A Blend You Just Can’t Figure Out

[dctune]

Ever get a blend you just can’t quite “figure out?” Like you just don’t “get it?”

For me, over the past 6 months, that’s been Chelsea Morning.

I bought it based on a review by a guy on YouTube named Wilson Marsh, who goes by Spurgeon Piper. I really enjoy his videos and tobacco reviews. And he seems to really love Chelsea Morning.

And it’s kinda weird for me, because it’s not that I dislike it at all. It’s fine. But I just can’t figure it out. There’s something elusive about it. Something almost “off.”

I’ve tried smoking it exclusively. I’ve tried aging it. I’ve tried coming back to it after a few months. I’ve tried coffee, bourbon, coke, water. I’ve tried it after various foods.

It just doesn’t do it for me. But it makes me think I’m the problem, because everyone else really seems to love it.

Idk. Weird stuff. You got any similar experiences?

 

[futureman]

I'm still trying to figure out Doblone d'Oro. There is a remarkable tobacco lurking somewhere in there, but right now it strikes me as untamed. It's provided great smokes. On other occasions the DFK overwhelmed the other varietals. Perhaps aging will make this blend less enigmatic.

 

[dctune]

I'm still trying to figure out Doblone d'Oro. There is a remarkable tobacco lurking somewhere in there, but right now it strikes me as untamed. It's provided great smokes. On other occasions the DFK overwhelmed the other varietals. Perhaps aging will make this blend less enigmatic.

I’ve seen it said in several comments before like this: “There’s just no explaining taste.”

Maybe that’s what it all boils down to. Who knows.

 

[sablebrush52]

I’ve seen it said in several comments before like this: “There’s just no explaining taste.”

Maybe that’s what it all boils down to. Who knows.

Pretty much it. There's no explaining taste, or the lack of it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I bought it based on a review by a guy on YouTube

If all of your buys are based on the opinions of others, you're going to have a lot of disappointment.

 

[sablebrush52]

I'm still trying to figure out Doblone d'Oro. There is a remarkable tobacco lurking somewhere in there, but right now it strikes me as untamed. It's provided great smokes. On other occasions the DFK overwhelmed the other varietals. Perhaps aging will make this blend less enigmatic.

It started out as a very close replication of the original and fabled Va/Per Three Nuns. But as has been happening across the tobacco blending world in a number of blends, dark fired has been subbed in for Perique to save a few cents cost per tin. With Doblone d'Oro it changed the balance radically and the blend no longer is what it was originally created to be.

So setting aside what it used to be, from what I can tell, the DFK will tame down after a few years in the tin. At least it has since I bought the last tins I will ever buy of this stuff, back in 2018.

 

[Chasing Embers]

everyone else really seems to love it.

It's got too much latakia in it for me, can't stand it.

 

[pip01]

It took me quite a while to "get" Chelsea Morning. I couldnt understand all the hype. The one day it all came together and now i really like it.

Same with Royal Yacht. I thought it was just OK. But I kept at and again one day i "got" it. Now I love it. Funny how that happens. Just keep at. It's worth it.

 

[kcghost]

What the hell!? Why are you still trying it?? You don't care for the blend so don't smoke it. Just because another guy likes it is no guarantee you will like it. Time to move on.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What the hell!? Why are you still trying it?? You don't care for the blend so don't smoke it. Just because another guy likes it is no guarantee you will like it. Time to move on.

Bingo. ?

 

[condorlover1]

I'll take Embers for $200 again! If people went off and smoked the shit that I consider to be brilliant based on my posts then this forum would be denuded of posters and pipe smokers by next Friday. Very occasionally I will ask the 'Lord of the Asbestos Tongue' aka Jim Inks what he thinks of a blend and would I like it. This results in a 'You would hate it don't bother' type of response and I muddle on merrily on my way. Everyones taste is like a religion - a matter of personal preference and comfort level.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'll take Embers for $200 again! If people went off and smoked the shit that I consider to be brilliant based on my posts then this forum would be denuded of posters and pipe smokers by next Friday. Very occasionally I will ask the 'Lord of the Asbestos Tongue' aka Jim Inks what he thinks of a blend and would I like it. This results in a 'You would hate it don't bother' type of response and I muddle on merrily on my way. Everyones taste is like a religion - a matter of personal preference and comfort level.

My favorites are rarely if ever mentioned on here. Most don't even appear on tobacco reviews.

 

[condorlover1]

My favorites are so narrow Duane that if I didn't mention them people would think I had quit smoking!

 

[Peter Turbo]

Erinmore Flake continues to confuse me, not sure what about it is good or why people smoke it.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

With thousands of blends to choose from, there's nothing to figure out. If a blend doesn't delight me, I'm done with it. Doesn't matter to me if every pipe smoker in the world loves it.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

Deep down in my pipe smoking soul I have always wanted to enjoy aromatics but have simply learned over time that they are just not for me. That does not mean that I think they are poor quality, nor do I cast judgement on those who love them, I just do not enjoy them.

My case in point is Straus Sleepy Hollow. This is a tobacco that appears to be beloved by many. I love Halloween and could just envision myself sitting on my porch, puffing away on a bowl of Sleepy Hollow thinking about Ichabod making his fateful gallop through the night. So, I ordered up a few ounces. However, from the first light I realized this may have been the most repulsive tobacco I have ever packed in a pipe. Something about the pumpkin flavoring just did not fit with me. I tried a few different times to make myself like it. All I accomplished was ghosting the bowls of a couple pipes. I can tell you that those ghosts did not want to leave and required many, many bowls to fully exorcise. Generally, I do not mind ghosts if they are friendly ghosts, but these alas were not. I still believe that Sleepy Hollow is a quality tobacco, it just isn't right for me.

 

[Chasing Embers]

My case in point is Straus Sleepy Hollow.

It's just rebranded Sutliff Pumpkin Spice.

 

[krizzose]

I love Virginias and particularly Virginia flakes. I like FVF, but only just like. It’s OK, I’m happy to have some, and what I have is 10+ years old. But I doubt I’ll buy any more . I’ve always felt like I’m missing something with this blend given the almost universal accolades it receives.

 

[Singularis]

Dreams of Kadath is pretty hard nut to crack. There are some really interesting things about it, but it's so dang strong that I can hardly take time to really figure out what it's doing, or even why I kind of like it, and why I want to really it. I first smoked it with nearly 2 years of age on it, and now it's been jarred up for probably 9 months. Steeling myself up to give it another go (probably in the smallest pipe I have).