Irish flake type attempt 1

[Ginsinjones]

Here is my first go at pressing an Irish flake type blend.
20% flue cured lemon (WLT)
25% red Virginia (WLT)
40% maryland 609 (WLT)
10% Kentucky fire cured (WLT)
5% dark air cured (WLT)
Alternating layers with the fire and dark air in the center.
I sprayed the leaves lightly with distilled water. Made a stack 3" x 3.5" put it in a zip lock and used 2 pieces of 2x4 tightened down with a Bessie clamp.
One day in I cut it in half and stacked the halfs and pressed again for 3 days.

 

[Davo]

How’s it smoke?

 

[Ginsinjones]

Not sure yet, just letting it dry down a bit.
Smells sweet, with a touch of smoke.
I'm quite surprised how well it pressed in that short time period.
I'm also surprised how much sticky liquid was pressed out of it.
My original plan was to press it for a week. I was just paranoid about mold I suppose.
I'll report back tomorrow when I sample it.

 

[GWLee]

It looks great!

Cheers

 

[Ginsinjones]

Well I tried I bowl of my flake.
It's pretty good, sweet and balanced. It's rich, and pretty high nicotine. I'm certainly glad I had a bite to eat before I smoked haha.
The smoky aspect did not translate to the flavor all that much.
It did stay lit well and burned to light color ash.
I'll jar the remaining flakes and give er another try in a few weeks.

 

[Ginsinjones]

Finally got around to revisiting this plug this afternoon.
I must say it has improved dramatically. The smell reminds me of dark chocolate and smoked meat. I'm not great at describing flavors but it has this earthy foundation with hints of nuts and wood. Very little sweetness after the first few puffs. The beginning of the bowl sort of reminded me of sweet bread. That gave way to hints of BBQ along with the rich earthy foundation.
It's strong!
I smoked it in a small billiard briar and by the end I had the hiccups haha.
I was out to make something close to petersons Irish flake.
Well I don't think I came too close. The smokiness is different and I get more hints of the Virginia in my creation.
All and all though, I am happy with it and will likely make another plug like this one

 

[Davo]

Maybe decrease the dark fired and Virginia content and then increase the Maryland but cavendish it first.

 

[Krausen89]

I believe their Irish flake is equal portions VA, Burley, and Fire cured. i am looking to make something similar with my burley that just came out of the kiln though i wont have enough VA until Harvest so may do something else. i will prob case with some kind of Irish whiskey or liqueur to make it truly irish LOL

 

[Ginsinjones]

Yes they do say equal parts; however I don't know what fire cure they are using but at even 10% of the commercial fire cure it is overpowering compared to petersons.
I made a batch with 5% and I could still notice it.
To come close I have just used dark air, burley and redleaf VA

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I've noticed that the fire cured we get is way more smoky than what I get from other products, too. Like, toscano is supposedly all fire cured, I think. I wouldn't have even thought of it if I wasn't told.

 

[Davo]

I've noticed that the fire cured we get is way more smoky than what I get from other products, too. Like, toscano is supposedly all fire cured, I think. I wouldn't have even thought of it if I wasn't told.

So true. I’ve stoved and sliced up WLT halfzware and use this as my fire cured blending component, even still I wouldn’t normally venture beyond 10% or so for my tastes

 

[Jbg]

I've noticed that the fire cured we get is way more smoky than what I get from other products, too. Like, toscano is supposedly all fire cured, I think. I wouldn't have even thought of it if I wasn't told.

China, take a gander at this, it details why toscanos aren't so smoky.

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=556Gz1qDMYE