Avoiding Blends With Vanilla

[Mortamyhr]

Hello all. I’m hoping you all can help me avoid blends with vanilla added to them. Obviously, anything that has the word in the name is avoided, and 1q is a known enemy. But I don’t like the surprise of really looking at the blend components and then finding out that the “special light casing” happens to be vanilla. So, please mention some blends that I shouldn’t waste time and money on. Thank you!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Casings generally are unflavored. Toppings are what you're talking about and can generally be found in descriptions of blends and reviews.

 

[Mortamyhr]

I do look at the reviews and descriptions. But many companies like to keep their ingredients mysterious. Case in point:

“Cased” is used here, and Red Line is absolutely vanilla. This does help me avoid Uzumaki, however.

 

[Mortamyhr]

Also, not calling out KBV. I love a lot of his creations. But this is the tobacco that prompted the post.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Red Line is absolutely vanilla.

May be your palate, no vanilla in Redline. A bit of vinegar in both blends though. Mainly typical Virginia blends.

 

[Mortamyhr]

May be your palate, no vanilla in Redline. A bit of vinegar in both blends though. Mainly typical Virginia blends.

Interesting! I would have sworn their was.

 

[warren]

This is why I refrain from making blend recommendations, I have no idea how other palates interpret a certain taste. Each person's palate differs.

 

[bullet08]

Hello all. I’m hoping you all can help me avoid blends with vanilla added to them. Obviously, anything that has the word in the name is avoided, and 1q is a known enemy. But I don’t like the surprise of really looking at the blend components and then finding out that the “special light casing” happens to be vanilla. So, please mention some blends that I shouldn’t waste time and money on. Thank you!

Any specific reason for avoiding vanilla? Just don't like it?

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I also can’t handle vanilla (though I like deer tongue, which many think tastes like vanilla). My solution is to smoke uncased tobaccos with no toppings

 

[Mortamyhr]

Any specific reason for avoiding vanilla? Just don't like it?

Just not a fan. I like vanilla ice cream. But other than that it’s a no for me. If I am baking(rare occurrence) and the recipe calls for vanilla extract, I will skip it completely. Just not my thing.

 

[Mortamyhr]

I also can’t handle vanilla (though I like deer tongue, which many think tastes like vanilla). My solution is to smoke uncased tobaccos with no toppings

I’ve been hesitant to try anything with deer tongue for that very reason.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I’ve been hesitant to try anything with deer tongue for that very reason.

For me it’s quite different. A much more complex flavor

 

[OzPiper]

It's a funny thing with vanilla

Like @Mortamyhr, I love vanilla ice cream. One of my favourites if properly made with vanilla beans.
I like vanilla in cakes and pastries
But dislike it in tobacco and especially in rum

American oak has vanillin, which imparts a vanilla note to wine stored in barrels made from American oak.
Not a fan either

 

[telescopes]

Promises were made, gifts exchanged. I gotta hand it to you, you know... You always told the truth. A guy always knew where he stood with you. You kept everything pure and simple. I've always respected you for that.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

This is a tough one. So many blends use flavorings which overlap with vanilla but aren't quite vanilla. As discussed above with deer tongue, its hard to be sure what your own senses will characterize as "vanilla" or something else entirely.

Capstan blue, for example, smells vanilla-like to me. I guess its a tonka/coumarin topping. Not vanilla, but maybe too close for those who have an aversion to it.

Then there's Newminster 400, which people say has a "honey" topping. It smells like vanilla sheet cake to me and it comes through front and center in the smoke.

Blends that use rum typically smell like vanilla to me too. C & D Redburn for example.

Coumarin, honey, and rum are not vanilla, but you might find blends with these offensive enough to avoid.

 

[Brendan]

Promises were made, gifts exchanged. I gotta hand it to you, you know... You always told the truth. A guy always knew where he stood with you. You kept everything pure and simple. I've always respected you for that.

???

Do you guys have history or something?

 

[Mortamyhr]

Lex Luther has joined the conversation

 

[mso489]

That's a tough call. So many aromatic blends don't specify all of their flavorings. Some aromatics are sold as non-aromatics just because of their image, like Granger, which has molasses and anisette (I believe) but is often sold an as non-aromatic in keeping with its "rough cut Kentucky burley" image.

I assiduously avoid cherry flavoring, but cherry blends are usually clearly identified because some people want them in particular.

I'd buy any blend of interest in the smallest possible sample, like one ounce of bulk, or one pouch or tin, and judge for yourself.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Read the reviews on TR, I tend to read @JimInks - don’t always agree with what he likes or dislikes (that doesn’t happen often) but get pretty good feel for the ingredients. Watch City Viral Vanilla doesn’t hide it, lol, and I find it on the edge of acrid if not dried a bit. I’m enjoying DT Blue Note right now and the vanilla is just right and in balance for me. Second bowl of it this week and it’s a keeper for me.

Still a matter of palate and …. the conditions and particular day.

 

[telescopes]

Lex Luther has joined the conversation

Yes, he has.

Too many people who claim to abhor aromatics are drawn to threads like this just to make sure that everyone knows that they abhor aromatics.

I raise my glass in a salute to all those who pack their bowls with Captain Black, light up, and have a thoroughly enjoyable smoke, the rest of the world be damned.

My own personal blend of tobacco has BCA as one of its major components, which means it is loaded with vanilla. I've smoked it for over four decades and when I've had a stressful day and the evening is hot and it is still a long way before I'll be heading to bed, you can be sure I'll pass up all of my Virginias, English Blends, Orientals, and what nots and reach for my best friend. She smells nice, she's gentle on the tongue, and she doesn't give me a reason to curse her.

Good night and good luck.