I Think I Have A Future As A Blender

[irishearl]

Not too long ago I'd written I'd ordered a half pound of a blend I'd long enjoyed-Oriental Silk-that was botched in some way. Didn't taste all that great. I'd recently bought a half pound of Sutliff's blending dark fired tobacco as I love dark fired, thinking I'd like it straight. It's fine that way but figured I'd like it better in a blend. Figured, why not? So, took that and mixed it with the Oriental Silk I hadn't pitched yet 60-40 blend in terms of the quantities I had. Now, it's a fine blend. C&D would be well served to come up with a blend based on that.

 

[yanoJL]

Not too long ago I'd written I'd ordered a half pound of a blend I'd long enjoyed-Oriental Silk-that was botched in some way. Didn't taste all that great. I'd recently bought a half pound of Sutliff's blending dark fired tobacco as I love dark fired, thinking I'd like it straight. It's fine that way but figured I'd like it better in a blend. Figured, why not? So, took that and mixed it with the Oriental Silk I hadn't pitched yet 60-40 blend in terms of the quantities I had. Now, it's a fine blend. C&D would be well served to come up with a blend based on that.

Right on! Did you press it at all? Or allow it any time to "meld"?
I'm asking because I actually have both of these tobaccos on hand. The OS is unopened in a tin and may not be "botched" but I'm still tempted to give this a try.

 

[woodsroad]

Speaking of blenders, I added to mine:
14 oz of cold water,
three heaping tablespoons of powdered whole milk
three heaping tablespoons of Carnation Malted Milk
A goodly slosh of Vanilla Extract
A large dash of Kosher Salt
A heaping tablespoon of Smuckers Strawberry Preserves
Enough frozen strawberries until the blender couldn't mix them in anymore.
Best strawberry milkshake ever!

 

[Peter Turbo]

Speaking of blenders, I added to mine:
14 oz of cold water,
three heaping tablespoons of powdered whole milk
three heaping tablespoons of Carnation Malted Milk
A goodly slosh of Vanilla Extract
A large dash of Kosher Salt
A heaping tablespoon of Smuckers Strawberry Preserves
Enough frozen strawberries until the blender couldn't mix them in anymore.
Best strawberry milkshake ever!

This sounds amazing

 

[woodsroad]

A couple of shakes of Angustora Bitters is nice in there, too.

 

[Auxsender]

Not too long ago I'd written I'd ordered a half pound of a blend I'd long enjoyed-Oriental Silk-that was botched in some way. Didn't taste all that great. I'd recently bought a half pound of Sutliff's blending dark fired tobacco as I love dark fired, thinking I'd like it straight. It's fine that way but figured I'd like it better in a blend. Figured, why not? So, took that and mixed it with the Oriental Silk I hadn't pitched yet 60-40 blend in terms of the quantities I had. Now, it's a fine blend. C&D would be well served to come up with a blend based on that.

LOLOL!!!!
Get Jeremy Reeves on the phone so that irishearl can right the ship!

 

[irishearl]

Right on! Did you press it at all? Or allow it any time to "meld"?
I'm asking because I actually have both of these tobaccos on hand. The OS is unopened in a tin and may not be "botched" but I'm still tempted to give this a try.

Nope. Just threw it all into a steel mixing bowl and mixed it up by hand. Threw it into a big zip lock bag and used it immediately.

 

[mso489]

I was surprised, and I think a lot of people would be surprised, at how good home mixes can be. Orientals and dark-fired sounds like a logical mix. I have always found a burley base, with a good portion of Virginia, and maybe some unflavored black Cavendish, is a good bet for me or probably anyone with a taste for burley.

It is also surprising how much you can change the flavor of a mix by changing proportions. Also, other condiments like Perique, cigar leaf, and Turkish, even in pinches, can give added interest.

But keeping a home mix/blend simple, by not loading in too many different tobaccos helps. Things can get a little harsh or muddy. Flavors can cancel each other. But experimenting is fun.

Any two tobaccos can be interesting, or adding one condiment to an existing blend can give a whole new taste experience.

 

[ThermionicScott]

We're going to need new blenders at some point. Ernie Q figures that's the biggest threat to pipe smoking. Not regulation or stigma or declining production of leaf, but the shortage of new blood in blending.

 

[Arthur Frayn]

We're going to need new blenders at some point. Ernie Q figures that's the biggest threat to pipe smoking. Not regulation or stigma or declining production of leaf, but the shortage of new blood in blending.

Possibly. ErnieQ was just being 'Boston nice' when he said that.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Possibly. ErnieQ was just being 'Boston nice' when he said that.

What do you mean? As far as I can gather, "Boston nice" just means someone isn't sugarcoating something.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Speaking of blenders, I added to mine:
14 oz of cold water,
three heaping tablespoons of powdered whole milk
three heaping tablespoons of Carnation Malted Milk
A goodly slosh of Vanilla Extract
A large dash of Kosher Salt
A heaping tablespoon of Smuckers Strawberry Preserves
Enough frozen strawberries until the blender couldn't mix them in anymore.
Best strawberry milkshake ever!

That sounds like a goopy aromatic milk shake to me. You probably wouldn't even be able to taste the milk.

 

[Arthur Frayn]

What do you mean? As far as I can gather, "Boston nice" just means someone isn't sugarcoating something.

That's interesting. I took Boston nice for being a euphemism for tell people to go stuff it. However all cheekiness aside, he's right. The future, as always lies with the young.

 

[mso489]

Blenders like everyone else can get led around by the money, hence the overuse of Latakia and Perique as default condiment tobaccos. But I admire nearly all of the blenders whose names I recognize for something.

Threats to put huge monetary obstacles in the way of new blends warns off new blood. I'd encourage a young pipe smoker to play with mixing tobaccos, but launch a career, I don't think so. And for youngish blenders, I'd say, cultivate a plan B.

 

[kcghost]

You guys let me know if there really is any money in doing this.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You guys let me know if there really is any money in doing this.

Yes, I'd like a career in a field where it could be made illegal in a turn of the weather.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Yes, I'd like a career in a field where it could be made illegal in a turn of the weather.

Greg Pease has like 10 other professional skills to fall back on, at least.

 

[woodsroad]

That sounds like a goopy aromatic milk shake to me. You probably wouldn't even be able to taste the milk.

Guess who’s not invited to my next ice cream social.

 

[woodsroad]

That sounds like a goopy aromatic milk shake to me. You probably wouldn't even be able to taste the milk.

Actually, since it doesn’t contain ice cream and it’s associated fat and gums, it is the inverse of goopy. If you leave out the bitters, the only aromatics are from the strawberries. The small amount of jam is there for needed sweetness. Much better than adding sugar or high fructose corn syrup,

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Actually, since it doesn’t contain ice cream and it’s associated fat and gums, it is the inverse of goopy. If you leave out the bitters, the only aromatics are from the strawberries. The small amount of jam is there for needed sweetness. Much better than adding sugar or high fructose corn syrup,

Ha ha, to be fair, I make one with a banana, a carafe of espresso, and a scoop of ice cream. My wife calls it the Jumpy Monkey.