As more or less a beginner, I've been trying out tobaccos that I can find locally, which is pretty much limited to the OTC codger blends. Along with a couple Captain Black varieties, I got some Half & Half, which after watching a lot of reviews, I was really hoping I'd like. I've given it two tries, and so far I can't find anything I like about it. I'm sure part of that comes from having an inexperienced palate, but whereas I find the Captain Black enjoyable, the Half & Half just seems nasty.
On my last attempt, I followed the advice I'd seen about drying the tobacco more, packing looser, and smoking slower. I left the pouch open to dry for a few days. Before packing my pipe, I also let my little pile of tobacco dry on my dashboard for a bit while I was shopping. It felt dry to the touch, but nowhere near crispy. I packed it loosely in my brand new Missouri Meerschaum Legend, lit it carefully, and smoked slowly. It lasted for well over an hour of slow and steady puffing, with maybe 3 relights.
The flavor I got was primarily ashtray, with occasional hints of burnt coffee, and ammonia on the retrohale. The best I can say for it is that it made the bowl of Captain Black Regular that followed seem like a cornucopia of delightful flavors by comparison. I smoked the CB in a brand new cob too, so new pipe taste wasn't the problem.
I think what it might be is the burley. Captain Black has burley too, but particularly in the Royal, which is my favorite so far, I'm guessing that the only burley in it is cavendish. H&H on the other hand has no cavendish in it. Maybe I hate the flavor of non-cavendish burley?
I ask, because I was planning to track down some Carter Hall next, it being one of the more highly regarded codger blends. But I notice from watching reviews, that many people who like Carter Hall also like Half & Half, and consider it to be similar to but better than H&H. And Carter Hall, if I'm not mistaken, is a burley-based blend. So maybe that's one that I'm better off avoiding?
In the meantime, I'm picking out some primarily Virginia and cavendish aromatics, and straight Virginias, to try to pick out what I like from what I don't.
On my last attempt, I followed the advice I'd seen about drying the tobacco more, packing looser, and smoking slower. I left the pouch open to dry for a few days. Before packing my pipe, I also let my little pile of tobacco dry on my dashboard for a bit while I was shopping. It felt dry to the touch, but nowhere near crispy. I packed it loosely in my brand new Missouri Meerschaum Legend, lit it carefully, and smoked slowly. It lasted for well over an hour of slow and steady puffing, with maybe 3 relights.
The flavor I got was primarily ashtray, with occasional hints of burnt coffee, and ammonia on the retrohale. The best I can say for it is that it made the bowl of Captain Black Regular that followed seem like a cornucopia of delightful flavors by comparison. I smoked the CB in a brand new cob too, so new pipe taste wasn't the problem.
I think what it might be is the burley. Captain Black has burley too, but particularly in the Royal, which is my favorite so far, I'm guessing that the only burley in it is cavendish. H&H on the other hand has no cavendish in it. Maybe I hate the flavor of non-cavendish burley?
I ask, because I was planning to track down some Carter Hall next, it being one of the more highly regarded codger blends. But I notice from watching reviews, that many people who like Carter Hall also like Half & Half, and consider it to be similar to but better than H&H. And Carter Hall, if I'm not mistaken, is a burley-based blend. So maybe that's one that I'm better off avoiding?
In the meantime, I'm picking out some primarily Virginia and cavendish aromatics, and straight Virginias, to try to pick out what I like from what I don't.
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