I would like to start this out by saying I wanted to like Blockade Runner for a variety of reasons. I have tried it out in 5 different pipes and I just cannot taste the rum. Which shocks me because many folks have complained that is all they taste. In fact, I cannot taste much of anything. Do the various components in Black Frigate allow some of the other flavors to be better appreciated? In general I love C&D tobaccos. And I don't know that BR is bad to me, just lacking in very much flavor. Anyone else have this issue or is my taster defunct? (I have tins of Black Frigate and Navigator that maybe I need to try and see if I have a similar issue)
Cannot Taste Blockade Runner
- Thread starter loupgarougras
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Sounds like you got a bad batch. Drop them all in a box and send them off to the "defunct taster tester location". Also known as my house... :rofl:
Unfortunately, I only know how BF tastes, and it's mighty fine to me. I get a good noseful of the rum when I retrohale the goodness. I need to actually try BR and find out for myself.
Unfortunately, I only know how BF tastes, and it's mighty fine to me. I get a good noseful of the rum when I retrohale the goodness. I need to actually try BR and find out for myself.
Lol, I should have anticipated offers for "taste confirmation" from this crew! It kills me because I LOVE the note out of the tin. I love rum. I love tobacco. Ergo, I should love BR, but alas. . . . .
I have tried different methods. Because the majority of my pipes possess conical chambers I have discovered that gravity fill, compress about 25% and gravity fill the remainder works well, after the false light and a gentle tamp. That was my initial approach with BR. Typically the flavors intensify as I make my way down the bowl. This has worked well for Aros, English, and the VaBurPa combinations. Thinking that maybe it was packed too loose, I tried filling in thirds, but that appeared to make no difference. I have also tried it in a Canadien, a Lovat and an Apple to no avail.
I understand that the taste will not replicate the tin note, but I get these evanescent "tastes". VERY reminiscent of the tin note and VERY tasty. It only occurs 1 - 3 times per bowl. I have tried to vary my cadence, but even at my slowest, it made hardly any difference. I will say this, that also 1 to 3 times per bowl I will swear there is a Perique note. But maybe that is me drawing too hard to try to extract some flavor.
I understand that the taste will not replicate the tin note, but I get these evanescent "tastes". VERY reminiscent of the tin note and VERY tasty. It only occurs 1 - 3 times per bowl. I have tried to vary my cadence, but even at my slowest, it made hardly any difference. I will say this, that also 1 to 3 times per bowl I will swear there is a Perique note. But maybe that is me drawing too hard to try to extract some flavor.
Yeah, a very light fill is perfect for crumble cakes and cube cuts. Sounds like you may be getting it too warm. Do you retrohale?
Here's a video I did about packing. Skip ahead to 1:44 to the cube cut section. Works perfectly for crumble cake tobacco as well.
https://youtu.be/OP5MjK8KS7U
https://youtu.be/OP5MjK8KS7U
@Olkofri I compress to 75% full. So I only compress a little bit. Found that less works better with the conical chambers. Three pinches compresses the tobacco too much in the final third which ends up either impeding the draw or makes a goopy mess as I smoke my way down the bowl.
@Chasing Embers I do not retrohale. Thank you for the link I will watch it after work!
@Chasing Embers I do not retrohale. Thank you for the link I will watch it after work!
Some blends just don't register for some reason. Briar Rabbit is a well-liked blend that has little taste for me, or at least my sample didn't. I really enjoy Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic with the Virginia and three liqueurs, but the regular blend doesn't click. It could be the batch, or it could just be individual people with particular blends. You could jar it and see if it improves with age, since this actually happens with a blend from time to time, and/or try mixing it with something that would give it a boost; sometimes this brings a blend alive, at least as a mix. This is why it is always wise to sample in the smallest available quantity. Luckily, I tried Briar Rabbit as a sample plug, at no cost. I guess the duds are the cost of enjoying a wide variety of blends. When you find those you like, it is all worthwhile.
As has been mentioned, watch the packing and drying as well. There are a ton of factors that go into how you taste your tobacco. When I was just starting out, everything tasted like ash and it was horrible. As your method improves, so will your palette.
Try some extreme drying and see what happens. Set a bit out tonight before bed and smoke it tomorrow. If it helps, then try shorter and shorter dry times until you find the happy zone.
Also, as MSO said, maybe some time will help the blend.
I got an aged tin of Pirate Kake once. It tasted of ammonia upon opening and was miserable. I jarred it up for a month and the nasty parts went away. If it's a freshly popped tin, many folks like to give them a week or two after opening for them to "breathe" and settle down.
Also, as MSO said, maybe some time will help the blend.
I got an aged tin of Pirate Kake once. It tasted of ammonia upon opening and was miserable. I jarred it up for a month and the nasty parts went away. If it's a freshly popped tin, many folks like to give them a week or two after opening for them to "breathe" and settle down.
I can answer no to the issue of recently using strong cleaners. I have come to the conclusion that I will give it a second chance down the road.
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