Aro Baccys vs. Non-aros

[pipesmokingtom]

Gotcha. I was confused where you would be coming from to take a jaunt down to Prague and speak English so well. You've either spent an infinite number of hours learning English or have native speaking parents, I'm assuming.
It always interests me when 2nd-language English speakers do such a fine job of it. Cheers.

 

[tarak]

sparrowhawk-
Abhor is a strong word, but I do think there is a world of natural tobacco flavors that are covered by aromatic toppings. And ain't that America - take a beautiful, natural product and bury it in sugar and chemicals?
If you like aros, hey, more power to you...enjoy. I just personally have found much greater flavors in a non-aro.
A few tobaccos for you to consider should you wish to "play the field":
Hearth & Home Anniversary Kake. (Virginia/Perique). Smoke it slowly, sip on it- wonderful stuff, and quite affordable at $18/half pound. Natural flavors of fig and raisin with just a hinting of something like cinnamon or nutmeg in the background ...when it ages it sort of shifts to a candied orange flavor.
Peter Stokkebye Luxury Bulls Eye Flake- (Virginia/Perique/Cavendish)- Great stuff that is sweetened a bit by the Cavendish. Again, smoke 'er slow and easy.
Smoke what you love!

 

[pipesmokingtom]

+1 Stokkebye bulk flakes are SO good and just criminally cheap. Awesome stuff.

 

[yaddy306]

Fact: even some "unflavored" non-aromatics like Three Nuns have flavors added to them, as well as "chemicals" such as glycerol and potassium sorbate.
I think some people take pride in being able to appreciate "natural tobacco flavor", even when they are tasting added flavorings. They then feel superior to others who prefer different flavorings, usually sweeter ones.

Then you see threads where people are looking to find the sweetest Virginia flake. Where do you think that sweetness comes from?

 

[lordofthepiperings]

are there recommendations (don't send me any samples!) for good, mild bulk non-aeros?

I'd suggest Peter Stokkebye's Luxury Bullseye Flake. It's a nice VaPer that's a bit sweet and creamy. Coming from aromatics myself I found it as a great transition into VaPers. The Black Cavendish "bullseye" added a bit of sweetness to the blend that I was used to from aromatics. It also has a noticeable peppery flavor from the Perique. It's only available in bulk and at a good price, I think around $37/lb.

 

[phred]

Circling back to the original question, I would surmise that the perceived animosity is a result of experience. There are a number of goopy, wet-smoking aromatics out there in jars on the B&M shelves that smell pretty nice but don't taste like much. Several of the ones I tried via my local B&M fall into this category - including one called "Creme Brulee", which didn't do much for me personally, and which did scorch my tongue a little, as I was a very inexperienced pipe smoker at the time.
As I've discovered that I really enjoy English blends, I asked the proprietor at my local B&M about bulk Englishes, and he allowed as how the lack of humidity in Colorado makes it hard to keep bulk tobaccos in stock that aren't treated with humectants. He was able to hook me up with a Va/Per bulk (probably McClelland's - smelled like Ketchup), but about the only English blends he had on hand were tins of Frog Morton, which I've now tried (regular FM and Across the Pond, so far).

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I asked the proprietor at my local B&M about bulk Englishes, and he allowed as how the lack of humidity in Colorado makes it hard to keep bulk tobaccos in stock that aren't treated with humectants

That seems like a weird excuse for a tobacconist to have. Seems to be more than one way around that problem - humidifiers, moisture buttons, sealed jars, etc.
I'm in Reno, which is about as dry as places get and I've never had an issue storing, and I don't think our tobacconist does either?

 

[cigrmaster]

If anyone looks down their nose at what someone else smokes, then they have self esteem issues. If it makes you feel better that you don't smoke aromatic blends and if it makes you feel superior to people that do, then you need to work on this issue.
I would guess that 80% of pipe smokers smoke aromatic blends more times than not. If you look at the sales numbers, blends like Captain Black and Borkum Riff out sell the VA, Vaper and Vabur flakes I smoke probably by 500% or maybe even a lot more. I don't understand why people ever feel the need to look down their nose at someone because of what someone enjoys smoking, like I said above, they need to look at themselves.
I smoke Mac Baren Vanilla Creem flake, Mac Baren Modern Virginia Flake, Peterson University Flake and all of those are considered aromatics, and I enjoy them and could care less what anyone thinks of me. I say to any aromatic smoker, smoke what you like and don't give a rat's ass what others think. I also say to anyone who looks down their nose at aromatic smokers, look at your self and ask your self why does it bother me what someone else smokes.
I love good coffee, Cafe Du Monde is my favorite and I do add cream and sugar because that is the way I like to drink it. If you feel that I am an idiot for adding that stuff to my coffee, then ask yourself why you think like that.

 

[cobguy]

If you feel that I am an idiot for adding that stuff to my coffee, then ask yourself why you think like that.

Add whatever you want to that ... it's pre-ground and in a can anyway! :nana:
I've been smoking some 2007 Kendal Cream Flake and find it to be a nice change-up. (thanks Booker!)

 

[cobguy]

IMHO that added "essence" is nearly gone after a few years

I thought the same thing ... it's mostly a nice mellow Va/Bur at this point and went well with coffee this morning. ::