I've almost always smoked aromatic blends and I'm tired of it. I want to try some tobacco blends that feature more things like latakia, virginia, oriental etc. But the one time (several years ago) I tried an English blend and I wasn't a big fan, it was just too smoky and burning-wood-like. Are there some tobacco blends someone can recommend that would be a transition to the English or Balkan type?
A tobacco blend that is somewhere between aromatic and English or Balkan
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I would agree with Rick, in particular Frog Morton Cellar. I've also been smoking Sutliff Man's Best Friend and that's a nice mild crossover with some kind o topping (rum perhaps).
Frog Morton as suggested is a classic hybrid blend. H&H Mazatec is a blend I've hyped before - almost a toasted marshmallow taste and aroma due to the latakia and vanilla notes. People have compared Mazatec to Shortcut to Mushrooms so maybe you should give that one a shot too.
Frog Morton, as already noted. Also, I'd recommend Bald-Headed Teacher. It's not an aromatic, or even a semi-aromatic, but it is a gentle introduction to "english" blends. Even though I quite like fuller flavored tobaccos, I find that I smoke a lot of BHT.
What you're after is Pipeworks & Wilke No. 5.
No. 13 is also good. In fact I'm smoking some right now. But No. 5 is sublime.
You may also want to try Two Friends English Chocolate.
No. 13 is also good. In fact I'm smoking some right now. But No. 5 is sublime.
You may also want to try Two Friends English Chocolate.
Here's a second on Pembroke!
But what I'd like to suggest, is that you take an aromatic that you enjoy, and add just a bit of Latakia and Oriental. Start out at bowlful-sizes, and weigh the amounts if you can, keeping track of what you did, so that you can blend the same thing again. Not only might you find your perfect blend, but you will learn a thing or two about tobaccos.
But what I'd like to suggest, is that you take an aromatic that you enjoy, and add just a bit of Latakia and Oriental. Start out at bowlful-sizes, and weigh the amounts if you can, keeping track of what you did, so that you can blend the same thing again. Not only might you find your perfect blend, but you will learn a thing or two about tobaccos.
I think some of the burley/Virginia/Cavendish blends achieve a lively flavor without adding a lot of
flavor casing. Cornell & Diehl does a lot with these, and Low Country blends, the house blends at
smokingpipes.com seem to go in this direction. I do my own home mix of Lanes Burley Without Bite,
McClellands red Virginia cake, and whatever Cavendish I have on hand, with or without a slight aro
tinge of vanilla or walnut. Sutliff blends also offer some distinct tobacco flavor forwards blends, though
they may be aromatics, strictly speaking -- Great Outdoors for example, though there are a number.
flavor casing. Cornell & Diehl does a lot with these, and Low Country blends, the house blends at
smokingpipes.com seem to go in this direction. I do my own home mix of Lanes Burley Without Bite,
McClellands red Virginia cake, and whatever Cavendish I have on hand, with or without a slight aro
tinge of vanilla or walnut. Sutliff blends also offer some distinct tobacco flavor forwards blends, though
they may be aromatics, strictly speaking -- Great Outdoors for example, though there are a number.
As already noted, the Frog Morton series from McClelland (FM Cellar in particular), and Hearth & Home Mazatec. All of these are awesome blends!
+1 on everything said so far, with special emphasis on HGL and the addition of Peretti's D-9475.
I'm smoking Pembroke now, not aromatic. Get used to lataki with MacBaren Plumcake or Highland. I would try the McClelland grand orientals for a natural aroma. IRC has a Kings Oriental with black and natural cav, oriental, spice and no lat. Esoterica has an aromatic english called St. Ives. Good luck finding it. Iwan Ries' Three Star line has several aromatics with oriental leaf. HIGHLY RECOMENDED
I think site sponsors SUTLIFF have many options for what you are looking for. Also G&H Bobs chocolate flake is also a good "transition" tobacco!
Another vote for Frog Morton Cellar. Great tobacco. I've also heard Just For Him's Shortcut To Mushrooms is a crossover Aro/English that many people rave about.
I've been looking at Sutliff's "Academy", which appears to be an English / Aromatic crossover blend. I've not tried it yet.
H&H Mazatec is very good, as is "Shortcut to Mushrooms by JFH. I also quite like McCranie's "Hellsgate", which is an English with an interesting (sweet clove?), spice element.
H&H Mazatec is very good, as is "Shortcut to Mushrooms by JFH. I also quite like McCranie's "Hellsgate", which is an English with an interesting (sweet clove?), spice element.
Another possibility I'll throw out is Walnut by the John Middleton Co. This is a combination of several different tobaccos including a small amount of Latakia along with some Virginia, Oriental,Turkish, Cavendish, and some Burley and a mild topping of some kind. It is a blend that has been around for a very long time and is quite tasty to my tastebuds. Had three bowls this past Saturday afternoon. It is very affordable. The only drawback is that it is normally sold in a 12 ounce can, so if you're only wanting to try a couple of ounces someone like 4 Noggins may sell it by the ounce. So many possibilites to choose from. That is part of the fun of this venture. Good luck
How about C&D's Captain Bob's Blend? An alternative is a bit of Lane 1Q, 1/4-1/3 of the total 5 Brothers, and a heavy pinch of blending Latakia.
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