Do You Ever Revisit a Former “No”?

[rmbittner]

Since so many factors can influence our response to a new blend—weather, pipe, mood, etc.—do you ever go back to a blend you didn’t like to see if anything’s changed?

For instance, I first tried Dunhill’s Royal Yacht as a fairly new and inexperienced pipe smoker. I did not enjoy it. Thirty years later, I decided I should probably revisit it, just to see if the intervening years had taught me anything that might help me understand and appreciate it more.

They did not. (Never mind the flavoring; it’s just too nicotine-rich for me.)

There aren’t a lot of blends I flat-out haven’t liked—unless they’re over the nicotine line for me or it’s an aromatic lacking in real tobacco flavor. But one of them is SG’s Firedance Flake, and I’m wondering if it deserves another chance. Although I finished my original tin—smoked in 2007—I really didn’t have much good to say about the blend, noting that the aroma, when smoked, reminded me strongly of stinky feet! Yet this one has a following… So maybe it’s worth trying again to see if my perceptions have changed…?

Is it “one and done” for you if you don’t like a blend? Or do you ever go back to former failures to see if they’re now a better fit?

 

[didimauw]

I used to try some blends again. Only because I just still had some and was bored. 90 percent of the time I know right away if I'll like it or not. If I can finish a tin, it goes into my rotation. Which right now is about 5 consistent blends.

 

[OSOBUCO]

I have a few jars of One and Done tobaccos. I might revisit them since I already have a couple ounces but I will never buy them again. Why would I when there are so many others I really enjoy and dozens I haven't even tried yet. My One and Done's will likely be traded or gifted to someone who appreciates them more.

 

[MikeDub]

I have bunch of mason jars that I thought were going to be one and done. I’ll try them and not be impressed and put them away for awhile. Then a few weeks to a month later I’ll look to make some room and pull out one of those blends to smoke every morning until it’s gone, and by day 3 or 4 I’ll come to the conclusion that I actually like it now and it gets put into the rotation.

Just this past week I pulled out Watch City Deluxe Crumb Cut & 558 Slices to smoke through and came to the conclusion that they are in fact both phenomenal and I might need to order some more of both. This happens pretty much every week at this point.

 

[OSOBUCO]

I will say my only One and Done's are some aromatics that are so bloody syrupy and sickening sweet that they turn my stomach. I've never had an english, vaper etc that repulsed me but then again Ive only been at this in a. big way for 18 months

 

[bobpnm]

I do. Recently I returned to Grousemoor. Wish I hadn’t. It’s now two and done. Nuclear option done!

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

No outright no's but there have been a couple of so-so's that turned around with a second or third try. Sir John's Flake Virginia is a notable one.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I'm the same way with Royal Yacht. I've had two tins over the years, and wasn't excited by it either time. But as one of Dunhill's oldest blends with enthusiastic fans, I keep thinking I should try it again...

 

[cosmicfolklore]

A few Lakelands, Mixture 79, and any goopy goopy aro... I just have no interest in trying again. However, with a non-aromatic, very few have repulsed me, unless it was the casing or just too strong in latakia... both of which some age usually takes care of. But, they probably won't become "fantastic" blends to me. But, none really come to mind... just the theory, ha ha.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Royal Yacht was a little different for me. I liked it ok at first, and smoked maybe 5 tins... I liked the strength more than the flavor. Such a strange taste, like they were trying to make it taste like a plummy VaPer, but failed at it. But, made something else all together.
At the time it was popular on the forums, but there are so many other blends that I really like that I just never returned to it. Not because it was bad, just not as good to me as many other blends. I think I have a few more tins of it that I may try again once it reaches old age, and I need something stronger.

 

[SBC]

Usually if I don't like it at first, I won't like it later. But a notable exception was Stonehenge. Didn't like it, traded several tins away. Later dipped into the jar I kept, and immediately wished I had kept the rest!

 

[vosBghos]

the only blend I returned to after first being repulsed by it was Pegasus when I first smoked it right from the bulk bag it tasted sour and offputting then after 3 months in the jar I tried it again and it was a completely different blend and I smoked through the rest of the 2 oz over the weekend and ordered 8 oz

 

[rmbittner]

Sounds like most respondents are going back after weeks or months and finding that time has benefited the blends. Since I wouldn’t expect to see dramatic changes during that time, it seems like these blends weren’t that far off from your tastes in the first place.

 

[telescopes]

There are some Gawith and Hoggarth blends I skip over, but that is due to nicotine strength. What I find fascinating is how comforted I am and drawn to my own blend of tobacco that I have smoked for well over four decades. It is a mild aromatic with a few mild vanilla and nougat notes.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

When I glanced at the title of this thread from the main page, I thought this might be about women.

 

[sablebrush52]

Absolutely! Most notably Germain's version of Balkan Sobranie. I found it awful when I first smoked a bowl of it and came back after 5 years to see if aging had improved it. I found it even more disgusting than before. I can't finish a bowl of it. It's just flat out evil tasting irredeemable crap redolent of burning tires, gasoline, and puppy farts.

I've given Penzanace several tries and just don't find it a particularly well balanced blend.

Viprati is one that I did't think much of when I first smoked it, but now enjoy on the occasion that I open a tin.

 

[mso489]

And how. My mantra for new pipe smokers in sampling blends, besides buy small quantities no matter how much you like a blend at first, is if you don't like a blend put it in a jar and try it in a year. Your tastes will change. But this is true for experienced smokers too.

Two examples in somewhat recent memory are Bayou Night from C&D which just seemed overbearing, which on second try was a fine robust blend, and Iwan Ries Three Star Blue, a codger blend that at first seemed harsh and edgy, and became pleasingly mellow, probably because I learned to smoke it more slowly.

So yes, changes in taste happen all the time, and all the more so if you smoke a variety of blends, which I do.

 

[jpmcwjr]

When I glanced at the title of this thread from the main page, I thought this might be about women.

And it could have been, in the right forum!

As to coming back to a shunned blend, I have, but with little note.

 

[mortonbriar]

Excluding blends with perique (which I have a body chemistry kind of reaction to) and also excluding heavily sauced blends I am often finding myself enjoying something I thought little of previously. Accusations of a smoke being bland, harsh, green, over powering can all be given a second chance. Sometimes the blend just needed to sit a few years, but more likely I just need to smoke it in the right moment, with a clean palate and relaxed cadence.

 

[biodarwin]

OGS for me. Fresh it was a bit flat, stashed it away and the next year I loved it!