Alt Pipe Blend Recommendations
- Thread starter mjones9630
- Start date
c.ortiz108
The fly in the ointment.
You'll find that with pipe tobaccos there's less risk of finding the equivalent of a "dog rocket" (with the obvious exceptions of certain OTC blends). I think it's more a matter of personal taste. Even mainstream commercial blenders like Sutliff and Stokkebye make some great blends, and they can be yours for $2 an ounce. There's a lot more experimentation involved to find out what you like and don't like, but that's part of the enjoyment of the hobby. For me, burley- and perique- forward blends are no good, straight VAs I run hot and cold, and I mostly smoke English blends, dark aros, and crossovers (like Frog Morton). For other guys Escudo is the gold standard and they wouldn't be caught dead smoking the "camel dung campfire" latakia or the "gooper" aromatic. Part of it is also chemistry, because some tobacco strains will give some people nasty tongue bite or they'll find it harsh, while others think it's the mellowest blend on earth.Thanks guys! I've been reading through TR, but honestly, there are so many blends, with such similar descriptions.. Figured I'd just ask y'all about some favs to shorten the list (I'm lazy that way)
Lol, one of the biggest drawbacks I've found about starting the hobby here is being turned on to the "advanced" stuff.. Watching the threads to see what everyone else is smoking on to get recommendations kinda makes you skip the whole buying "CI sampler" stage and go straight for the gold!
I think it is. If not, it's awfully close, I actually prefer the Arango.
I like Quiet Nights a lot more than Penzance, but I think I'm in the minority on that one. C&D Sunset Harbor Flake is another really good Oriental style flake. I think someone mentioned Gaslight, also an excellent oriental blend.
Balkan Sasieni is pretty easy to get, not as good as Sobranie or Balkan Supreme IMO, but still pretty good. Another really good one is Balkan Flake from Samuel Gawith. Also Lancer Slices is really good.
MacBaren HH Acadian Perique is one of the only Va/Per blends I like, really good stuff.
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I've always preferred VA/VaPers but this one is worthy of a big jar in the cellar.
mjones9630
Who?
Soooooo.. what I'm hearing is, basically, I just need to get to smoking, and enjoy... Because there's tons of good stuff I just don't know about yet. Or something like that
I'm steadily finding great stuff, granted I'm working off of some aged samples.. but it sounds like I shouldn't have too many run-in's with BAD blends.. especially if I keep reading through TR.
Margate is damn good though!
I'm steadily finding great stuff, granted I'm working off of some aged samples.. but it sounds like I shouldn't have too many run-in's with BAD blends.. especially if I keep reading through TR.
Margate is damn good though!
bostoneo
The Chosen One
I need to make more samples, iam only at half a pound right now for youSoooooo.. what I'm hearing is, basically, I just need to get to smoking, and enjoy... Because there's tons of good stuff I just don't know about yet. Or something like that
I'm steadily finding great stuff, granted I'm working off of some aged samples.. but it sounds like I shouldn't have too many run-in's with BAD blends.. especially if I keep reading through TR.
Margate is damn good though!
sit tight haha
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mjones9630
Who?
C'mon man, I'm kinda fond of my mailbox...
Well you better go brace it....C'mon man, I'm kinda fond of my mailbox...
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Start with good, easy to find tobacco..I wish someone would have suggested Prince Albert or carter hall when I started. It's really good tobacco that taste good, and stays lit well which help builds confidence. Don't chase the unicorns right away, if you have no base for what the cheaper stuff tastes like, you'll have no way to appreciate the expensive stuff...
I like you!!!Is there such a thing As unicorns?
Dude that's a lot of tobacco.Is there such a thing As unicorns?
mjones9630
Who?
I took that approach with cigars, and ended up wasting a bunch of $$... Figured with pipes, its cheap enough to just go for the gold to start with, and expand from there..But, after a couple dozen samples, I realize those htf unicorn/bostoneo blends don't matter so much, as there seems to be more good than bad out there. And thankfully, it's been quick and easy finding my taste, and understanding the varieties.. Hell, I've already started the never ending shopping list!
Just be careful when ordering because (sometimes) over time like cigars, your palate may change. So something that sucks to you now might be amazing in the future. And vice versa.I took that approach with cigars, and ended up wasting a bunch of $$... Figured with pipes, its cheap enough to just go for the gold to start with, and expand from there..But, after a couple dozen samples, I realize those htf unicorn/bostoneo blends don't matter so much, as there seems to be more good than bad out there. And thankfully, it's been quick and easy finding my taste, and understanding the varieties.. Hell, I've already started the never ending shopping list!
Just don’t want to see anyone get turned off from piping because of it.
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