Cigar leaves blending.

[Yvan the terrible]

Seco leaves.... been trying a few blends with different seco percentage, from 20 % to over 50 %. At 50%, the smoke tasted bland like meat without salt. With 20% the other fillers made the smoke quite strong. In general are most seco leaves quite bland? Is there a big difference between seco leaves variety or should I expect more or less very mild taste with good burning quality?

Second blending question, with which leaf do you start building your blend in general? Do you start for example with your ligero and match other leaves to it or do you build your blend using a different approach?

I realize now that rolling quality or skill is just about secondary compared as to be able to have a nice blend, if the smoke looks beautiful the better but if it is badly blended then the enjoyments is greatly diminished.

 

[CobGuy]

For me, I've found that Ligero holds more of the flavors and strength I'm looking for.
Seco and Viso are used sparingly or, at times, not at all.

~Darin

 

[Yvan the terrible]

For me, I've found that Ligero holds more of the flavors and strength I'm looking for.
Seco and Viso are used sparingly or, at times, not at all.

~Darin

Never tried straight ligero, will have to roll a few an give that a try.

 

[burge]

Tobacco blending is to me mixing the fillers in a ziplog bag and each tobacco flavour will meld making for a better smoke. That is true of all tobacco.

 

[MarcL]

I do like to pre-marry the leaf. (i guess is what we could call it?) because of the way I like to over case the leaf to be able to flatten out the crinkles so, I can get it to do what I want. Then I'll bring the case down to more of a suitable one for assembly. This is done in tubs. filler in one and binder / wrapper in the other.

Most seco leaves are quite bland. They can have some flavor but, they do burn well.
I do like to build from the center. (estrujado) at times I'll entubado the ligero (at times including a slice of seco) then finishing in estrujado. I might finish in semi-entubado.

Having the right density can make all the difference as well as case.

 

[TigerTom]

Never tried straight ligero, will have to roll a few an give that a try.

Do you prefer fuller flavored, stronger cigars? If not, be sure to post the picture of your hair standing up.

 

[RandyL]

Never tried straight ligero, will have to roll a few an give that a try.

The ligero’s that are available are not super strong. I have a few blends that are just ligero.

 

[GreenDragon]

Blending is just as much art as science, further complicated by the subjective nature of strength and flavor preferences of the individual. Unfortunately, the only way to find your "style" is to keep experimenting. I've only been rolling for two years now and by no means an expert, but here are a few things that I've learned along the way that might help:

1. Keep good notes, and make sure you label your cigars with the blend recipe in some way so you can review it as you smoke it. Afterwards, immediately update your notes with your observations before you get busy and forget. I've definitely made my fair share of stinkers (ha!). I've also made some tasty ones that I still get requests for.

2. I generally find that each leaf tends to have a main flavor / top note that stands out. I.e. chocolate, raisin, pepper, leather, etc. So, when I put a blend together I try not to use too many with the same top notes as it makes a bland/boring cigar. I want to create a musical chord (A-C-E) not a single note (C-C-C). I don't always stick to this however; sometimes making a chocolate bomb is fun!

3. Along that line, as the major component in the filler is (generally) seco, I try to use two or three different seco varieties in my blends to help create a more rounded flavor profile. While they are not as flavorful as the higher leaves, you will notice a difference by using a variety.

4. The best way to ID these flavor profiles is to roll "Puro" cigarillos from one or two leaves of each of your tobaccos and try them separately. Take three or four at a time and take a few puffs of each one after the other. Doing this you will be surprised at how the differences in taste between them will jump out at you.

5. Most importantly, keep rolling and have fun!

 

[Yvan the terrible]

Blending is just as much art as science, further complicated by the subjective nature of strength and flavor preferences of the individual. Unfortunately, the only way to find your "style" is to keep experimenting. I've only been rolling for two years now and by no means an expert, but here are a few things that I've learned along the way that might help:

1. Keep good notes, and make sure you label your cigars with the blend recipe in some way so you can review it as you smoke it. Afterwards, immediately update your notes with your observations before you get busy and forget. I've definitely made my fair share of stinkers (ha!). I've also made some tasty ones that I still get requests for.

2. I generally find that each leaf tends to have a main flavor / top note that stands out. I.e. chocolate, raisin, pepper, leather, etc. So, when I put a blend together I try not to use too many with the same top notes as it makes a bland/boring cigar. I want to create a musical chord (A-C-E) not a single note (C-C-C). I don't always stick to this however; sometimes making a chocolate bomb is fun!

3. Along that line, as the major component in the filler is (generally) seco, I try to use two or three different seco varieties in my blends to help create a more rounded flavor profile. While they are not as flavorful as the higher leaves, you will notice a difference by using a variety.

4. The best way to ID these flavor profiles is to roll "Puro" cigarillos from one or two leaves of each of your tobaccos and try them separately. Take three or four at a time and take a few puffs of each one after the other. Doing this you will be surprised at how the differences in taste between them will jump out at you.

5. Most importantly, keep rolling and have fun!

Great post, thank you for the feedback. Really like your analogy of the musical cord. As far as note taking, I have just about finished building a blending app for my cigar blending, I truly agree with taking good notes. Will be posting it to this group and other soon if people are interested.

 

[deluxestogie]

Every tobacco variety has its own characteristics of strength and aroma. Every individual tobacco plant produces leaf that increases in strength, aroma and thickness as you move up the stalk.

• seco is at the bottom: thin, large, blander, much more combustible
• viso is higher up, starting about mid-stalk: thicker, maybe smaller leaf, more aromatic, stronger, doesn't burn as well as seco
• ligero is mostly from the upper 1/4 of the stalk: much thicker, smaller leaf, intense, very strong, burn is poorer than viso
• corona (tip leaf) is from the top 4 or so leaves, is seldom available commercially: luciously strong and intense, usually doesn't burn well at all, can only be used as a minor condiment, but worth it, if you grow your own

But these are just trends within a specific crop of a specific variety. As others have pointed out, you've just got to play with the blending of leaf levels and varieties, until you find a happy spot.

Bob

 

[burge]

So the only way to get the flavour is to taste each leave individually try a blend and imagine what it would go with. If you think you have something try it in a tube if you like it you got something.

 

[deluxestogie]

Yup. Blending is an experience, not a recipe.

Bob