Another Christmas Blend Aromatic Bender

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drrock

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 20, 2011
551
839
Minnesota
EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9)

A couple years ago around the holidays I went on a sort of pipe tobacco "bender", smoking only aromatic blends for a couple months. While I enjoy a variety of all types of blends (although for me Latakia is best appreciated as a condiment), I was surprised that I didn't tire of a diet of only aromatics.

Well, it's happened again. I'm a sucker for Christmas-themed blends. This years' candidates are Peretti's Yuletide, Straus Tobacconist Wenceslas, and The Country Squires' Figgy Pudding & Cordial Friends.

One of my favorite places to smoke a pipe is in my garage, where I have a sign that states, "A Man's Home is his Castle but his Garage is his Sanctuary".

It's there that I can puff on my pipes peacefully while I count my blessings & think through the issues of the day. Stepping outside for a minute then back into the garage is also a great way for me to appreciate the room note of any given blend.

Besides the relaxation smoking my pipes provides, I like the way the tobaccos taste & I love the aroma. It's why I've smoked a pipe off & on since my Grandfather gave me my first pipe in 1968!

Yuletide & Wenceslas are sweet heavy-hitter aromatics. Substantially cased/topped, they're on the damp side. I don't dry them but puff slowly & run pipe cleaners down the stem 2 or 3 times each bowlful. Both of these blends have a berry topping of some kind & an underlying chocolate essence. Both are cavendish blends, Yuletide mainly of Virginias & Wenceslas burleys. Both are absolutely delicious! The room notes reinforce why I smoke a pipe.

The Country Squire blends are a bit more subtle but equally as delicious. The toppings are more gently applied to let the underlying tobaccos shine through. Quite sweet but less sticky. The room notes are also outstanding.

I wish I had more talented tastebuds so I could describe the underlying flavors of these tobaccos as elegantly as others do...

I personally recommend all of these blends without hesitation. I also feel I/we should support smaller independent concerns like Peretti, Straus, & The Country Squire as significant contributors to the enjoyment of pipe smoking.

With Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate)! I pray for peace & health for all in the coming New Year!
 
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mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
60,636
I think holiday aromatic blends have improved since I tried one or two about ten years ago when I found premium offerings pretty bitey/burney. I think it was the cinnamon, peppermint, or other flavorings, plus the aromatic moisture that made them unpleasant, so brushing my teeth with peppermint toothpaste caused a whole new sting. McClelland did a good job of revising the holiday concept with its Christmas Cheer series, and other brands have followed, improving the tobacco experience and toning down the flavorings. I'm so gradual in my pipe smoking, I have to consider any blend more than seasonal, but if it's good, I'm all for it. Tobacco forward is my mantra. A good smoke comes first, then a little flavor note might be a plus.
 
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