Best Blend of 2024: The Elimination Game Part

[sablebrush52]

Capstan comes in blue and yellow. If there were fifty shades of Capstan, there’s a good chance most of them would suck.

When it was still made by W.D. & H.O. Wills, there were more variations of Capstan. The current stuff doesn't really taste like Capstan.

 

[Grangerous]

You understand my fondness for Nicotine, Dr. - Where is my pound of Winchester?

 

[jbfrady]

For the most part, no +20 blend didn't take too much of a pounding. That's not quite true for Quiet Nights, which got jumped like it'd gotten caught traipsing through a dark and ominous alleyway in a 1980's suspense flick. Part of me feels bad for that, so I'll swing my vote its way.

And though I liked Steamworks just fine, I don't like it 29 hit points good, so I'll knock that one down just a little.

---
+ Quiet Nights
-2 Steamworks
---

Nominees
----------------
AC Peterson
Escudo - 9
Cornell & Diehl
Exclusive - 24
Steamworks - 27
Sun Bear - 23
Winchester - 26
Country Squire
Cowboy Coffee - 9
Daughters & Ryan
Ryback -12
Erik Stokkebye 4th Gen
1931 Flake - 11
Esoterica
Pembroke - 19
Gawith Hoggarth
Aniseed Twist - 5
Bosun Plug - 19
Dark Flake Aromatic - 4
GL Pease
Bankside - 18
Horizons - 13
Telegraph Hill - 26
Quiet Nights - 14
HU Tobacco
Aus dem Krater no. 2 - 16
Director's Cut - 18
Makhuwa - 19
Mac Baren
HH Burley Flake - 26
HH Latakia Flake - 19
Royal Twist - 5
Missouri Meerschaum
Luminaire - 13
Samuel Gawith
1792 Flake - 17
Cabbie's Roll Cut - 10
Sutliff
Cringle Flake - 16
Match Victorian - 11
Watch City
558 - 28

Deceased, in order of disappearance:
1-Q - Lane
BCA - Lane
Bosun Cut Plug - GH
Golden Sliced - Orlik
Trail Head - Cascadia
Capstan Blue - Capstan
Rule Britannia - Drucquer & Sons
Bipolar Express - Watch City
Ennerdale Flake - GH
Three Sails - D&R
Dunbar - Esoterica
Pegasus - C&D
Shepherds Pie - Country Squire
Gates of Argonath - Ravenwood
The Old Boss - Sutliff
Geometrie - GLP
Phantom Privateer - Sutliff
Early Morning Pipe - Dunhill/Peterson
Eight State Burley - C&D
Old Dark Fired - Mac Baren
Doblone D'Oro - Savinelli

 

[telescopes]

For all the talk from people trying to buy Penzance - it seems strange that a blend that is just as good, if not better at the genre, doesn't get more love - especially given that it is readily available. Given the choice between the current version of Penzance and Quiet Nights, Quiet Nights in my opinion wins hands down. That said, it is a strange web we weave.

 

[Sobrbiker]

+1792
-Cabbies (just because I’m pissed I can never try it, maybe someday)

 

[andrew]

+1792
-2 winchester

 

[Val]

When it was still made by W.D. & H.O. Wills, there were more variations of Capstan. The current stuff doesn't really taste like Capstan.

Interesting you say that. What’s your take on that? Didn’t Jiminks try the 1939 and 1941 capstan alongside the new stuff and say they are very close in flavor? I recall him saying the current capstan blue flake was right between the 1939 and 1941 in flavor profile.

 

[Grangerous]

+ 1 Winchester
-2 1792

 

[sablebrush52]

Interesting you say that. What’s your take on that? Didn’t Jiminks try the 1939 and 1941 capstan alongside the new stuff and say they are very close in flavor? I recall him saying the current capstan blue flake was right between the 1939 and 1941 in flavor profile.

We both participated in that sampling and both agreed that it tasted like the Capstan we’d smoked, but in succeeding years the blend has drifted and no longer hits the mark.

 

[Fralphog]

Quiet nights +1
Winchester -1

 

[64alex]

+ 1 Bosun Plug
-1 Royal Twist

 

[Val]

We both participated in that sampling and both agreed that it tasted like the Capstan we’d smoked, but in succeeding years the blend has drifted and no longer hits the mark.

Roughly What year did you notice a shift? Just curious bc I have some from various vintage years dating back to maybe 2015 or 2013, can’t remember.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

+1792
-Aniseed

 

[Pipke]

+1 Quiet Nights
-2 1792

 

[sablebrush52]

Roughly What year did you notice a shift? Just curious bc I have some from various vintage years dating back to maybe 2015 or 2013, can’t remember.

I didn't buy it every year, so I'd have to make an educated guess, but the 2019 Capstan I recently opened was really flat with the topping very muted. When you consider that 80+ year old Capstan tasted like Capstan, with allowances for some "miniaturization" of the flavors, was recognizable and some 6 year old isn't, maybe it speaks to the quality or amount of the toppings used.
Frankly, I've noticed this dead topping issue with all of the 2018 St Bruno that I opened. This may be a MacBaren issue since both blends are made by them.

 

[Manawydan]

+1 Sun Bear
-1 1792 Flake

 

[Val]

I didn't buy it every year, so I'd have to make an educated guess, but the 2019 Capstan I recently opened was really flat with the topping very muted. When you consider that 80+ year old Capstan tasted like Capstan, with allowances for some "miniaturization" of the flavors, was recognizable and some 6 year old isn't, maybe it speaks to the quality or amount of the toppings used.
Frankly, I've noticed this dead topping issue with all of the 2018 St Bruno that I opened. This may be a MacBaren issue since both blends are made by them.

Wow very interesting. I recently bought a decent amount of capstan due to the impending situation and I wanted to have stock of a blend I really enjoy. Hoping they fixed it in recent years since then. I’ll let you know when I open one but it probably won’t be for a few years as I think it tastes best with some age on it. I’ve got a jar with just a few flakes left from 2015 or 2017 that’s outstanding.

 

[filmguerilla]

+1 Horizons
-1 G&H Dark Flake

 

[Brendan]

I've noticed this dead topping issue with all of the 2018 St Bruno that I opened. This may be a MacBaren issue since both blends are made by them.

Yes. Will be interesting to see how they change with STG production.
Granted I've only smoked one tin of each, but I felt the same way and haven't purchased either since. Not trying to put them down, but they just seemed to lack any depth or body. No 'holding power' to justify repeat purchases after smoking through the lot.They seemed to have a very Macbaren house style to both, rather than having there own character. If anybody reads this and thinks, jeez one tin of each is not enough to make that judgement then I say "tough titties" they had their chance and failed.

Gawith Hoggarth and Co. don't have that problem at all. Speaking of which, I'm not sure how this thread works, or if I can participate, but if so..

1792 + 1

 

[Tbaggins]

+ Quiet nights
- Escudo