Ghosting as an Enhancement

[WildTurkeySurprise]

There’s a lackluster VA tobacco I’ve been keeping in my truck with the sole intent of using it up to make room for something better. It’s not awful, it’s just a blend I find unremarkable, and I see no point in hanging on to it. Today, for lack of a reason not to, I packed it into a pipe I have always used with English blends. The ghosting was apparent through the entire smoke, but it wound up adding just a bit of depth and nuance to the otherwise boring VA, and the overall experience was WAY more interesting. The effects of ghosting are typically referred to as something to avoid, but I thought I’d share with y‘all a tactical use for it that I have stumbled across. Cheers, friends!

 

[anotherbob]

I've been saying that this is a thing that works for years now. In fact there was a blend I hated but thought it added a nice ghost to a pipe that I used to break my pipes in with. No idea what it is now as that was over 20 years ago. Dang I is getting old.

 

[Red Leader]

If it works, it works!

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

If you really like the flavors of the tobacco that is doing the ghosting, I suppose that would work. Seems more logical to me to just smoke the ghosting tobacco you prefer though instead of getting hints of it while smoking crappy tobacco.

 

[romaso]

There’s a lackluster VA tobacco... I packed it into a pipe I have always used with English blends. The ghosting was apparent through the entire smoke, but it wound up adding just a bit of depth and nuance to the otherwise boring VA, and the overall experience was WAY more interesting.

You could try mixing the two tobaccos together to see if you like the new mixed blend. I suggest mixing only a bowlful at a time, but keep track of what ratio you use in case you like it.

 

[mortonbriar]

I refer to this as a 'Casper', because it is a friendly ghost. I will pick out my english/balkan dedicated pipes to smoke some simple virginia occasionally to catch that subtle latakia throughout...

 

[alaskanpiper]

I do this every once in a while with my lakeland pipes, throw a VA in there with a little lakeland ghost can be quite enjoyable. Theres always the option of home blending with lackluster VAs as well. A little DFK and/or Perique can go a long way after a few weeks in a jar.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I definitely do enjoy jumping back and forth between Aromatic and English blends in the same pipe.

 

[Qball89]

It’s refreshing to see that I’m not the only one that enjoys the added flavors from time to time. ?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I enjoy a good ghost from time to time. I have an aromatic pipe that I will smoke an English in to get those hints of vanilla, and I definitely understand the pleasures of a latakia ghost for some blends, Virginias and even some light burleys. I definitely like to shake it up a bit as well.

 

[FLDRD]

There’s a lackluster VA tobacco I’ve been keeping in my truck with the sole intent of using it up to make room for something better. It’s not awful, it’s just a blend I find unremarkable, and I see no point in hanging on to it. Today, for lack of a reason not to, I packed it into a pipe I have always used with English blends. The ghosting was apparent through the entire smoke, but it wound up adding just a bit of depth and nuance to the otherwise boring VA, and the overall experience was WAY more interesting. The effects of ghosting are typically referred to as something to avoid, but I thought I’d share with y‘all a tactical use for it that I have stumbled across. Cheers, friends!

I think it's likely that many of us have stumbled across this very same "trick". Some of us like the "enhancement" that overlapping profiles can provide. Others may not notice. Some dislike.

I'm a little more inquisitive and don't mind the exploration and mixing of flavors at this time, it helps build my palate understanding.

That sort of experience is also pushing me to begin playing around with mixing up different blends, and getting some leaf to toss together on my own and see what happens.

Now I've read all the above I see I'm redundant. Oh well.
Add another mark in the "mix" column.

 

[alaskanpiper]

That sort of experience is also pushing me to begin playing around with mixing up different blends, and getting some leaf to toss together on my own and see what happens.

I have yet to find a non-aromatic blend I didn't enjoy by adding a small condimental pinch of DFK. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's not, but it's always enjoyable and different in a fun way. I truly believe DFK is a magical condiment.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I truly believe DFK is a magical condiment.

 

[krizzose]

I often smoke a straight blending burley in my aromatics pipes.

 

[hairvise]

I believe that Greg Pease himself wrote an article very recently about smoking a Virginia in an English dedicated pipe to sweeten it up a little bit.

 

[FLDRD]

I have yet to find a non-aromatic blend I didn't enjoy by adding a small condimental pinch of DFK. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's not, but it's always enjoyable and different in a fun way. I truly believe DFK is a magical condiment.

I've recently acquired 4 oz of DFK to play around with adding to "so-so" blends. Also some Latakia for similar. This trend will probably continue and expand as time progresses.

 

[North of the Border Piper]

Thanks, I will give this a go one of these days.

 

[Hovannes]

FWIW, Latakia alternating with a Cherry Aro is my favorite ghost

 

[bbqpiper]

I totally agree. I have a couple of pipes that I smoke Lakelands in and will enjoy a Va as well about once a week. I like the aroma/flavor that the ghost brings.

 

[OSOBUCO]

There’s a lackluster VA tobacco I’ve been keeping in my truck with the sole intent of using it up to make room for something better. It’s not awful, it’s just a blend I find unremarkable, and I see no point in hanging on to it. Today, for lack of a reason not to, I packed it into a pipe I have always used with English blends. The ghosting was apparent through the entire smoke, but it wound up adding just a bit of depth and nuance to the otherwise boring VA, and the overall experience was WAY more interesting. The effects of ghosting are typically referred to as something to avoid, but I thought I’d share with y‘all a tactical use for it that I have stumbled across. Cheers, friends!

I can see that - OR maybe add a touch of an english to your lackluster VA and you might find your own custom blend that you like. I like to experiment