First English Blend

[Highlandpiper]

Well, after 2 months in the hobby smoking aromatics I thought I'd have a go at an English Blend. Bought a tin of Chieftain Blacksmith and got excited about trying something new. Wow, I'm still not sure to how to describe the experience.
The aroma was so different with such a strong distinct smell that I was a little nervous whilst packing my Savanelli arcobaleno.
The taste was so different to my previous smokes that initially I thought something was amiss. However with every sip came a greater appreciation of the spicy notes of my first English blends.
In general I would definitely recommend experimenting across the English/Armomatic divide but be ready for a completely different smoke. For any malt whisky drinkers I would compare drinking a strong Islay malt after a Highland malt. Both excellent but so different.
I would be interested to hear whether people stick to one or the other or do people alternate.
Whatever's in your next bowl, enjoy.

 

[bullet08]

First Lat blend always leaves impression. I smoke once a day, so it's different day to day. There are some who smokes 5 - 6 bowls or more a day. It depends on the smoker what blends and how they decide what to smoke when. Most seems to prefer milder blend in the morning and more stout ones at night.

 

[rmbittner]

Thanks for sharing your experience. (I’d never even heard of the Chieftain brand before…)

It sounds like you started with a high-quality blend. I’ll just say that not every English blend contains perique, which is likely the tobacco that was giving you the “spicy notes.” And not every “non-aromatic” contains latakia, which is typically reminiscent of campfires and wood smoke. There are many blends that are Virginia-only, Virginia/burley, Virginia/orientals, and Virginia/perique…or combinations thereof, but which aren’t “aromatically” flavored. Because of all the variations, it’s just easy to refer to blends as either “English” or “aromatic,” but there are lots of variations…and even some crossovers (Gawith Hoggarth’s Bob’s Chocolate Flake is one of my favorites; it’s a Virginia/burley flake with a touch of latakia and a hint of cocoa).

I certainly don’t alternate between aromatics and English blends, but I can enjoy (rarely) an aromatic, assuming its built on quality tobacco and not all about the added flavoring. The vast majority of my smoking, though, involves English, Balkans (a subgenre of English/latakia blends), Virginias, and Virginia/burley flakes. But I’m extremely sensitive to perique, so I can’t smoke a blend that contains much of it at all, and I don’t enjoy medium-to-strong nicotine in a blend. But if you’re able to find and enjoy all of those varieties, there is a vast world of tobacco awaiting you!

 

[FLDRD]

Happily meander between many different blends and types... variety is part of the pleasure for me.

 

[Indygrap]

I just got into English blends myself & I’m enjoying the experience. There’s several threads on here(mine included) that ask about favorites. The folks on here gave me enough suggestions to keep my cellar full & bank account empty for a while. Enjoy the journey !

 

[Highlandpiper]

I just got into English blends myself & I’m enjoying the experience. There’s several threads on here(mine included) that ask about favorites. The folks on here gave me enough suggestions to keep my cellar full & bank account empty for a while. Enjoy the journey !

I'll definitely be reading those threads.

 

[Highlandpiper]

Happily meander between many different blends and types... variety is part of the pleasure for me.

Think that's the way I'll go for now, enjoying the journey.

 

[kcghost]

If you got a bona fide English it should have a smell we frequently associate with Latakia. If you do have any other smell, it means they used something other than Latakia to flavor. It could be Oriental or Burley. Anyway, there are thousands of English blends, you'd have to try them yourself to see if they okay for you. For just one, I'd recommend Nightcap.

 

[anotherbob]

my first enjoyed latakia blend wasn't English. It was latakia flake from the H.H. series. Honestly my first thought was it tasted nautical to me. I don't even know why I felt that but I honestly thought if I ever play a sailor and I get to smoke a pipe while doing it this is the leaf for me to do it.

 

[mso489]

Some pipe smokers get jaded smoking English blends. Often Latakia is cited as a reason. I don't think I have because I rotate a lot between English and other genres -- burley, Va, Va/Per, and such. There are so many English blends, so you can get some variety in the genre itself -- with burley as a condiment, or cigar leaf, or various Orientals, and so on. It's always a pleasure to light up a good English, well blended, that burns evenly and well.

 

[Highlandpiper]

my first enjoyed latakia blend wasn't English. It was latakia flake from the H.H. series. Honestly my first thought was it tasted nautical to me. I don't even know why I felt that but I honestly thought if I ever play a sailor and I get to smoke a pipe while doing it this is the leaf for me to do it.

Nautical? Great descriptor for what I was tasting. Islay malt whisky has the same general feel. Thx

 

[Highlandpiper]

If you got a bona fide English it should have a smell we frequently associate with Latakia. If you do have any other smell, it means they used something other than Latakia to flavor. It could be Oriental or Burley. Anyway, there are thousands of English blends, you'd have to try them yourself to see if they okay for you. For just one, I'd recommend Nightcap.

Definitely believe I now know what latakia smells/taste like. Once I got over the surprise enjoyed it, will definitely not hideaway from latakia or perique

 

[trouttimes]

Welcome to the dark side.

 

[simong]

Oriental leaf & single malts.... What's not to like!
Lots of new smokers tend to fall in love with English /Oriental blends, overdo it & smoke nothing else until they tire of it. Many lose their taste for it altogether!
I only smoke it in the evening, along with a dram & still love it.
If you get the chance, you should definitely try these ones :
Germans 1820 Flake
Germans Special Latakia Flake
GH's Exmoor Mixture
Gawith's Commonwealth Mixture
Gawith's Skiff & Squadron Leader

 

[Bullmoose]

Welcome to a whole new world. While I’m not at all trying to poo all over aromatics, because there certainly are some worthwhile ones, venturing into the English and VaPer worlds was a total game changer for me. Sounds like it was the same for you.

Before we know it, you’ll be on here telling us how much you just can’t get enough of that tar/creosote flavor in Quiet Nights

 

[anotherbob]

Nautical? Great descriptor for what I was tasting. Islay malt whisky has the same general feel. Thx

Thanks I thought I might be weird.

 

[Cyxelsid]

Thanks I thought I might be weird.

I'm new here, but I am guessing that although THIS doesn't make you weird... SOMETHING probably does! We all have a little WEIRD in our DNA!

 

[tirefire]

Well, after 2 months in the hobby smoking aromatics I thought I'd have a go at an English Blend. Bought a tin of Chieftain Blacksmith and got excited about trying something new. Wow, I'm still not sure to how to describe the experience.
The aroma was so different with such a strong distinct smell that I was a little nervous whilst packing my Savanelli arcobaleno.
The taste was so different to my previous smokes that initially I thought something was amiss. However with every sip came a greater appreciation of the spicy notes of my first English blends.
In general I would definitely recommend experimenting across the English/Armomatic divide but be ready for a completely different smoke. For any malt whisky drinkers I would compare drinking a strong Islay malt after a Highland malt. Both excellent but so different.
I would be interested to hear whether people stick to one or the other or do people alternate.
Whatever's in your next bowl, enjoy.

My trek is similar. After a few weeks smoking aros and being less than thrilled with them, I jumped to Englishes. First one was GLP Chelsea Morning. I was alright but not enough to keep my attention. I'm currently smoking GLP Quiet Nights--a winner in my book.

I like your single-malt analogy and may have to revisit some Islays.

 

[Briar Tuck]

Happily meander between many different blends and types... variety is part of the pleasure for me.

Same here.

 

[greysmoke]

Welcome... I still vividly remember my first full English tobacco, BBB from Chief Catoonah's, back in 1997. It may be a literal overstatement to call it "life changing," but it certainly ignited a transformation for this pipe smoker.

There are in-between blends, some worthy of note, called "English aromatics." Simply described, they're aromatic blends that incorporate Latakia.

"Shortcut to Mushrooms" by Just for Him was one that I thoroughly enjoyed, but it's no longer offered. I have a few remaining ounces that I'm hanging on to. Shortcut has been replaced by Bombadil, which I've tried, but it's more of an aromatic with slight overtones of Latakia. It's no longer the experience of English crossed with aromatic IMHO.

An always great choice, though, is Sillem's Black. It can be elusive, but it's still out there and it's a great Lat/Aro that's well worth your time.

Smoke in peace.