Indiscernible Blends…?

[mso489]

Then sometimes two tins of the same brand from the same year don't taste much alike.

 

[tmcg81]

I'm not dipping a toe into the "is it the same" waters, but I smoke 3 similarish burley flakes on a regular basis:

Solani ABF
MacBaren HH Burley Flake
Cobblestone Hiking

I have a few tins of Wessex Burley Slice, but I haven't tried it yet. I'm no super taster, but all three are fairly similar to me. ABF seems to be the smoothest, most refined. Hiking seems sweeter to me, and MacBaren is dead in the middle of the two and the one that I smoke the most. Like, if ABF and Hiking disappeared tomorrow, I'd be bummed (more about Hiking, I've got plenty of ABF stashed for the rainy day that's coming) but as long as I can get MacBaren, I'm happy.

 

[cigrmaster]

I meant to say that the Escudo is less peppery and it has some nice cream notes to it. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[alaskanpiper]

McConnell Latakia Flake and Sillem’s Commodore

Rattrays Stirling and Peterson Irish
Rattrays Wallace and Pererson University

John Cotton’s Double Pressed and Cobblestone Bricks

Orlik Dark Strong and HU Aus Dem 5

Maybe not the same, but all at least damn damn close

 

[Peter Turbo]

Orlik Dark Strong and HU Aus Dem 5

Maybe not the same, but all at least damn damn close

If thats true then I need to make another estervals order, I love Orlik DSK and only have two tins left.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

If thats true then I need to make another estervals order, I love Orlik DSK and only have two tins left.

I think this thread is really talking about folks who don't taste as deeply into a flavor as some of us do. I can taste well enough that I know that FVF is different just about every year, as well as most other Virginias being different from year to year as well.
But, for someone who can't pull out subtle nuances like slight florals or hay verses grassy, they may not be able to distinguish. We still have many folks here that think that PS Bullseye flake is a dead ringer for Escudo.

 

[alaskanpiper]

If thats true then I need to make another estervals order, I love Orlik DSK and only have two tins left.

Aus Dem Krater 5 is at a minimum very similar. Some reviews claim they know for a fact they are identical. I don’t have the inside knowledge, nor super-taster powers to confirm this, but to my taste they are at a minimum quite close.

If you do order, and don’t already know, Aus Dem Krater plug is a can’t miss blend, and Aus Dem Krater No. 2 is also an excellent Vaper flake.

 

[alaskanpiper]

I think this thread is really talking about folks who don't taste as deeply into a flavor as some of us do. I can taste well enough that I know that FVF is different just about every year, as well as most other Virginias being different from year to year as well.
But, for someone who can't pull out subtle nuances like slight florals or hay verses grassy, they may not be able to distinguish. We still have many folks here that think that PS Bullseye flake is a dead ringer for Escudo.

How? One has a black cavendish center. The other does not….?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

How? One has a black cavendish center. The other does not….?

"I" did not say that... but some here say it, whenever someone asks for a bulk replacement for Escudo.

 

[Jaylotw]

All right I'm ready to be hung and gibbeted here but honestly, about 75% of English blends are indistinguishable to me. There are notable exceptions, but truly they all taste the same to me. It's why I don't stock up or even try many of them any more, I just know what to expect. They all might as well be the same blend under different packaging to me.

I'll go run and hide before you all get the pitchforks.

 

[alaskanpiper]

All right I'm ready to be hung and gibbeted here but honestly, about 75% of English blends are indistinguishable to me. There are notable exceptions, but truly they all taste the same to me. It's why I don't stock up or even try many of them any more, I just know what to expect. They all might as well be the same blend under different packaging to me.

I'll go run and hide before you all get the pitchforks.

That’s reasonable and not that uncommon. Latakia is a very dominant flavor and when used generously it can make blends very one dimensional. I pretty much only smoke lat blends where it is used condimentally, or just over, these days with the occasional bomb.

There are some great balanced blends out there though, where the latakia is used with a more restrained hand.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

All right I'm ready to be hung and gibbeted here but honestly, about 75% of English blends are indistinguishable to me. There are notable exceptions, but truly they all taste the same to me. It's why I don't stock up or even try many of them any more, I just know what to expect. They all might as well be the same blend under different packaging to me.

I'll go run and hide before you all get the pitchforks.

I think that latakia blends are great for getting pipesmokers started, because it's so damned easy to taste, but then eventually as you get more curious about other blends, you can branch off. But, I can see how one would think what you do. Heck, we have experienced pipe smokers on here that think Jim just makes up all of his similes he uses when reviewing tobaccos. And, fairly often a pipesmoker will get frustrated on here that everything tastes the same to them. It's not uncommon. It takes a lot of practice to taste things in the smoke.

 

[Jaylotw]

I think that latakia blends are great for getting pipesmokers started, because it's so damned easy to taste, but then eventually as you get more curious about other blends, you can branch off. But, I can see how one would think what you do. Heck, we have experienced pipe smokers on here that think Jim just makes up all of his similes he uses when reviewing tobaccos. And, fairly often a pipesmoker will get frustrated on here that everything tastes the same to them. It's not uncommon. It takes a lot of practice to taste things in the smoke.

That's exactly how it worked for me. Englishes were so tasty and new that it's all I wanted to smoke. After about a decade though I started getting into the VAs and stuff. I still like an English here and there, but whatever nuances they may have singularly, with a few exceptions, are lost to me. I have the palate of a goat.

That’s reasonable and not that uncommon. Latakia is a very dominant flavor and when used generously it can make blends very one dimensional. I pretty much only smoke lat blends where it is used condimentally, or just over, these days with the occasional bomb.

There are some great balanced blends out there though, where the latakia is used with a more restrained hand.

Yeah, that's where I'm at now. I like the more restrained English blends, my favorites aren't at all lat bombs but the more Oriental forward blends. Even still, amongst those, they all taste so similar to me that I've just stuck to 2 or 3 that scratch the itch and really don't have much desire to spend money on trying new ones.

 

[alaskanpiper]

That's exactly how it worked for me. Englishes were so tasty and new that it's all I wanted to smoke. After about a decade though I started getting into the VAs and stuff. I still like an English here and there, but whatever nuances they may have singularly, with a few exceptions, are lost to me. I have the palate of a goat.

Yeah, that's where I'm at now. I like the more restrained English blends, my favorites aren't at all lat bombs but the more Oriental forward blends. Even still, amongst those, they all taste so similar to me that I've just stuck to 2 or 3 that scratch the itch and really don't have much desire to spend money on trying new ones.

I like HU Asmara, GLP Fillmore, Key Largo, Sextant, and for a little more lat but still restrained Piccaddily.

The real gems were the McClelland Oriental series in the green cans. #1 has a perfect lat presence.

Uno is also great if you can still find it, very unique blend with restrained lat.

HU Asmara has been my jam of late though. Very Oriental forward with a Latakia presence that noticeably contributes but does not overwhelm.

What are the few you enjoy?

 

[Honkytonk Man]

I mean, I can tell a difference also. But, It's not like pickles verses ice cream type of difference, more like vanilla verses French vanilla.

Yes, agree.

There's more Perique punch in Escudo. I always, but always have a sneeze when I'm smoking Escudo, but never when I smoke De Lux Navy Rolls.