What did you smoke today?

[DIY Pete]

Each of us has a specific set of expectations that define a category of tobacco use. Although I have rolled puros of, for example, Izmir-Ozbas, or Lemon Virginia, and found them interesting--and they were certainly cigars, they failed my personal "tastes like a cigar" test.

I prepare and enjoy a number of pipe blends that utilize pressure-cured Perique. However, when I add pressure-cured Perique to a cigar, it registers several characteristics in my brain:

• doesn't taste "like a cigar"
• contributes a fruity (non-"cigar") aroma
• increases the nicotine absorption so much that I feel sweaty, dizzy and slightly nauseated.

Now, others may like what pressure-cured Perique adds to a cigar. I feel it's like adding tutti-fruti creamer to an otherwise excellent cup of coffee.

When all the dust settles, my definition of what tastes "like a cigar" is just a matter of habit and personal preference.

Bob

Thanks Bob,
I think your first two points are points of preference and I may well agree with them, but the last one could be a deal breaker. I am not a fan of the nicotine sweats.

Pete

 

[Knucklehead]

I absolute LOVED your Dixie Shade! It has a taste I just love in a Cigar! What is the seed called? Can't seem to find it. Wouldn't mind growing some of it myself. My only regret is that I wish I had more. I wish someone would grow it for WLT!!!

Dixie Shade PI 552353: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1447325

 

[charlie G.]

Started the day with the blend I have named my "Striper Blend" as I will be smoking them while Striped Bass fishing this year.
I have sadly developed tongue burn so I am backing off and only smoking 1 cigar a day for a while. That is if I can hold off lighting up after dinner.

Striper Blend ;
2 Piloto Seco
1 Piloto Viso
1/2 Criollo 98 Ligero
1/4 Meta Fina
One Sucker binder
Crillio 98 or CT Maduro wrapper

I haven't aged any of this blend more then a month so I will be interested to see how they taste in say 4 months when I hit the beach.
On a good note I have finally gotten in the habit of writting a band with the blend on it for every cigar I roll. I have missed out on reproducing to many great cigars by not keeping track of what blend is in all my sticks. I also now have a note book to record the good blends.

 

[ArizonaDave]

Dixie Shade PI 552353: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1447325

Thanks Knucks! Every time I see a GRIN picture I feel an urgency of hanging the remaining leaf they show It's a great shale leaf for sure!

Started the day with the blend I have named my "Striper Blend" as I will be smoking them while Striped Bass fishing this year.
I have sadly developed tongue burn so I am backing off and only smoking 1 cigar a day for a while. That is if I can hold off lighting up after dinner.

Striper Blend ;
2 Piloto Seco
1 Piloto Viso
1/2 Criollo 98 Ligero
1/4 Meta Fina
One Sucker binder
Crillio 98 or CT Maduro wrapper

I haven't aged any of this blend more then a month so I will be interested to see how they taste in say 4 months when I hit the beach.
On a good note I have finally gotten in the habit of writting a band with the blend on it for every cigar I roll. I have missed out on reproducing to many great cigars by not keeping track of what blend is in all my sticks. I also now have a note book to record the good blends.

Charlie,
Take your time smoking the dang things! LOL Drawing smoke that's too hot is probably one of the biggest reasons for tongue burn......or it could be because you're smoking outside braving the cold? It should be even better in 4 months!

 

[charlie G.]

Your right Dave. It's the smoking to fast and that I hold my cigars and pipe in my teeth most of the time I'm smoking them.
Not about to brave the outdoors here yet. We just got 1/4in of freezing rain and ice covered ground, and they are calling for 4 to 6in more snow on Thursday.
It's just me and the dog here in the house and he doesn't mind me smoking inside. I just have to wash the walls and wood work down twice a year. The smoke really does yellow the walls if you don't stay on top of it.
I know the dog doesn't mind as he sneaks in and steals the leaf scraps from under my rolling table and chair and chews on them while I am rolling. I never had a dog do that before. He also will sit and smell the cigar smoke, and if I hold a cigar out he'll sniff it and try to chew and take it into his mouth. Go figure, I should have named him "Smokey" rather then "Rocky".

 

[ArizonaDave]

Your right Dave. It's the smoking to fast and that I hold my cigars and pipe in my teeth most of the time I'm smoking them.
Not about to brave the outdoors here yet. We just got 1/4in of freezing rain and ice covered ground, and they are calling for 4 to 6in more snow on Thursday.
It's just me and the dog here in the house and he doesn't mind me smoking inside. I just have to wash the walls and wood work down twice a year. The smoke really does yellow the walls if you don't stay on top of it.
I know the dog doesn't mind as he sneaks in and steals the leaf scraps from under my rolling table and chair and chews on them while I am rolling. I never had a dog do that before. He also will sit and smell the cigar smoke, and if I hold a cigar out he'll sniff it and try to chew and take it into his mouth. Go figure, I should have named him "Smokey" rather then "Rocky".

LOL, that's funny CharlieG! I used to have a dog that would eat my snuff can and lick it clean. I'm sure cigar tobacco has got to taste better. No freezing rain here, I had a good cigar today.

 

[Ben Brand]

Nothing, no more leaves left!!!!!!!!!! Any donations welcome!!!!!!
ps Its my birthday in a few days. HINT HINT

 

[ArizonaDave]

Nothing, no more leaves left!!!!!!!!!! Any donations welcome!!!!!!
ps Its my birthday in a few days. HINT HINT

Out of tobacco already....that's not fun! Happy early birthday Ben!!!

 

[Ben Brand]

Thanks AD, tobacco hanging, almost dry, ( think another 4 weeks) then fermenting and smoke.

 

[charlie G.]

I got lucky yesterday and found a good flavored cigar in the humi. I feel lucky cause this stick had a blend band on it.
double Sumatra binder
2 Criollo 98 Seco
2 Piloto Viso
aged Pa Maduro wrapper

 

[DIY Pete]

Had a blend #2 yesterday afternoon. First cigar in almost a month, it's been too cold to sit out and enjoy a good cigar.

Criollo '98 wrapper
Double Dominican Binder
1 Aleman Ligero
1/2 Paraguay Flojo Viso
1/2 Brazillian Mata Fina
2 Piloto Cubano Seco

Pete

 

[deluxestogie]

For me, it's also been several weeks since I was able to smoke a cigar. I fired up a Long Red puro--kilned then rested as leaf for several weeks, and rolled 2 weeks ago. The wrapper was from upper leaf, and the filler from lower and mid leaf.

The leaf is a lovely red-brown color, although as a wrapper, it has a dull surface. This was a curious and enjoyable cigar, though I feel it would be much better when blended with other varieties. The Long Red alone offers a dry (not sweet), woody and leathery aroma. Its taste as a wrapper is soft and mild. Nicotine seemed lowish. It offered no hint of earthiness.

Bob

 

[ArizonaDave]

Had a blend #2 yesterday afternoon. First cigar in almost a month, it's been too cold to sit out and enjoy a good cigar.

Criollo '98 wrapper
Double Dominican Binder
1 Aleman Ligero
1/2 Paraguay Flojo Viso
1/2 Brazillian Mata Fina
2 Piloto Cubano Seco

Pete

Glad it warmed up a little for you to enjoy one.

For me, it's also been several weeks since I was able to smoke a cigar. I fired up a Long Red puro--kilned then rested as leaf for several weeks, and rolled 2 weeks ago. The wrapper was from upper leaf, and the filler from lower and mid leaf.

The leaf is a lovely red-brown color, although as a wrapper, it has a dull surface. This was a curious and enjoyable cigar, though I feel it would be much better when blended with other varieties. The Long Red alone offers a dry (not sweet), woody and leathery aroma. Its taste as a wrapper is soft and mild. Nicotine seemed lowish. It offered no hint of earthiness.

Bob

Bob, it sounds very interesting. Would love to hear more on future blends with this leaf!

 

[DIY Pete]

Another nice day today so I made it outside for smoke while sitting in the sun listening to the birds sing. Talk about a relaxing way to spend some time. Today I had a had a stick that I got as a freebie when I purchased some cigars a while back.

Montecristo Relentless robusto: It was a solid stick, with great construction. I would call it a solid medium. I am not great at describing flavors but I picked up wood, tea, and a hint of leather. Almost no spice at all and any that was their showed up in the last third. This is the first NC Montecristo that I have had. I would smoke another if the price was right. One thing I will note is that it has an overly large band that is becoming more common place but I am not a fan.

Pete

 

[Knucklehead]

Does NC = Non Cuban?

 

[DIY Pete]

Does NC = Non Cuban?

You are correct.

Pete

 

[Chris A]

Was able to get in the garage today to get my car ready for spring. Had a robusto sized CT shade wrapped smoke. Filler was all the scrap blend from last year. Love that blend, everything Don sells plus what I grew and what had been gifted, etc. Don't know why but to my taste the scrap is always one of my favorites.

 

[ArizonaDave]

I had a cigar today that had the much loved Mata Fina leaf, thoroughly enjoyed!

 

[DIY Pete]

Was able to get in the garage today to get my car ready for spring. Had a robusto sized CT shade wrapped smoke. Filler was all the scrap blend from last year. Love that blend, everything Don sells plus what I grew and what had been gifted, etc. Don't know why but to my taste the scrap is always one of my favorites.

I think it has to be the fact that it is a "scrapper". We don't expect them to be good because it is just the left overs.

Pete

 

[deluxestogie]

I think it has to be the fact that it is a "scrapper". We don't expect them to be good because it is just the left overs.

Pete

My cigars filled with long scrap are always poorly balanced, since the long rolling scraps tend to be primarily wrapper types. On the other hand, my cigars filled with short scrap, which is an average of all the filler varieties of the past months, are usually rich with complexity and balance.

As an aside, I'm presently smoking a Lew's Smoker, from JR. These sticks (named for Lew Rothman), were manufactured by Rolando Reyes, and are, to my senses, indistinguishable from Reyes' acclaimed Cuba Aliados. (I believe they were made as contract surplus Cuba Aliados.) They are sold only in bundles of 10, and can be had in JR's auctions for about $1.20 a stick, in any size. Highly recommended.

Bob