How Much Marrying

[davek]

How long does it take to get at least some marrying of tobacco if you are creating a blend? I've heard of at least 6 months for a blend to marry with quick and dirty marrying happening under pressure in a week. How much marrying could you see in a jarred blend in a week or two?
I've been smoking whole leaf, usually cigar leaf, in a pipe. A "blend" for me is an ounce or two, maybe throwing some Havana in with some Maryland for the weekend. How much will these blends marry over a relatively short time if I make some ahead? Like... in a week?, two?, a month?
Edited by jvnshr: Title capitalization.

 

[prairiedruid]

There are so many factors that could effect "marrying": pressure, type of tobacco, type of cut, moisture, temperature.....

 

[davek]

Sometimes I'll "can" tobacco to try to rush "marrying" (or whatever). I'll throw a tiny amount of water with the tobacco in a canning jar and boil the jar for 5-10 minutes with the lid on loose. Then tighten the lid and boil a bit more.
I'm guessing I get a little stoving and I definitely get a vacuum seal. Maybe the vacuum would help flavors meld? I dunno.

 

[hawky454]

I like to give my blends that a whip up at least a month in the jar before I smoke them. I find that a month will make a dramatic difference.

 

[saltedplug]

I age tobacco and don't blend, mostly as the attempts I made to do so about two years into smoking failed. My aging benchmarks are 2, 5 and 10 y/o.

 

[fuzzyblends]

Russ O once wrote a piece about letting fresh blends from P&C marry for at least 45 days before smoking since they don't have the space to age the tobacco. Seems reasonable for stuff packed tightly in a container.
If you really want flavors to marry intensely, just put it in a freezer bag, wrap the bag in foil for extra protection. Then leave a brick on it.
That's how you make "shooter sandwich" (an actual steak sandwich) and short of making a real crumble kake, it should "force the marriage".
ref: Someone making a "shooter sandwich": https://i.imgur.com/XI57NLm.jpg

 

[cortezattic]

Like prairiedruid said, there are too many variables affecting the process, IMO.

I never had any good results in home blending and tweaking; and with what, 5000 blends out there, I have more fun sampling those with descriptions that appeal to me.

 

[davek]

I like to give my blends that a whip up at least a month in the jar before I smoke them. I find that a month will make a dramatic difference.

So a month will give me a big change. Thanks so much for this answer.

 

[winton]

I have had awesome success with marrying. I definitely got the better of the deal. It has lasted more than 25 years!
Wait, are talking about rings, white dress, etc?

 

[didimauw]

That's what I was wondering Winton! Then there was talk about plastic bags, bricks, etc. What's wrong with these guys?