John Cotton Blends, Preferences?

[mso489]

PC is offering a John Cotton sampler with all three blends. John Cotton #1 is mild, and the other two are medium-mild. I think 1&2 gets the highest stars in reviews. Has anyone tried all three? Or two of them? What do you think? I'd guess 1&2 is the most interesting from the description. Maybe two tins of that would do the trick. If you order the sampler with all three, shipping is free, but I hate to stock up unless I'll enjoy all three. 'Just as soon order 1&2 and maybe Dunhill London Mixture, and pay the freight.

 

[judcole]

I got the sampler. I haven't popped the Number 1 yet, but have the other two going.
1&2 is, IMO, significantly better than Dunhill London; I'd put it closer to MM Baby's Bottom, which I find much tastier than London. (Yes, I think London is overrated.)

I enjoy the Smyrna more than the 1&2; the latakia is pumped up, which puts it in a different slot, for me.

I'll probably get the No 1 going soon.
I will probably get another tin or 2 of Smyrna at some point; I can't see stocking 1&2, simply because BB is in the same general area, and I like it better.

 

[pruss]

Hey there, mso489, I really enjoyed the Smyrna. It was my favourite of the group. I agree with Jud's comments entirely. I'm also predisposed to Latakia blends so no surprise that Smyrna and Bengal Slices are my favourites of the Standard Tobacco Co. offerings.
Here is a link to my snapshot reviews from earlier in the year:

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/standard-tobacco-co-of-penns-new-blends-pruss-compiled-snapshot-reviews
Best,
Pat

 

[woodsroad]

Whatever your favorites may be in the Standard Tobacco Co. lineup, you may wish to take advantage of special pricing that P&C has offered up for the Chicago Pipe Show.

 

[papipeguy]

I like all of them and try to smoke them in progression: #1, #1&2 and finally Smyrna. Of course, War Horse and Bengal Slices are at the top of my list.

 

[prairiedruid]

I found the Smyrna to be excellent; nice spice and smoky elements throughout the bowl. War Horse ready rub is a great after meal smoke with more vitamin N than the other Standard Tobacco offerings but not a world spinning amount. John Cotton's No. 1 was a bit more complex than No. 1&2 for me; both are good but not great smokes in my opinion. I'm still trying to decide about Bengal Slices; sometimes the smoky sweetness really sings to me and other times seems just okay.
Smyrna is in my top 5 smokes and War Horse is a regular smoke for me; both are getting spots in my cellar. Bengal Slices right now is an occasional smoke and I'll probably pick up a tin every so often. John Cotton's No.1 and No. 1 & 2 are good smokes but won't be reordering.
Can't wait until fall and the arrival of the War Horse plug!

 

[davet]

Just curious, War Horse is regularly $9.99, sale price is five for $50. Like I said, just curious :puffpipe:

 

[lochinvar]

I've tried No. 1 and Smyrna and both are excellent. No.1 is in the same category as Presbyterian, mild but complex and very easy on the palate. Smyrna is just awesome, the perfect bold player. Latakia shows up big, but the Virginias are solid, and the Orientals are amped up to where it's a proper Balkan, not a monochromatic Lat-Bomb. Very heavy and "incense-y", and (if my rosy hued memories of yon halcyon days are correct) a dead ringer for the original.

 

[mso489]

Sounds like Smyrna and War Horse would make a good small TAD attack. I'm open to any other opinions. I'm going back to read pruss' review. These are great posts and give me a good idea of how these blends "do" for various people. I do like London Mixture, but I can save that for a nostalgia trip some time. Any other ideas are welcome.

 

[mso489]

pruss, meticulous highly informative reviews. I feel like I've smoked all of the blends by now. Watch out, I'll start offering opinions like I had! Thanks for those careful analyses.

 

[pruss]

my pleasure.
i hope you found a blend or two that resonated with you.
-- Pat

 

[jpmcwjr]

I fell in love with Smyrna in Las Vegas. She gave me the best.... Oh, wait, I am supposed to be talking about Smyrna the tobacco, not the woman. Anyhow, I've decided that 6-8 bowls a day of it is too much for me, so I am interspersing with JC1, and JC 1+2. Also working in some VaPers here and there.
Dan J told me he sometimes makes a "No. 4", to whit: 1/3 of each of the the JC blends. Do the math! And the taste should lie somewhere in the middle.
Did I mention it was a great show!

 

[dcrguns]

I like Smyrna and Bengal Slices the best. Not saying any of them are bad, those are just my favorites.

 

[woodsroad]

"Just curious, War Horse is regularly $9.99, sale price is five for $50. Like I said, just curious"

Yeah, I don't control pricing. That's up to the retailers.

But it's a good deal on everything else.

 

[jerwynn]

Another vote for Smyrna!! Magnificent tobacco!! To me it has a very refreshing camphoresque eucalyptol, almost mint-like je ne sais quoi mystically unified with the piney-woodsie latakia thing.. these being perfectly balanced, integrated, and made into a better whole by the glorious turks and those splendid virginnies! Ahhhhhhhhh!! And, to add a plus vote to War Horse and Bengal Slices... all these are presently on my list of all-time faves!!

::

 

[markus]

I do love me some Bengal Slices!

I'm going thru a stage right now where I am am really enjoying English crossovers and the like. I love the taste of the sweeter Black Cavendish married with the leathery smokiness of latakia. I also love this combo with rum mixed in a little bit, so yeah, Black Frigate is also a go-to tobacco for me right now. ::

 

[mso489]

Seattle Pipe Club's Potlatch also looks pretty tasty. I can't even catch up with the tins I have on hand, sealed. And so much open and available in jars. This is really an embarrassment of riches. I doubt the breadth and range of blends has ever been so wide or accessible. I bet the princes and barons of yore thought they were high and mighty with ten or fifteen blends on hand; that's just what i have open. If this isn't a golden age, I'd be quite surprised, especially for people who live in areas where prices are not prohibitive. Things may not stay this way, indeed, but at least I know what I have, while I have it. As my dad used to say, I know a good thing when I see it.

 

[jmill208]

I do love me some Bengal Slices!

I am impressed by the Standard Tobacco offerings. Stopped briefly at the booth in Chicago and Dan (Woodsroad) hooked me up. The Bengal Slices are my current favorite. The marketing works. I'm buying more of this shit. ::

 

[woodsroad]

The marketing works. I'm buying more of this shit

Thank God.

They were about to move me over to the ShamWow division.

 

[condorlover1]

If you hadn't noticed the Standard Tobacco shirts in the Chicago Show video look suspiciously like those worn by janitorial staff at office cleaning companies!