Bored So I Made A Top 3 Blend Categorization Spreadsheet

[shanez]

I got a little (lot) bored so I made myself a handy-dandy spreadsheet to fill out with what I think are the top 3 blends per category. Now I'm looking for some help to complete filling it out.

I'm not looking for any formal definition of a blend. I you think of it a certain way then that is what it is. I, for example, have SPC Plum Pudding SR under non-aromatic Balkan but would completely understand if someone else thinks it is really an aromatic Balkan. Also, I put Black Frigate under aromatic English as it is Latakia forward enough for me to think of it as an English but also enough rum to make me think of it as aromatic. TR has it listed as other.

So, without further ado, here is the spreadsheet:



This should be fun and entertaining. I always learn something about my own tastes/preferences when I see others.

Also, the Virgina and Burley categories need not be "straight" in the strictest sense, at least IMO.

 

[shanez]

A copy and paste to help anyone who wants something a little more editable (also, I snuck WC Rougaroux into the VaPer category):

Type		Non-Aromatic	Aromatic
Virginia
	(Includes:
	1​	)	Sutliff Sweet Virginia #707	Sutliff Spiced Rum #704
2​	)
3​	)
Burley
	(Includes:
	1​	)	GH&C Happy Bogie Unsliced
2​	)	Manil Le Petit Robin
3​	)	C&D Virginia Gentelman
VaPer
	(Includes: Virginia/Perique Blends)
	1​	)	SG St James Flake	Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls?
2​	)	Watch City Rougaroux
3​	)	SG Cabbie's Mixture
VaOr
	(Includes: Oriental Forward Blends)
	1​	)
2​	)
3​	)
VaBur
	(Includes: Virginia/Burley Blends)
	1​	)	GH&C Dark Flake Unscented	GH&C American Delight
2​	)
3​	)
English
	(Includes: English, Scottish, & American Blends)
	1​	)	Ashton Artisan's Blend	Black Frigate
2​	)	Peterson Nightcap
3​	)
Balkan
	(Includes: Balkan Blends)
	1​	)	Arango Balkan Supreme
2​	)	SPC Plum Pudding SR
3​	)
Other
	(Includes:
	1​	)	C&D Dreams of Kadath
2​	)
3​	)

 

[Chasing Embers]

I snuck WC Rougaroux into the VaPer category

Where else would you put it?


Too complicated for me. I don't keep any documentation, I just eyeball everything from time to time.

 

[shanez]

Where else would you put it?


Too complicated for me. I don't keep any documentation, I just eyeball everything from time to time.

I didn't have it on the list at all.

I've got to figure out how to get their Old Dominion on the list too. It's so good!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I didn't have it on the list at all.

I've got to figure out how to get their Old Dominion on the list too. It's so good!

Another good Virginia/Perique. My favorite WC's are WC Slices and Persian Slipper. Must tries if you haven't yet.?

 

[mngslvs]

Watch City Old Dominion and watch city blend 558. I could just about live with only those two blends, they are so good.

 

[wolflarsen]

I can help fill in a few blanks.

Aromatic English: Sutliff 504C
Other: Old Dark Fired
Va/Per: Salty Dogs

Where does Potlatch (Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Oriental, Perique, Virginia) fit in?

 

[shanez]

Where does Potlatch (Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Oriental, Perique, Virginia) fit in?

Other? Or wherever you like to think of it. I gave up on trying to have perfectly defining characteristics of a blend a long time ago. There's too many characteristics that crossover to worry about it. These days I just worry about if it's any good or not.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Virginia
1. F&T Cut Va Plug
2. Astleys No 44
3. SG Best Brown Flake

Burley
1. HU Makhuwa
2. HU Dockworker
3. Watch City Deluxe Crumb Cut

VaPer
1. Peter Heinrichs Curly Block
2. HU Directors Cut
3. Escudo Navy De Luxe

VaOr
1. Ascanian No 1
2. HU Joschis Oriental Sunrise
3. C&D XX Flake

VaBur
1. Reiner Long Golden Flake
2. Germain Rich Dark Flake
3. Solani Silver Flake

English
1. GLP Quiet Nights
2. Penzance
3. SPC Plum Pudding

Balkan
1. GLP Westminster
2. GLP Abingdon
3. SG Balkan Flake

Other
1. HU Nyala (Cigar Based)
2. GLP Seersucker (Cigar Based)
3. HU Manyara (Burley Based)

 

[PipesRock]

I really hope you get help with your VaOr, Oriental forwards (obtainable), for this sheet... for you of course not just because I'm really interested.

 

[PipesRock]

Virginia
1. F&T Cut Va Plug
2. Astleys No 44
3. SG Best Brown Flake

Burley
1. HU Makhuwa
2. HU Dockworker
3. Watch City Deluxe Crumb Cut

VaPer
1. Peter Heinrichs Curly Block
2. HU Directors Cut
3. Escudo Navy De Luxe

VaOr
1. Ascanian No 1
2. HU Joschis Oriental Sunrise
3. C&D XX Flake

VaBur
1. Reiner Long Golden Flake
2. Germain Rich Dark Flake
3. Solani Silver Flake

English
1. GLP Quiet Nights
2. Penzance
3. SPC Plum Pudding

<<portion snipped here>>

+1 GLP Quiet Nights

Wondering where you might place PS Luxury Navy Flake? I have some HU Directors Cut, Escudo, and Capstan Blue blue coming in a couple weeks (depending on COVID-19 shipping issues) and if I like those much better than PS LNF I'm afraid I'll be doubling my roughly one a day bowls smoked, lol.

 

[SpookedPiper]

Great list so far!! I think everyone's lists rock, there's too many great blends out there to just pick 3!

 

[shanez]

I really hope you get help with your VaOr, Oriental forwards (obtainable), for this sheet... for you of course not just because I'm really interested.

Here's a link just for that:

Oriental Forward Blends

I'm going to have to try Oriental Silk and also Ascanian No 1 if I can get my hands on it. WCC Persian Slipper too.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Other: Old Dark Fired

VaBur

 

[PipesRock]

Here's a link just for that:

Oriental Forward Blends

I'm going to have to try Oriental Silk and also Ascanian No 1 if I can get my hands on it. WCC Persian Slipper too.

Thanks for the link. I've been enjoying some Oriental Silk so I'll add another +1 on trying that one.

 

[shanez]

As I play this game I noticed how VaPer blends tend to dominate my preferences which is okay but tells me I might want to diversify a little more so I don't get bored.

I've got some various tins in other categories I definitely need to open and try plus a few I need to order and try.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

+1 GLP Quiet Nights

Wondering where you might place PS Luxury Navy Flake? I have some HU Directors Cut, Escudo, and Capstan Blue blue coming in a couple weeks (depending on COVID-19 shipping issues) and if I like those much better than PS LNF I'm afraid I'll be doubling my roughly one a day bowls smoked, lol.

I don't have the PS LNF very high on my list. I cellared a couple of pounds because it so cheap and some people rave about how good it is aged. Taste is subjective but to me, there's easily a dozen other similar blends I'd smoke first.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I really hope you get help with your VaOr, Oriental forwards (obtainable), for this sheet... for you of course not just because I'm really interested.

If you look around, there's more than you may imagine. My top 2 are easily obtainable from Estervals. C&D Bijou, Oriental Silk and Orion's Arrow are very good as well. C&D Sunday Picnic is a bit mild but the VaOr flavor is fabulous. Hopefully, C&D will release more of the XX Flake, it has been superb and I think it will age very nicely. And C&D is supposed to release another batch of Sun Bear this summer, don't miss out on that.