My personal opinion, so take it for what it is worth.
When I started smoking a pipe, I bought a variety of tins. Probably a hundred over the feat year. I would light up a bowl. If, in the first five minutes, I didn't thoroughly enjoy the blend, I traded or gave it away. My theory is this: there are way too many excellent tobaccos to waste even two or three smokes for an alright blend. I knew there were great smokes that blew my socks off immediately. When I found this smokes, I ordered more of it. I went through all types of tobaccos, Va to Lat.
Don't take what the general public days to heart. I can't stand penzance, it is quality stuff, great stuff. But to me it's crap, because I don't like it. It is not a crap tobacco, just tastes like crap to me. From day one. However, when I feat started smoking, I bought probably four pounds f the crap lol.
The only way you et to where you know what you like,
Now to list some tobaccos
Virginia's- dunhill flake is a benchmark, as is FVF.
Oriental/English/balkan/Latakia- Smokers havens blends got it covered
VaPer- escudo, and for lighter spectrum to see what smoothness perique can bring, OGS
I don't smoke burleys or aromatics, so I don't feel comfortable giving names.