I Need Help

[Pirate444]

So I just smoked my first pipe. It's a corn cob and the blend I smoked is Stanwell Vanilla. Listen I understand that I'm gonna taste smoke since I'm burning tobacco but I just thought maybe there would be more flavor other than smoke. I know aromatics don't taste like how they smell and I'm not expecting a mouth full of vanilla but at least some hints and also to be able to taste the tobaccos as well but it all just tastes like smoke.
Yes I dried the tobacco
Yes I smoked it cool not hot
Yes I tried he breathe method.
I dont know if it's cause my palette isn't strong yet or what. I have some orlik golden sliced on the way so I'm really hoping to get something better out of that. It's just a little frustrating cause I watch videos of gentlemen just ahhing over a tobacco cause of how rich and good it tastes and I want to be able to taste the different notes as well. Any advice would be really great. Thanks

 

[coming to_falling too]

OGS is really good, imo. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Also, if it's a new cob, it will take a few smokes to "break in". The first few smokes might have an almost vegetal taste to it.

Don't despair; it will come with time.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Aromatics can taste how they smell, but if that's your first smoke, it's not going to happen. Aromatics are best for way down the road. Best to start with stronger flavored burleys and Englishes.

 

[Pirate444]

Aromatics can taste how they smell, but if that's your first smoke, it's not going to happen. Aromatics are best for way down the road. Best to start with stronger flavored burleys and Englishes.

Yea I mean it kinda honestly just tasted like plastic. No plastic was being burnt obviously but it just tasted like plastic smoke. Kinda a weird description but that's just what I tasted lol

 

[BROBS]

So I just smoked my first pipe. It's a corn cob and the blend I smoked is Stanwell Vanilla. Listen I understand that I'm gonna taste smoke since I'm burning tobacco but I just thought maybe there would be more flavor other than smoke. I know aromatics don't taste like how they smell and I'm not expecting a mouth full of vanilla but at least some hints and also to be able to taste the tobaccos as well but it all just tastes like smoke.
Yes I dried the tobacco
Yes I smoked it cool not hot
Yes I tried he breathe method.
I dont know if it's cause my palette isn't strong yet or what. I have some orlik golden sliced on the way so I'm really hoping to get something better out of that. It's just a little frustrating cause I watch videos of gentlemen just ahhing over a tobacco cause of how rich and good it tastes and I want to be able to taste the different notes as well. Any advice would be really great. Thanks

The smoke itself won’t taste like vanilla but the mouthfeel, sidestream, and snork will. Make sense? ?

dry the tobacco until it’s crispy.

 

[Pirate444]

Aromatics can taste how they smell, but if that's your first smoke, it's not going to happen. Aromatics are best for way down the road. Best to start with stronger flavored burleys and Englishes.

Do you think I'll enjoy OGS

 

[Chasing Embers]

Do you think I'll enjoy OGS

You may. It is a bit mild on flavor and being a Virginia it may bite you if you push it too hard. Over the past thirty years I've developed into primarily a Virginia/Oriental and aromatic smoker, but that took time.

 

[Pirate444]

You may. It is a bit mild on flavor and being a Virginia it may bite you if you push it too hard. Over the past thirty years I've developed into primarily a Virginia/Oriental and aromatic smoker, but that took time.

Any blend recommendations?

 

[BROBS]

Get 1 of each type blend to start... see what you like... and go from there. ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Any blend recommendations?

To start with, I'd avoid Virginias and aromatics for a while, but for palate priming:
C&D Pegasus
Carter Hall
Stokkebye/Arango Balkan Supreme

 

[Pirate444]

Get 1 of each type blend to start... see what you like... and go from there. ?

Thanks

 

[brandaves]

Any blend recommendations?

I recommend starting with OTC blends like Prince Albert, Sir Walter Raleigh and Carter Hall. They'll teach you to smoke slow and develop a cadence.

Learning to retrohale can be a hurdle in itself. If you aren't doing it properly you won't taste much. The flavors won't be as readily detected if you're smoking hot either. I don't know that others will agree but I'd recommend waiting on the breath method. Learn how to smoke slow, cool and dry by sipping the tobacco and work on your retrohale that way. I'm still learning myself but that would be my advice.

 

[trubka2]

To start with, I'd avoid Virginias and aromatics for a while, but for palate priming:
C&D Pegasus
Carter Hall
Stokkebye/Arango Balkan Supreme

^^^^^ +1.

 

[coming to_falling too]

I think the primary thing you have to worry about with OGS, as embers said, is to smoke slow. Virginias trend to burn on the hot side and can lead to pretty bad tongue bite if pushed

 

[Pirate444]

I recommend starting with OTC blends like Prince Albert, Sir Walter Raleigh and Carter Hall. They'll teach you to smoke slow and develop a cadence.

Learning to retrohale can be a hurdle in itself. If you aren't doing it properly you won't taste much. The flavors won't be as readily detected if you're smoking hot either. I don't know that others will agree but I'd recommend waiting on the breath method. Learn how to smoke slow, cool and dry by sipping the tobacco and work on your retrohale that way. I'm still learning myself but that would be my advice.

Thanks man

 

[Pirate444]

I think the primary thing you have to worry about with OGS, as embers said, is to smoke slow. Virginias trend to burn on the hot side and can lead to pretty bad tongue bite if pushed

I'll definitely keep that in mind?

 

[weezell]

I recommend starting with OTC blends like Prince Albert, Sir Walter Raleigh and Carter Hall.

Any of the above is a good place to start...

 

[bullet08]

Time and patience. Most people starting out will have problem finding what they are looking for in taste. It might take little time for you to start noticing the "flavor." Big change for me was smoking English blend. That opened the door wide open for me.

 

[seanv]

Time and patience. Most people starting out will have problem finding what they are looking for in taste. It might take little time for you to start noticing the "flavor." Big change for me was smoking English blend. That opened the door wide open for me.

Couldn’t agree more. English blends opened up a whole new world for me.
Also try some burley blends

 

[brandaves]

...also, don't get discouraged. This hobby isn't as intuitive as experienced pipe smokers can make it seem. If you've never smoked a pipe before there is a lot to learn. You're setting yourself up for failure if you expect to be smoking like Bing Crosby out of the gate. Take your time and try not to be too critical of yourself. It'll come, just maybe not as quickly as you might like...just try to enjoy the experience.