Far beyond my wildest expectations

[Oblofusc]

The testing and blending continues. I've now tested & sampled enough of my home grown heirloom Havana-seed leaf to know what distinct taste and burn qualities each has, and for the last couple of weeks I've been playing around with blending them in various combinations and ratios. I feel like a kid in a candy shop. I sit out in the back deck with my rolling board, chaveta and pectin (cigar glue) on the table with bags of various leaf all laid out all over the place and think "hmm, maybe I'll try 30%/50%/20% ratio of Zimmer Spanish, Havana Long Red Leaf, and Florida Sumatra as a filler, with a Wisconsin Seedleaf binder and Florida Sumatra wrapper, with just one little strip of Keller Brown in the core . . ." and just roll it up and smoke it. And it's friggin' fantastic! (Especially the particular blend mentioned--out of this world! Mocha, leather, woods, nuts, cream . . .) I still can't get over how good this stuff has turned out to be. I am absolutely spoiled. I have not smoked ONE of my 100-odd "factory" premium cigars in my humidors for weeks now. I much prefer almost any of my "test" cigars to ANY store bought cigar.

The sad news is that it's clear I'm going to run out of this leaf way too soon! Must grow LOTS more this year! But man is it a lot of fuss.

Here's a pic of one. I even printed up some labels for 'em. It didn't seem right not to.

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff419/Tektremis/2011%20Tobacco/DSC04638.jpg

[javajunkie]

this still amazes me to no end. good on you, man!

[njstone]

So cool! I'd love to do this someday.

[CigarGavin]

Very cool, would love to try my hand at rolling/growing someday. Labels look great, keep on living the life!

[hachigo]

That's amazing.

[Pooh Bore]

Outstanding, I must try this one day, but is the climate right where I live .

[SSimp]

It could pass for a factory smoke! Great job!

[Burning Man]

Fantastic construction man!! You could bomb someone with that stick and no one would be the wiser. Great job I hope you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor after some aging. I know its tough but you gotta give it a try right?

[aherzing]

If I remember correctly, it seems your rolling abilities have really improved! That's awesome man, good stuff

[StocktonJohn]

Looks great and must be very satisfying to know you did it yourself. Very cool...

[Cigar Bill]

Looks amazing.

[andy]

group buy on some oblofusc farm rollies!

[shadowcam]

group buy on some oblofusc farm rollies!

Agreed! Those look delicious!

[javajunkie]

group buy on some oblofusc farm rollies!

yeah, sounds like it is still tough enough for him to satiate his own needs so far, or i would have asked myself! o)

[apaniagua]

group buy on some oblofusc farm rollies!

Im in!

Keep up the good work, the cigar looks great!

[Gravity]

That cigar looks amazing!

[USCG Cigar Newb]

Wow congrats. I cant imagine the work it took to get to this point, so congrats on being able to reap the benefits. Well done. Do you have picks of what you grow and the process of it all?

[danthebugman]

Words cannot convey how awesome that is :thumbsup:. My wife would probably have a seizure if I told her I wanted to plant tobacco :laugh:. One day though I'll have to try my hand at it.

Dan

[Craig Mac]

Words cannot convey how awesome that is :thumbsup:. My wife would probably have a seizure if I told her I wanted to plant tobacco :laugh:. One day though I'll have to try my hand at it.

Dan

Good luck with that, she's already trying to give your cigars away now! :)

[whodeeni]

Good luck with that, she's already trying to give your cigars away now! :)

Hahaha! Very Funny Craig!

Congratulations on a Job well done OP! Your cigar looks great!

[Le Buzz]

I tip my hat to you sir, this is a noble venture. You are immersing yourself in the process, in the soil, the priming, the curing. The fruits of your labor are yielding results beyond what you thought possible. That tobacco represents something greater than its physical makeup. It represents and embodies something which we as human beings are letting slip away but which we must regain an affection for.

Too many in number are the mega-farms, the large conglomerates and the giant multi-national multi-headed corporate beasts that not only permeate the tobacco industry but our economy as a whole. I apologize in hijacking your post to deliver a discourse, but you really should be applauded and admired for what you have partaken in.

There's still something to be said about smaller farms, smaller yields, better quality. When the man whose name is on the band and the man who is working the fields, getting his hands in the dirt are one and the same... that is almost unheard of nowadays.

Granted, you might only be doing this as a pastime, but I can think of more than a handful of cigar "makers" who could heed your example.

[SuprHasan]

Good to hear! Sounds like a lot of hard work has gone into this and now you're reaping the rewards!
Keep us informed!

[bdrupe]

Wow very Nice!!!

I'm a firm believer that it's always better when you do it yourself. The finished product looks excellent and the taste sounds awesome.

It looks like you also had the opportunity to practice on the rolling. If I recall the first batch looked a little bit "shaggy". This roll looks amazing!! I guess practice makes perfect. Congratulations!!!

Rupe

[Carpe diGar]

Incredibly awesome work - this is right up there with making your own wine, salami, beer etc - and that construction is amazing - trust you really enjoy the end product!!!

[Two Jacks]

Kudos to you! Very cool indeed! I really admire your dedication. Great to see its paying off for you. It's awesome.
Enjoy my friend :tiphat:

[aroma]

Awesome.
Are all the different varieties you mentioned home-grown?

[mcroom]

I agree that you must be commended for all the hard work it too for you to get this far and roll some amazing sticks. Congratulations; well done!

[ciggy]

group buy on some oblofusc farm rollies!

I'm in...That's an amazing first run there bro. Good for you and I agree on the band idea as well.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
On a side note, are you also recording your soils upon seeding? Soil compost and fertilization also play a major factor in how the plant grows/tatse.