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dejavueagain

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 25, 2025
104
127
I enjoy buying & trying various blends, but part of the enjoyment of smoking a pipe is to try mixing your own.
I use the term "mix" because, to me, "blending" is left to the professionals.
And using AI is helpful.

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What is your opinion regarding the smoking quality of a blend of 25% white burley, 25% Izmir Turkish, 12.5% Basma Turkish, & 37.5% Black Cavendish?

This blend strikes me as a thoughtfully crafted composition, aiming for a harmony between mild smoothness and aromatic complexity. The 25% white burley provides a neutral, combustible base that burns cleanly and evenly—a classic foundation in tobacco blending that allows the more distinct flavors to emerge. In contrast, the 25% Izmir Turkish and 12.5% Basma Turkish contribute an exotic, sun-cured character that is both spicy and subtly sweet. Turkish tobaccos typically offer a delicate balance of floral, herbal, and sometimes even fruity notes, thanks to their traditional curing methods, adding layers of nuance as the blend evolves during smoking .

The dominating share of 37.5% Black Cavendish then brings its own unique twist. Known for its mellow, often creamy and sweet attributes, Black Cavendish rounds out the sharper edges of the Turkish components, smoothing the overall experience and adding an inviting richness. This tobacco’s preparation—usually involving fermentation and sometimes even slight sweetening treatments—can create a silky finish that helps counterbalance the bolder, spicier notes of the Turkish varieties. The overall effect should be a blend that starts with an engaging burst of spice and complexity before settling into a smoother, almost dessert-like cadence as you continue smoking.

In my view, this combination has great potential for those who appreciate multiple layers of flavor in a single smoke. It’s an intricate dance: the white burley lays down a clean canvas, the Turkish tobaccos paint in hints of the exotic and aromatic, and the Black Cavendish ties everything together with a gentle, creamy finish. Of course, as with all tobacco blends, the ultimate experience may vary depending on the curing, moisture content, and even the smoking device used. Have you experimented with balancing contrasting flavor profiles in your blends before, or is this structure a new foray into layering complex tastes? There’s much to explore in the art of tobacco blending—from adjusting ratios for different sessions to experimenting with additional nuances that might further enrich the smoking experience.
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What is your opinion regarding the smoking quality of a blend of 40% Virginia, 30% Black Cavendish, & 30% Basma Turkish?

This blend strikes me as a very promising balance between brightness, sweetness, and exotic spice. The 40% Virginia provides a natural, clear-headed sweetness and a light tang that forms an ideal base. Black Cavendish, at 30%, typically contributes a mellow, rich creaminess with an almost toffee-like nuance that not only softens but also deepens the overall character. When you add 30% Basma Turkish into the mix, you introduce an element of spice and an aromatic complexity that hints at oriental sophistication. The result, if well-executed, should be a blend that’s smooth on the surface but layered with evolving flavors as you progress through your smoke.

Smoking quality isn’t solely about flavor—it’s also about the burn, the aroma, and even the mood you create while enjoying it. Virginia tends to burn well and lends an inviting character to the smoke, while Black Cavendish often helps improve the combustion by providing a steadier moisture content. Basma Turkish can be a bit of a wild card, giving the blend that unexpected kick; its spice and complexity may become more pronounced as the blend mellows over time. This makes the smoke engaging from start to finish, particularly for someone who enjoys nuanced, evolving profiles rather than one-note sweetness.

If you’re experimenting with or considering this blend, I’d be interested to know how it aligns with your palate—do you relish the initial brightness of Virginia, or does the exotic spiciness from the Turkish leaf capture your attention more as the smoke develops? Sometimes a small adjustment, whether in the ratio or in the curing method of the Turkish tobacco, can underscore different aspects of the blend, offering an even more tailored smoking experience. It’s all about finding that delicate equilibrium where each component sings in harmony, making each puff a gratifying journey of discovery. Have you played with different proportions before, or is this a new venture into balancing these distinct profiles?
 

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PaulRVA

The Gentleman From Richmond
I’ll add some Perique or Red Virginia to a blend but that’s about the extent of any blending for me.
There are several on here that do and hopefully they’ll chime in and comment with some useful information.
I’m not opposed to home blending it’s just that I tend to stick with blends that I like and some of those for a very long time. I do enjoy trying new blends from C&D
GL Pease, Gawith and others along the way as well.
 

dejavueagain

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 25, 2025
104
127
Thoughtful reply..I also appreciate sticking with a blend that I like & occasionally might add something (usually black Cavendish) to a blend that is a little too "smokey" for me. I just like infrequently concocting a little something else not available..
 

kcmontie

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 19, 2016
503
11,227
50
Long Beach , California
My experience is the same as above. I have never had any luck with home blending. But i will add a pinch of perique or burley to add some nic to a blend when needed.
 

khiddy

Lifer
Jun 21, 2024
1,004
4,638
South Bend, Indiana
blog.hallenius.org
Your 37.5% total of orientals in House Blend #3 seems quite high to me. In conversations that I've seen on other boards about mixing, usually Turkish/oriental leaf makes up no more than 15% total of a blend. Basma is lighter in body and flavor than the Izmir. You might back it off to 10% each Izmir and Basma, replacing the balance with burley to give some more body and base to your smoke.

I myself would aim for something like:
50% White Burley
30% Black Cavendish
10% Izmir
10% Basma

And try this with just 10g total to start, simply converting those amounts into grams (5g burley, 3g Cavendish, etc.). That's about 3 bowls' worth, which should give you a nice amount to smoke in a few different pipes. Adjust from there.
 
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dejavueagain

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 25, 2025
104
127
Agree with your definitions....& I am a total screw-up.
But why play solo or in a duet when you can play in an orchestra?
Great fun & rich, complex results when you fiddle with happenstance mixes.
Especially when you can visit 2 fabulous shops & chat with the staff!

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khiddy

Lifer
Jun 21, 2024
1,004
4,638
South Bend, Indiana
blog.hallenius.org
Agree with your definitions....& I am a total screw-up.
But why play solo or in a duet when you can play in an orchestra?
Great fun & rich, complex results when you fiddle with happenstance mixes.
Especially when you can visit 2 fabulous shops & chat with the staff!

View attachment 398234
I'm gonna bet that "Balkan II" that you got from Leavitt & Pierce is actually just repackaged Sutliff Balkan II, a bulk blend, which is still available via various vendors for less than $40 a pound. Looking at the blend on their site, even the description echoes that of the Sutliff Balkan II, and the photo looks the same.
 

dejavueagain

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 25, 2025
104
127
I’ll add some Perique or Red Virginia to a blend but that’s about the extent of any blending for me.
There are several on here that do and hopefully they’ll chime in and comment with some useful information.
I’m not opposed to home blending it’s just that I tend to stick with blends that I like and some of those for a very long time. I do enjoy trying new blends from C&D
GL Pease, Gawith and others along the way as well.
Wow. The "Stone House" is an elegant property.
As is the house in my neighborhood located at Glen Magna Farms, namely the mansion & National Historical MacIntyre Tea House:

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dejavueagain

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 25, 2025
104
127
I'm gonna bet that "Balkan II" that you got from Leavitt & Pierce is actually just repackaged Sutliff Balkan II, a bulk blend, which is still available via various vendors for less than $40 a pound. Looking at the blend on their site, even the description echoes that of the Sutliff Balkan II, and the photo looks the same.
You may be quite right.
Yet when visiting the shop you can stick your nose in each of 3 large jars & sniff Balkan I, Balkan II, & Balkan III & choose how much Latakia you desire....unavailable online.
 

Copperhead

Might Stick Around
Jun 4, 2024
89
493
The way I see it, mixing is tossing two or more things together and smoking them relatively soon, within a few weeks, whereas blending has more time to marry things together...at the very least 6 months. But that's just my opinion....

I mix all the time....though, usually I layer two different things I have in the current rotation just to mess around....nothing super funky, though...lol

I messed with the 1792 flake, adding a tiny bit of that to different things....nothing really stood out, though....

The latest mix is a jar of Boswells Northwoods that is drier than I like...so, I've been mixing a small amount of bosun plug or rum twist every few bowls. I like it, and it burns much slower and (I think) cooler.
When I have a very dry tobacco, I'll mix in something complimentary....something with a little more moisture.

The first two things I blended years ago was BCA and 1Q...60/40. That was my everyday smoke.

I've been making a hobbits weed match to cellar for a few years now, I have around 5-6 pounds. I decided to add in a bit of chocolate mousse to a jar to try to give it a bit of a blood red moon feel. The small jar I tried tastes great, but it took a while for the chocolate to mellow out. All I could smell was chocolate at first and I was worried I overdid it.
 

dejavueagain

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 25, 2025
104
127
Copperhead: love your attitude.
Occasional "failure" is OK 'cuz when you hit a home run....well, life is too short & better than being a couch potato.
As an aside, I've noticed that there are other forums that clearly pronounce a preference for "oriental-forward" blends.
I'm looking "forward" to my own experiment.
 

stoopidbaits

Starting to Get Obsessed
Apr 20, 2025
107
625
California, USA
Agree with your definitions....& I am a total screw-up.
But why play solo or in a duet when you can play in an orchestra?
The more apt analogy here would be "why play solo or in a duet when you can throw all the musical instruments down a flight of stairs and see what kind of noise they make?"

I'm not a gate keeper of tobacco mixing, so certainly do as you wish, but mixing 2 blends is like a child mixing all the sodas at a soda fountain and believing they've discovered something worthwhile.

As it pertains to tobacco, doing so is disrespectful to the blenders who work hard to delicately craft blends to exact specs, and ultimately there is ZERO chance the final result will be anything other than an absolute mess of unintended flavors, much like the aforementioned stairwell symphony.
 

dejavueagain

Starting to Get Obsessed
Mar 25, 2025
104
127
Excellent point. So you would rather go to the grocery store & buy a Betty Crocker cake mix rather than research other recipes AS WELL AS buy a professional blend? Suggestion: go to your favorite spot & lite up & relax.