Hello all, I've recently rediscovered my pipe smoking hobby and began experimenting with non-aromatics. After years of reading about Dunhill and McClelland Latakia blends, I eagerly traveled to my nearest tobacconist with a mental list of all the classic tins I wanted to purchase. However, upon arrival I realized their selection of tins was quite picked over that weekend, and eventually settled on some bulk blends at the request of the clerk (Straus Tobacconist in downtown Cincinnati keeps absolutely top notch bulk blends on hand for anyone wondering). I picked up some of my favorite aromatics, and then an ounce of Balkan Supreme, which I believe is blended by Peter Stokkbeye. I was skeptical, as I had never heard of it and was really more interested in a "classic" English rather than a Balkan. Regardless, I was happy to be trying Latakia. In the jar at the store I thought it smelled very lightly smoky with a sweet note. I don't know how that's possible, as when I got this bad boy home, something else happened entirely. Without even opening the ziplock, the powerful smokiness was seeping out and filling the room. I finally opened and took another whiff, and...wow. It was as if I had stuck my entire face into a meat smoker. It smelled exactly like a local butchery that smokes beef brisket in mass quantities outside. There was absolutely no sweetness, not even a burning firewood note. Just pure smoke, with a meaty hint. I was genuinely worried. I seriously considered throwing it out and starting smaller. I left for work, and when I came back that night, my entire room smelled like barbecue exhaust had been pumped in. Anyway, long story short, I waited about a week before I smoked this blend, when it finally calmed down into a less meaty, more leathery smoky smell. After another week or so, I was in love. Unfortunately, it dried out very quickly and lost almost all character in approximately one month. So I set out for another Latakia mixture.
Here is where I'm perplexed. I got on P&C and ordered a tin of Dunhil EMP. I was excited for a more mellow Latakia experience. Instead, upon opening I got a huge face full of rotten fruit, cabbage, and the slightest leather, but only with a little drying. I was dumbfounded. What a stark difference. So next I tried Frog Morton. Drove over the river to Straus' Kentucky location to get this one. Upon opening, nothing but that weird Mclelland smell, with no strong meat smoke or firewood. Now I was a little frustrated. I decided I would break out the big guns next. I went out and bought a tin of Nightcap, thinking I would solve this. No such luck. I find the tin note and taste very similar to EMP; rotten ferment smell, slight leather.
So now I come to you, the experts, in search of answers. I have never seen anyone describe Nightcap as anything other than strong and smoky. What am I missing? Shouldn't the Cyprian Latakia in all of these blends bring a similar character? Is it the influence of the orientals in the Balkan that's giving it so much body? Is there really such a fundamental difference between an English and a Balkan? I was under the assumption that the difference was negligible. Any suggestions on another tobacco that will be similar to my original experience?
Here is where I'm perplexed. I got on P&C and ordered a tin of Dunhil EMP. I was excited for a more mellow Latakia experience. Instead, upon opening I got a huge face full of rotten fruit, cabbage, and the slightest leather, but only with a little drying. I was dumbfounded. What a stark difference. So next I tried Frog Morton. Drove over the river to Straus' Kentucky location to get this one. Upon opening, nothing but that weird Mclelland smell, with no strong meat smoke or firewood. Now I was a little frustrated. I decided I would break out the big guns next. I went out and bought a tin of Nightcap, thinking I would solve this. No such luck. I find the tin note and taste very similar to EMP; rotten ferment smell, slight leather.
So now I come to you, the experts, in search of answers. I have never seen anyone describe Nightcap as anything other than strong and smoky. What am I missing? Shouldn't the Cyprian Latakia in all of these blends bring a similar character? Is it the influence of the orientals in the Balkan that's giving it so much body? Is there really such a fundamental difference between an English and a Balkan? I was under the assumption that the difference was negligible. Any suggestions on another tobacco that will be similar to my original experience?
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