Don's besuki wrapper has puckers alongside many of its secondary veins. I haven't been able to stretch all these dimples out enough to get a smooth finish when wrapping. Anyone have a suggestion how to handle these puckers?
Pucker Power
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How moist is the leaf? The wrapper should be in what we call high case. It should be very moist and stretchy like well broken in leather. Tobacco should be stored in low to med. case so it won't mold. Don ships his leaf in low to med. case. You will probably need to take a leaf out and mist it with water and let it set awhile until it gets stretchy. When you stretch the wrapper around your cigar the puckers should come out. Make sure the ribs are on the inside and that the ribs of the wrapper run the length of the cigar.
Filler low case. Binder medium case. Wrapper high case.
Filler low case. Binder medium case. Wrapper high case.
Yep, I've watched a Cuban roller wrap cigars in person and he strayed the shit out of the wrapper with water before he used it. I'm pretty sure that's the only way to get the puckers out of the wrapper.
Spraying a half-leaf of Besuki with water mist (spritz one surface, then the opposite surface) will allow it to fully hydrate in the time it takes to stem and bunch the filler (about 1 minute or less). No puckers, ever. Heavier leaf, such as CT Broadleaf, may need to rehydrate overnight.
What I routinely do is stem one Besuki leaf. I mist 1 strip for my wrapper. I mist the other strip, fold it to the size of a wallet, and return it to the vapor-proof bag that contains the supply of wrapper leaf. This second strip is still perfect for wrapping by the time I'm ready for another cigar (in a couple of hours or a the next morning), and meanwhile, it helps maintain the humidity of the bundle of wrappers in the bag. Although the bags are impressively vapor-proof, you lose moisture each time you open it. Reseal the bag by expelling all the air, then flat rolling the open end, and keep it in place with a clothespin or segment of packing tape.
There is no leaf on the planet that is flatter than a properly hydrated Besuki wrapper leaf.
Bob
What I routinely do is stem one Besuki leaf. I mist 1 strip for my wrapper. I mist the other strip, fold it to the size of a wallet, and return it to the vapor-proof bag that contains the supply of wrapper leaf. This second strip is still perfect for wrapping by the time I'm ready for another cigar (in a couple of hours or a the next morning), and meanwhile, it helps maintain the humidity of the bundle of wrappers in the bag. Although the bags are impressively vapor-proof, you lose moisture each time you open it. Reseal the bag by expelling all the air, then flat rolling the open end, and keep it in place with a clothespin or segment of packing tape.
There is no leaf on the planet that is flatter than a properly hydrated Besuki wrapper leaf.
Bob
Well my first batch I rolled last Summer from crap leaf I got from another site, I sprayed the heck out of the wrapper, it did stretch it a bit more, but after I was done my leaf started to ferment all over again. Ammonia stank me out. Last Fall I went to a cigar lounge in Lancaster to watch a torcedor from Cortez Cigars wrap some sticks. He put a dribble of water on his palms and spread that on the board ... just enough to stretch the leaf a bit is all. So I figured that must be the way.
So I dunno. Guess I'll try some more water.
Hey...
Why "high case", anyway? Is there any other context in which "case" describes dampness? Where's that come from?
So I dunno. Guess I'll try some more water.
Hey...
Why "high case", anyway? Is there any other context in which "case" describes dampness? Where's that come from?
"Case" is an historic term used to describe the moisture of tobacco.
Only the wrapper should be in high case. The binder works well in medium case (feels dry, but is fully flexible). The filler should be in low case (dry, but does not crumble when handled).
With practice, you'll acquire a good estimate of the proper case for the various components just by touch (or sound).
Bob
Only the wrapper should be in high case. The binder works well in medium case (feels dry, but is fully flexible). The filler should be in low case (dry, but does not crumble when handled).
With practice, you'll acquire a good estimate of the proper case for the various components just by touch (or sound).
Bob
Here's a puckerpic:
For some reason that pic looks blurry here. Better at its url: http://laterdudette.com/images/bezukipucker.png
For some reason that pic looks blurry here. Better at its url: http://laterdudette.com/images/bezukipucker.png
I'm sure if you give it a little more time, the pucker will come out. The veins take longer to absorb the water than the lamina does.
Matty
Well-Known Member
Something I do to smooth a wrapper is roll it round the cigar several times, rolling and unrolling, helps it stretch out without tearing it.
BarG
Founding Member
Mine smooth out just fine with a light misting and stretch just fine. They burn great immediatly after rolling. I wonder how long the besuki is aged or what gives it such a great burn quality.
CONGRATULATIONS to YOU ALL for leaving the dark side of this thread name alone. I am proud of you. -·- 
The leaf is from the 2008 crop.
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Also roll with the 2 steps forward one step back approach, where you roll it, back up a bit, roll some more etc really helps stretch. I rolled a few homegrown downstairs and they are drying out now, first I've rolled since getting a pipe, glad to know it's like riding a bike.
BarG
Founding Member
That means the bezuki is aged 4-5 years. I'm on my last hand, it will be time to reorder soon.
I think his reason for slightly wetting the board was to help hold the wrapper in place on the board while he was stretching the wrapper. The wrapper could have already been in the proper case for wrapping.
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