Pics of Your Sticks

[blisscigarco]

Just curious. What is the recipe for your high note ending of the year? Might save me three years of mistakes...

1) I have four secos that I think are great super-high quality leaves, and which I can freely mix for a wide variety of base cigar profiles. They are LO Piloto seco, Honduran seco, Olor seco, and Piloto Volado. The volado is my favorite: it has the richest, creamiest flavor. I start with 2-4 of one or two of these seco varieties (some are creamier, some are sweeter, some have kitchen spice, some have pepper, etc.). 2) If I want a version with more strength then I add small amounts (half leaf to start) of a viso or ligero that I know I like, e.g. WLT Nica Habano, until I arrive at the strength I'm seeking. This can be zero viso/ligero, or a half leaf of viso, or a leaf of viso and half of ligero, etc. 3) Wrap it in a good wrapper. In my case that wrapper is currently the most recent batch of CT Shade I got from webmost. I've been typically rolling 4 sticks of some mix with those six leaves, then I smoke them over the coming days, then mix it up a little bit for the next run of four. No aging required, because the tobacco is already excellent. The key to this all coming together in the last month or two was when I bought 1/4 lbs of most of the LO secos and tested them in various blends and as puros and found those four (I had used the Volado and Honduran extensively and successfully a couple years ago, but then got lost in a dark forest for a long time). And then recently getting a great batch of wrapper from Web.

No idea if this recipe would work for you or anyone besides me. I think most people here prefer Very Strong cigars whereas I prefer Medium.

 

[Jim D]

1) I have four secos that I think are great super-high quality leaves, and which I can freely mix for a wide variety of base cigar profiles. They are LO Piloto seco, Honduran seco, Olor seco, and Piloto Volado. The volado is my favorite: it has the richest, creamiest flavor. I start with 2-4 of one or two of these seco varieties (some are creamier, some are sweeter, some have kitchen spice, some have pepper, etc.). 2) If I want a version with more strength then I add small amounts (half leaf to start) of a viso or ligero that I know I like, e.g. WLT Nica Habano, until I arrive at the strength I'm seeking. This can be zero viso/ligero, or a half leaf of viso, or a leaf of viso and half of ligero, etc. 3) Wrap it in a good wrapper. In my case that wrapper is currently the most recent batch of CT Shade I got from webmost. I've been typically rolling 4 sticks of some mix with those six leaves, then I smoke them over the coming days, then mix it up a little bit for the next run of four. No aging required, because the tobacco is already excellent. The key to this all coming together in the last month or two was when I bought 1/4 lbs of most of the LO secos and tested them in various blends and as puros and found those four (I had used the Volado and Honduran extensively and successfully a couple years ago, but then got lost in a dark forest for a long time). And then recently getting a great batch of wrapper from Web.

No idea if this recipe would work for you or anyone besides me. I think most people here prefer Very Strong cigars whereas I prefer Medium.

Thank you, I enjoy a variety and was very suprised by a CT shade smoke I had back in August. I've been trying to figure it out ever since. Maybe this combo of seco and volado will help in that endeavor. I also like all the flavors without so much pepper and am not looking to be swimming in nicotine.
Thanks again @blisscigarco !

 

[TheReMixologist]

These were my most popular pix last year:

I hope I can do better this year.

Orgasmic goodies MOTL! Encore! Encore! Do the damn thing in 2018!

 

[webmost]

I will be torching the last commercial cigar in this house tonight, a Cuban Upmann. Tomorrow will be the first day ever that there has not been a commercial stick up in here. (I plan to bunch and roll four today while I watch footie so there will be a supply for next week). You are a blessed man if you can find that Archetype in that B&M. All the joints around here that supposedly stock them do not have any, while they do have the other Archetype cigars, none of which are remotely similar to the Dreamstate. And many online places have it as back ordered.

I don't know how you do that. People continue to gift me stuff, & I can't seem to give it away fast enough. Once upon a time, I joined the cigar lottery at cigar.com, cause I thought that would give me a chance to mail out surplus store boughts; but then I promptly won the lottery -- twice. Had to buy a coolidor. There's always something coming in.

Dunno how you stock such a scanty and recent supply of rolls either. Cannot burn them anywhere near the rate I roll. I think I need smokier friends, is what.

Plus, I'm such a hoarder.

 

[webmost]

1) I have four secos that I think are great super-high quality leaves, and which I can freely mix for a wide variety of base cigar profiles. They are LO Piloto seco, Honduran seco, Olor seco, and Piloto Volado. The volado is my favorite: it has the richest, creamiest flavor....

I absolutely agree with this. Especially the Olor anything.

I agree, medium mild is def the way to go.

 

[smthbrothrj]

How do you guys get so ridiculously talented .

I think it was "7 caps"; so six times around?

 

[TheReMixologist]

How do you guys get so ridiculously talented .

Blame it on the Stogie godz... it was their gift to bestow and ours to share. -xox

 

[webmost]

Blame it on the Stogie godz... it was their gift to bestow and ours to share. -xox

Speak for yourself. Stogie Godz bestowed the talent on you, & left me with nothing but envy & obsession.

But @smthbrothrj , give it a shot. You don't need to be good to enjoy. It's like volleyball in the back yard... everyone has a fun time, from grandpa to the eight year olds.

 

[TheReMixologist]

Speak for yourself. Stogie Godz bestowed the talent on you, & left me with nothing but envy & obsession.

But @smthbrothrj , give it a shot. You don't need to be good to enjoy. It's like volleyball in the back yard... everyone has a fun time, from grandpa to the eight year olds.

LIES!!! ALL LIES!!! To whom the gift is given it can never be returned ... you got it and now you're stuck with it... don't go disclaiming your Mastery because you choose to wallow in self imposed condemnation .... oooooooooooo... that was a tad harsh.... lol... be inspired good man! You can not sit and roll blends that you and others enjoy and not call yourself blessed! Has not the leaf you roll with come from the same fields as all of us? Did the water for those fields not come from the same heavens? Are we not equally bound to the leaf by our passion for it? From whence have our souls been molded to answer the desires of our hearts... to manifest the craft of the leaf into extensions of mankind's peace of mind? Was it not from the same Stogie Godz? Are you not one among many contributing to the 19 billion blends rolled yearly for the pleasure and sanity of mankind? You dare demote your worthiness? Fall at the feet of the Stogie Godz and beg forgiveness... and as your penance you shall roll 5 best of your hand blends and smoke them silently in full observance of your greatness you must complete this within one week in restitution for your sins of self degradation! Only then will you be absolved!

@smthbrothrj ANSWER THE CALLING OF THE STOGIE GODZ... you would not be here if you had not been called.

 

[webmost]

I'm telling him he can.
You say God told him to.

Maybe we should just ship him leaves & see what happens.

 

[Fusion555]

LIES!!! ALL LIES!!! To whom the gift is given it can never be returned ... you got it and now you're stuck with it... don't go disclaiming your Mastery because you choose to wallow in self imposed condemnation .... oooooooooooo... that was a tad harsh.... lol... be inspired good man! You can not sit and roll blends that you and others enjoy and not call yourself blessed! Has not the leaf you roll with come from the same fields as all of us? Did the water for those fields not come from the same heavens? Are we not equally bound to the leaf by our passion for it? From whence have our souls been molded to answer the desires of our hearts... to manifest the craft of the leaf into extensions of mankind's peace of mind? Was it not from the same Stogie Godz? Are you not one among many contributing to the 19 billion blends rolled yearly for the pleasure and sanity of mankind? You dare demote your worthiness? Fall at the feet of the Stogie Godz and beg forgiveness... and as your penance you shall roll 5 best of your hand blends and smoke them silently in full observance of your greatness you must complete this within one week in restitution for your sins of self degradation! Only then will you be absolved!

@smthbrothrj ANSWER THE CALLING OF THE STOGIE GODZ... you would not be here if you had not been called.

LOL, you certainly have a way with words and Leaf, love your sticks(and words)

 

[Jim D]

Ok gang, below is a picture of the stogies I bunched 1/1/18. I happen to like the LO Ecuador Shade Seco wrapper leaf so used up the last leaf of an earlier batch and started using leaf from a new bag. ALL wrapper leaves picured are Ecuador Shade Seco, believe it or not....

I really enjoyed the darker seco leaves stretchiness and flavor. The new leaf is not as stretchy but still very workable.
One other curious thing about the latest Ecuador Shade Seco wrapper and binder leaves. Upon opening the bags, I swear they smell like honey. Not the grocery store clear gold honey but the darker farmers market variety. They smell sweet to me.
Anyone else notice this?

 

[nic]

20 Corona Gorda

 

[habano-j]

Well....don't ask me how long it took to do and don't ask for a picture of my cap. My first time rolling one ever, 2 hours ago! I think I'm hooked already.

 

[Fusion555]

Well....don't ask me how long it took to do and don't ask for a picture of my cap. My first time rolling one ever, 2 hours ago! I think I'm hooked already.

Looks like a great first stick to me, keep it up

 

[nic]

Well....don't ask me how long it took to do and don't ask for a picture of my cap. My first time rolling one ever, 2 hours ago! I think I'm hooked already.

No shame in that. Nice work.

 

[TheReMixologist]

I'm telling him he can.
You say God told him to.

Maybe we should just ship him leaves & see what happens.

Oh what's the difference Webmost? You... God... lol...we are all but God whisperers lol Yeah... I'm game for sending him some if some of you all are

 

[TheReMixologist]

LOL, you certainly have a way with words and Leaf, love your sticks(and words)

Spank you... spank you very much! I like to keep the good times rollin! lol

 

[TheReMixologist]

Ok gang, below is a picture of the stogies I bunched 1/1/18. I happen to like the LO Ecuador Shade Seco wrapper leaf so used up the last leaf of an earlier batch and started using leaf from a new bag. ALL wrapper leaves picured are Ecuador Shade Seco, believe it or not....
View attachment 106860
I really enjoyed the darker seco leaves stretchiness and flavor. The new leaf is not as stretchy but still very workable.
One other curious thing about the latest Ecuador Shade Seco wrapper and binder leaves. Upon opening the bags, I swear they smell like honey. Not the grocery store clear gold honey but the darker farmers market variety. They smell sweet to me.
Anyone else notice this?

The Sticks look GREAT! I don't know how they store their leaves. I know that there are some leaves that have distinct true honey notes and if packaged or stored next to those leaves an organic aroma transfer will happen. Just like with the fire cured leaves, especially the dark fire cured... anything bagged next to it will eventually send some notes to the other blends. My batches change from order to order lol... color texture and aroma are always nearly the same... nearly I traditionally have to modify my blends when they are milder than usual... I double up the wrapper to bring back the strength profile offered in the blend before. Anytime I first create a blend, I base it off the darkest and or strongest identified leaves in the batch so that I can always reduce leaf based on strength variations in a batch. It's much harder if you had been working with the milder version in your blend and then wind up with a batch that matches the stronger of the leaves... you can't tone down the stronger wrappers except through time. So the safest bet is to use the strongest leaves from all the varietals in any batch as the Master Blend/Model Blend... all others can be configured to match up to it making slight adaptations to the blend. OR you can just risk having some odd blends for tasting... but if ya ever get that batch that is primarily on the stronger side and you need to produce a volume precision blend, it's likely you'll have to reorder the batch requesting the lighter colored leaves... which they may or may not honor.

 

[TheReMixologist]

Well....don't ask me how long it took to do and don't ask for a picture of my cap. My first time rolling one ever, 2 hours ago! I think I'm hooked already.

BRAVOOOOOOOOO!!!! You are well on your way! Keep rolling... truth is you were hooked long before... now you are captive Welcome to the roll world!