Infusing some cigars.....
clearlysuspect
Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭✭
Can't remember which thread, but someone on here mentioned infusing your own cigars. One of the methods recommended was to stick a few cigars in a plastic bag with a shot of some form of liquor and let it sit for several days allowing the liquor create a 100% humidity in the bag so that it might soak into the cigars. I have Sol Cubano CC Fundadores laying around that I'm not particularly fond of, so I figured I'd experiment on this and see if it works. I have 3 cigars in a plastic bag with a shot of Wasmund's Single Malt Wiskey. I plan on leaving them in there for at least 4 days. Perhaps, after 4 days, I'll periodically remove one, let it rest, and smoke it. This might help me gauge how long they should actually stay in there.
Any comments or suggestions would be helpful, even if you already said it in the other thread as I can't remember where that discussion happened.
Any comments or suggestions would be helpful, even if you already said it in the other thread as I can't remember where that discussion happened.
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I have tried this with a few different methods and a few different infusions. I've used vanilla tobacco and coffee beans and found that the resting smoke smelled very sweet and took on the scent, while the smoke itself didn't change much in terms of taste. I.E. it's not gonna taste like a dipped or flavored cigar, just slightly different than if you just stuck it in your humi on its own. I've also done this with rum and cognac.
Overall, my advice: Let them sit as LONG as possible. A week or two won't do anything. Shoot for at least 2 months. Also, use a tupperware container as cigar boxes tend to leak humidity and you've got a good chance of them drying out. I used a small piece of a sponge that I cut off and soaked in the alcohol of choice. Keep a close eye on humidity and check on the cigars often to make sure they're not too spongy. I also found that a good hearty maduro wrapper tends to soak up more flavor than a connecticut wrapper. Good luck!
As for absorbtion slowing down? I have no idea. Guess I'll find out in a few weeks. Perhaps. It does stand to reason that the cigar will reach a maximum capacity.
Think I might have to try that needle method; sounds interesting, "Zee doktor iz in" *snap rubber gloves*
I pulled it out of the bag and noticed that the cigar was much softer (obviously, it's been sitting in 80% humidity for a month) and the wrapper had this really oily feel to it. It certainly had the aroma of the Wasmund's Single Malt Whiskey but it wasn't an overpowering smell. This is a thin cigar, fundadores or lancero, and it was so soft that when I went to push the punch into the end of it, I damn near caved the entire cap in. The prelight draw was tight and I had to open it up a little bit with my little tool. Keep in mind that I didn't particularly care for this cigar at all, which is why I chose to experiment on them. The prelight draw was delicious. I could taste all the subtleties that this scotch presents. It lit right up and burnt even the entire way though.
Just got told to go home from work early. I'll finish this up later.
The taste of the scotch was quite noticeable at first but I think most of this was due to the cap. The cap tasted very sweet and possessed all the aromas of the whiskey. The first half of the cigar was great and was pretty much what I was looking for in this little experiment. The taste of the scotch was very noticeable but it wasn't overpowering. It simply complimented the cigar and made it a little better. Toward the second half, the flavor of the whiskey went away completely and I was back smoking a cigar that I don't quite enjoy.
I'll smoke another one of these at 2 months and the final one after 3 months. If it turns out like I think it will, I'll probably try a couple of other liquors and flavors.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Insert from the foot and slowly release it into the filler, working your way out. I do 2 or 3 passes with like 2 or 3ml in the syringe each. I want even coverage, and dont want to soak it. I then let em rest for 3-6 months and when they are done, HOLY SMOKES are they amazing.
I tend to use Dominican rum, like Ron Barcello, but a good spiced rum will work just fine.