D&R Samplers
Posted by Mike B on Monday, 17-Dec-2007
Ok, just ordered a sample pack from D&R. The one with Ramback, Vongeur, Windsail, and Rowland that includes 2 boxes of tubes. Hopefully will find "my" tobacco from that. So far, I'm actually diggin the Zig Zag but when I get close to the filter, it's harsh as hell.
What's your opinion on the D&R Blends? I'll probably make a separate order for Cockstrong next month, too.
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Mike B on Monday, 24-Dec-2007
Ok, Got them in the mail, today. I am thoroughly impressed with all of them except the Ramback. I tasted/felt nothing from this stick. Rowland is an absolute pleasure. The website says that it smells of chocolate but doesn't taste that way. Maybe it's my palet but I taste the chocolate vividly. Vongeur is not a "mild" smoke in my opinion but it is labeled that way. Windsail is different. I like it a lot and I think is a mild smoke.
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The windsail tubes are wonderful. Very pleased with my order.
- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Monday, 24-Dec-2007
Mike, Ramback is an all Turkish blend, and that is the way Genuine Turkish smokes! Ramback is one of my favorites, along with Ramback Balkan, which has an ultra high grade Flu Cured Virginia added to alleviate what you just described. Until D&R developed Ramback there was no 100% Turkish tobacco blend available--none! I do enjoy Ramback in an unfiltered stick at times, but I enjoy it even better blended 60/40 with Two Timer, or in even amounts of Windsail Platinum, and Two Timer. Turkish is an acquired taste, and you won't find better tobacco, IMHO than D&R's blends! Capt Mike
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Mike B on Tuesday, 25-Dec-2007
So when you blend, do you do a bunch at one time or just each time for a single stick?
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by KL on Wednesday, 26-Dec-2007
I use a 1/4 or 1/2 tablespoon to measure out a one stick blend, one at a time until you get something you like, then you will know how to recreate it on a larger scale. It seems that Turkish needs to burn at a higher temp, than what it will burn by it's self, to bring out the flavor. windsail, penhooker,three sails (Virginia), and/or two timer (burly) will make it burn hotter and bring out the Ramback flavor, even blends like Vengeur or Rowland are tobaccos that blend very well with any of the 3 Rambacks from D&R. If you use so much Ramback in your blend that you turn your blend into an ultralight and you don't taste much of the Turkish it might not be burning hot enough. (use less Turkish). I'm no tobacconist, but that's one of the blending rules I use. I almost never smoke Ramback by it's self and it is still my fav tobacco and I will never run out of it.
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Mike B on Tuesday, 01-Jan-2008
I mixed it with windsail about 50/50. Still wasn't impressed. I have a little Venguer (very easily drying tobacco, BTW) and some Rowland left. I may try that, too. Waiting for my Ten Slash Two's of Two Timer and Cockstrong. Very Determined to find my daily smoke. I lvoe Rowland, the smell is just too strong. I love Venguer, it just dried out too fast. Windsail is way different. Almost spicy.
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Sunday, 30-Dec-2007
Unless I'm sure of how a blend will turn out I will blend enough for one or two smokes. That is where having a small scale comes in handy.I use either my old 200 Gram My Weigh Axe, or my My Weigh 200-Z. The Z has a cover that doubles as a container; where as the Axe only has the weighing surface, perfect for 1 gram weighing. After I get the blend where I like it, I'll make a 20 Gram batch. I have to admit that I love the diversity of MYO-CMS, and can't remember the last time I went through the day smoking only one blend! There is too many possibilities out there! I have on occasion made 8 Oz blends, but that is a big as I want to go--for me anyhow. You may find your preferences, and favorite blend one day, but you'll enjoy getting there! Capt Mike
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Dog Doo Snow Cone on Monday, 31-Dec-2007
Just wondering
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...Why would it be better to measure by weight than by volume? Seems like using tablespoons or 1/2 tablespoons that are deep and shaped like a melon baller (that's not hard to find) would work great for a one or two cig blend, just to work out what tastes good enough before taking it any farther.
And the different levels of moisture would be a non-issue doing it that way.
I use the scale method for larger blend projects. Just wondering what your opinion was on the measuring by Volume vs measuring by Weight methods.
KL
- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Tuesday, 01-Jan-2008
That is a good question. I've always used a scale. It seems to me that measuring by volume would have the potential to not be accurate. One measure by volume will not weigh the same as the next one. Any number of variables like coarseness, caseness, (In--Case Vs Out of Case), smaller almost shake filling in empty voids. In a way I did use this method a while back, two pinches of and three of that never turns out the same for me. I've had much better luck with scales. Capt Mike
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by KL on Wednesday, 02-Jan-2008
.
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"One measure by volume will not weigh the same as the next one"
True,
that's kind of my question. one could be wetter than the other and it would be the same amount but weigh differently due to filling the same area
(the volume of the measuring spoon, not the pinch method, that's not the kind of measuring by volume I mean really)
It also lead to two important observations !
that a measure of shake or dry stuff or even chopped up tobacco is actually less tobacco when measured by volume because you won't have any expansion of the tobacco once you dump out the compressed measuring spoon plug of tobacco.
Which lead to the idea of letting the tobacco expand in the tube once injected before retracting the spoon out of the tube.
( to remove a filter gap problem).
You can see it grow in the tube as it sits there with the spoon still in the tube, then retract the spoon after the tobacco is given the chance to expand. That way the spoon can't drag the tobacco plug back out of the tube (just a tad) as it retracts.
I know this is the second time typing about tobacco expansion in the last 10 men. :) but it did have to do with measuring by volume. I see your point about measuring my weight and I wish I had one of those cool Myweigh AXE scales. I would then get rid of those mellon baller shaped measuring spoons. Maybe,
.
.KL
- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Wednesday, 02-Jan-2008
I will sometimes get that problem in the summer time when the humidity is up. Try cleaning the inside of your spoon and nipple with alcohol--it works for me. I also give each new stick a tap or two out of habit. I agree with you that the tobacco's moisture plays a big part in its weight or measure. The My Weigh Z scale is actually my favorite, because its cover doubles as a small container; allowing me to weigh more tobacco at once, and it's a lot cheaper too, around $20. Capt Mike
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Sunday, 30-Dec-2007
I thought I'd pass on my fix-em tobaccos; since you will undoubtedly need to fix a blend or two as time goes on. Windsail Platinum is the best Virginia blend currently available IMO. Adding a little of it to a blend that is to harsh works miracles. On the other hand adding Two Timer to a blend that is too tame will make a pleasant difference, and could even turn out to be one of your recipes afterwards. The two most potent tobaccos I have ever smoked is Five Brothers Smoking Tobacco, and Cockstrong! Three parts Five Brothers with two parts Windsail Platinum make a nice smoke as well. I also use Ramback in the same way as Windsail P. One of my favorite blends is equal parts of Two Timer, Windsail Platinum, and Ramback. Good luck and enjoy! Capt Mike
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- Re: D&R Samplers
- Posted by Mike B on Thursday, 03-Jan-2008
Got my Cockstrong and Two Timer today. Smoked a cockstrong stick. WHOA! Very strong flavor but surprisingly mild on the smoke part of it. The toasted flavor is extremely pronounced. Will try a two time here in a little bit.
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