Favorite Borderline Aromatics?

[ofafeather]

There are so many great blends like this. On the Latakia side I would add Samuel Gawith Perfection, Wilke Lizzie Blood Red English (English blend with - light blood orange topping) and Watch City Persian Slipper. Definitely worth exploring Boswell, Country Squire, Wilke and Ken Byron blends.

For Va or burley base Wilke Blood Red VA, Watch City Glass Slipper, so many Gawiyh Hoggarth and Samuel Gawith blends, among others.

I second University Flake and would add Irish Flake and PPP - both are a little stouter. I love Erinmore flake and Firedance Flake. So many good blends.

 

[RL Bucktails]

First off, I'm still fairly new to pipe tobacco. However, it's been one heck of a year trying TONS of different things. That said, Mac Baren Plumcake is hands down my favorite tobacco and if it didn't say 'aromatic' on the tin, I wouldn't have ever called it one.

I'm thankful to have started with pipes at a time where I was able to stockpile this beautiful and tasty blend. Currently sitting on ~5lb bulk and have a handful of tins tucked back to work through and eventually share with my kiddos should they ever want to try daddy's favorite baccy when they get old enough.

Plum cake is good blend. I like that the Latakia is not overpowering.

 

[infectedpsyche]

Plum cake is good blend. I like that the Latakia is not overpowering.

Absolutely! I like Latakia, smoking EMP right now with some coffee but it can be grating in excess. Plumcake has that hint to scratch the itch but still be enjoyable with back-to-back bowls.

 

[--dante--]

Two Friends' Homeward Bound is the only borderline aromatic I smoke fairly regularly. Burley, Virginia, and Cavendish, with a light topping I can't quite describe but is reminiscent of old codger blends. A rare 4-star from @JimInks persuaded me to try it.

 

[fr0st]

When I first picked up a pipe years ago I loved sweet black Cavendish (Cap Black), but I started wanting more. Nothing against aromatics, I honestly haven’t tried many.

My first English was Dunhill EMP, which I still love, along with 965, Nightcap, Rattray’s Black Mallory, Red Rapparie, and Baltics like Black House, etc. My favorite Latakia blends are Oriental forward. The only thing I don’t like about these is what I identify as a stale ashtray smell in the room and on me when I’m done.

I recently gave up Snus- which I’ve found difficult, as I could do that discreetly all day (and night) long. At any rate, I’ve been enjoying a pipe again, and have a healthy cellar of aged blends to enjoy.

I tried a few year old shop blend (likely Lane 1Q) end enjoyed it quite a bit, both during the smoke and the leftover smell. I’m now on the search for a tobacco forward aromatic/English cross.

Based upon a Smoking Pipe’s post I recently ordered a few to try, including C&D Cross-eyed Cricket, Kramer’s Blend for Cary Grant, Lane HGL, and Sillem’s Black. They arrive on Monday and I look forward to trying them out!

 

[ofafeather]

Kramer’s Blend

That reminds me - Father Dempsey may fit the bill, too.

 

[Aylesbury Pike]

When I first picked up a pipe years ago I loved sweet black Cavendish (Cap Black), but I started wanting more. Nothing against aromatics, I honestly haven’t tried many.

My first English was Dunhill EMP, which I still love, along with 965, Nightcap, Rattray’s Black Mallory, Red Rapparie, and Baltics like Black House, etc. My favorite Latakia blends are Oriental forward. The only thing I don’t like about these is what I identify as a stale ashtray smell in the room and on me when I’m done.

I recently gave up Snus- which I’ve found difficult, as I could do that discreetly all day (and night) long. At any rate, I’ve been enjoying a pipe again, and have a healthy cellar of aged blends to enjoy.

I tried a few year old shop blend (likely Lane 1Q) end enjoyed it quite a bit, both during the smoke and the leftover smell. I’m now on the search for a tobacco forward aromatic/English cross.

Based upon a Smoking Pipe’s post I recently ordered a few to try, including C&D Cross-eyed Cricket, Kramer’s Blend for Cary Grant, Lane HGL, and Sillem’s Black. They arrive on Monday and I look forward to trying them out!

Interested to hear more about quitting snus. Did/do you go for particularly high nicotine blends to help ease you over the cravings?

 

[fr0st]

Interested to hear more about quitting snus. Did/do you go for particularly high nicotine blends to help ease you over the cravings?

It can be difficult, the main reason I decided to quit snus is worry about my teeth and gums (after about 10 years of chain-snus’ing). I’m only two weeks out and have been relying on nicotine patches, the strength of which I’m reducing over time.

Every couple of days or so I’ve been enjoying a pipe in the morning. Trying to get to the point of just enjoying the pipe every so often to relax. So, I’m actually looking at lower nic blends, thus revisiting aromatics and English/aro blends.

Best of luck if you’re giving up snus, I’m at the point where I still have the habit of wanting one at certain times of the day, but the cravings pass.

I’m no Dr. or addiction expert, so I don’t want to pass on bad advice. I’m just trying for harm-reduction and getting back to what I enjoy about pipe smoking. Once I’m done with the patches I hope to smoke about one or two bowls a day at most.

 

[Aylesbury Pike]

It can be difficult, the main reason I decided to quit snus is worry about my teeth and gums (after about 10 years of chain-snus’ing). I’m only two weeks out and have been relying on nicotine patches, the strength of which I’m reducing over time.

Every couple of days or so I’ve been enjoying a pipe in the morning. Trying to get to the point of just enjoying the pipe every so often to relax. So, I’m actually looking at lower nic blends, thus revisiting aromatics and English/aro blends.

Best of luck if you’re giving up snus, I’m at the point where I still have the habit of wanting one at certain times of the day, but the cravings pass.

I’m no Dr. or addiction expert, so I don’t want to pass on bad advice. I’m just trying for harm-reduction and getting back to what I enjoy about pipe smoking. Once I’m done with the patches I hope to smoke about one or two bowls a day at most.

Glad to hear you're doing well. Two weeks is a good amount of time to have under your belt, best of luck to you! I've used snus off and on for maybe 10 years. I always quit and then end up picking it back up. I've only been on them again for a few months but i've realizd that they interfere with my enjoyment of pipe smoking, something that I find far greater pleasure in. I have about 10 cans in the cupboard, i'll ration them out and wean myself off. I'm hoping a tin of Stirling Flake will be of use too!

 

[Michigan_Bill]

Eastfarthing is very good.

 

[Tongue-Fried]

Eastfarthing is very good.

I like that one as well. And as I can remember, so did my wife. Or at least she didn’t oppose me smoking it in the dining room after dinner when the kids ran off into the yard, or when watching a movie on the couch.

 

[Brad H]

I heard McClelland Virigina woods. I will open a tin soon. Will report back =[]

 

[fr0st]

My shipment of various English/Aromatics came in yesterday. I jarred the bulk blends, and several seem promising.

The only one I’ve taken time to enjoy (about three bowls so far), is the Lane HGL. I’m really enjoying this blend. As I’ve read in reviews, it has enough Latakia to satisfy my preference for English blends, but the Cavendish produces a pleasant sweet taste and room note. And, it seems to contain enough nicotine to satisfy me in that department.

HGL’s definitely worth checking out. At this point I would be happy with it for an everyday smoke. Of course, I also like that it’s sold in bulk, and comparatively less expensive than my usual choices.

 

[Sig]

Try some Danish Aromatics.
MaCBaren has many that are "light" aromatics.....Virginia #1, Symphony, Golden Extra, VA Flake. These blends taste like great tobacco, with a nice accent flavor. WO Larsen has some tasty blends too.
The Danish tend to use light toppings like sugar and honey, versus other countries that use Cherry Cobbler and Strawberry Shortcake flavorings.
G&H also have some great lighter aromatics.
Another tip is to avoid the dessert flavored blends.....cherry, grape, apple fritter, peach cobbler...
And go for ones with honey, sugar, deer tongue, floral, Rum, whisky, herbs......and the like.
The dessert blends rarely taste like they smell, and never taste like their name implies. They typically cover any tobacco flavor.
The honey, sugar, booze, vanilla, floral.....blends are more like what tobaccos were flavored with long ago.
And tend to be more tobacco forward, with a tasty boost.
These tend to have names like Sunset Breeze and Grandma's Attic, versus Blueberry Pie and Chocolate Gelato like the dessert blends.

 

[Aylesbury Pike]

Grandma's Attic

I was sad to discover that this is not a real blend...

 

[damacene]

Boswell's Countryside is about as good as it gets for me. It's an english with a light topping and delicious orientals.

 

[68748Joe]

Being somewhat new to pipes, and preferring a mild smoke, and not worrying about room note or whatever (dogs don’t seem to notice), I find it a bit confusing doing tobacco searches. There are soooo many blends. Pages of choices.

I may be reading the room wrong, but I get the impression that more experienced smokers, seem to maybe look down on aromatics? Kinda seems like, well I started off with aromatics and now I just smoke….whichever.

When I try to search for non-aromatics with the same profiles as far as strength, etc. all I seem to get is aromatics. But I guess I’m ok with that. I like the Lane BCA.

 

[ofafeather]

But I guess I’m ok with that. I like the Lane BCA.

There is no right answer. Smoke what you enjoy. Aromatics like 1Q and Captain Black are the top selling tobaccos. Many people smoke just one blend. Do what works for you. The challenge with many aromatics is that they are sometimes way too moist which can make them hard to smoke. Many times the flavor doesn’t last. And it’s worse when people smoke hot, which overly moist tobaccos can do. There are many great aromatics.

 

[fr0st]

After smoking a couple of pipes of both Sillem’s Black, and Blend for Cary Grant, I’m a little underwhelmed by both.

I’m going to wait to write full reviews, as they may grow on me. For now I’d label both as just very light English blends, each with a hint of sweetness.

Edited to add: I will also need to try these in another pipe. The one I’m smoking today has enjoyed many years of full English blends.

 

[Aylesbury Pike]

After smoking a couple of pipes of both Sillem’s Black, and Blend for Cary Grant, I’m a little underwhelmed by both.

I’m going to wait to write full reviews, as they may grow on me. For now I’d label both as just very light English blends, each with a hint of sweetness.

Edited to add: I will also need to try these in another pipe. The one I’m smoking today has delivered many years of full English blends.

I'll be interested to hear more as a friend is bringing Sillem's Black for me in a few weeks. To be honest "a light English with a little sweetness" sounds really nice to me. My main worry is that it's another example of my experience with aromatics so far: a nice smell but no tobacco flavour.