Best Ky/Va, Ky/Perique Blend Currently Available?

[pianopuffer]

+1 for Dark Birdseye and Orlik DSK. Both staples in my rotation.
GL Pease Navigator is supposed to be a sleeper KY blend, although I have yet to open my tin of it.

 

[josephcross]

I regularly smoke Sixpence, C&D Bluegrass, Jackknife Plug, Old Dark Fired, and sparingly smoke my small stash of Directors Cut. Im really finding these days that I love most blends that contain Dark Fired. Recently got some Dark Birdseye, I cant wait to try it out.

 

[autumnfog]

KY tobaccos immediately became favorites for me, there is something about that barbeque-ish smell and taste that strike me as real raw old fashioned tobacco. I've smoked Cumberland and Bold Kentucky and look forward to try out Jackknife Plug, War Horse and others. Absolutely awesome.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Revor Plug.
Chris

 

[krizzose]

Hal o’ the Wynd

 

[diamondback]

I’m pretty sure I got a bad batch (2oz tin) of GLP Sixpence. Smoked a bowl a couple days ago.
I didn’t taste anything except some bready Virginia. I detected an extremely slight hint of booze (tin note only), and no real flavor other than what I suspect was from the Va. I’ve been ‘piping’ for a good seven years now, and I’m at least intermediate in sussing out the various flavors in a professional blend. I’m no Jim Inks, but I didn’t switch over from cigars yesterday.
I’d trade what’s left for a single pouch of Five Brothers. I’m speaking figuratively of course, but my tin of Sixpence is sawdust. Yes I lit it gently. Char light, true light, took slow sips and retrohaled, all that jazz. I’d loaded up a bowl into a MM CG pipe, as I always do with my first trial of a new blend. Smoked it through over the course of about 45 minutes. It burned faster than I’d expected given the thickness of the long strands of it that I teased out from a flake or so that I let dry for ~15 minutes. I’m not sure I would have smoked the entire bowl, but I kept slowing down, wondering how I was so far off the mark from what I read on TR about it. It can’t be so bad that it’s less tasty than my first home blend - lol - so I’ll give it another try from a new tin... someday perhaps.
Willing to bet it’s just a QC issue. In the interim, I’ll let it sit until next Fall and try it again.

 

[ssjones]

testing/Al

 

[ssjones]

testing/Al2

 

[pharmpiper]

Long time lurker, motivated to join to comment on this one.

I’m pretty sure I got a bad batch (2oz tin) of GLP Sixpence. Smoked a bowl a couple days ago.
I didn’t taste anything except some bready Virginia. I detected an extremely slight hint of booze (tin note only), and no real flavor other than what I suspect was from the Va. I’ve been ‘piping’ for a good seven years now, and I’m at least intermediate in sussing out the various flavors in a professional blend. I’m no Jim Inks, but I didn’t switch over from cigars yesterday.
I’d trade what’s left for a single pouch of Five Brothers. I’m speaking figuratively of course, but my tin of Sixpence is sawdust. Yes I lit it gently. Char light, true light, took slow sips and retrohaled, all that jazz. I’d loaded up a bowl into a MM CG pipe, as I always do with my first trial of a new blend. Smoked it through over the course of about 45 minutes. It burned faster than I’d expected given the thickness of the long strands of it that I teased out from a flake or so that I let dry for ~15 minutes. I’m not sure I would have smoked the entire bowl, but I kept slowing down, wondering how I was so far off the mark from what I read on TR about it. It can’t be so bad that it’s less tasty than my first home blend - lol - so I’ll give it another try from a new tin... someday perhaps.

I'm right there with you! I picked up a tin of Sixpence about a month ago after reading so many stellar reviews and it was the biggest letdown I've had to date. Its two ounces of friggin nothing. No taste. No aroma. I've probably tried six or seven bowls various ways and no dice. I actually found it difficult to get going, and then burned hot as hell. Another bowl dried nicely and rubbed out fine. No flavor.
I thought it was me until I read the comment above. I kind of hope it is just an off batch, means there might be hope for getting a good tin someday.
Does anyone absolutely LOVE Sixpence and have several tins of experience with it? If so I'd be willing to send them my remaining tin to get their opinion on it.....just for my own peace of mind.
Alex

 

[diamondback]

I thought it was me until I read the comment above. I kind of hope it is just an off batch, means there might be hope for getting a good tin someday.

Thank you!
I was half expecting a barrage of “You don’t know what you’re doing!” posts.
I’m glad I’m not alone, but am sad that we didn’t get to taste a blend that seems very blissful for some. Surely it’s a QC issue. I bought my tin from SPC in March of this year I believe. If not March it was close. NOT a commentary on SPC by any stretch - I’ve spent quite a bit of money there and have always had exemplary service. If I get the chance or the inclination to buy another tin, it will probably be from them. Though to be honest I’m once bit, twice shy on Sixpence.
Welcome to the forum, Alex!

 

[grumpyoltroll]

H&H El Nino. I have not had a bad one from the Marquee series yet but as a big fan of ODF this one really struck an accord with me. In fact I am going to load a pipe of it now.