4 Noggins TAD Suggestions

[bookn3rd5]

Hey all! I'm going to be placing a TAD order soon, and would like to get some suggestions! I have found myself drawn to Bald Headed Teacher by 4 Noggins more every time I smoke it. I absolutely love this stuff! If I had to choose one pipe tobacco to smoke for the rest of my life, it would be BHT. With that being said - a few questions:
1) Are there any other 4 Noggins blends that you feel are a 'must try'? I've had BHT and Three Blind Moose so far and will be making another order soon.
2) Are there any tobaccos that you feel might be similar to BHT?
Some of my other favorites are Rattray's Marlin Flake, Lane Limited Black Raspberry, and occasionally Lane Limited 1Q. I've had mixed results with blends like Mississippi River, Escudo, Frog Morton Blends, and PS Flake blends (just haven't smoked enough of these yet to really develop an opinion I guess). I have NOT been fond of Lancer's Slices, PS Nougat (too bland), C&D Autumn Evening, and Trout Stream.
3) Based on the that info, are there any final/additional blends you would recommend or consider as 'must try' blends?
As always, any and all thoughts appreciated! I figured I would get some feedback prior to ordering to possibly expand my horizons a bit more. In the meantime, I will be sure to continue experimenting with some of the blends I wasn't sure of, and enjoying the blends I consider favorites.

 

[cigrmaster]

My favorite blend is Wessex Brigade Campaign Dark Flake which is in stock at the moment. It is one of the toughest blends to find in most cases, I am shocked Rich has it in stock. You will need to get your flake technique down pat before you can really appreciate it, but if you do, I don't know one person who does not love it. It has a great sweet molasses flavor to it that is great to smoke even fresh.
ps. just to illustrate how much I love it, I have 220 tins in stock.

 

[cobguy]

I only have a few blends from 4Noggins but these are definitely worth a try:
Jesse's Own - English blend

Prairie Wind - Va/Per

Rincon de la Pipa #1 - Burley and Oriental forward English blend
Edit: You didn't like Lancers Slices? They are a favorite of mine ... want to trade for one on my list?

 

[mso489]

It's difficult to match another person's taste on the basis of a few blends, but for creative burley/Virginia blends, I think Cornell & Diehl does a number of good ones, but read the descriptions on these to compare them to BHT. I think you want to stay in the mild category. Mac Barens HH blends bring together Virginia and burley, but again, you want to steer toward the milder blends, so read the descriptions and strength ratings.

 

[bookn3rd5]

Excellent, thanks Harris - will add a couple tins to my order (assuming it it still in stock). Cob - thanks for the list! I do have some PW I got as a sample. I didn't care for Lancers Slices, and even though I have only smoked it a few times it just didn't click. I may pm you for a trade if that doesn't change in the next couple of smokes. MSO - thanks for the advice, always welcomed!

 

[derfargin]

It seems like The Wessex Brigade Campaign Dark Flake run is over. I think most the major retailers has it in stock. I didnt care for it myself so didnt understand what the big deal was when people were clamoring for it.
Check out C&D's - Epiphany. I enjoy that one, I found it much better than BHT. To me BHT was a bit on the mild side.

 

[cobguy]

I may pm you for a trade if that doesn't change in the next couple of smokes

Sounds good! ::

... didnt understand what the big deal was when people were clamoring for it.

I really enjoyed WBCDF but it's too sweet for a daily smoke for me ... nice dessert smoke.

 

[drrock]

The only 4noggins blends I've tried are Three Blind Moose & Essence of Vermont - both fabulous!

 

[bookn3rd5]

Thanks all, I am going to be looking into some blends from c&d as suggested, including epiphany. I've had samples of TBM and essence of Vermont - I thought they were decent blends, would smoke them again. I thInk I'll order some other blends from 4noggins like Weybridge and Nutty Professor as well when I order. Another blend I've been curious to try Haunted Bookshop too - thoughts?

 

[ericusrex]

Butternut Burley and Britt's Balkan are quite good. Also check out their John Patton line. Storm Front might be right up your alley.

 

[bookn3rd5]

Thanks eric, it's funny you mentioned it because I had actually thrown a 4 oz order of stormfront in my cart (haven't placed the order yet, but it's in there, lol). I had seen it mentioned in a forum post from some time ago. Haven't had a blend with cigar leaf, so it should be interesting. I haven't really heard much about this blend to be honest, will have to do some more digging.

 

[cigrmaster]

It seems like The Wessex Brigade Campaign Dark Flake run is over. I think most the major retailers has it in stock. I didnt care for it myself so didnt understand what the big deal was when people were clamoring for it.

There is no way all of us will love the same blends and thank God for that. I don't like any English blends and I am sure people think I am nuts. I also do not smoke aromatics which people love. I think people stick to the categories they like as I only smoke flakes and for me the BCDF is at the top of my list. One thing is for sure, if you don't like BCDF there will be no shortage of people who will be willing to trade you for it.

 

[andrew]

Stormfront barely has cigar leaf in it, so if you like burly it's a good mild smoke. I would definitely say El Ricon de La Pipa #1 as well as 4 noggins is the only place that sells it, it's a blend that's hard to describe and doesn't fit into any immediate category for me, but it's along the lines of an english almost. Latakia is barely there so don't let that turn you off. Personally I don't like epiphany, but El ricon de la pipa is along the same lines almost without any topping. I love Gwaith Hoggarth Bright CR flake and brown flake unscented too, top quality flakes.

 

[phil67]

Can't go wrong with BHT from 4nogins.

As for WBCDF it's been quite easy to obtain for the past several months now and no longer difficult to obtain. Good tobacco, but for some reason it just doesn't do all that much for me as when I first tried it. I've found that my taste changes from time to time and I'll certainly give it a go again. But, that can be said for many tobaccos that turned me on, and then later did nothing for me.

 

[tarak]

I'm also on the list of folks underwhelmed by BCDF, but I'm still getting my technique down, so maybe it's my issue.

 

[bookn3rd5]

I think that's the best part of this hobby though - what one person loves, others may not care for at all. It's just so personal that it makes the whole pipe smoking experience a unique journey that is different for everyone.
Appreciate all of the feedback so far. To respond to Andy, I guess overall the jury is still out for me in regard to burley blends, as the only one I have had is BHT. So if I like BHT, does that imply that I may like other burley blends such as Stormfront? I think I may order 4 oz or so with this next TAD. Not enough to commit, but enough to at least give me plenty of opportunities to experiment with the blend.

 

[jmill208]

Buy the WBCDF if you can get it. ::

 

[andrew]

So if I like BHT, does that imply that I may like other burley blends such as Stormfront?

They're different for sure, BHT is much sweeter while Stormfront is a bit more oat like. I just don't care for epiphany, I just find it extremely harsh, I don't know what it is that makes it that way. If you're going to try it get like an ounce. I used to think Burley dried my mouth out by I discovered it's actually this chemical PG that is used to keep alot of aromatics goopy moist, like Captain Black and those blends.

 

[bookn3rd5]

Gotcha, will definitely try it out; plan on trying WBCDF and a couple more 4noggins and C&D's blends as well. Thanks all!

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

BCDF was underwhelming to me the first 5 or so times I smoked it. The closer I got to the bottom of the jar, the better it was, and I ended up liking it a lot. So I guess that means you need to let it age a bit. It was impossible to find this time last year, but the maker bombarded the U.S. with hundreds of tins of it last fall, so now most places have it in stock.