Haunted Bookshop - Love Or Hate...

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

I see that Haunted Bookshop is a very divisive blend. Why is this?
What do you love about HB?
What do you dislike about HB?

 

[shanez]

I love it.

It has great flavor and is different enough to make for a nice change of pace from VA based blends.

It is, however, rather strong in the nic department for me so I can't smoke back to back bowls of it.

 

[markus]

Last time I tried it was a couple of years ago, but it tasted ashy and acrid to me, kinda cigarette-ish, not good.
Maybe it needs more perique, not sure.
I should probably re-visit it to see if anything has changed.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

It was ashy when I tried it a while ago as well, but my technique has improved and I may buy some more to try again.

 

[Fiddlepiper]

I received a tin of this last week. Will need to crack it open and see!

 

[shanez]

I've had it taste ashy or cigarette-ish in the past when I got it too hot.

Otherwise it has a sweet and nutty taste and the perique comes across as almost a somewhere between plum and molasses kind of taste. The retrohale is important on this.

My current jar does have almost 2 years on it though so I don't know if that makes a difference.

 

[SoddenJack]

This was one of the first handful of blends I ever tried (I liked the name). Didn’t like it at all. Tasted just like Marlboro Reds to me. Years later when I got back into pipes I gave it another chance. Still tasted just like Marlboro Reds. Still love the name though.

 

[kurtbob]

I’m a take it or leave it guy. The only thing I don’t like about it is the same issue I have with most C&D burley blends. I find most share a “sharpness” in the burley that my tastebuds don’t appreciate.

 

[pantsBoots]

I found the flavor lacking. Upon cracking the tin, it had a nasty, yeasty smell that did not agree with me, and I am someone who loves the yeasty nature of belgian beer. After jarring for almost a year, the yeasty smell is gone, but the flavor is still ho-hum. I'll (eventually) finish the tin, but I don't see future purchases of this blend.

 

[philobeddoe]

 

[Reggie]

I could take it or leave it. It is lacking something. Waiting on one of you to identify it......

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Awesome responses. Thanks everyone!

 

[alaskanpiper]

I wouldn't say love, but I like it alot, which is unusual for me as these are typically blends I find quite boring. I like the fact that it is easy burning and simple, but complex enough to hold my attention throughout the bowl.

 

[crawdad]

Found it boring, even after several bowls over two years of aging.

 

[geopiper]

Not a fan of burley forward blends in general, so this blend did nothing for me.

 

[wolflarsen]

Mediocre at best due to lack of interesting flavor. If I was a nic junky I might smoke it occasionally just for the fix. I'm a person who smokes primarily for flavor and would much rather spend my limited pipe time smoking something I actually enjoy. Thumbs down for me.

 

[pantsBoots]

Tried another bowl after reading this as it had been a while and I was curious. Still no dice. Kind of flat and boring.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Wondering what MSO will have to say. I know he likes his burley.

 

[seanv]

Love it.
I enjoy the nutty Burley and the hint of perique. There is a sweetness that is hidden but when found, balances with the the earthy nature of the blend. Smoke it slow and you will be rewarded.
I tend to only smoke this during the spring and fall when it is cool out. It seems to come to life more for me

 

[irishearl]

Last time I tried it was a couple of years ago, but it tasted ashy and acrid to me, kinda cigarette-ish, not good.
Maybe it needs more perique, not sure.
I should probably re-visit it to see if anything has changed.

Years ago I smoked it regularly. Then some years back had the same experience with it you describe. So, dropped it then. Seemed fairly bland, too.