and I'll grudgingly keep smoking some unbelievable custom blended tobacco in the mean time! Thanks Pete.

[Alligator Gar]

Reposted in the correct thread.

[NeverBend]

The phenomena that I'm calling Aeration Affect exists but I'm assuming that this is the reason for the samples to be flat. I blend with the tobacco on the dry side, facilitates more even mixing and avoids clumping, and then I mist the finished mixture and I did mist (lightly) the the re-mixed samples so this could have played a part. I smoked all of the mixtures (several times each) before shipping and they were good to go so I hope (expect) that I'm correct in my hypothesis.

It's also possible that they're just rubbish .