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  • BOTL UPCOMING MAINTENANCE

    Hi Everyone, as mentioned in my introduction post, BOTL needs quite a bit of updating, patching and whatever else I might come across. Over the next few weekends BOTL may be unreachable on occasion as I do migrations or updates, etc. Just be patient - we'll be back! I'll generally try to keep these maintenances until later in the evenings.

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  1. R

    Non designated leaf: how does it fit into my blend strategy?

    I think commercial sticks have a consistent look because they cull through the wrapper leaves and select those that are consistent as to color, are whole and without ragged edges. Also, it's also less labor intensive for the rollers to use high quality raw leaf. I suspect the leaves they cull...
  2. R

    Prepping binder and wrapper leaves

    Everybody has their process. Mine is not better or worse than anyone else's, it's just the process that works for me. I usually schedule a rolling session and roll 30 sticks. 20 using the target filler blend and 10 using the scrap wrapper from the first 20. I have a wood humidor that will hold...
  3. R

    Non designated leaf: how does it fit into my blend strategy?

    Most filler leaf on the online suppliers' pages is designated as ligero, visio or seco. However, some give no such primings designations. Is there a reason for omitting this information? All my blends start with 1L seco, 1L visio 1L ligero, so it does matter to me what I am swapping out. Links...
  4. R

    creating a smooth blend

    ...which is going to adjust as you dry box in preparation for smoking. Anyone have any idea how the big boys condition their leaf in preparation for rolling? I assume for one they cull out the leaves that are torn and incomplete, moving those over to the short filler line. How do they go about...
  5. R

    creating a smooth blend

    I don't think it needs to be a rigorous as a formula, more like a starting point. Consider; When I brew beer I can go to the style guide and get the definitive grain and hops bill for the standard beer. Do I use that to brew? no. I use it as a starting point. I brew up a batch, taste it then...
  6. R

    Prepping binder and wrapper leaves

    Sorry to resurrect this zombie thread, but I think I've found the solution to my problem. Usually I hydrate binder and filler on Friday, roll and press dolls Saturday, hydrate wrapper Saturday and wrap Sunday. For reasons beyond my control, on a recent rolling weekend I was unable to wrap Sunday...
  7. R

    creating a smooth blend

    I've been noticing on commercial cigars I enjoy that I can see a small crescent of dark leaf in the filler. Like a quarter leaf. Perhaps I've been using too much Ligero in my blends. Gonna try dialing it down from a full leaf to a half leaf.
  8. R

    Blending Thread

    How much had it changed from ROTT? ( or did you not try it?)
  9. R

    creating a smooth blend

    Heck, Taste is even subjective from one day to another. I bought a wheel of Rosado cigars from CI. I really enjoyed the first 15 or so. Earlier this week, and again last night, I light one and they tasted ashy. Have my tastes changed? Has my body chemistry changed? Have they changed moisture...
  10. R

    creating a smooth blend

    Because the same plant grown in different environment ( soil, light, water) grow into different plants, even when they are genetically identical. I expect that each generation mutates to take advantage of the environment, and after a few generations a unique genetic strain is produced. I have...
  11. R

    creating a smooth blend

    Funny. I own every single one of those leaves :(
  12. R

    creating a smooth blend

    Mojo is an interesting process. Aging before rolling is also an interesting process. However, I evaluate leaf condition at the time I purchase it. The issue I am having as a moderately proficient roller and a novice blender is that most of my sticks have 5 different types of leaf in them. I...
  13. R

    creating a smooth blend

    I have less burn problems with my home rolls than I do with the commercial sticks I smoke, so I guess I'm no longer a novice (?).
  14. R

    creating a smooth blend

    Everybody has their opinion. Here's mine. As a novice roller, I must walk before I can run. Before I can experiment in blending in any meaningful way, I must be able to consistently roll a stick that is of proper construction to draw and burn consistently. Not because they are "pretty" but...
  15. R

    creating a smooth blend

    I have noticed that some of my blends have a harshness to them in the back of the throat, others are soft and smooth. I'm not taking about vitamin N, I have a reasonable tolerance to that. Is the harshness caused strictly by immature leaf that is still outgassing ammonia and creating the...
  16. R

    Nice bands

    I looked at this site and it described the labels as " self adhesive" does that mean the band is stuck to the wrapper and can't be removed to nub the cigar?
  17. R

    Nice bands

    I can design a band in Excel. I can print a band using my cheesy little ink jet printer. However, the result ends up looking like something someone made on their cheesy inkjet printer. Was looking for a resource that can receive my design, print and cut on professional tools and return to me a...
  18. R

    Rolling meet up

    Got your PM. You're about 2 hours away, so it is definitely doable. If you get a location, date, and others, shoot me another PM. Tell me if I need to bring a table, or just my board and leaf. Also, I make a pretty mean pulled pork.
  19. R

    Rolling meet up

    I have a group of BOTLs I meet regularly at the local B&M. I brought my table and leaf a couple months ago and did a demo. One or two of them have expressed an interest in learning.
  20. R

    Nice bands

    er..... I'd like to get my hands on a small number of nice cigar bands?
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