Several Issues Regarding Cigar Blending

[Luacino]

Hello everyone. After rolling my first batch of cigars, I’ve been pondering a few questions regarding blending:

1. What is the appropriate amount of ligero to include in a single cigar? Traditional Cuban cigars rarely use more than one leaf of ligero. However, a teardown analysis of the Padron 1926 revealed that its filler consists of two viso leaves and one-and-a-half ligero leaves. Wouldn't this lead to issues such as difficult combustion, excessive strength, or a "pepper bomb" effect?

2. Regarding the use of a double binder: some argue that two layers add richness to the blend, while others believe they serve to complement the burn characteristics of the wrapper leaf. I am currently planning to use a specific variety of Corojo viso for the wrapper; would it be appropriate to use two corojo seco as the binder? I’ve found that using two seco leaves does indeed lend a creamier quality to the blend.

3. How many filler leaves should a robusto or churchill cigar contain? Conventional wisdom suggests using at least three leaves; however, since the size of the tobacco leaves available to different people varies so widely, there is no single standard answer to this question. Given that I intend to roll my robusto cigars using a double seco binder, Is using four filler pieces still viable?

All in all, I should conduct more experiments. I’d also love to hear everyone’s insights.
Thank you all for your company; this forum has been incredibly helpful.

 

[deluxestogie]

The answer is easy:

All in all, I should conduct more experiments.

There are no rules of thumb. Try different proportions, and see what you prefer. I prefer a generally milder cigar. Others prefer a cigar that is more potent.

With regard to the binder, I use a double binder when the binder leaf is not sturdy enough (or large enough) to do the job alone.

How much leaf? Since I never seek to standardize the size of my cigars, I just grab 3 filler leaves if the leaves are bigger, and add a 4th if the leaves are smaller. There is no magic, and there is no science involved. As an agricultural product, tobacco leaves (even from the same growing season and from the same tobacco farm) always vary. Definitely, don't worry that you are doing it wrong. Cigar blending in cigar factories always must adjust to the variations in the leaf they are using at the moment, but that is solely in a effort to maintain a standardized product for marketing.

You're the boss!

Bob

 

[Luacino]

Try different proportions, and see what you prefer.

You absolutely right. I want to start by ensuring the Corojo Ligero, two Viso, and the wrapper establish the floral and Corojo Funk base for the blend. From there, I'll make the cigar sweeter, resulting in a richer, creamier body.

Thank you for your encouragement. I'm still wondering if adding a quarter of another ligero to the top of the cigar would bring more complexity.

 

[Tutu]

Play around with using more ligero. If what you use has good combustion by itself and is in the right case when rolling, combustion shouldn’t be an issue. Even though perhaps Cuban cigars don’t typically have more than one ligero leaf, these days there are so many Dominican and Nicaraguan sticks around that do!

 

[WillQuantrill]

Hello everyone. After rolling my first batch of cigars, I’ve been pondering a few questions regarding blending:

1. What is the appropriate amount of ligero to include in a single cigar? Traditional Cuban cigars rarely use more than one leaf of ligero. However, a teardown analysis of the Padron 1926 revealed that its filler consists of two viso leaves and one-and-a-half ligero leaves. Wouldn't this lead to issues such as difficult combustion, excessive strength, or a "pepper bomb" effect?

2. Regarding the use of a double binder: some argue that two layers add richness to the blend, while others believe they serve to complement the burn characteristics of the wrapper leaf. I am currently planning to use a specific variety of Corojo viso for the wrapper; would it be appropriate to use two corojo seco as the binder? I’ve found that using two seco leaves does indeed lend a creamier quality to the blend.

3. How many filler leaves should a robusto or churchill cigar contain? Conventional wisdom suggests using at least three leaves; however, since the size of the tobacco leaves available to different people varies so widely, there is no single standard answer to this question. Given that I intend to roll my robusto cigars using a double seco binder, Is using four filler pieces still viable?

All in all, I should conduct more experiments. I’d also love to hear everyone’s insights.
Thank you all for your company; this forum has been incredibly helpful.

1. For me, how much Ligero by leaf count is 1.5 minimum but it also depends on the size of the cigar so 30-40% ligero filler seems to be where I land. I have smoked an all ligero stick and from what I recall it didn't burn worth a damn.
2. This kind of parlays into the first question of how much is too much? For example one of my blends when I was making test samples I used a double Sumatra Binder. The flavor profile was off balance, I wasn't really getting some of the filler flavors I knew should be in the stick like Esteli Viso. On my next test run I went to a single Sumatra like a magic veil was pulled off all of the characteristics I was shooting for in my filler appeared. I believe great cigars incorporate different primings and varieties to compliment each other. The 1 variety sticks are good for tasting to log for memory but they are boring so you better LOVE that variety. You are in the early stages of learning an art so most solutions come from experience and carry alot of nuance.
3. A robusto would be around 2.5 leaves. I've never rolled a Churchill.

 

[GreenDragon]

Remember that Seco, Viso, and Ligero refer ONLY to leaf position on the plant. Every crop is different. A Viso leaf from one crop may be "stronger" than a Ligero from a different crop/year/variety. You just have to experiment with each batch of leaf you purchase - that's the "fun" of rolling as a hobbyist.