Welcome to the House of O’Neal Cigar Line: A review of Leaf Only’s Roll Your Own Cigar Starter Kit

Sometimes I wish for things not at all expecting them to become reality. At least not anytime soon. Recently, I wished I could roll my own cigars which expanded into owning my own cigar brand and maybe even a cigar bar one day - but I digress. My dear husband took hold of that first wish and surprised me Christmas day with a DIY cigar rolling kit! 

While I've "rolled" a cigar before—a hazy memory from a long-ago Jazz Fest trip to the French Quarter of New Orleans—that experience was nothing like this. This DIY kit means you are involved in everything short of picking and drying the tobacco leaves. I mean going from a bundle of leaves to the final wrapper, followed by an agonizing two-week wait before the first smoke.

The Kit and the Process

Mert gifted me the Leaf Only's Starter kit. It's comprehensive, including enough filler, binder, and wrapper leaves for 10 cigars, a wooden cigar mold, a cigar capper tool, a cigar cutter, cigar glue, and labels. It comes with an instructional video (a manual would be a welcome addition, so definitely take notes!). After watching the video, I spent about thirty minutes prepping the leaves and was ready to roll. 

I’m obviously a novice when it comes to any sort of tobacco rolling but the leaves all appear good quality - not torn to shreds and they smell divine. It was super easy to rehydrate those that were a little too dry with a damp hand towel, probably taking about an hour. In fact, while Christmas brunch was being prepared, I was already rolling. I managed to complete four cigars before being swept up in the day's festivities.

The Learning Curve (and Why Mistakes Are Gold)

There’s absolutely a learning curve. I'm still experimenting with my leaf quantity and refining my technique. All the variation you see in my initial cigars is purely "user error," BUT that's the best part! Don't discard those mistakes!

Once you press them into the mold, wrap them, allow them to dry for 24-48 hours, and then "age" them in a humidor for two weeks, those imperfections tell a fascinating story. They reveal exactly how variations in rolling technique (loose, tight, or uneven) and size influence the final flavor of the cigar.

House of O’Neal’s First Offerings

The first three cigars rolled from the starter kit.

Our first smokes were surprisingly enjoyable. We savored them by the fire with pours of New Dawn 6 year—a pairing we highly recommend for this starter kit blend. Seriously, I've paid good money for cigars that were bland or outright horrible, but these were pleasant, tasty, and relaxing. I absolutely recommend this kit.

• Mert's Pick: Fortitude - Mert chose the pyramid-shaped cigar, which was the third one I rolled. I named it Fortitude as a nod to my perseverance. All cigars featured Nicaraguan Seco Jalapa filler, Dominican binder, and Ecuadorian Seco Shade wrapper but here is where unintentional mistakes (e.g. pyramid shapes) matter. This cigar delivered delicious spicy notes layered over a sweet and floral base.

• My Pick: Unforgettable - I chose the one I rolled late on New Year's Eve, which I honestly can't even remember rolling! This cigar, with the same blend, beautifully presented all the sweet, mild, and floral notes in their glory.

The Verdict

Do I need to perfect my game? Of course. But will practicing until I master the art of cigar rolling (and leaf blending) to become a whiskey AND cigar maven be a chore? Absolutely not.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What items are included in the Leaf Only Starter Kit?
The kit is comprehensive and includes enough filler, binder, and wrapper leaves for 10 cigars, a wooden cigar mold, a cigar capper tool, a cigar cutter, cigar glue, and labels. It also comes with an instructional video.

New Dawn’s 6 Year Old Bourbon is our recommendation with the Leaf Only starter kits leaf blend.

How long does the entire cigar rolling and aging process take?
After prepping the leaves and rolling, the cigars must be pressed in the mold and allowed to dry for 24-48 hours. Following this, they require an "agonizing two-week wait" while aging in a humidor before the first smoke.

What kind of tobacco blend does the starter kit include?
The first offerings used Nicaraguan Seco Jalapa filler, Dominican binder, and Ecuadorian Seco Shade wrapper.

What is the recommended pairing for the starter kit blend?
We highly recommend pairing these cigars with pours of New Dawn 6 year bourbon.

Do you recommend Leaf Only’s DIY Cigar Rolling Kit?
Yes, we "absolutely recommend this kit." The resulting cigars are "pleasant, tasty, and relaxing" and not even close to the worst cigars we’ve ever smoked. 

What is the significance of "mistakes" or "user error" in the rolling process?
Imperfections are "gold," as the variations in rolling technique (loose, tight, or uneven) and size influence the final flavor and tell a fascinating story about the technique used. If you’ve ever wondered what really makes a good cigar doing this process yourself is eye opening.