Perfecting My Second Home Blend... Need Advice!

[mso489]

Makers Mark? I'd save that for sipping. If you have some lower priced whiskey, you might do that. Whatever's sprayed is going to lose all its alcohol anyway, and all of the sweet nuances of its blending. Otherwise, your blend sounds pleasing, once you get the proportions tuned to your own taste. Proportion is much of the game. And yes, I loved that chunk of whiskey barrel stave in Frog Morton Cellar that lent the blend such a subtle touch of whiskey.

 

[diamondback]

mso489 sadly, I’m intolerant to alcohol. Drinking even a small amount makes me extremely sick, so there’s none in the house besides the wine that my wife drinks. I do love the hint of it in some tobacco blends however (and don’t get sick from them).

 

[jpmcwjr]

You'll get more infusing action with a piece of terra-cotta soaked in whisky and placed in a jar. The barrel stave is nice, but is hard to impregnate and it takes a long time to diffuse.

 

[diamondback]

jpmcwjr that certainly stands to reason, the terra-cotta being vastly more porous (sp?).
Once I finalize my proportions (I’m in the neighborhood), I may make two batches. One to go into my little home-made el cheapo press, and one as ribbon with a soaked piece of the terra-cotta.
Oh - hey - while we’re at it, I’m open for good bourbon suggestions. Since I can’t drink I don’t know what a really good one is.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Oh - hey - while we’re at it, I’m open for good bourbon suggestions.

Four Roses Single Barrel is what I reach for when not in a rum mood.

 

[krizzose]

+1 for Four Roses Single Barrel. That stuff is good

 

[diamondback]

On the off chance that anyone is interested when I get this blend where I want it, I’ll be glad to give y’all the recipe for it. I’ve only been in the pipe smoking arena for a little over 10 years, and I don’t want to be presumptuous - I’m not a master blender by any stetch of the imagination, but again, only if anyone is interested. I’d imagine a lot of y’all have a secret home-made tucked away, and probably one that’s light years better than anything I can cobble together.
Probably a dumb question but this isn’t illegal, right? Sharing a recipe that anyone can make at home, as long as you don’t sell it, you’re okay by the law, yes? Having said that, my blend isn’t for resale. Giving the recipe for free is okay? Of course y’all might be upset if you don’t like it - lol!!!
No offense taken whatsoever if the thread dies now. I’m relatively thick skinned. Unless you talk ‘bout my mamma! lol :D j/k

 

[krizzose]

I’ve been experimenting with my own blends for a while now. My success rate isn’t great, but it’s certainly a lot of fun.
I’ve stopped trying to make a good Virginia blend; I leave that to the pros. But so far I’ve made 2 or 3 tobacco-forward aromatics and one VaOr that are pretty good.
Please do share your recipe

 

[diamondback]

Please do share your recipe

Thank you kind sir! I am humbled. I will gladly share it. It’s still a bit off, as I’ve got to get the bourbon right, but I’m too obsessed to stop, and I’ll definitely remember that you asked

 

[ernieq]

"You could also try infusing the whiskey into the tobacco. Place a shot glass or something with whiskey into the tobacco container. A better way is to find a container with a screen like bottom and put the whiskey below this so they sit on top of one another."
I'll second that. Use the shot glass or an old tobacco humidifier. Seal it up in in a container and wait a week. Dry down and you'll be amazed at the way it changes the character of the tobacco.
E.

 

[cranseiron]

As in the topping mizzen sail.

Uh, that would be mizzen top.

You might have a topping lift on a fore/aft mizzen, though.

 

[cranseiron]

Oh, yeah. Does the Black Frigate crew ever mix up some Navy grog with that Capt. Morgan? 1-2 oz rum; 4oz water; lime juice to taste; muscovado sugar. A fine drink for the tropical sea.

 

[diamondback]

Hokay dudes (and dudettes),
I’m in the process of topping my second blend with bourbon.
Here’s what I’ve done:
Mixed my tobaccos
Spread them out to nearly ‘crisp’ dry. Spritzed w/Wild Turkey until thoroughly wet.
Stored in Tupperware, sealed, for two hours.
Spread it back out, let it dry to nearly crisp.
Spritzed again, stored in sealed container.
Drying now.
Problem is, it can’t smell the alcohol topping once it’s dry.
So...
Do you think I should let it dry (it’s drying now), spritz it a third time, and then put it in a sealed container and then let it ‘soak’ in the refrigerator? Thinking contraction (cooling) might help it absorb more?
My goal is a ‘boozy’ smell, akin to Haddo’s. I realize that the rum may give a better smell. However, once it gets ‘tin moist’ I can’t smell the Wild Turkey at all.
Any input appreciated. In the absence of input, I’m just going to re-spritz, and seal for a third time, and see what that does...

 

[tulsagentleman]

Be careful when you light this. We don't want to lose you.

 

[xingpao]

Watch the mike mcclelland interview at the 2016 chicago pipe show where he talks about doing 7300 experiments on tobacco and how he never could make it work because it breaks the tobacco down on a celular level, thus frog morton cellar was born with a stave piece inserted.
Not saying it cannot be done, just saying check what an expert says about it.

 

[diamondback]

Be careful when you light this. We don't want to lose you.

Oh! Oh dear!
Duly noted.

 

[diamondback]

Xingpao I’m guessing the short version is bourbon topping is a non-starter?
Tonight, when my mix is tin-moist, I’ll jar it up and set aside a couple bowls for a proper dry.
I’ll be VERY careful lighting them.
If I make it :rofl: I’ll report back!
Pray my soul to heaven. If I don’t make it back, tell my wife and kids... well... just tell them.

 

[xingpao]

Diamondback, yeah alcohol messes up tobacco. How you can make "essence of bourbon" though and apply that, I am not sure. Perhap you could boil out the alcohol and be left with a bourbon smelling water?

 

[papawhisky]

You need to add a humicant to help “hold” a portion of the spirit in the tobacco such as sugar, honey, or molasses. I usually mix in a small amount of brown sugar to my alcohols (Scotch, Bourbon) when flavoring my blends. You don’t need much and it helps a lot. Almost all rums have sugar added (a dirty industry secret) which is why they work so well.

 

[diamondback]

Essence of bourbon, hmm...
My answer might be in Papawhisky’s post. Add brown sugar.
I’m going out to try my bowl of what I’ve got thus far. If it’s sawdust, no problem, it’s only one ounce, and I’ll be back to the drawing board. It’ll be take number 15.
Live and learn! Thanks guys.