Blending Percentage

[luigi]

How many percent of different tobaccos would you put in your mixture if you had to blend your own?

Let's say you have available some straight virginias, oriental, perique and syrian latakia.

Maybe something like 70-15-5-10? I'm planning to experiment a little but it's hard to find any concrete advice. Trying different combinations and percentage is the best way to find a perfect personal blend for sure and that's what I'm going to do but I'm curious how much % of the four tobaccos would you use?

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

That 70 15 5 10 should turn out to be pretty decent. But latakia can be a little goes a long way too, so depending on how much you like latakia, you might raise the orientals by 5 and drop the latakia by 5 for a 70 20 5 5 blend. If you want the orientals to sing a bit more, you can raise those by 10 and drop the virginias by 10. It will still be virginia forward with the orientals singing backup a bit more. It really depends on what you're looking for.
Personally I think I'd go 55 25 5 10... really, so many combinations and a minor change of either can dramatically change the results.

 

[jitterbugdude]

First thing... keeps written notes!
If you are new to blending I'd suggest starting simple. Try a 80% Virginia and 20% Perique. Smoke it then vary those 2 components up and down (90% Virginia, 10% Perique etc). This way your palate will start to learn what each tobacco brings to the table. When you find something you like with the Virginia/Perique blend try adding some Turkish. Keep adding it till you notice it in your blend then you can decide how much you like.
Blending is rewarding and oftentimes frustrating. Good Luck
BTW, Decide on how you want to measure your tobacco. By weight or by volume and keep your samples small. You don't want to mix up a 50g batch and find out you just wasted some good tobacco because your blend is not what you expected it to be.

 

[cortezattic]

Jitterbugdude hit all the major points, IMO.
In his book, All About Tobacco, Milton Sherman's recommendations guidelines start on about page 29.

 

[briarbuck]

I am new to this but I like to add toasted burleys. They add nice bottom end. I add about 20% to my Va mixes with 8% perique and it really rounds off the blend while still keeping the Va's up front.

 

[luigi]

Thanks for your suggestions. Great link, I think I'm good for some time while mixing small samples and taking notes.

 

[sumusfumus]

luigi....Just some thoughts:
Try adding other tobaccos, and condimentals like Latakia, Perique, etc. to a professionally blended, and balanced mixture for some additional interest and complexity. Customize some blends that are already sold on the market, and can be easily bought from major companies that supply pipe tobacco(s).
Start with a mixture that you enjoy smoking, and then tweak it, jazz it up, change it slightly for a custom fit. If the original blend is too strong, cut it by adding some some toasted/Vanilla Cavendish, mild Burley or, whatever you chose. Experiment.
"Customizing" a professional blend of tobaccos will probably cost you a lot less than buying all the individual blending tobaccos and then starting from scratch to create a blend that you can eventually smoke with pleasure. Starting with a blend that you like and adding small pinches of this, or, that will also cut down the costs of your experiments. Professional blends may also use tobaccos that are specially treated, e.g, stoved, cased, topped, pressed, flaked, steamed, aged, flavored, etc. You may not be able to, or want to, duplicate these treatments at home.
Write everything down and measure everything (by volume or weight) so the recipe can be duplicated if you hit a winner. Try the 70, 15, 5 10 proportions, and start by using 70% of a professionally mixed tobacco, etc.
Have fun.
Frank

NYC