Carter Hall--A Revelation

[pipefish]

I'm smoking CH for the first time and I have to say what a lovely tobacco this is. I'm a 1-2 bowl/week smoker and I usually go for the more "upscale" blends of GH, SG, and Pease. However, I've always been a bit frustrated in keeping the bowl lit, and usually by the end of my smoke I have quite a bit of unsmoked tobacco left in the pipe along with a pile of matches. Thus far, I've been smoking for about 30 minutes in a brand new Savinelli Ontario and I've just struck match number 3--and I didn't take any time to dry out the tobacco. Hell, I might make it to the bottom of the bowl this time! This stuff simply keeps burning and burning and has a wonderful nutty, slightly fruity flavor. Not terribly strong, but consistent and flavorful, albeit a bit monochromatic.
Overall, I really like this stuff. Highly recommended to anyone frustrated from relights! There's something to be said about "codger blends" and glad to see that this one won't be affected by the the new FDA regs.

 

[leacha]

Happened to me once:
If your smoking it outside, the wind is blowing and you set your pipe down just right, it'll smoke itself.

 

[mso489]

Excessive relights will take care of themselves over time. You'll have fewer, and you won't notice much either. But yes, Carter Hall has been around forever for good reason. A tub will last a good long time and it keeps well. It mixes well with many other blends for adding variety. Pipes and Cigars makes a pleasant match blend called Chatham Manor that costs a few dollars less per tub. These are classic blends, and at least Carter Hall should remain on the market with no problem after August, but now would be a good time to lay in a few tubs for the future, at today's prices.

 

[shutterbugg]

I'd rather have to relight a hundred times during a bowl than smoke Carter Hall but if you like the way it tastes, then it's all good.

 

[aldecaker]

In addition to "the good stuff", I've also been laying away copious amounts of mundane stuff like Carter Hall and Prince Albert. Now that the Nannytards are well and truly off the chain, Lord only knows how far it will go for our practical smoking purposes. I am trying to take as few chances as possible.

 

[shutterbugg]

That ^ I don't get. I can see resorting to CH and PA if it's all that's left and you're addicted to smoking (note I didn't say "nicotene" because neither of those blends has enough of it to count), but if you're in hoarding mode why not devote all your funds to "the good stuff"? Personally I'll quit before I smoke OTCs, because pipesmoking's supposed to be a pleasurable experience and for me those blends are like smoking hot, gross-flavored air.

 

[aldecaker]

It's because I like PA on it's own and CH as a blending base. I'm stowing some away because I'm not convinced the availability and/or price will not change in the very near future. I'm not buying things I dislike or would have to "resort to"; I'm simply saying I'm stocking up on rice as well as caviar.

 

[aldecaker]

Oh, and by the way, if all you get is hot, gross-flavored air it may be because you don't know how to pack or smoke a pipe. :rofl:

 

[tinsel]

This stuff simply keeps burning and burning and has a wonderful nutty, slightly fruity flavor. Not terribly strong, but consistent and flavorful, albeit a bit monochromatic.

Yes Carter Hall is a classic. It's been around forever, it's a pleasant smoke, and it's cheap.
Kinda like how Basil Hayden's and Blanton's bourbons are fantastic and out of this world ... but a glass of regular 4 year old Jim Beam is still a damn pleasant bourbon to drink. It's affordable, uncomplicated, and a true classic.
I've often wondered ... If Carter Hall and Prince Albert were put into tins and sold at a much higher price with a different name how the pipe smoking community would react. I'm betting they would sell a LOT of tins before people realized what was going on :D

 

[instymp]

+1 Tinsel

 

[johnbarleycorn]

I recently revisited CH myself and was shocked at how much I enjoyed it. I see no reason not to keep it around at all times. If your palette is too refined to enjoy CH it is just TOO refined in my opinion.

 

[ejames]

That ^ I don't get. I can see resorting to CH and PA if it's all that's left and you're addicted to smoking (note I didn't say "nicotene" because neither of those blends has enough of it to count), but if you're in hoarding mode why not devote all your funds to "the good stuff"? Personally I'll quit before I smoke OTCs, because pipesmoking's supposed to be a pleasurable experience and for me those blends are like smoking hot, gross-flavored air.

IMHO--Carter Hall is the good stuff !! I have tobacco from Mac B., Rattray,Orlil,Solani,Mc Clelland,Sutliff,and others. So when I decided to re-stock here about a week ago--what did I buy? 4 tubs of Carter Hall ! If I could no longer buy it I would quit smoking !
PA is a close second to CH-- again--IMHO !!
Also--IMHO,P&C's match for Carter Hall does not even come close !! I
Why is it so hard for some to understand that CH and PA and other so called "codger burley's" are not exactly floor sweepings and that some of us PREFER it to the "good stuff" !!!???

 

[bobpnm]

Carter Hall in a MM Country Gentleman. Strong black coffee. Simple, delicious and so relaxing!!

 

[hawky454]

I do enjoy CH but with all the other good tobaccos I own I rarely reach for it. Great beginner blend for sure as it's definitely got some kind of burn accelerant on it.

 

[hawky454]

Double post - again!

 

[jndyer]

Oh, and by the way, if all you get is hot, gross-flavored air it may be because you don't know how to pack or smoke a pipe. :rofl:

I would not ask if you know how to pack a bowl but if you know where to put the stem.
Back on topic, CH is a decent smoke. I do not judge what a person smokes so long as they enjoy it. Smoke what you like and love what you smoke.

 

[troutface]

Why is it so hard for some to understand that CH and PA and other so called "codger burley's" are not exactly floor sweepings and that some of us PREFER it to the "good stuff" !!!???

I don't know why, but it's damn hard for me to understand. All kidding aside, Carter Hall is only one of two tobaccos (the other was Half & Half) that I hated so much that I couldn't finish my first bowl. I'm truly happy that others enjoy it.

If your palette is too refined to enjoy CH it is just TOO refined in my opinion.

I don't know John, no one has ever accused me of being TOO refined. :rofl:

 

[johnbarleycorn]

All palettes are different I suppose. As most everyone says smoke what you love and love what you smoke. I sure won't judge anyone either way.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Lotsa love for PA, CH, and SWR here. Sometimes only the classics in a cob will do.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Pipefish:

a wonderful nutty, slightly fruity flavor.

If you want to kick it up about five notches, stick some Carter Hall in a jar with about 10-20% blending Perique. It's not quite a top tier VaPer but the results are nothing to scoff at.
I happen to love Carter Hall on its own as well, the flavor is good, if not great, but the burning characteristics can be every bit as important as flavor for some of us.