Best First English Blend for an Aromatic Smoker to Try

[dcon]

I agree with this. You don’t necessarily need a crossover English if you are coming from aromatics. I say go all the way and this is a damn good English, almost as good as Skiff Mixture in my opinion. My pipe smoking really began when I tried my first English blend before that I was trying black cavendish blends that smelled good in the tin or jar, if I stayed in that direction I would have never kept smoking a pipe.

You are correct that you don’t need a crossover English. It does make it easier for most. BTW there is one helluva difference between Skiff and BS. I concur that many a pipe smoker becomes ”enlightened“ upon their introduction to Latakia blends. I am simply advocating that it is wrong to do it with a sledgehammer.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

He mentioned what he was currently smoking, “I am an aromatic smoker”. That was your clue and my tip about where the smoker is coming. Just as one would probably not recommend an aromatic to someone trying to kick Camels, it makes little sense to throw someone into something uniquely dissimilar to what they currently smoke.

I know youre one of our gurus, and I sure aint trying to step on your toes.. though.

 

[dcon]

I know youre one of our gurus, and I sure aint trying to step on your toes.. though.

I’m fine. The new recs are just a pet peeve. I, myself, am not crazy about aromatic English blends. So, in a way, I would recommend something that may not be a favorite, if I thought there was some value in it to the uninitiated.

 

[elasmo]

Go Nightcap or 10 Russians. Be bold.

 

[hawky454]

You are correct that you don’t need a crossover English. It does make it easier for most. BTW there is one helluva difference between Skiff and BS. I concur that many a pipe smoker becomes ”enlightened“ upon their introduction to Latakia blends. I am simply advocating that it is wrong to do it with a sledgehammer.

I agree, they are different, which is why I keep both heavily stocked in my cellar.

 

[lawdawg]

I’m fine. The new recs are just a pet peeve. I, myself, am not crazy about aromatic English blends. So, in a way, I would recommend something that may not be a favorite, if I thought there was some value in it to the uninitiated.

In all fairness, OP's request to recommend an English for an aromatic smoker is kind of like saying "I like margaritas and daiquiris, please recommend me a peated scotch" (no hate, I like maragaritas and daiquiries... and aromatics)

I would agree with you that some of the recommendations here, including my recommendation of White Knight, would be too full flavored if the OP was a brand new smoker, but the guy already smokes a pipe, so I'd say there is a fair shot that he might enjoy a full flavored tobacco at this point.

 

[bullet08]

He tried EMP. Maybe he's new to English blends, but he knows what latakia is. I really don't see what the issue is. Smoke whatever tickles your fancy.

 

[Tommy Boy]

GLP Quite nights was a good cross over blend to me. Easy smoking blend that wasn't in my face with latakia.

 

[dcon]

There are many ways to teach a subject or introduce someone to something new. I have seen a lot of pipe smokers come and go. I have just never been an advocate of ’throw him in to the water and he will either sink or swim ’. When that philosophy prevails more people drown.

 

[lawdawg]

GLP Quite nights was a good cross over blend to me. Easy smoking blend that wasn't in my face with latakia.

I love Quiet Nights as well, however I find it to be quite full flavored and strong. I also agree that oddly enough, it is an easy smoke. I think it could be a good first fuller flavored English for someone interested in giving that a try.

 

[lawdawg]

There are many ways to teach a subject or introduce someone to something new. I have seen a lot of pipe smokers come and go. I have just never been an advocate of ’throw him in to the water and he will either sink or swim ’. When that philosophy prevails more people drown.

When I first started smoking a pipe, I was living in Chicago. Naturally, Iwan Ries was my first tobacconist. They started me off with some very good recommendations, including their in-house Gourmet English blend, which I later learned was blended by McClelland and was a crossover English / aromatic, similar to Frog Morton Cellar. For about a year, it was my impression that it was a representative example of English blends. Suffice it to say, my first bowl of Nightcap knocked my socks off! I was happy they recommend me IRC Gourmet English to start.

 

[logs]

GLP Kensington is lovely. Certainly a good starting place.

 

[dcon]

I love Quiet Nights as well, however I find it to be quite full flavored and strong. I also agree that oddly enough, it is an easy smoke. I think it could be a good first fuller flavored English for someone interested in giving that a try.

This illustrates a good point. Many of us have come across the English blends we love by sure circumstance. Quiet Nights is a great tobacco. lawdawg makes the accurate point that, this is a strong and full English blend A reference to the G.L Pease web site will show Greg describing it as such. I love the stuff, too, but, the complexities that Greg describes would not be discerned by most smokers that are new to English blends. Some of us may have been born running. Most of us had to walk first.

 

[dcon]

GLP Kensington is lovely. Certainly a good starting place.

Lovely, yes. I don‘t agree with the rest. Sorry, it must be my night to be a contrarian.

 

[logs]

It's okay, but how come? Say more...

I get your objection to a full Balkan blend and I agree. But Kesington is a light Balkan. The presence of orientals doesn't ruin it for beginners... at least not in my estimation.

 

[ArtAraya]

Lane Limited HGL is a good one if your an aromatic smoker who wants to see what Latakia is all about. The Latakia is way in the background, but is noticeable.

updating via yoast

www.tobaccoreviews.com

Never thought of an "aromatic English" - I thought that was an oxymoron. "Englishes don't have flavoring" is what I recently heard somewhere.

That's an interesting idea. I suppose I can create my own blend to try this out rather than buying a blend. I can mix some Lane BCA with a dash of EMP. Think that'll work? I'm going to try it but am open to your thoughts.

 

[dcon]

When pipe

It's okay, but how come? Say more...

I get your objection to a full Balkan blend and I agree. But Kesington is a light Balkan. The presence of orientals doesn't ruin it for beginners... at least not in my estimation.

You have basically answered your question for me. It is a great Oriental forward light Balkan. That is not representative of a ’traditional‘ English. Orientals are quite nuanced and discerning these varietals becomes more appreciable after experiencing a basic English (not a Balkan, and yes I believe in the distinction).
In the time when pIpe shops were more prevalent, every one had a ‘house’ English and usually a couple of more full bodied night time ”house ‘ blends. Many times these were bulk 965 and Night Cap respectively. Occasionally, there was a McClelland or, more likely, a PS English blend in those jars. The basic English balance of VA, Latakia, and Turkish was mild enough, yet intriguing enough to satisfy new and experienced smokers. This would usually lead to experimentation of the smoking customer to a Balkan Sobranie or a McClelland Oriental. It was an evolutionary process that produced loyal followings. The reasons, I guess, that I am anal about this, is because i know it is a successful route to smoker satisfaction. Putting the cart ahead of the horse, as the old timers used to say, is not the most practical method to getting to your destination.

 

[dcon]

Never thought of an "aromatic English" - I thought that was an oxymoron. "Englishes don't have flavoring" is what I recently heard somewhere.

That's an interesting idea. I suppose I can create my own blend to try this out rather than buying a blend. I can mix some Lane BCA with a dash of EMP. Think that'll work? I'm going to try it but am open to your thoughts.

Experiments like this are all a part of the process (ie enjoyment) of pipe smoking. A “true” English is not (at least in my classification) an aromatic. But, most of us acknowledge that, once some form of flavoring or topping is noticeably added to an English blend it becomes one . Just as (once again, in my book), if you add Burley to the English, it becomes and American English. Folks on here will debate the nomenclature or even if it is needed.

 

[ray47]

Never thought of an "aromatic English" - I thought that was an oxymoron. "Englishes don't have flavoring" is what I recently heard somewhere.

That's an interesting idea. I suppose I can create my own blend to try this out rather than buying a blend. I can mix some Lane BCA with a dash of EMP. Think that'll work? I'm going to try it but am open to your thoughts.

It might work, give it a try. Start out with just a pinch of BCA and then adjust from there. Making a home blend can be fun. Once you get to the point where you like the mix, put a couple ounces of your home blend in a mason jar and let it meld for a month. Good Luck.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I've been primarily an aromatic smoker and would like to try some other tobacco types. What would be the easiest introduction into English blends for me?

I just smoked Early Morning Pipe this morning. It was pretty good and I will definitely smoke it again. But are there others that would make the transition easier for me?

I don’t buy the whole “tip-toe” into it transition thing. Just jump right into a nice English or Balkan and appreciate its difference from those aromatics you’ve been smoking. PS/Arango Balkan Supreme is tough to beat, and available as bulk. Same for Sutliff Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture Match and Sutliff Balkan Sobranie 759 Match.