Hamlet rolling a custom in Vancouver - Video

[jacksfull]

So, I'm clearly out of the loop. I'd heard mention (read, actually) of Hamlet customs here a while back, but when I Googled all I found on "Hamlet cigars" was a UK mass brand that used to have great advertising.

So what's the deal? I'm getting it a little now... that Hamlet is a master roller, well known to the long-timers at FoH. But, where is he based out of, what's the source of the tobacco used, and how does one sample such art?

[maverickdrinker]

Hamlet is Level 8 Master Roller from Havana Cuba. He is sponsored by Habanos SA to travel to different locations to roll cigars.

Habanos SA sends the tobacco from Cuba to the location he is rolling. For Canada, the tobacco goes to a central warehouse (Havana House) and then Hamlet selects the bunches to be brought to different events.

Had the pleasure of meeting Hamlet when he was in Toronto and enjoy a couple of drinks with him. Got a couple bundles of robusto extra cigars that he rolled. Great guy.

[demiurgic]

Guess no one figured out why I said this is a great video for learning the art of it.

There are several 'ways' to roll a cigar. There is the 'accordian' bunching method which is mostly demonstrated by rollers since it's popular and easy in comparison to what Hamlet is showing us. A quick search on youtube will show what I mean. type in 'cigar rolling videos'

However, Hamlet is rolling a cigar in a totally different style, a style very few rollers can execute (leaving the right amount of draw on a cigar rolled like this is tricky)

It's the scroll technique, where each leaf of the filler is individually rolled like a scroll, independant of the filler leaf next to it, and not folded into each other like an accordian. So it's a bunch of tubes bound by binder, then wrapper.

Watch the video again to see what I mean.

[jacksfull]

Guess no one figured out why I said this is a great video for learning the art of it.

There are several 'ways' to roll a cigar. There is the 'accordian' bunching method which is mostly demonstrated by rollers since it's popular and easy in comparison to what Hamlet is showing us. A quick search on youtube will show what I mean. type in 'cigar rolling videos'

However, Hamlet is rolling a cigar in a totally different style, a style very few rollers can execute (leaving the right amount of draw on a cigar rolled like this is tricky)

It's the scroll technique, where each leaf of the filler is individually rolled like a scroll, independant of the filler leaf next to it, and not folded into each other like an accordian. So it's a bunch of tubes bound by binder, then wrapper.

Watch the video again to see what I mean.

Noticed that, along with the cigar being finished without going into a mold. Are the two issues related? Is it necessary, or at least preferable, to use the "tube" method if not using a mold?

[thechenman]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.