Freshly rolled cigar smoke right away or wait?

[buck]

I went to a cigar rolling event a few months ago and showed my home rolled to the Torcedor, he giggled as he rolled it between his fingers. I said ya I know its not very good , but he interrupted me and said no its pretty good. I told him that I didn't really have good wrapper leaf and using what I can find that looks that can be used as a wrapper. Very nice guy, gave me 2 wrapper leaves 1 Maduro (not sure what type) and another Connecticut shade.

They smelled amazing and kept them in a ziploc bag , left it open a bit as to prevent mold. Couple of days later they reeked of ammonia a few days later as the leaf dried, the smell was gone and original sweat smell returned.

This leads me to believe that if you don't smoke a freshly rolled cigar right away or next day or two you better wait a few weeks. Seems like once the leaf is brought to high case will ferment again giving off ammonia.

Any thoughts on this ?

 

[webmost]

True and false. The wet leaf was not the prob. The ziploc was the prob cause it kept the leaf wet. Once you roll your cigar, leave it out on the counter a day or two, and it will dry too quickly to ferment.

On the other hand, it will also improve with a month or two age in a cedar box. Burn better and taste better.

 

[buck]

Based on what you say which makes sense, if you put your freshly rolled cigar in a humidor immediately after you roll it I guess it would keep the leaf wet and similar to leaving it in a ziploc. Best to let the stick dry first then put in the humi ...


Thanks

 

[webmost]

Based on what you say which makes sense, if you put your freshly rolled cigar in a humidor immediately after you roll it I guess it would keep the leaf wet and similar to leaving it in a ziploc. Best to let the stick dry first then put in the humi ...


Thanks

Yepper. That's how I do it anyways. Let's ask an expert like Deluxe.

 

[Tfrankz]

I like to put my fresh rolled into an empty cigar box and leave it in for a week or two. I find fresh smoked ones have stronger flavors with ammonia taste. Also when you get to the last 1/3 it burns hot and the smoke is hot in your mouth.

I did find out if you are in a hurry, nuke it first and cook the h2o out than put the wrapper on. Wait 2 or 3 hours puff away!!

 

[Raodwarior]

Laying a fresh rolled down is never a bad idea, although the best cigar I have ever had I lit right out of the rollers hand. Residual ammonia is usually from incomplete fermentation, or because too much moisture has been reintroduced during casing, a properly fermented leaf should be void of all ammonia. However, sometime in a rush to get leaf to market short cuts are taken but rarely, some leaf in fermented at lower temps so a small amount remains as well. The problem is that some people if they are drawing to hard and fast on a still wet cigar mistake the tingle on the tongue as ammonia where it is really the tar and nicotine concentrates. Smoke a little slower and I think that flavor will subside. If the smell is coming from closed storage, use a box or humidor never a sealed bag to store fresh rolled cigars.

 

[deluxestogie]

If leaf contains any remnants of albuminous protein that have not been fully oxidized, then the addition of sufficient moisture will resume the oxidation process, producing ammonia as a byproduct. The leaf doesn't really store ammonia.

CT Shade is often allowed to ferment at no higher than 98ºF, before the bulk is taken apart and re-built. This gives a prettier leaf, but may not complete the oxidation of residual proteins.

Now, to the meat of the question. I smoke nearly every cigar that I roll immediately after rolling it. They do look nicer (no tiny wrinkles) if the wrapper is allowed to dry down, but I don't pay much attention to that when smoking a cigar. I like the taste of a freshly rolled cigar. Keep in mind that my filler is always in low case (flexible, but some cracking), kilned and usually well aged when I roll. I roll 2 to 5 cigars a day. The densely packed, low case filler easily combusts the slightly damp wrapper. An exception is thick, oscuro wrapper, which takes longer to bring into case, and likewise requires drying overnight to burn properly.

So--my opinion only, if the leaf used has finished its work of protein oxidation, smoking it immediately after rolling is just fine. If you plan to give the cigar to your brother-in-law, allow it to rest, smooth its wrinkles and take on the wooden dowel character of an industrial cigar.

For me, it's about smoking quality. Plus, I'm a slouch.

Bob

 

[Raodwarior]

Very nice chemical breakdown, much more advanced than us poly sci majors....LOL Do you roll just your own grown tobacco?? I have been around the processing and blending for quite some time just getting going on the rolling end. I am however, thinking about a small patch for growing this spring so will be very interested in the curing and more so fermenting procedures at that point.

 

[deluxestogie]

Do you roll just your own grown tobacco?

I roll a lot of my own leaf, but also roll some with WLT leaf. Among my favorite cigar varieties are FL Sumatra, Little Dutch, PA Red, Machu Picchu Havana and Vuelta Abajo. Can't buy those. I grew my own Besuki wrapper in 2014, but it's not ready yet, and is unlikely to compare favorably to WLT's Besuki wrapper. Many of my cigars include 1 leaf of Nicaragua Habano viso, also from Don. I've tried and enjoyed most of the WLT wrappers, binders and fillers. In addition, I enjoy rolling stogies of BigBonner's burley red tips.

Bob

 

[Raodwarior]

Guess I'll have to try some more of the US leaf as time goes on, guess still to much of a purest-chicken to try Virginias and burleys in a cigar. Been around the premium cigar industry for about 20 yrs now doing blending for some of the bigger guys but now doing it on my own. For me the rolling is for myself, as well as for profit since I own a store. I have to stick with the imports so to speak. As I get a chance I will try more of the others just not there as of yet. The Besuki if you ferment it well you will love, it has become a favorite wrapper in my store especially using the Corojo as a filler. Going to try a blend next week with a half leaf of Mata Fina in a corona extra size and see if I can get some more coffee notes. About all my stuff is Don's leaf plus what I could beg from some of the people I have worked with.

 

[Clatsopnehalem]

I like to put my fresh rolled into an empty cigar box and leave it in for a week or two. I find fresh smoked ones have stronger flavors with ammonia taste. Also when you get to the last 1/3 it burns hot and the smoke is hot in your mouth.

I did find out if you are in a hurry, nuke it first and cook the h2o out than put the wrapper on. Wait 2 or 3 hours puff away!!

Dang that is amazing nuke as in microwave? That sounds quite Efficient and rapid ready to smoke like that I’m baffled honestly.

 

[Jim D]

Dang that is amazing nuke as in microwave? That sounds quite Efficient and rapid ready to smoke like that I’m baffled honestly.

Make sure you blow out the steam/moisture when you pick it up out of the microwave....do not draw on it.