Core Four

[pepperandjack]

Dark Flake
Rustica
Brown Bogey
1792

 

[MikeDub]

SG FVF
C&D CRF
GH Ennerdale Flake
GL Pease Geometrie

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I don't have a core 4, but I do have many favorites. If I had to be stuck with only 4 blends, I think I would go with the following to give some variety.

Esoterica - Margate
Samuel Gawith - Skiff Mixture
Seattle Pipe Club - Mississippi River
Lane Limited - 1Q

 

[Gimlet]

I'm rapidly heading towards a core eight. I think I just like tobacco.

 

[Skippy B. Coyote]

I like revisiting this thread every so often, since I'm only in my second year of really active pipe smoking, and I'm finding that my tastes are naturally changing a bit over time. Four months ago when I last posted in this thread I was mainly smoking aromatics, all of which I still enjoy, but looking now at the jars in my cellar to see which I've smoked the most of over the winter I realize that there are four I've almost emptied while the majority of the other blends remain barely touched.

Those four are:

Mac Baren - HH Pure Virginia
Cornell & Diehl - Pegasus
Peterson - Early Morning Pipe
Gawith Hoggarth - Kendal Black Cherry

It seems like whether I've wanted a Virginia blend, a Burley blend, an English blend, or something with added flavorings I've loaded up a pipe of one of those four in fairly equal measure. They're all pretty middle of the road blends in nicotine strength and flavor profile, and fairly orthodox representations of their particular blend styles. Here's your Virginia, here's your Burley, here's your English, and here's a Lakeland. I guess that's what I seem to like!

 

[Lumbridge]

I'm uncomplicated:

• Carter Hall
• Newminster No. 400
• Haunted Bookshop
• HH Old Dark Fired

I prefer to have variety, but I'd still be happy with a couple of great pipes and those four blends. I like latakia, but could live without it.

 

[DanWil84]

If I had to chose 4 tobaccos right now:
MB Navy Flake
Presby
HU Janneman
A vanilla aromatic like MB Classic Roll Cake

But this list could change tomorrow. What would not reach the list fast is a straight VA.

 

[autumnfog]

For now it woul be:
- Capstan Blue
- Haunted Bookshop
- HH Bold Kentucky
- GLP Quiet Nights

 

[DedHed Piper]

Atm, my top four:
Capstan
Squadron Leader
Old Gowrie
Peterson De luxe Navy Rolls
Makhuwa
Fayyum Kake
St James Flake
Solani 633
Nightcap
Quiet Nights
Maltese Falcon
Presbyterian
Orlik Golden Slice

aaaaaand Skiff.

That was about four, right?

 

[dunnyboy]

I have no indispensable blends but I have a pair that I'd really miss:

Davidoff Flake Medallions and Dunhill/Peterson Deluxe Navy Rolls

 

[romaso]

Mac Baren Vanilla Cream
Sutliff 507C Virginia Slices
Sutliff Edgeworth RR Match
Stokkebye PS301 Dutch Cav

 

[Skippy B. Coyote]

Back again! Since February the only blend that has stayed in my regular "sitting out on the counter for daily smoking" rotation has been Early Morning Pipe. I've found myself once again returning to my favorites from last autumn, Carter Hall and Haunted Bookshop, and seem to have finally found a taste for Virginias and smoked through nearly an entire tin of Orlik Golden Sliced over the past month.

So, my countertop rotation for April looks like:

Orlik - Golden Sliced
Carter Hall
Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop
Peterson - Early Morning Pipe

 

[Douglas]

To keep it at four and to have a variety, I’d go with:

1. Arango Balkan Supreme, I enjoy it more than any other blend.

2. C&D Bayou Morning, My go to back up when not smoking number 1.

3. 5 Bros, just simple Burley bliss.

4. C&D Crooner, Can’t explain this one, sometimes I just want it.

 

[vosBghos]

as of late

1. Dunhill dark Flake
2. Solani ABF
3. HU Soraya
4. SG FVF

 

[Sigmund]

If I can cheat on the rules and have a tin of blending lat and perique

DIrectors Cut
Zulu
Makhuwa
White Horses

Maybe someone could loan me a pick and also have Salty Dogs.

Of coures I have more but those actually are my core blends.

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

I couldn't have a core 4, but maybe a top 10? I love variety. I like to give my palate a break from just one single blend and prefer to smoke a lighter blend in the morning and a stronger/darker blend at night. My top 4 favorites are in no order:
1) Nightcap
2) Charing Cross
3) Drucquer&Sons Levant
4) Quiet Nights
PS, I smoke certain Virginia, Darkfired, and Lakelands too that I really enjoy on occasion. Again, variety. I find I enjoy my favorites more in this way and some blends I just have to be in a mood for.

 

[renfield]

Only 4?

McClellands 40th Anniversary
Capstan Blue
HH Burley Flake
GLP Chelsea Morning

A completely non-exhaustive list, more of a small subset of the core. I like variety.