"soft crush"

[El Presidente]

I haven't heard of the term "soft crush" before.  I am not sure of the science but perhaps others with expertise in fermentation can have a crack at the effect of such a process. 

http://www.irobusto.com/ipcpr-2017-bloodline-cigars/

 

[anacostiakat]

That is a new one. 

[zeedubbya]

From their website:

"During the fermentation process, tobacco leaves generate natural heat. Our Soft Crush Fermentation process adds pressure, a gentle squeeze under weight, that increases the temperature and duration of this naturalheat.  Bitterness sweats out while desired flavors blossom.  That's why Bloodline cigars- made with up to 75% rich ligero leaves - offer truly complex flavor with surprisingly little bite"

[Fugu]

Sounds like a method making subpar tobacco smokeable.

[Doctorossi]

75% ligero sounds more like a smack in the face than "truly complex flavor" to me, but I'll reserve judgment.

[Spanishcedar]

Interesting indeed... well the soft crush marketing [gimmick] will work on me, I look forward to giving at least one of these a try.

Thanks!

[PigFish]

Hmmm... it appears to me that the tobacco on the bottom is always crushed more than on the top. This is averaged out by reversing the stack. A taller stack means more pressure than a shorter one. Dependence on the height of the stack is everything then!

Another gimmick in the cigar world.

Next thing you know they will be fermenting the bands so that you can smoke through them... -LOL

-the Pig

[Doctorossi]

10 minutes ago, PigFish said:

Next thing you know they will be fermenting the bands so that you can smoke through them... -LOL

I've seen bands made from leaf- it's been a thing.

[Toast & Taste]

So they squeeze out the bitterness, but not the 'good' taste?

How do it know?

(insert Big Al laughing....)

 

Big Al

[MrGlass]

2 hours ago, Toast & Taste said:

So they squeeze out the bitterness, but not the 'good' taste?

How do it know?

(insert Big Al laughing....)

 

Big Al

That's easy - start with tobacco that has no good taste.

[ethosan]

This is nothing more than a marketing term, created around a game of cards, laughed about by all in the room 

That said the bloodline is a good cigar

[El Presidente]

7 hours ago, PigFish said:

Next thing you know they will be fermenting the bands so that you can smoke through them... -LOL

-the Pig

Too Late Ray! 

[JohnS]

75% ligero leaf in the blend? Seriously? (I'd advocate to) Just walk away!

[dangolf18]

The proof is in the pudding....however, I'd venture to say it's probably nothing more than a gimmick.

[Fugu]

There is a reason why Cuba ferments slowly and at comparatively low temperatures. Permanent restacking (and as Piggy alludes too, a certain, limited pile-size), moisture and pressure control are means of making sure temps don't rise above certain tobacco-specific levels. That's the art of it. More elevated temperatures will produce flat, overfermented tobacco. You can do that with ligero (and only with ligero), as it will likely still retain some of its structure and body. But a blend based on >70% over-fermented ligero, I bet, will rather end up in an unbalanced and (for me) boring cigar lacking in complexity. However, not few prefer fuller-bodied, less complex and less refined smokes, so there may be a market for it.

[canadianbeaver]

Interesting how the brand levels are similar to beer...

Reg. Blonde. Dark.

Just saying because they are NC.

CB

[PigFish]

7 hours ago, Fugu said:

There is a reason why Cuba ferments slowly and at comparatively low temperatures. Permanent restacking (and as Piggy alludes too, a certain, limited pile-size), moisture and pressure control are means of making sure temps don't rise above certain tobacco-specific levels. That's the art of it. More elevated temperatures will produce flat, overfermented tobacco. You can do that with ligero (and only with ligero), as it will likely still retain some of its structure and body. But a blend based on >70% over-fermented ligero, I bet, will rather end up in an unbalanced and (for me) boring cigar lacking in complexity. However, not few prefer fuller-bodied, less complex and less refined smokes, so there may be a market for it.

... sound thoughts on the matter Paul.

"What tobacco we getting this month...?"

"Well, they are out of everything but ligero..."

"Crap... really? What the hell we gonna' do about that?"

"I understand if you ferment the shit out of it, we can make a cigar that won't kill anyone. Wanna' try it?"

"How cheap was the ligero?"

"Real cheap..."

"...lets get it..."

-the Pig

[Fugu]

Haha - yup, that's exactly the kind of scene springing to mind here. 

[RijkdeGooier]

 If you believe that I have a bridge for sale