Help Me Find A New Christmas Aromatic

[pruss]

Hello, my name is Pat, and I am an unabashed Christmas Aromatic pipe tobacco smoker. At Christmas.
For the last few years I've been smoking Glynn's delightful Christmas Blends from GQ Tobacco. That's not an option this year and I'm allergic to goopy, PG laden, syrupy, flavour heavy aromatics.
So I come to you for edumication. Can you help point me in the direction of my next Christmas Aro?
Thanks in advance.
-- Pat

 

[Chasing Embers]

https://m.smokingpipes.com/tobacco/by-maker/cornell-diehl/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=204292

 

[mso489]

Goopy PG laden aros are one problem. Also, some of the flavoring that give aro blends that Christmas room note can really do a number on your tongue and gums. I'd say, buy in small quantities unless you know the blend already. I think I'd trust C&D about as well as any blender; I think they'd keep it tobacco forward and rein in the flavorings. I'll stick to other favorite blends for the holidays. A good hearty English non-aro does the job for me.

 

[bryguysc]

McClelland Holiday Spirit is my "go to" Christmas aro.

 

[ben88]

 

[jndyer]

+1 for Corn Cob Pipe and a Button nose. I have a tin waiting to be smoked on Christmas morning as presents are being opened. Well actually, a tin minus a couple of bowls as I had to make sure I had the packing down so that I would not ruin a perfectly good morning with the family (he said in jest).

 

[snagstangl]

I like holiday spirit, but since you are not looking for PG laden, syrupy, pass on Holiday spirit, this stuff falls right in that category.
I did get some Peterson Christmas blend in 2012 I think. It tasted like spiced cider, I dig it out every few months and it hasn't lost its flavor and it is not a gooper.

 

[kimbiker]

Samuel Gawith Palace Gate?

 

[pruss]

Thanks for the recommendations gang.
@chasing & @jndyer - What do you guys like about this blend? What is the flavour profile? How does it smoke?
@ben88 - Not exactly what I was thinking of, but I do have a Meer that would burn Erinmore like a champ. Thanks for the reco as it's a direction I wasn't even contemplating.
@snagstangl - That sounds like the flavour direction I'd like to roll in. Something spicy but not sweet.
Does anyone have any experience with C&Ds We Three Kings?
Cheers,
-- Pat

 

[skraps]

Corn Cob Pipe is a winner, Pat. It's got undertones of chocolate and vanilla, and though they don't mention it, there is some sort of subtle berry flavor there.
It's a great aro. Not goopy and full of flavor, it even has a decent bit of strength under all that Christmasy deliciousness.

 

[mikestanley]

Pipeworks&wilke Rumcake is very nice. I temper the sauce by mixing it with McClelland Virginia 25. Adds a bit of body. Of course Carol Burns is leaving the business. I opened a ton of C&D Golden Days of Yore (2015). Very easy smoking aromatic so far. My all time favorite though is Hermit Holiday 2008 and Gawirh&Hoggarth Christmas 2007.
Mike S.

 

[mso489]

snag' liked the Peterson Christmas blend in 2013. I think I had some in 2012, and it was pretty harsh. But people experience these blends differently. I think I get bite (burn) from the flavorings, so maybe that's my individual sensitivity. Funny because full-strength non-aromatic blends or leaf doesn't give me any problems. Different strokes.

 

[pappymac]

Not technically a Christmas Blend, but I'm enjoying a tin of Rattray's Exotic Orange I bought last summer. It tastes of orange and honey.

I also like Rattray's Winter Edition 2014 and the Peterson's Christmas Blend 2015.

 

[5star]

Old thread, but it’s that time year again.
Hmmm . . it’s interesting how different people experience a blend. I bought a couple tins of a Corncob Pipe & a Button Nose last year. Great Christmas spirit tin note - like hot cocoa with marshmallows. But, to me, it was like smoking air. Very little flavor. I smoked a couple bowls & jarred the rest of the opened tin. I’ll try it again this season.
I don’t smoke a lot of aros. I lean more toward strong nic, full flavor blends. But, it sounds like this blend has its fans. I could always trade it for something more in my personal wheelhouse.

 

[rdavid]

I just tried C&D Jolly Old St. Nicholas last night. Not a great first bowl but thinking it will get better. Strong aro tin note but definitely not a strong aro flavor once lit and does not overwhelm the tobacco. Overall a decent experience and looking forward to a few more bowls but thinking one tin and done.
It did kinda put me in the Christmas spirit though.

 

[kola]

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/1965/samuel-gawith-firedance-flake
I find it a bit too "blackberry" and thin it down with SG Best Brown Flake. IMO, it' pretty heavily cased but pure quality leaf like all of SG toabacco.

 

[economistandfisherman]

Great Dane from Missouri Meerschaum...perhaps the best aro out there in my opinion. It's rarely in stock because each batch goes so quickly, but I just saw it at smokingpipes...you'd better hurry because it won't last long.

 

[spartacus]

I smoked a bowl of Scotty's Blend Egg Nog last night. It was a nice REALLY MILD smoke. I'll finish it off but probably won't buy again.

 

[tennsmoker]

As for aros, check out Boswell Pipes. Non-goop, just plain good aros without ripping your tongue out. Look up Boswell Pipes on Tobaccoreviews.com and look at the 4 stars their aros get.
And, folks, I'm not an aro guy, but the Boswells have sold me. They are good and I just don't detect any PG stuff in J.M.'s tobacco. He is a first-class pipe maker, and tobacco blender.

 

[mso489]

I still have some Peretti's Thanksgiving Day with the same holiday theme, nicely balanced and tobacco forward. That might still do it for a holiday aromatic.