Tobacco extraction using heated Ethanol

[Str8vision]

I find retail cigar NETs weak, too subtle and little more than a wispy "shadow" of a cigar's true flavor potential. I've even been disappointed with my past cigar extractions and while more robust than their retail counterparts they still fell far short of my expectations/goals (which may be set too lofty). I'm going to try something new when extracting the Rocky Patel v'90 cigar I received in the last P&C shipment. I'll perform a two stage, double exposure extraction.

1/2 of the cigar is shredded and placed in a half pint canning jar. More ethanol will be used than a normal hot extraction, enough to cover the shredded tobacco and 50% extra (instead of 15%), added. Sealed glass container, moderate vacuum applied and a 48 hour room temperature soak. After 48 hours, the vacuum is released and the extraction is heated to 160F for 12 hours. After 12 hours has elapsed the tobacco and solvent (now an extract), is separated and the extract is placed in the freezer for 36 hours, filtered through a coffee filter and allowed to warm to room temperature. The second half of the cigar is now shredded and added to the extract. The extraction process is repeated using the extract as the extraction solvent for the second half of the cigar. After freeze filtering the -double- extract will be reduced by 80%.

May just end up wasting half of a good cigar but I'm going to find out just how much flavor I can pack into an extract.

 

[jonnydoe]

Its time to buy all the things i need for my first extaction. I have nothing.

At first 300ml glasses:
http://www.amazon.de/Marmeladenglas-Einmachglas-mit-Schraubverschluss-Stück/dp/B00QG3FNX4/ref=sr_1_101?ie=UTF8&qid=1447710205&sr=8-101&keywords=EINmachgläser

second, a sous vide:
http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00H5FZ3D2/...FZ3D2&ascsubtag=3704_390127_564a58ec_564a58eb

Its very expensive. Have you got a better idea ? I think, it must a cooker with regularing temperature.

third, filtering. I have no idee, what i need to filter at 1-2 mycrometer. Does such a small filtering works without pressure ?

Please, help me.

 

[Exchaner]

You can buy a simple light dimmer and connect it to a regular crockpot. That way you can regulate the temp. You may not even need the dimmer if your crockpot keeps the temp constant at the warm setting. Some crockpots do, and some don't.

 

[aceswired]

I find retail cigar NETs weak, too subtle and little more than a wispy "shadow" of a cigar's true flavor potential. I've even been disappointed with my past cigar extractions and while more robust than their retail counterparts they still fell far short of my expectations/goals (which may be set too lofty). I'm going to try something new when extracting the Rocky Patel v'90 cigar I received in the last P&C shipment. I'll perform a two stage, double exposure extraction.

1/2 of the cigar is shredded and placed in a half pint canning jar. More ethanol will be used than a normal hot extraction, enough to cover the shredded tobacco and 50% extra (instead of 15%), added. Sealed glass container, moderate vacuum applied and a 48 hour room temperature soak. After 48 hours, the vacuum is released and the extraction is heated to 160F for 12 hours. After 12 hours has elapsed the tobacco and solvent (now an extract), is separated and the extract is placed in the freezer for 36 hours, filtered through a coffee filter and allowed to warm to room temperature. The second half of the cigar is now shredded and added to the extract. The extraction process is repeated using the extract as the extraction solvent for the second half of the cigar. After freeze filtering the -double- extract will be reduced by 80%.

May just end up wasting half of a good cigar but I'm going to find out just how much flavor I can pack into an extract.
[emoji14]op:

Love the experimentation. And that was a favorite of mine back when I was smoking cigars frequently. Hope it comes out well. Though with no control for comparison it will be hard to know how much impact the new process has.

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

 

[Str8vision]

Its time to buy all the things i need for my first extaction. I have nothing.

At first 300ml glasses:
http://www.amazon.de/Marmeladenglas-Einmachglas-mit-Schraubverschluss-Stück/dp/B00QG3FNX4/ref=sr_1_101?ie=UTF8&qid=1447710205&sr=8-101&keywords=EINmachgläser

second, a sous vide:
http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00H5FZ3D2/...FZ3D2&ascsubtag=3704_390127_564a58ec_564a58eb

Its very expensive. Have you got a better idea ? I think, it must a cooker with regularing temperature.

third, filtering. I have no idee, what i need to filter at 1-2 mycrometer. Does such a small filtering works without pressure ?

Please, help me.

The canning jars look fine, just make sure you have the rings and lids for them. The cooker is a bit pricey but if it regulates/controls the temperature accurately should work quite nicely. I can't read the description so can't really tell what it's capable of, lol. I use a cheap slow cooker and it's a chore to regulate/control the temperature accurately, need to use a PID temp controller on it but have procrastinated doing so for the past year. Filters are tricky to find, prices are erratic and don't often make sense. 2 - 3 microns is more than adequate and the ethanol extract will gravity flow though it just fine. Here's a link to some pre-folded filters that should work great inside a funnel http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H8WMFU/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

 

[Str8vision]

Love the experimentation. And that was a favorite of mine back when I was smoking cigars frequently. Hope it comes out well. Though with no control for comparison it will be hard to know how much impact the new process has.

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

Experimentation is half the fun for me.
I've never extracted this cigar before so will have nothing to compare the results with. I'll be holding back a few ml after the first extraction so that I can compare it with results of the double extraction. That way I'll know if the second round actually improves flavor density.

 

[gt_1955]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained mate I'm thinking it will be a success though

 

[Bunnykiller]

and for that dirty ashtray taste youve been looking for.... extract a half smoked cigar

I didnt care for the flavor

 

[aceswired]

Experimentation is half the fun for me.
I've never extracted this cigar before so will have nothing to compare the results with. I'll be holding back a few ml after the first extraction so that I can compare it with results of the double extraction. That way I'll know if the second round actually improves flavor density.

Yes that sounds like a good plan. Keep us posted.

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

 

[Exchaner]

Question about steeping times; does it depend on what type of tobacco is used? I was surprised to see that my American Spirit Perique blend was ready less than two days after steeping in a thermos for 8 hours.

Edit: I am referring to steeping time after you mix your final liquid using pg/vg - not the extraction process.

 

[Str8vision]

For me the tobacco type and extraction process temperature both influence the soak duration. The warmer the process the shorter the extraction time. Cigar tobacco and heavy Virginia blends get a longer soak regardless of process temperature.

 

[Exchaner]

For me the tobacco type and extraction process temperature both influence the soak duration. The warmer the process the shorter the extraction time. Cigar tobacco and heavy Virginia blends get a longer soak regardless of process temperature.

I guess I didn't ask the question the right way. By steeping time I meant the process after you mix your your final liquid with nic/pg/vg ready to vape. Also edited my original post.

 

[nostradadus]

I guess I didn't ask the question the right way. By steeping time I meant the process after you mix your make your final liquid with nic/pg/vg ready to vape. Also edited my original post.

I try my hardest to give it at least 48 hrs before I vape a fresh mix; it's only gonna get better with time. I do a hot rice bath for 30 minutes after the final mix to kinda speed things up a bit. That may or may not actually work, but it makes me feel like I'm helping speed things along.

 

[Str8vision]

My bad Exchaner I usually age my mixed NETs for at least a month to give the secondary flavorings (vanilla, caramel etc..), time to "meld" into the juice. By themselves most of my tobacco's are quite good even freshly mixed (shake-N-vape), but they do get better, more robust with age. Exception has been the VaPers and cigars, they seem to require a couple of months before reaching an acceptable level of flavor. I haven't a clue about flavored aromatics but am really looking forward to finding out

 

[Exchaner]

By themselves most of my tobacco's are quite good even freshly mixed (shake-N-vape), but they do get better, more robust with age. Exception has been the VaPers and cigars, they seem to require a couple of months before reaching an acceptable level of flavor.

Do you consider American Spirit Perique Blend a VaPer? As I already mentioned, mine was ready to vape after steeping in a thermos a few hours. So happy about that ... to a restless guy like me, waiting a couple of months is like waiting a couple of YEARS.

 

[Str8vision]

American Spirit with Perique is a Virginia - Perique (VaPer), blend but it yields an extract that's quite flavorful from day one. Perhaps it's due to the curing process they use? It's initially more robust than Sutliff "Voodoo Queen", my favorite VaPer but we'll see how it's flavor develops a month down the road. I have pretty high expectations for what its matured flavor profile might yield. I only survive the l-o-n-g wait aging requires because I've so much well aged NET at my disposal. Took me years to get to that point, before then I often vaped freshly mixed NET after only a week of aging whenever I couldn't (or wouldn't), wait. Was still exceptional, just not as well developed. I consider my NETs much like a fine wine, the older they get the better they become. The exception to this is the ones I mix with concentrated flavorings, I like to age them one month and use them within a year.

 

[Exchaner]

American Spirit with Perique is a Virginia - Perique (VaPer), blend but it yields an extract that's quite flavorful from day one. Perhaps it's due to the curing process they use? It's initially more robust than Sutliff "Voodoo Queen", my favorite VaPer but we'll see how it's flavor develops a month down the road.

I estimate that I need only 3% of American Perique for a flavorful Vape (After a 75% reduction of course.) Based on that %, how many % would you estimate a person like me would mix Voodoo ?

 

[nostradadus]

With all this talk of Perique, it has reminded me to get this cooking!

It's been sitting an a mason jar for a month or two; time to get to work!

 

[Str8vision]

Pretty close to the same % perhaps a little higher for Voodoo Queen. Another top VaPer is Hearth & Homes "Louisiana Red". The big difference is that I like the Queen (and L. Red), after its well aged (2 months), not before, whereas I don't think the American Spirit (P) will need that level of aging before reaching its potential. I'm thinking under a month.

 

[Exchaner]

Thanks. I have Louisiana Red on the way. I am happy about the low % I need with the American P. It means less gunking of my wick/coil.