Blessing or Curse?

[briarbuda48]

A Lakeland is something I have never tried. I’ve heard people say that Crooner points in that direction with the floral notes of deer tongue which I do like.

For the longest time I was convinced that I would not care for them. In addition to the reviews, I have purchased several estates that were strongly ghosted from lakeland’s and they smelled awful. Well, Boswell’s sells Gawith and Hoggarth by the one or two once package and I guess I was feeling sporty. Now I am all in, puffing on Ennerdale, Bosun Cut Plug and Grasmere. Who knew?

I don’t reach for them all the time and I have three pipes dedicated to Lakeland’s, two Brigham 120’s and a Georg Jensen 35 hand made.

 

[Michigan_Bill]

Good tobaccos are a blessing, no two ways about it! ?

 

[chopper]

Blessed. I like most mild blends and most genres.
Latakia and Perique are good when used as a condiment. [Me no like when either dominate]
Do not like goopy aromatics. [Vanilla Custard is the one exception but I mix it 50/50 with Va, Bur or a VaBur]
If I had to choose just one blend it would be Butternut Burley because it's one that I could smoke all day.
If there were only OTC blends available I'd choose Carter Hall for the same reason.

 

[tzinc]

I tried aromatics when I started smoking and didn't like them at all and my wife didn't like their smell so I dropped them. Went onto the English/Balkan/Oriental blends and I loved them. I tried VaPrs did nothing for me. Went onto Burly Va Dark Fried (Three Nuns) and I loved it. Needless to say my wife did not like any of them. I got some Lakeland just to try I thought I would hate it but it was okay and my wife LOVED the smell.

 

[Grangerous]

I tried aromatics when I started smoking and didn't like them at all and my wife didn't like their smell so I dropped them. Went onto the English/Balkan/Oriental blends and I loved them. I tried VaPrs did nothing for me. Went onto Burly Va Dark Fried (Three Nuns) and I loved it. Needless to say my wife did not like any of them. I got some Lakeland just to try I thought I would hate it but it was okay and my wife LOVED the smell.

Lakelands are something I’ve never explored. I suppose everything needs to be tried once.

 

[Brendan]

Is it weird to worry about trying Lakelands only to find it very enjoyable, and then having to go down another rabbit hole of trying the different blends in that genre?

I think I'm happy enough with a handful of blends so far, so blessed in a way - cursed in the fact that I have to deal with high taxes, little choice.

 

[Grangerous]

Is it weird to worry about trying Lakelands only to find it very enjoyable, and then having to go down another rabbit hole of trying the different blends in that genre?

I think I'm happy enough with a handful of blends so far, so blessed in a way - cursed in the fact that I have to deal with high taxes, little choice.

Not at all. I’ve been exploring a bit lately. I’m satisfied with knowing I have three blends that I really like—any one of which I could smoke exclusively, Granger especially.

But we all seem open to adding yet another favorite. —It’s just that I’m very weary of the search. I’m as susceptible to enthusiastic reviews as the next guy (or gal). For instance, out of curiosity I’d added a tin of Presbyterian and a Tin of Cult Blood Red Moon to my last order. The latter because I have a pipe smoking friend who likes aromatics and to settle me curiously.

I opened that artificial cherry tin and almost threw up. That’s not going into any one of my pipes. I unceremoniously tossed it into a bag of tobacco samples for my friend.

I am of late exploring some red Virginia and other straight tobacco blends. No Perique or Latakia or heavy handed toppings for me.

The Presbyterian is a fine tobacco. I would enjoy the orientals without that “hint” of Latakia. I know it’s light but a little Latakia goes a long way in a blend, especially to those averse.

Lighting a bowl of Granger after sampling something else is always rewarding. It solidifies my love of this and my other hard won favorites.

 

[burleybreath]

Almost any pipe tobacco tastes great if you get the burn right, sort of like a stew just barely simmering, and the pipe isn't made of green wood. (Yes, I'm a bowl sniffer. It's listed on my c.v.) I use Granger to ground my taste buds, and they need grounding quite often. Favorite blends, though, are Revelation clones, and have been for decades. They just seem to hit all the bases. For an eclectic, that's pretty consistent, I'd say.

 

[tzinc]

Is it weird to worry about trying Lakelands only to find it very enjoyable, and then having to go down another rabbit hole of trying the different blends in that genre?

I think I'm happy enough with a handful of blends so far, so blessed in a way - cursed in the fact that I have to deal with high taxes, little choice.

LOL this is exactly what happened to be.

I am always trying new blends or blends they don't make anymore. I don't like Aromatics so I could cross them off my list and since my wife didn't like their smell they weren't even good for "tobacco for the porch, backyard etc." I tried VaPers and did nothing for me so I crossed them and pure Vas and pure Burleys and Dark Fried off my list and again the smell was not pleasing to wifey. I then found something I loved English/Balkan/Oriental family and I tried all kinds of different tobaccos within that group but the smell was not good for wifey. But these are my go tos ...but then I tried 3 Nuns and I discovered I did love the combo of Burley Deep Fried Va at least the way they make it so that is another go to... the smell didn't pass muster.

I have pretty much tried every tobacco type except for that only grown in Belgium stuff which didn't sound at all appealing to be honest, and a Tonquin blend (if 1792 was available I would try it), and the Lakeland blends. Given how easy and cheap Lakelands are I just gave it a go. And I liked it this was the scent of the tobacco I smelled from when I was a kid and it is very smooth creamy tasting and then my wife said she loved the smell of the Lakelands and that was it! ... down another rabbit hole with even more tobacco needed for my cellar not to mention a few dedicated pipes thanks to that ghosting lol.

 

[krizzose]

I figured out what I don’t like (Latakia and Lakelands) pretty quick, and that’s a blessing because otherwise I like variety so more time and $ to explore other things. Virginias mostly, but I wouldn’t want to be without my favorite burleys and aromatics. My sealed cellar is wide and shallow with several deep holes. My open tins collection is 75+ open tins, so I can always follow my daily hankering.