What have you been rolling lately?

[Bruck]

And while we're at it, behold Brohiba batch 32 on the drying rack:



A bunch of robustos and toros - I'm less inclined to roll churchills these days as it's getting harder and harder to put together 2 hours of uninterrupted smoking these days. Also, the shorter sticks tend to have fewer draw issues (still perfecting the technique!).

Wrappers: PA from my friend Larry the tobacco butcher in KY
Binders: Dark Air, also from Larry
Fillers: various combinations of Dominican Seco, Nicaraguan Criollo, Nicaraguan Viso, and "Havana" from Larry

[Sir Lancerolot]

So, I'm settled on 3 blends that cover pretty much all of my NC appetites, mostly rolled somewhere on the corona - toro border (torona?)

When I want light and sweet - Sumatra:

Filler - Indonesian Sumatra, Dominican, and Nicaraguan. The Dom/Nic is so I can get some ligero and volado into the blend so it burns better. I use 1 Dom volado, 1 each Dom and Nic ligero, and 3 Sumatra seco. Because the Sumatra leaves are a lot larger, they make up more than half the blend by volume, though not by number.
Binder - Colombian
Wrapper - Indonesian Besuki

I've been rolling this blend longer than the others, and I've been able to let a few of them sit for about a year. By then they tasted as good as anything I can buy, and better than most.

For a more medium smoke with a little spice, it's Cameroon:

Filler - Dominican, Nicaraguan - 2 Dom volado, 2 each Dom and Nic ligero
Binder - Colombian
Wrapper - Cameroon

When I want a maduro:

Filler - Brazilian, Dominican, Nicaraguan - 1 Dom volado, 1 each Dom and Nic ligero, 3 Brazil Havana Viso.
Binder - Colombian
Wrapper - Connecticut maduro

All tobacco sourced from Leaf Only.

I haven't been able to sit on any of the last two blends yet to see how they rest up.

Someday I may have bands printed for my marca - "Cigarros Rústicos." If you've seen pictures of my efforts, you know why ...

[Chad Vegas]

And while we're at it, behold Brohiba batch 32 on the drying rack:

How long does it take you to roll a batch like this?

[Sprouthog]

With everything prepped, it takes me 40-60 minutes to bundle 10 corona gorda cigars.

Wrapping takes 60-80 minutes.

Wrapping 10B's tonight. Ecu hab lig wrapper, dom binder, criollo lig, ecu hab seco and corojo viso.

[Bruck]

How long does it take you to roll a batch like this?

about an hour of leaf prep the night before - planning, counting, moisturizing.
a couple hours of rolling - bunching, binding, clamping in molds, rotating in the molds
[go do something else for at least a couple hours while the cigars sit in the molds]
a couple hours of wrapping - trimming, ironing, wrapping, clipping, bands
[let them sit in the humidor for a couple months or more if possible]
and the best part, an hour to an hour and a half of smoking.

The "cigar rolling" demos where Hector rolls a cigar in 30 seconds, that takes years of practice, but also, he's usually just doing the wrapping.

- - - Updated - - -

Wrapping 10B's tonight. Ecu hab lig wrapper, dom binder, criollo lig, ecu hab seco and corojo viso.

Those sound pretty strong! How's the flavor?

[Sprouthog]

about an hour of leaf prep the night before - planning, counting, moisturizing.
a couple hours of rolling - bunching, binding, clamping in molds, rotating in the molds
[go do something else for at least a couple hours while the cigars sit in the molds]
a couple hours of wrapping - trimming, ironing, wrapping, clipping, bands
[let them sit in the humidor for a couple months or more if possible]
and the best part, an hour to an hour and a half of smoking.

The "cigar rolling" demos where Hector rolls a cigar in 30 seconds, that takes years of practice, but also, he's usually just doing the wrapping.

- - - Updated - - -



Those sound pretty strong! How's the flavor?

Definitely full strengh. Developed by another roller who calls it a cherry bomb. Pepper is complimented a nice balance of sweetness and a cherry note.

[Bruck]

Just finished Batch 33



Wrappers: PA shade from KY (the lighter ones) and Dark Air, also from KY
Binders: Dark Air from KY
Fillers: most are Criollo ligero (Nicaraguan), Dominican Seco, Nicaraguan viso, and "Havana" from KY

Some are a little out of shape as they didn't quite fill the molds - I'm trying some different bunchings in an attempt to rectify draw issues with this particular blend.

[AlanS]

Just finished Batch 33



Wrappers: PA shade from KY (the lighter ones) and Dark Air, also from KY
Binders: Dark Air from KY
Fillers: most are Criollo ligero (Nicaraguan), Dominican Seco, Nicaraguan viso, and "Havana" from KY

Some are a little out of shape as they didn't quite fill the molds - I'm trying some different bunchings in an attempt to rectify draw issues with this particular blend.

rodwha