Favorite Blends from Local Shops

[Milleniumsmoker]

I thought I might start a thread about favorite blends from local shops. I know not all of us will have experienced them, but I thought it might be fun to share some of them and what makes them unique. I'll get the ball rolling. Please let me know in the off chance you might have tried the blend or not, as I'm interested to see what people might have thought about this quite unique blend:

Lockwoods. Store: Owl Shop.

A very interesting blend that fascinates me to this day for the simple fact I cannot figure out what's inside it. It's listed as a Latakia blend, but it also has some components of aromatic in it as well. It's such a light and unique flavor profile I never could figure out what was inside. I'm not sure if it's a combination of whiskey and cinnamon, or caramel and rum, or what was in there. But it was such a complex blend I could literally smoke it all day and never grow tired of it. It's not available at the moment but fingers crossed it will reappear at some point from the local blender. What was interesting about this blend is that it was quite light. Usually that's a non-starter for an aromatic blend, but this wasn't an aromatic blend. The aromatic blend supported and enhanced that Latakia, which is nothing I had experienced before. Spectacular! If I could I would just sit and smoke that blend all day, everyday.

There was another great blend made there called Bancroft Tower which is almost identical to Sam Gawaith Balkan flake (actually in my opinion Bancroft Tower was better).

Looking forward to reading and commenting on any of your favorite blends!

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

Arrowhead from Paul's Pipe Shop in Flint. It's vanilla based with other flavors that is similar to, but better than, 1-Q.

It's their best seller and known as both the house blend and "crack" tobacco.

The shop itself is worth a visit but they accept phone orders.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

Arrowhead from Paul's Pipe Shop in Flint. It's vanilla based with other flavors that is similar to, but better than, 1-Q.

It's their best seller and known as both the house blend and "crack" tobacco.

The shop itself is worth a visit but they accept phone orders.

That sounds really nice!

 

[boston]

Rythem and Blues, Watch City. My son is a fan of Elf Dandruff . (And I am too). EQ is a wizard.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

Rythem and Blues, Watch City. My son is a fan of Elf Dandruff . (And I am too). EQ is a wizard.

I've heard so many good things from that store! I will have to give some of those a try

 

[kcghost]

I know at one time Cigat & Tabac used to create a number of English blends: Cromwell, Camelot, and others.

 

[vecchio]

Edwards in Tampa has a blend they call Quick Draw, which they say is their best seller. It is mild and lightly aromatic. My experience with blends is very limited so I don’t really know what to compare it to, but I do like this one.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

I think sometimes local blenders can be hit or miss, but when they do hit, they are much better than many tinned blends. That may be my personal bias, but I know I received more enjoyment from local blends than tinned over the years.

 

[Sidehatch]

Hate to give away secrets but hey . . Let’s share for benefit for all. The Stag in Colorado Springs is an outstanding B&M. Best people for staff and they have some of their own blends. Private Reserve is a black cavendish blend that is a pleasure to smoke and they won’t tell me what it’s based off. But I prefer it to BCA. No on-site sales. No clue if they ship if you call, but if you’re in area Pick up a bag. Most enjoyable.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

Hate to give away secrets but hey . . Let’s share for benefit for all. The Stag in Colorado Springs is an outstanding B&M. Best people for staff and they have some of their own blends. Private Reserve is a black cavendish blend that is a pleasure to smoke and they won’t tell me what it’s based off. But I prefer it to BCA. No on-site sales. No clue if they ship if you call, but if you’re in area Pick up a bag. Most enjoyable.

I will have to check that out. Some of the best blends are the ones they won't disclose what the ingredients are. That's the case with Lockwoods. They told me the basic components but they kind of smiled and said it's "Latakia, a little aromatic, and something special." It's always that little something special that makes the blends so enjoyable.

 

[Peter Turbo]

nice, i came here to post an Owl Shop blend as well. Harkness Tower.

i used to frequent the New Haven, CT shop more pre covid, havent been there in awhile now.

 

[kschatey]

I've heard so many good things from that store! I will have to give some of those a try

Honestly, there hasn't been anything from WCC that I haven't liked and I pretty much love most of it ... You cannot go wrong with Watch City Slices, 558, Simply Red, Old Dominion, and Elf's Dandruff!

 

[kschatey]

I really like Uhle's Crushed White Burley.

 

[mso489]

You have to be wary because many of the blends offered in local shops are just standard blends from large major blenders renamed to hide the source from the customer so they'll come back and buy it from the store. So many, probably most, of these are really 1-Q and other Lane blends, Peter Stokkebye blends of various kinds, Sutliff and similar blends. The number of shops that actually do their own blending is small, and once the FDA deeming laws go into full force, if they do, shop blends will become rare to non-existent because of the paperwork and expense of getting blends approved for sale.

 

[crawdad]

Milan Tobacconist in Roanoke, VA is not far from me and their match Walnut and Sunset Rum are very good.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

You have to be wary because many of the blends offered in local shops are just standard blends from large major blenders renamed to hide the source from the customer so they'll come back and buy it from the store. So many, probably most, of these are really 1-Q and other Lane blends, Peter Stokkebye blends of various kinds, Sutliff and similar blends. The number of shops that actually do their own blending is small, and once the FDA deeming laws go into full force, if they do, shop blends will become rare to non-existent because of the paperwork and expense of getting blends approved for sale.

I agree with that assessment. I noticed some of the blends were really lackluster I've tried from local stores. Once I find a diamond in the rough, I consider myself lucky. From the store I buy, their blends are quite unique but I have encountered what you've said before definitely.

 

[Laurent]

I’m also a fan of Paul’s pipe shop arrowhead.

 

[cohiba007]

What local shops? Orlando ?