Need help finding some great English Blends

smokingstrider

Lurker

Oct 5, 2016

6

0

• Oct 7, 2016

• #1

Any recommendations for some kind of "beginner" English blends?

 

philobeddoe

Lifer

Oct 31, 2011

7,432

11,708

East Indiana

• Oct 7, 2016

• #2

Dunhill's BB1938 and McClelland's Frog Morton would be a good place to start.

 

JimInks

Sultan of Smoke

Aug 31, 2012

61,166

561,523

• Oct 7, 2016

• #3

Also, Dunhill London Mixture, Dunhill Early Morning Pipe, Dunhill 965, John Cotton's #1 & 2, H&H Black House, and H&H WhiteKnight.

 

dino

Lifer

Jul 9, 2011

1,948

13,533

Chicago

• Oct 7, 2016

• #4

McClelland's CPCC Samovar

 

jvnshr

Moderator

Staff member

Sep 4, 2015

4,616

3,868

Baku, Azerbaijan

• Oct 7, 2016

• #5

Jim, aren't Black House and WhiteKnight Balkan blends?

 

oldreddog

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 4, 2014

923

6

• Oct 7, 2016

• #6

SG Squadron Leader.

 

dottiewarden

Lifer

Mar 25, 2014

3,053

57

Toronto

• Oct 7, 2016

• #7

Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe and McClelland's Frog Morton are perfect.

 

andrew

Lifer

Feb 13, 2013

3,043

402

• Oct 7, 2016

• #8

Jim, aren't Black House and WhiteKnight Balkan blends?

Click to expand...

Balkan is pretty much a term made up to describe a type of english blend. The winner of the best english blend at the chicago bowl in I think 2014 was Arango Balkan Supreme, which is my recommendation of a great english blend. And it's cheap.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,399

109,163

• Oct 7, 2016

• #9

Mac Baren's HH Latakia Flake.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,399

109,163

• Oct 7, 2016

• #10

Arango Balkan Supreme

Click to expand...

Is there a difference between this and Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme?

 

andrew

Lifer

Feb 13, 2013

3,043

402

• Oct 7, 2016

• #11

I would assume it's a different blend, I've never had PS Balkan Supreme but I don't know why Arango would be releasing their only blend called Balkan Supreme under the Arango name if it was the same blend as PS. There is also a wessex balkan supreme.

 

pagan

Lifer

May 6, 2016

5,963

28

West Texas

• Oct 7, 2016

• #12

Dunhill Early Morning Pipe, BB1938 and Frog Morton come to mind

 

kiel

Starting to Get Obsessed

May 27, 2016

208

2

• Oct 7, 2016

• #13

My current favorite is Samuel Gawith Balkan Flake.
+1 on the White Knight

 

judcole

Lifer

Sep 14, 2011

7,176

33,394

Detroit

• Oct 7, 2016

• #14

For a traditional "English" blend, as it is defined in the US, I would recommend Dunhill Standard. It's more latakia forward than London, and pretty much sets the "standard" for that sort of blend. Dunhill MM 1938/MM Baby's Bottom (what it says on my tins) and Peterson Old Dublin are also personal faves. The Dunhill is a bit more Oriental forward, and the Peterson has a bit of unsweetened cavendish.

Moving further afield, White Knight and Balkan Sasieni are both excellent blends that have come close to the legendary Balkan Sobranie OSM of the early 1970s, when I discovered it.

I've never had much success in finding a "cross-over" English that works for me over the long haul, but SG Navy Flake is one that does.

 

jvnshr

Moderator

Staff member

Sep 4, 2015

4,616

3,868

Baku, Azerbaijan

• Oct 7, 2016

• #15

Balkan is pretty much a term made up to describe a type of english blend. The winner of the best english blend at the chicago bowl in I think 2014 was Arango Balkan Supreme, which is my recommendation of a great english blend. And it's cheap.

Click to expand...

Oh, thanks for the info. Need to read more and more.

 

oldreddog

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 4, 2014

923

6

• Oct 7, 2016

• #16

J you need to put down the tin opener and leave that can of worms well enough alone.

:rofl:

I'd add the much underrated Balkan Delight to muddy the water a little.

 

texmexpipe

Part of the Furniture Now

Oct 20, 2014

998

246

• Oct 7, 2016

• #17

I'm a fan of jumping in the deep end! My first English was Dunhill Night Cap, followed quickly by C&D Pirate Kake. I think when you go big it's easier to pick out the players in a blend.

 

fitzy

Lifer

Nov 13, 2012

2,937

27

NY

• Oct 7, 2016

• #18

I'd have to go with my favorites which most tend to include some orientals:

Frog Morton Cellar

Yenidje Highlander (not a lot of latakia in here)

Magnum Opus

White Knight

Blackhouse

3 Oaks Syrian

 

mikestanley

Lifer

May 10, 2009

1,698

1,126

Akron area of Ohio

• Oct 7, 2016

• #19

The title asks for great and the body of the OP asks about a beginner blend but, if you are in the U.S. I would look to GLPease and McClelland.
McClelland Oriental #8 is an oft forgotten blend. A very good representation of this genre.
GLP Sammarra is another.
For great, ( I favor Latakia as a condiment) McClelland's blend by Dr. Fred Hanna Legends.
Sam Gawith's Skiff and Squadron Leader punch my ticket too.As does Nat Sherman 536, an English with a little Burley...good stuff.
Mike S.

 

W

wilson

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 17, 2013

719

1

• Oct 7, 2016

• #20

Many excellent suggestions so far. I'd also recommend Nat Sherman's 536.