Aromatics 101

[Pipespipespipes]

So I've been drawn to non aromatic blends, flakes etc as I can taste a distinct difference between them. A Virginia flake vs a balkan blend is a world apart in flavour... And that's a great experience and journey.

What I don't get yet is aromatics... I've tried a fair few and whilst they may be perfectly OK, I get less of a flavour compared to a non aromatic. So a coffee aromatic won't taste wildly different to a vanilla one to me compared to the vast difference between aforementioned Virginia and Balkan. Am I missing something?

I'm fairly good at slow, cool smoking I think, so as much as I'm a rank begginer I don't think it's all bad technique that's standing in my way to aromatic nirvana.

Aromatics smell so incredible in the tin, id love to be able to explore them but for the life of me I just don't get it yet.

 

[STP]

I’m a fan aromatics, and I can taste prominent flavors like cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate, however, my palate is not sensitive enough to detect the subtle notes. Slow cool smoking certainly helps?

 

[Pipespipespipes]

I’m a fan aromatics, and I can taste prominent flavors like cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate, however, my palate is not sensitive enough to detect the subtle notes. Slow cool smoking certainly help?

Do you have any blends that you could recommend? I'm thinking perhaps those I've tried are just too subtle...?

 

[STP]

Do you have any blends that you could recommend? I'm thinking perhaps those I've tried are just too subtle...?

Vanilla… try MacBaren Vanilla Cream or Vanilla Roll Cake, or even Sutliff’s Molto Dolce, which I can also taste caramel.

Cherry… try Sutliff’s Black Cherry, or Cult Blood Red Moon, which I can also taste chocolate.

 

[STP]

… oh, and for chocolate, try Sutliff Chocolate Mousse. I’m certain that you’ll be able to detect a flavor out of this one ?

​

 

[sandollars]

I don't get aromatics either so I don't do aromatics. I don't like the fake tastes. They deter from the tobacco.

Follow your heart, not the masses.

 

[kschatey]

Do you have any blends that you could recommend? I'm thinking perhaps those I've tried are just too subtle...?

For non-subtle aromatic that isn't goopy or fake/chemical-tasting, try Dan Tobacco Devil's Holiday.

 

[telescopes]

Try Cult Blood Red Moon. Also, C&D Mocha.

 

[mso489]

I think most people start with aromatics, but several people on Forums have said that they are best left to experienced smokers. Many aromatics are blended to let the flavoring accent and emphasize the tobacco itself, rather than delivering a big blast of the flavor itself. So you don't get a glass of whiskey, but a good tobacco highlighted by a hint of whiskey. A few aromatics I've had are mostly flavoring, and from my point of view, not too good. If you want mostly flavoring, Molto Dolce does that, though I wouldn't want a tin of it.

 

[anotherbob]

So I've been drawn to non aromatic blends, flakes etc as I can taste a distinct difference between them. A Virginia flake vs a balkan blend is a world apart in flavour... And that's a great experience and journey.

What I don't get yet is aromatics... I've tried a fair few and whilst they may be perfectly OK, I get less of a flavour compared to a non aromatic. So a coffee aromatic won't taste wildly different to a vanilla one to me compared to the vast difference between aforementioned Virginia and Balkan. Am I missing something?

I'm fairly good at slow, cool smoking I think, so as much as I'm a rank begginer I don't think it's all bad technique that's standing in my way to aromatic nirvana.

Aromatics smell so incredible in the tin, id love to be able to explore them but for the life of me I just don't get it yet.

the missing ingredient is time. Time to develop a palate is part of it. Also aros need to be smoked slowly. It really makes a bigger difference with aros then any other. Also drying is more troublesome with aros. Other blends no matter the style I find a certain dryness perfect across the board. However with aros some smoke great quite dry others need to be a bit moist and then everything in between. For example one of my favs (not just aros but among all types) is Edward G. Robinson by Sutliff. It smokes great out of the tin but a few hours of dry time and it becomes heavenly. Past that it gets a slightly sour note and the flavors start flattening out a bit.
It's hilarious that aros are the beginners tobacco and yet they're the ones it takes the most time and practice to really appreciate.

 

[Jacob74]

^ Nailed it @mso489 and @anotherbob

 

[anotherbob]

oh and yeah MSO reminded me. The level of aromatization between blends is very variable. Some are a hint some could be flavored cardboard (the flavoring is so strong you can't taste tobacco). And they don't tell you on the label. One of my favs on the first one is Ashton Gold Rush. It's a va basically and the aro helps it but isn't the star.

 

[Pipespipespipes]

Thankyou all. Some great leads and great help too.
I think it's a combination of an underdeveloped tobacco palate and over expectations in regards to the flavour.
I think because they are recommended to beginners (my tobacco shop tried to start me on cherry vanilla) I assumed they would be flavour forward, when in reality they are not on the whole.
I still think I'm a balkan/English piper but I'm definitely excited about trying a few aromatics as I go.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Do you have any blends that you could recommend? I'm thinking perhaps those I've tried are just too subtle...?

Amphora Red Full and Erinmore flake If You are after medium strength Tobacco forward' Aromatics

 

[anotherbob]

Amphora Red Full and Erinmore flake If You are after medium strength Tobacco forward' Aromatics

never tried the Amphora but Erinmore is great. It's got a touch of the Juicy fruit flavor and a lot else. But you can taste the tobacco and even if you didn't read what leaf it has you could figure it out pretty much as easily as any tobacco forward blend.
Oh that aros for beginners I think is just based on flavor profile. Oh you already know you like candy so....

 

[AlanH]

My experience is much like yours. I have not enjoyed most aromatics. However there are a couple that are truly wonderful I have just found out. Burley Morning is very very good

 

[Grangerous]

Tobacco has flavor. Period. Different leaf offers different flavor profiles. I’ll never understand this “aro’s are for the experienced” dribble.

Experienced at what? A slow enough cadence to smoke wet, artificially soaked leaf that necessitates slowing your cadence so that it won’t bite or fill your pipe with condensate?

How about “experiencing” tobacco first so that you might recognize it hidden under all the gummy bears and unicorn toppings?

2022 ? - my year to stop aro bashing. 2023 is MY year. I can feel it!

 

[karam]

So I've been drawn to non aromatic blends, flakes etc as I can taste a distinct difference between them. A Virginia flake vs a balkan blend is a world apart in flavour... And that's a great experience and journey.

What I don't get yet is aromatics... I've tried a fair few and whilst they may be perfectly OK, I get less of a flavour compared to a non aromatic. So a coffee aromatic won't taste wildly different to a vanilla one to me compared to the vast difference between aforementioned Virginia and Balkan. Am I missing something?

I'm fairly good at slow, cool smoking I think, so as much as I'm a rank begginer I don't think it's all bad technique that's standing in my way to aromatic nirvana.

Aromatics smell so incredible in the tin, id love to be able to explore them but for the life of me I just don't get it yet.

If you can enjoy Virginia and Latakia and everything in between what are you after with aromatics?
I mean, what are you looking for?

If you can find them, get some aromatics with yarbles like 1792, Bosun, Coniston, dark flake scented, Ennerdale.

 

[clynch]

Thankyou all. Some great leads and great help too.
I think it's a combination of an underdeveloped tobacco palate and over expectations in regards to the flavour.
I think because they are recommended to beginners (my tobacco shop tried to start me on cherry vanilla) I assumed they would be flavour forward, when in reality they are not on the whole.
I still think I'm a balkan/English piper but I'm definitely excited about trying a few aromatics as I go.

My recent astonishment was staying on one tobacco for several days and then switch to something different. I was then able to appreciate the differences between them.

 

[kschatey]

For crossover blends, I definitely recommend Two Friends English Chocolate and of you can find them, Gawith Bob's Chocolate Flake and Bob's Square Cut.

I also love Watch City Elf's Dandruff, which appears to still be available. Get some before it's gone!