Time to break out the English Blends?

[Sobrbiker]

Yeah, no….

This is just day one of the Extreme Heat Warning for this week
Check back in November (but I still won’t like Englishes then either).

 

[irishearl]

Fair point! What I should have said is that, to my taste (and I'm new enough at the pipe that my palette is still evolving!), Strat is relatively light in Lat influence compared to some other Lat bombs that I like, and not as complex as some of the B & M blends that are also faves of mine, so that it's what I reach for when I want a good, not too rich or complex English blend, particularly when it's too hot out for a long, contemplative smoke.

As always, I appreciate other people's experiences are different, and I'm always interested in hearing them!

It is said that when cellaring a lat blend, after a period of time the latakia mellows a lot I'd say that's true as I rarely smoke it and the half pound of Stratfordshire I started with about 1 year ago that I'm still working on has mellowed to the point that the lat in it has toned down to condimental level.

 

[warren99]

I’m not a seasonal smoker. I love Latakia and smoke English/Balkan blends year-round; although I devote a few pipes to Va, VaPer blends for a change of pace.

 

[warren99]

That's a fair point. Just now I was driven indoors because of the heat. I was enjoying what I hoped would be a 45-minute bowl of Father Dempsey. I was partially in the sun and it just got to be too much. The English blend was quite nice though.

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun - with their pipes I presume.

Other English favorites that I have enjoyed in a shady spot during the summer:

GLP Westminster, C&D Constellation, HU Khoisaan, Arango Balkan Supreme.

For some reason I prefer Quiet Nights in the evening. Must be the name.

I love Father Dempsey, Balkan Supreme and most of the Pease English/Balkan blends, except I’m not a big fan of Quiet Nights.

 

[judcole]

Why worry about what season it is? If you want to smoke a lat blend, smoke one. If you don't, don't.
Don't overthink it.

 

[JOHN72]

I still like Latakia, but in summer it has to be with the air conditioner set to Arctic North mode. And with a few shots of rye whiskey, it's incredibly satisfying to my palate.

 

[Hutch Piper]

I’m a seasonal smoker as well but I don’t smoke English blends. When it gets cooler I move to DFK more frequently.

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

I tend to lean towards more virginias, orientals, and periques over the summer. But…will “sneak” in a few bowls of latakia for the contrast. I am trying to finish up a few VA blends before September so I can pop open a tin of Rattray’s Old Gowrie. Have not had this before, but for some reason this blend has me thinking September into October.

 

[OverMountain]

I’m a Quaker than loves Presbyterian blend. at any season or time!

 

[khiddy]

I’m a Quaker than loves Presbyterian blend. at any season or time!

Friend, have you tried Father Dempsey?

 

[Singularis]

Getting muggy and hot here in northern Wisconsin, but I just smoked Presbyterian tonight because it actually works beautifully in summer.

Being totally honest with myself, I guess I’m not really much of a seasonal smoker. I think I do tend to smoke more flake VAs and VaPers in summer because they taste better in the warmer temps. But since I really miss English blends if I’ve gone a week without them, I can always find a good excuse to keep them in rotation.

 

[Singularis]

Friend, have you tried Father Dempsey?

Both excellent easy smoking English blends. But I wonder what would happen if I made a 50/50 mix. Harmony or mutually assured destruction?

 

[khiddy]

Both excellent easy smoking English blends. But I wonder what would happen if I made a 50/50 mix. Harmony or mutually assured destruction?

An ecumenical blend if ever I’ve seen one!

 

[Brad H]

Nothing satisfies the itch for some Ennerdale in the -15 degree weather. I’m a seasonal smoker on Ennerdale, and can only approve the smoking of Ennerdale in a very cold environment.

 

[SBC]

I’m a Quaker

Friend,

Brilliant!