GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
As there seems to be some renewed interest in DIY Pipe Blends inspired by Bob's (DeluxeStogie) new book, I thought I would start a new thread for newbies like me making their first few blends. (Thank you Bob for providing me with ANOTHER new rabbit hole to fall down into 
) My thought is for this to be thread for us new guys to post our journey into blending and to receive advice from the experienced blenders to help correct any issues encountered along the way.
So I'll start with a blend I made this weekend. It's based on Bob's "Flight Surgeon Deluxe".
Samsun 15 g
Maryland 7.5 g
Va. Bright Leaf 11.25 g
Cavendish 11.25 g
Perique 7.5 g
I wanted to make a pressed cake out of this recipe. After a little research I learned that cakes are made by first "steaming" the tobacco, then compressing under pressure and heat. As not further details were readily available, I made the following assumptions. The steaming process is for re-hydrating the leaves. As I didn't feel like waving all these leaves over a boiling kettle, I chose a different tactic. As my Father-in-law always said "water is for bathing, not for drinking!" I decided to hydrate my tobacco with a 50/50 mixture of rum and coffee with a splash of vanilla. I wanted this mixture to fully hydrate all the leaves including the veins, so I made a pouch out of aluminum foil, and placed my misted leaves in the pouch and wrapped it inside a heating blanket set on Medium overnight.
Sure enough, the next morning everything was nice and pliable, but not noticeably "wet". I knew I was doing something right because the wife walked through and said "Wow, it smells really good out here, what are you doing?" I unfolded all the leaves and put them into piles by type. Then I started building a 6" square "book" of leaves alternating each variety. I gently nestled the book into a quart ziploc bag and then commandeered the cheese press I made my wife to start pressing the book into a plug. First Pressing was ~115 lbs for 1 hour. I then took the book out, cut it in half, and returned to the press for another hour. After an hour, I again cut the book in half and placed back into the press. This time I left it for about six hours. (What was I doing in between pressings? I was making 5 gallons of beer and roasting a chicken for dinner, but that's a whole other thread.)
Now I had a lovely brownie ~3" square. I trimmed the edges, and will let dry a little overnight before putting in a mason jar to ferment for a few weeks. Of course, I couldn't stand it and had to try it out, so I took the trimmings from the edges and let them dry for 30 minutes, then loaded up a pipe and took it for a test ride. I gotta say, Bob's formula is spot on. No tongue or throat bite. A light, smooth, and mellow smoke. I expect it will develop more character after it ages a little, but there is nothing wrong with it right out of the gate.
Misted leaves in foil.
Burrito packet about to be wrapped in the heating pad.
Sorted leaves the next morning. Starting the book at the bottom right.
Completed book before first pressing.
After the second pressing and second cut, now a 3" square before going back to the press.
Last pressing for 6 hours.
In the press.
Future Dutch Pilsner... Mmmmm
Trimmed brownie cake
) My thought is for this to be thread for us new guys to post our journey into blending and to receive advice from the experienced blenders to help correct any issues encountered along the way. So I'll start with a blend I made this weekend. It's based on Bob's "Flight Surgeon Deluxe".
Samsun 15 g
Maryland 7.5 g
Va. Bright Leaf 11.25 g
Cavendish 11.25 g
Perique 7.5 g
I wanted to make a pressed cake out of this recipe. After a little research I learned that cakes are made by first "steaming" the tobacco, then compressing under pressure and heat. As not further details were readily available, I made the following assumptions. The steaming process is for re-hydrating the leaves. As I didn't feel like waving all these leaves over a boiling kettle, I chose a different tactic. As my Father-in-law always said "water is for bathing, not for drinking!" I decided to hydrate my tobacco with a 50/50 mixture of rum and coffee with a splash of vanilla. I wanted this mixture to fully hydrate all the leaves including the veins, so I made a pouch out of aluminum foil, and placed my misted leaves in the pouch and wrapped it inside a heating blanket set on Medium overnight.
Sure enough, the next morning everything was nice and pliable, but not noticeably "wet". I knew I was doing something right because the wife walked through and said "Wow, it smells really good out here, what are you doing?" I unfolded all the leaves and put them into piles by type. Then I started building a 6" square "book" of leaves alternating each variety. I gently nestled the book into a quart ziploc bag and then commandeered the cheese press I made my wife to start pressing the book into a plug. First Pressing was ~115 lbs for 1 hour. I then took the book out, cut it in half, and returned to the press for another hour. After an hour, I again cut the book in half and placed back into the press. This time I left it for about six hours. (What was I doing in between pressings? I was making 5 gallons of beer and roasting a chicken for dinner, but that's a whole other thread.)
Now I had a lovely brownie ~3" square. I trimmed the edges, and will let dry a little overnight before putting in a mason jar to ferment for a few weeks. Of course, I couldn't stand it and had to try it out, so I took the trimmings from the edges and let them dry for 30 minutes, then loaded up a pipe and took it for a test ride. I gotta say, Bob's formula is spot on. No tongue or throat bite. A light, smooth, and mellow smoke. I expect it will develop more character after it ages a little, but there is nothing wrong with it right out of the gate.
Misted leaves in foil.
Burrito packet about to be wrapped in the heating pad.
Sorted leaves the next morning. Starting the book at the bottom right.
Completed book before first pressing.
After the second pressing and second cut, now a 3" square before going back to the press.
Last pressing for 6 hours.
In the press.
Future Dutch Pilsner... Mmmmm
Trimmed brownie cake
