First English

[hawk60ce]

I tried my first english tonight. I received a nice sampling of Park Lane NY Connoisseur Flake from herbindave. I smoked it right after finishing a bowl of Peterson Sunset Breeze (in a fresh pipe of course). while i wouldnt say im a full convert to the english, i will say it is very good and definitely has its place. I've only smoked aro's to this point and mostly those from boswell's, but this is a nice change and a nice addition to the rotation i believe. Thanks Dave!!

 

[adam12]

Well you definitely started with a good one

 

[hawk60ce]

seems to burn hot. that could be to my quick smoking problems or my pipe. regardlesss, wasnt unpleasant and kind of reminds me of my cigar smoking days.

 

[adam12]

It does require a little time to burn, I notice when I smoke English I have to be more patient. Some may disagree but I like to take my time mainly because of the complexity of it, you get more out of it that way

 

[hawk60ce]

well damn...well still broadened my horizons. how would that compare to an english? def didnt smoke like an aro. and im sure i puff to hard. still trying to sip anything i smoke. my problem is im usually out on the patio and my pipe just gets clenched in my mouth. so i just sit and puff while im on the computer or by the fire pit.
guess i still need to try an english lol

 

[adam12]

Hmm Dave, doesn't that have a perique mixed in? I thought there was a dose of perique in a few different VAs in there...

 

[hawk60ce]

so is Presbyterian a light VA flake as well? i have found that im not fond of burley. something with a touch of burley is ok, but if its heavy in the burley then i stay away. Black cavendish and VA for me so far. say i were to get a tin of dunhill night cap or early morning...how does that classify?

 

[shawn622]

As baron would say... "Welcome to the dark side."

 

[hawk60ce]

i still love my aros, i think more for the room note. but the light VA's and englishes i think will have there place. love broadeneing my horizons. there is so much to learn with this hobby.

 

[adam12]

Ah the Park Lane site says C-Flake is all Virginias, I thought it had some perique. It is a pretty potent VA blend though... easy to see why it would burn that way

 

[adam12]

Red Paramour

Amazing stuff.

 

[will]

If you get Nightcap that would be considered an English blend.

There is a decent amount of Latakia in there, I never had EMP but I am guessing that would be a bit milder.

Good luck into the new territories, it is such fun trying new blends.

 

[thesmokindragon]

Welcome....welcome

 

[sparroa]

I'm not familiar with the blends in question but I'm sure if you smoke Nightcap you will forever after have an idea of what an English blend tastes like...
I'm personally of the school of thought that says you're better off trying a full English or Balkan with a fair dose of latakia for your first foray into the category... At least then you know what you are getting into! Crossover blends aren't my thing.

 

[judcole]

If you smoked a Virginia, you definitely need to smoke it slowly, as was mentioned above. And a Virginia blend is nothing like an "English" blend, which has latakia in it.

 

[hawk60ce]

ok...so this was my first VA. will shoot for an actual english sometime soon.

 

[sparroa]

You'll know an English when you first taste the strong leathery, woodsiness of the blend... Truly smoky - may sound funny to hear smoke called "smoky" but you'll know what I meant as soon as you taste it!
VAs have a nice natural sweetness to them, most times, but they are a different animal. English blends usually contain VA but latakia defines them...

 

[hawk60ce]

noted. irregardlessly (yes thats a play on words), very different from a standard black cavendish blend

 

[sparroa]

As different as chalk and cheese!
It's not impossible that you'd like both, though... I like all styles of tobacco I've tried so far, although when it comes to some brands I can take it or leave it... Still, you might find that you enjoy an English or a Va/per for a change of pace even though you continue to smoke aromatics 90% of the time...

 

[hawk60ce]

I think thats what i liked was the change of pace. Definitely still love my boswells christmas cookie!!