If you search the forums here the official GH account said its been the same blend for 2-3 years at this point, kendal kentucky and DBE are being phased out and theyre all Kendal Dark now. And they did this without telling anyone.
Dark Fired Kentucky
- Thread starter BigEd
- Start date
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I’ve been smoking my 2019 Dark Birds E
and it really sucks. I think the new management isn’t to my liking. Non smokers may not know the difference, I’m speculating that the newer management aren’t smokers but I may be wrong. I’m sure they have their reasons but it’s a big loss for us. I’m also a little pissed that I bought all three a few years ago… turns out I wasted money.
Personally, I prefer the more "direct" taste of Dark Fired to the more complex (and to me sometimes overwhelming) Latakia. Just plain smoked burley vs. oriental smoked with 21 herbs and spices 
HH Old Dark Fired is my favorite - it's mostly Dark Fired with a bit of Flue Cured Virginia. It has a lovely sweetness and mollassey taste, but it's a bit strong and I often cut it with PS 400 LNF.
I think Dark Twist is also really great with the light maple sugar topping that as mentioned ends up more like molasses. It's also less potent that ODF so I don't usually alter it at all.
Aside from that, I keep a jar of Sutliff TS-21 Dark Fired to put a pinch into other things like Low Country Rum which are otherwise a bit plain.
HH Old Dark Fired is my favorite - it's mostly Dark Fired with a bit of Flue Cured Virginia. It has a lovely sweetness and mollassey taste, but it's a bit strong and I often cut it with PS 400 LNF.
I think Dark Twist is also really great with the light maple sugar topping that as mentioned ends up more like molasses. It's also less potent that ODF so I don't usually alter it at all.
Aside from that, I keep a jar of Sutliff TS-21 Dark Fired to put a pinch into other things like Low Country Rum which are otherwise a bit plain.
I’ve been enjoying GL Pease Navigator recently. A good Virginia blend with just a touch of DFK, and a very mild rum topping. By no means an aromatic. A good blend to dip your toes into the DFK world if you like Virginias.
Also, there are some DFK cigars that are remarkable. Drew Estates makes these Kentucky Fire Cure sticks that are delicious.
I love latakia. DFK not so much. DFK has a distinctive smell. It is in chew and I've nauseous memories of the smell of DFK in spit cups from having lived in Texas. The smell makes me gag a little. DFK also has too much nic for me. I can only take it in very small doses, like 1792 or Kendal Dark, or heavily diluted with Virginia, like Orlick Strong Dark Kentucky.
GH uses African burly that has been smoked over wood and ? indigenous to The Dark Continent that isn’t found in the USA. It has very different profile than the real item.
I definitely get that also, smoked some ODF yesterday and it’s very reminiscent of Copenhagen, though much better tasting.
Observation of an Old Guy who started pipe smoking 50 years ago, and (by sheer luck) didn't spend the first part of it dealing with tubs of OTC stuff and cheap pipes, but high quality blends and good pipes. (Carl Ehwa was manning the counter the day I walked in to get started, and he set me up).
Here you go:
If you find that the background-y information and discussion about tobacco types and blends confusing and frustrating, just fuhgeddaboudit altogether. Because it's a moving target. Name inconsistency, regional and continental differences in crops, seeds, and soil, marketing terminology, seasonal weather variations, fresh vs. aged, fuel woods used for smoking, how it was stored, and on and on... In the time it takes to learn all that, something will have changed. Rinse and repeat forever.
If knowing those things matters to you business-wise, or simply interests you in the way some people love to know all they can about birds or butterflies, sure, have at it.... But if you simply love pipes and pipe SMOKING, the only path to sanity is think of tobacco in three categories: aromatics, Virginia based blends, and English/Oriental blends.
Then try samples of each, and whichever category "fits", try a few more of it. You'll soon zoom in on exactly what tastes good to YOU.
Which is all that matters.
I've found that I really like something that isn't even sold TO be smoked on its own, but used as a blend component, for example. Smoking it straight is considered to be breaking the rules.
I don't care.
People like what they like, and no two people are the same.
Old Guy out
Here you go:
If you find that the background-y information and discussion about tobacco types and blends confusing and frustrating, just fuhgeddaboudit altogether. Because it's a moving target. Name inconsistency, regional and continental differences in crops, seeds, and soil, marketing terminology, seasonal weather variations, fresh vs. aged, fuel woods used for smoking, how it was stored, and on and on... In the time it takes to learn all that, something will have changed. Rinse and repeat forever.
If knowing those things matters to you business-wise, or simply interests you in the way some people love to know all they can about birds or butterflies, sure, have at it.... But if you simply love pipes and pipe SMOKING, the only path to sanity is think of tobacco in three categories: aromatics, Virginia based blends, and English/Oriental blends.
Then try samples of each, and whichever category "fits", try a few more of it. You'll soon zoom in on exactly what tastes good to YOU.
Which is all that matters.
I've found that I really like something that isn't even sold TO be smoked on its own, but used as a blend component, for example. Smoking it straight is considered to be breaking the rules.
I don't care.
People like what they like, and no two people are the same.
Old Guy out
Those Kentucky fire cured cigars are fantastic.
Gonna have to order more 403. I find the VAs as bought in bulk are pretty tasty, but seem a little young and think it’ll be awesome with some age.