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I agree. Try an ounce sampler of any of those - no harm, no foul, as the saying goes. If the OP doesn't care for those, there are still lots of aromatics to try.
Agreed and I think there would be a much higher success rate as far as people actually sticking with the pipe if they were offered more full bodied blends early on in their venture. You hear so often these beginners complaining that they don’t taste anything, “It just tastes like hot steam” because they are trying out Captain Black or a similar heavily steamed, heavily topped black Cavendish blend. They end up burning their tongues off because they are puffing on the pipe like a freight train trying to get some flavor out of it. Give someone a stout English and they are going to taste something guaranteed, whether they get on with Latakia is one thing but that’s all a part of the journey, discovering what you like. It doesn’t necessarily have to even be a Latakia blend but in this case the individual was asking specifically for a Lat blend. You give an individual a blend with big taste they won’t be puffing so hard on the pipe trying to find some flavor, they’ll learn that they get plenty of flavor from sipping the pipe.
And there are some other blends with some complexity that aren't heavy on stronger tobaccos. L.J. Peretti has a milder blend called "English 110" that has oriental and latakia, and it's pretty easygoing. Their Cuban Mixture is an old burley blend that has a nice blend of flavors without being harsh or domineering (it also has a slight mint topping without being loaded up on the flavor - it's good!). You have a pretty broad choice without going whole hog into the stouter Englishes or Balkans.Thanks everyone for the input. Definitely two different approaches suggested here - go gradual and go all in. I can see the wisdom in both. As for me, generally I'm more conservative and slow. To use a child learning to swim analogy, I'd learn better starting in the shallow end of the pool with floatation devices on my arms and with a patient teacher. My wife, on the other hand, learned to swim when her dad threw her in the deep end of the pool! She found it exhilarating and has loved the water ever since. If that was done to me, I would have been terrified and still have nightmares of going in the water.
So, I'm not sure I'm ready for a super strong Latakia blend right now. I did just have my second EMP bowl today and enjoyed it much more than yesterday and feel like I'm starting to get what's special about this type of blend over my normal aromatics. So maybe I don't need an English aromatic - maybe just other "light" English blends for now?
Surprised no one has mentioned this one, but Presbyterian Mixture. It's light and although supposedly has no topping, smells a bit of vanilla in the tin and in the room (according to my wifey). You'll get a base of gentle Virginias with a little Oriental & Latakia that are never overpowering, but are there to introduce you to the genre & their characteristics.Thanks everyone for the input. Definitely two different approaches suggested here - go gradual and go all in. I can see the wisdom in both. As for me, generally I'm more conservative and slow. To use a child learning to swim analogy, I'd learn better starting in the shallow end of the pool with floatation devices on my arms and with a patient teacher. My wife, on the other hand, learned to swim when her dad threw her in the deep end of the pool! She found it exhilarating and has loved the water ever since. If that was done to me, I would have been terrified and still have nightmares of going in the water.
So, I'm not sure I'm ready for a super strong Latakia blend right now. I did just have my second EMP bowl today and enjoyed it much more than yesterday and feel like I'm starting to get what's special about this type of blend over my normal aromatics. So maybe I don't need an English aromatic - maybe just other "light" English blends for now?
So don’t say Pirate Kake? ? In all honesty I second what you’re saying here. HGL is a good cross over English or whatever the cool kids are calling it now.
That would be a mild English. The Perique makes it a little more full smoke than the EMP that you have tried. It can be thought of as Night Cap Lite.
I wouldn't be surprised if STG buys the rights to continue manufacturing and marketing the Nat Sherman pipe blends, as they already produce them.
