Irish Flake new pipe smoker

[Wiz_san]

Im 2/3 weeks in to my pipe smoking journey so im still trying to discover blends that appeal the most to me.
Initially brought some black cherry aromatic, and it smelt great but did nothing for my taste buds.
Then I bought Irish Flake based on some reviews I’ve seen.
Immediately I loved the taste and smell and nicotine hit and thought ok this is how real pipe tobacco experience should be.

I then decided to try My mixture 965. And unfortunately it didn’t do much for me. It was smooth, creamy, but didn’t give me that strong taste or nicotine hit I liked from the Irish flake. I see so many good things about this blend and I can’t understand what to look out for in a blend.

I’m going to try nightcap next I think, but I could do with some guidance with what I could do in discovering the best blends are for me.
I’ll try the 965 again, but if I don’t get on with it I may give it away to a fellow UK memeber

Thanks in advance

 

[RL Bucktails]

You can try blends that are predominantly Kentucky leaf. Also you may like Peterson Royal yacht And Irish Whiskey. Amphora Kentucky, Rattrays sterling flake, many others.

 

[Sig]

Its really just a try everything type....um...thing.
Start by identifying what it is about the blends you like, then look for blends that are similar. Eventually you will expand your palate.
Many years ago I really didn't see all the fuss about MOST blends. Today some of those blends are my favorites. When I started I bought some Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake because EVERYONE raved about it. I was so unimpressed I almost tossed it. It sat jarred for about 5 years, and I tried it again....absolutely fantastic. I immediately bought 5 pounds to age while I smoked through the 5 year old pound. Flavors and nicotine aren't always going to floor you. Sometimes its the subtle nuances in a blend that get you. I honestly look for mellow, low nicotine blends these days. Of course I have a dip in most of the day, nicotine isnt a thing in my pipe world. Get you some MacBaren Old Dark Fired...your days of underwhelming flavors and nicotine will be GONE.

 

[ofafeather]

If you like Irish, the Gawith blends in the dark range are worth a try as well as the ropes and twists. Samuel Gawitj 1792 or Cob plug, Gawith and Hoggath Dark Flake, Dark Flake Aromatic, Dark Plug, any of the brown ropes.

 

[Boko_Fittleworth]

You should definitely give a few Gawith Hoggarth blends a try. Dark Flake and Rum Flake (Jamaican Flake) should be right up your alley if you like Irish Flake.

 

[Sobrbiker]

As an Irish Flake lover, I’d recommend GH&Co’s Brown and Black Twists (both available sliced as well as rope), HU Dark Moor, Mc Connell Scottish Flake, Peterson 3P’s, GL Pease Navigator.
Irish flake is listed as a mix of air, flue, and fire cured tobaccos and since it’s STG produced, I’d imagine they use African/Brazilian sourced tobaccos, so most of the European made blends with the same makeup may scratch that itch.

 

[Skippy Piper]

If you like the dark fired flavor and nicotine strength of Irish Flake then that narrows your search window considerably, since the pool of blends that share those attributes is fairly small. While there are a couple other strong blends from Peterson worth checking out, such as Royal Yacht and Nightcap, those aren't dark fired so you're mainly going to be looking at Gawith Hoggarth and Samuel Gawith blends to satisfy that Vitamin N and dark fired flavor itch.

From Gawith Hoggarth I'd recommend trying Kendal Dark, Dark Flake Unscented, and Dark Plug as well as their Brown Irish X rope tobacco. Those are all natural unflavored blends that really let the flavor of the dark fired Virginias and Burley shine. Kendal Dark tends to be the most gentlemanly and smooth of the bunch while Dark Plug has the richest flavor and the highest nicotine content of pretty much any pipe blend on the market, but they're all no slouch in that regard and well worth trying.

If you'd like some more aromatic options then Gawith Hoggarth also produces Coniston Cut Plug, which is almost as strong as the others in nicotine and has an interesting topping mix that reminds me of red wine and rose-geranium. For non-floral dark strong blends Dark Flake Aromatic has a flavor that to me very much tastes like the aromas of cedar chips and pine trees and always reminds me of Christmas time, though everyone seems to taste something different in the topping mix on that one. Lastly, Samuel Gawith's 1792 Flake (and Cob Plug, which is 1792 in plug form) is just as strong as the rest and flavored with tonquin bean; which has a sort of herbal vanilla kind of taste to it and compliments the dark fired tobacco nicely.

I like 1792 Flake as a hot weather summertime smoke and Dark Flake Aromatic as a cold weather wintertime smoke, and all the unflavored ones are great anytime of year!

 

[Steddy]

I’ll add GL Pease Jack Knife Plug, but I prefer it with some age on it. I’ve smoked from a fresh tin and it was pretty sharp. I’ve smoked a tin with around ten years of age and it had deepened and mellowed a lot. Earthy, a little sweet, and strong.

 

[khiddy]

For a quick and inexpensive smoke that features fantastic dark fired notes but none of the sweetness of Irish Flake, you might try Daughters & Ryan Ryback. The shag cut makes it burn pretty fast, but that's where the charm is - you can get in a satisfying smoke during a 15-min break, and go back for a second or third bowl later that same day. It's a nearly daily smoke for me.

 

[JeffNYC]

Irish Flake is the next burley blend I’m going to open (after I finish JackKnife Plug mentioned above).

 

[--dante--]

You may want to give Rattray's Stirling Flake a try. It's very similar to Irish Flake (some say nearly the same). I find I like Stirling Flake a bit more than Irish Flake (now that Irish Flake changed hands some years back). Google Irish Flake vs Sterling Flake -- there's a lot of comparisons and discussions on it.

Of course you may not want something so similar. Off-hand, I'd say to give the C&D Burley Flakes a try (they're numbered 1 through 5). All have a good nic hit and are quality burley blends.

Numbers 1 and 3 are burley, kentucky, perique and virginia, with number 3 having dark fired kentucky.
Numbers 2 and 5 are burley, kentucky, and virginia, with number 5 having dark fired kentucky.
Number 4 is burley, kentucky, latakia and virginia.

 

[Wiz_san]

Thank you everyone. I must say, the pipe community is brilliant and I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond.

I’ve just ordered SG 1792 Flake. And the others are now on my radar

 

[shanez]

What about the aromatic did you not like? Or did you simply not get much flavor?

 

[Wiz_san]

The aromatic had a lovely smell and room note however it felt like I was puffin on air, with no real nic hit or full bodied taste.
It was underwhelming plus the tongue bite isn’t too nice either

I’m only smoking out of a basket pipe with 9mm but I can’t imagine that has much to do with it?

 

[Wiz_san]

If you like Irish, the Gawith blends in the dark range are worth a try as well as the ropes and twists. Samuel Gawitj 1792 or Cob plug, Gawith and Hoggath Dark Flake, Dark Flake Aromatic, Dark Plug, any of the brown ropes.

Will give the 1792 a try, I’m interested to see how the vanilla comes through

 

[Sobrbiker]

Will give the 1792 a try, I’m interested to see how the vanilla comes through

If you get along with the tonquin vanilla it’s a hard one to beat for body and nic.

 

[Brendan]

Bumping this thread @Wiz_san just to see if you liked the 1792?

 

[Wiz_san]

Not yet mate, I have started enjoying and experimenting with the English blends now. My mixture 965 has really grown on me.
Star of the east is also a new favourite.
Deluxe navy rolls for the perique
And revor plug for that serious strong nic hit, loving the taste and smell

 

[anotherbob]

Im 2/3 weeks in to my pipe smoking journey so im still trying to discover blends that appeal the most to me.
Initially brought some black cherry aromatic, and it smelt great but did nothing for my taste buds.
Then I bought Irish Flake based on some reviews I’ve seen.
Immediately I loved the taste and smell and nicotine hit and thought ok this is how real pipe tobacco experience should be.

I then decided to try My mixture 965. And unfortunately it didn’t do much for me. It was smooth, creamy, but didn’t give me that strong taste or nicotine hit I liked from the Irish flake. I see so many good things about this blend and I can’t understand what to look out for in a blend.

I’m going to try nightcap next I think, but I could do with some guidance with what I could do in discovering the best blends are for me.
I’ll try the 965 again, but if I don’t get on with it I may give it away to a fellow UK memeber

Thanks in advance

Sounds like you at this point like stronger blends. That's at least how it looks to me.