Just a quick off-topic… @sablebrush52, your new profile image killed me. So good!
The Most Disappointing Tobacco
- Thread starter John_B
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I’ve only smoked a bit over 100 grams of Marlin Flake but I’m right there with you. The weird thing about that blend for me is that 2-3 of the bowls were absolutely sublime. Every other smoke was among the most “meh” I’ve had. Maybe it’s time to bust out a tin with some age and play around with different bowl shapes/sizes.
Yesterdays smoke du jour was some 5 year old Marlin. It was merely ok, but the evening pipe of DTM St Bernard really was a Nirvana smoke. It brought me everything that I wanted from Marlin, but never quite got.
Funny you said that because I just did an Estervals restock and can’t wait to get more St Bernard’s.
Orlik Golden Sliced. It was boring at all moisture levels and in all bowl shapes tried.
You could be right about a bad batch or bad seal . I’ve had several tins, it’s really a nice crossover blend.
Blackhouse, and the other "blue" one that won the sobranie contests. I love Russ' blends but blackhouse was horrible to me.
Also jackknife plug. But thats not really my wheelhouse.
Also jackknife plug. But thats not really my wheelhouse.
Penzance did not live up to the hype. I wouldn't go so far as to describe it as "run of the mill" but it definitely wasn't superior by any stretch. At best, I'd rate it above average.
I've enjoyed similar blends, such as C&D's Quiet Nights, that I find far superior.
I've enjoyed similar blends, such as C&D's Quiet Nights, that I find far superior.
Also an opinion by someone that just found it to be ordinary. With something as subjective as taste there aren't any wrong answers.
I'd urge you towards another try before binning it!
I agreed somewhat initially. Lately though, after having been in a jar for a few months and with adequate drying time I've found it really tastes like it smells.
Wilke blends. I see alot of hype around John's blends and have never found one I cared for. Thats nothing against him, i just think Wilke isnt for me.
As far as large manufacturers, I've never really been excited about any of the Peterson blends.
Probably the most surprising one to me was WCC R&B. I love Simply Red and blends similar to R&B so I was very excited to try the stuff. I found it bitey and lacking in flavor.
To each their own.
As far as large manufacturers, I've never really been excited about any of the Peterson blends.
Probably the most surprising one to me was WCC R&B. I love Simply Red and blends similar to R&B so I was very excited to try the stuff. I found it bitey and lacking in flavor.
To each their own.
That was my fourth bowl. In all earnestness, I will keep going with it, but I'll never likely buy more.
Unfortunately, I've found most blends I've tried disappointing.
What I love is straight dark burley. That's my everyday smoke.
What I love is straight dark burley. That's my everyday smoke.
I agree with the less than rave reviews the new Escudo has received. Since I was fortunate enough to have smoked the old Copes Escudo, I find the new Escudo to be underwhelming.
One that really blew me away was Half and Half. I don't normally smoke burley's but I had a strange urge the other day and stopped in a local smoke shop and bought some H&H. It was sealed in a plastic pouch and I couldn't really smell it. The old stuff I remember from the '60s and '70s smelled great in the pouch and smelled wonderful and when someone else smoked it. It never tasted as good to me as it smelled, but I got an urge to smoke some anyway. I bought a pouch and took it home and opened it. The smell from the pouch was very pungent, not at all like I remember the old H&H. Finally after allowing it to set for about 3 days I loaded a bowl with it. One draw through the unlit pipe was enough for me. I let the tobacco set in the pipe for about 3 days before I tried it again and I couldn't even put a match to it! That pipe now seems to be ghosted just by having the unsmoked tobacco in it. That was a real disappointment, probably the most disappointing tobacco I've tried to smoke!
One that really blew me away was Half and Half. I don't normally smoke burley's but I had a strange urge the other day and stopped in a local smoke shop and bought some H&H. It was sealed in a plastic pouch and I couldn't really smell it. The old stuff I remember from the '60s and '70s smelled great in the pouch and smelled wonderful and when someone else smoked it. It never tasted as good to me as it smelled, but I got an urge to smoke some anyway. I bought a pouch and took it home and opened it. The smell from the pouch was very pungent, not at all like I remember the old H&H. Finally after allowing it to set for about 3 days I loaded a bowl with it. One draw through the unlit pipe was enough for me. I let the tobacco set in the pipe for about 3 days before I tried it again and I couldn't even put a match to it! That pipe now seems to be ghosted just by having the unsmoked tobacco in it. That was a real disappointment, probably the most disappointing tobacco I've tried to smoke!
Escudo, but it seems that’s probably the most common one here.
OGS. Wasn’t good or bad. Just meh to me.
Jackknife plug - this was hyped a lot more on this forum about ten years ago, doesn’t get much traction these days.
Haunted Bookshop and OJK - strongly dislike both of these. Do not get the hype at all, but I’m glad it keeps many occupied and away from my favorite blends.
OGS. Wasn’t good or bad. Just meh to me.
Jackknife plug - this was hyped a lot more on this forum about ten years ago, doesn’t get much traction these days.
Haunted Bookshop and OJK - strongly dislike both of these. Do not get the hype at all, but I’m glad it keeps many occupied and away from my favorite blends.
Spilman Mixture is revived from an early Twentieth Century blend, but I find it too mild, and with a few edges for such a mild blend.
I like most codger blends like Granger, SWR and SWR Aromatic, but I've never had an enjoyable bowl of Half & Half. This seems strange to me, because when I put together blends at home, one sure recipe is putting together a base of burley, with a substantial portion of Virginia, often with a sturdy pinch of black Cavendish. It comes out well nearly all the time, no matter how I proportion it. But somehow, Half & Half is more bite than flavor and just not enjoyable for me. I know some folks love it. Not me.
I like most codger blends like Granger, SWR and SWR Aromatic, but I've never had an enjoyable bowl of Half & Half. This seems strange to me, because when I put together blends at home, one sure recipe is putting together a base of burley, with a substantial portion of Virginia, often with a sturdy pinch of black Cavendish. It comes out well nearly all the time, no matter how I proportion it. But somehow, Half & Half is more bite than flavor and just not enjoyable for me. I know some folks love it. Not me.
Haunted Bookshop. I still have all four ounces I bought about five years ago, hoping the aging process will work it’s magic. But alas, it still smells and tastes like butts.
90% of everything I’ve ever tried. But, Yes, Marlin Flake was a bust for me as well. The one I had the highest hopes for was FVF, but no matter how much age is on this blend, it does not agree with me. Now the reverse of this is McClelland Virginia’s. Fresh I could not tolerate them, but 15-20 years makes them sublime - to me.
if i had to choose one, it would be Sutliff 515 It’s good but my reaction to the red virginia leaves me too much of a metallic taste. i am aging it in hopes it will change its chemistry.