Blend, Construction & Ring Gauge Question

Doctorossi · 07-21-2009, 08:59 AM

Here's a question that's been on my mind for some time and I can never seem to get a satisfactory answer for it:

When a filler blend is created to produce a line with multiple ring gauges, is there a common approach with regard to component proportions across the line? Is it favored or traditional to balance the blend of ligero, seco and volado to an equivalent proportion, regardless of ring gauge? Or is a standard bunch created and then more of one or more of these components added or subtracted depending on the blender's intentions for the different vitolas in the line? If so, is there a size the blend is typically 'built' around? Or does this all vary entirely by marca, by blend or by blender's whim?

Can anyone with some blending knowledge put me out of my mystery?

Snake Hips · 07-21-2009, 10:44 AM

I don't have much knowledge about blending, but I think I can kind of answer this to a degree. Traditionally a cigar is blended around the Corona vitola (5.5x42). To make other vitolas, they try to keep the proportions equal while compensating other components to keep the profile similar but to keep the strength in check. If the large-ring vitolas had the same strength as smaller cigars, nobody would survive them.

Doctorossi · 07-21-2009, 11:07 AM

Thanks, Snake Hips- most informative!

shilala · 07-21-2009, 11:39 AM

The actual percentage of filler blend varies across rg's.
You'd think it'd be dictated by trying to keep the same %age of each tobacco, but it's not. The amount is determined by the size of the leaves the roller is working with.
The filler is dictated by the least amount of wastage.
That's why a certain cigar will come in certain sizes and not others.
If a cigar becomes popular enough (sells well enough with a high enough mark-up) to introduce a size that requires a lot of wastage, then they'll go ahead and add it to the line and see how it sells.
What Tyler said about the corona, I've heard the same.
Some cigars can end up with the same percentage of fillers, like maybe a corona and robusto have the same percentage of blended filler, but the size throws the wrapper ratio off.
If I find a cigar I like, I try to smoke as many sizes as I can until I find the one I like best. A lot of times the best cigar is the corona, but I like a larger rg and settle at a beli or toro or some larger ring, even though it may not be as good.

It's fun to try as many sizes as I can get my hands on, and usually I'm not disappointed with any of them, but one size sometimes is remarkably better (to me) than others.

Snake Hips · 07-21-2009, 01:36 PM

Thanks for the info, Scott - never knew that about the leaf size and the waste consideration.

07-21-2009, 08:59 AM	#1
Doctorossi Have My Own Room Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 1,684 Trading: (8)	Blend, Construction & Ring Gauge Question Here's a question that's been on my mind for some time and I can never seem to get a satisfactory answer for it: When a filler blend is created to produce a line with multiple ring gauges, is there a common approach with regard to component proportions across the line? Is it favored or traditional to balance the blend of ligero, seco and volado to an equivalent proportion, regardless of ring gauge? Or is a standard bunch created and then more of one or more of these components added or subtracted depending on the blender's intentions for the different vitolas in the line? If so, is there a size the blend is typically 'built' around? Or does this all vary entirely by marca, by blend or by blender's whim? Can anyone with some blending knowledge put me out of my mystery?

07-21-2009, 10:44 AM	#2
Snake Hips Götterdämmerung Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Tyler Location: Directly above the center of the Earth Posts: 1,013 Trading: (10)	Re: Blend, Construction & Ring Gauge Question I don't have much knowledge about blending, but I think I can kind of answer this to a degree. Traditionally a cigar is blended around the Corona vitola (5.5x42). To make other vitolas, they try to keep the proportions equal while compensating other components to keep the profile similar but to keep the strength in check. If the large-ring vitolas had the same strength as smaller cigars, nobody would survive them.

07-21-2009, 11:07 AM	#3
Doctorossi Have My Own Room Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 1,684 Trading: (8)	Re: Blend, Construction & Ring Gauge Question Thanks, Snake Hips- most informative!

07-21-2009, 11:39 AM	#4
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Blend, Construction & Ring Gauge Question The actual percentage of filler blend varies across rg's. You'd think it'd be dictated by trying to keep the same %age of each tobacco, but it's not. The amount is determined by the size of the leaves the roller is working with. The filler is dictated by the least amount of wastage. That's why a certain cigar will come in certain sizes and not others. If a cigar becomes popular enough (sells well enough with a high enough mark-up) to introduce a size that requires a lot of wastage, then they'll go ahead and add it to the line and see how it sells. What Tyler said about the corona, I've heard the same. Some cigars can end up with the same percentage of fillers, like maybe a corona and robusto have the same percentage of blended filler, but the size throws the wrapper ratio off. If I find a cigar I like, I try to smoke as many sizes as I can until I find the one I like best. A lot of times the best cigar is the corona, but I like a larger rg and settle at a beli or toro or some larger ring, even though it may not be as good. It's fun to try as many sizes as I can get my hands on, and usually I'm not disappointed with any of them, but one size sometimes is remarkably better (to me) than others. __________________

07-21-2009, 01:36 PM	#5
Snake Hips Götterdämmerung Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Tyler Location: Directly above the center of the Earth Posts: 1,013 Trading: (10)	Re: Blend, Construction & Ring Gauge Question Thanks for the info, Scott - never knew that about the leaf size and the waste consideration.