Quoting this for emphasis, beyond just "liking" the post.
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Looking for Non-Aromatic Recommendations:
- Thread starter mah2325
- Start date
Sounds like there’s plenty of good advice here. I’ll second checking out the “what are you smoking” thread. Also, I’ll say this, go ahead and buy a couple tins of Escudo Navy De Luxe. Pop one tin, try a couple bowls fresh. If you like it fresh, fantastic! No matter if you like it fresh or not, save the other tin for a minimum of two years, and then check back in. Doing this changed how I evaluate tobacco, and it changed how I buy tobacco, and why I buy tobacco. I didn’t have the foresight to get two tins of anything when I was starting out three-ish years ago, but I did have the foresight to jar everything I did buy, and when I dug out that first jar of the first tin of Escudo, things changed for me. Aromatics tend not to develop much with time, that for me is one of the key differences between aromatic tobaccos and non-aromatics.
When I got back to pipes a few years ago after smoking cigars exclusively for 15 years, Peterson’s Connoisseur’s Choice was the 1st blend I picked up.
Then a friend introduced me to English (Latakia) and Balkans (orientals). I fell in love with them immediately and smoked little else for the next couple of years.
Sillem’s Black is a crossover English blend which I like very much. The aromatic topping is very obvious from a freshly opened tin. The Latakia comes to the fore after the tin has been opened for some months.
These days I smoke mainly Virginias and VaPers. Peterson’s Elizabethan Mixture was the 1st VaPer I really liked and a nice intro to the genre.
Have fun exploring all the wonderful blends out there.
Do you know about the Tobacco Reviews site?
https://www.tobaccoreviews.com
Everyone has different tastes, but if you find a reviewer who agrees with you on what you've tried, that can help you find new blends.
https://www.tobaccoreviews.com
Everyone has different tastes, but if you find a reviewer who agrees with you on what you've tried, that can help you find new blends.
I’d like to throw Orlik Golden Sliced into the ring. It was one of the first tobaccos that really clicked with me when I started smoking and my friends enjoy it as well.
I’ll add it t to the list.. I’ve looked at it a few times
Adding Navy Style Blends to the recommendations. They are typically lightly to heavily topped with a Rum flavor. So like a transition from Aromatics to Non vs a jump.
Sam Gawith Navy Flake is dynamite and always available.
C&D Black Frigate also rings this bell.
Sam Gawith Navy Flake is dynamite and always available.
C&D Black Frigate also rings this bell.
Burley:
First off, I'll second Pegasus
Maybe give the version of Old Joe Krantz that suits your fancy a try,
Also Solani Aged Burley Flake as it's got a cocoa note to it.
And finally, consider something from C & D's Burley Flake series (#1-5).
VA:
Amphora Virginia Blend is a nice place to start.
Also give C & D's Opening Night a shot. Gentle and full of flavor.
VA/Per:
Another nod for Escudo.
Exclusive (bulk is milder on the funk - tinned is more full-throttle perique, IMO)
Penny Farthing shows what happens when you mix in a little Kentucky...magic happens.
Navy Style:
GLP Windjammer
C&D Speakeasy
Non-latakia Orientals:
4th Generation Twilight
GLP Cairo
John Patton's Oriental Dusk (for a burley twist to the Oriental mix)
Light Lat blends:
C & D Epiphany
HU Asmara (also qualifies as an Oriental, but with lat)
On a side note, all the Amphora pouches (VA, Burley, Kentucky and Original) are great budget-friendly, mellow middle-of-the-road offerings for their category and one can't go wrong trying them all over time.
These are a few recommendations from a long list of potential contenders. I will add that if you find that the light lat blends are good for you, delve deeper and try some fuller English and Balkan blends, too. It's all about finding what maximizes your own personal pleasure while enjoying your pipes. Best of luck and happy hunting!
First off, I'll second Pegasus
Maybe give the version of Old Joe Krantz that suits your fancy a try,
Also Solani Aged Burley Flake as it's got a cocoa note to it.
And finally, consider something from C & D's Burley Flake series (#1-5).
VA:
Amphora Virginia Blend is a nice place to start.
Also give C & D's Opening Night a shot. Gentle and full of flavor.
VA/Per:
Another nod for Escudo.
Exclusive (bulk is milder on the funk - tinned is more full-throttle perique, IMO)
Penny Farthing shows what happens when you mix in a little Kentucky...magic happens.
Navy Style:
GLP Windjammer
C&D Speakeasy
Non-latakia Orientals:
4th Generation Twilight
GLP Cairo
John Patton's Oriental Dusk (for a burley twist to the Oriental mix)
Light Lat blends:
C & D Epiphany
HU Asmara (also qualifies as an Oriental, but with lat)
On a side note, all the Amphora pouches (VA, Burley, Kentucky and Original) are great budget-friendly, mellow middle-of-the-road offerings for their category and one can't go wrong trying them all over time.
These are a few recommendations from a long list of potential contenders. I will add that if you find that the light lat blends are good for you, delve deeper and try some fuller English and Balkan blends, too. It's all about finding what maximizes your own personal pleasure while enjoying your pipes. Best of luck and happy hunting!
Thanks for all of these recommendations. I'm adding these to my list. I have had one Balkan (Arango Balken Supreme) That I really liked, as well as one Oriental (C&D Sun Bear). Excited for these additional Orientals on the list.Burley:
First off, I'll second Pegasus
Maybe give the version of Old Joe Krantz that suits your fancy a try,
Also Solani Aged Burley Flake as it's got a cocoa note to it.
And finally, consider something from C & D's Burley Flake series (#1-5).
VA:
Amphora Virginia Blend is a nice place to start.
Also give C & D's Opening Night a shot. Gentle and full of flavor.
VA/Per:
Another nod for Escudo.
Exclusive (bulk is milder on the funk - tinned is more full-throttle perique, IMO)
Penny Farthing shows what happens when you mix in a little Kentucky...magic happens.
Navy Style:
GLP Windjammer
C&D Speakeasy
Non-latakia Orientals:
4th Generation Twilight
GLP Cairo
John Patton's Oriental Dusk (for a burley twist to the Oriental mix)
Light Lat blends:
C & D Epiphany
HU Asmara (also qualifies as an Oriental, but with lat)
On a side note, all the Amphora pouches (VA, Burley, Kentucky and Original) are great budget-friendly, mellow middle-of-the-road offerings for their category and one can't go wrong trying them all over time.
These are a few recommendations from a long list of potential contenders. I will add that if you find that the light lat blends are good for you, delve deeper and try some fuller English and Balkan blends, too. It's all about finding what maximizes your own personal pleasure while enjoying your pipes. Best of luck and happy hunting!
Hahaha, but how many jars do you have? It sounds like you are going to enjoy going down the rabbit hole of trying many different blends. Enjoy the journey.
Originally too many
Based on advice here, I've focused on one new blend at a time. Smoke multiple bowls in multiple pipes try to get a feel if I like it. I also try to read the Tobacco reviews of the blend while having my first bowls, this has helped me with flavors, whether its a good one to dry out, etc... If I don't love it, I put it in a jar and will try again later. This is why I'm adding all these new ideas to my list, so I don't lose them. But it may be a bit until I can get to them.
Then I mix in my current personal favorite (C&D Autumn Evening) when I want to not think and enjoy the pipe
Based on advice here, I've focused on one new blend at a time. Smoke multiple bowls in multiple pipes try to get a feel if I like it. I also try to read the Tobacco reviews of the blend while having my first bowls, this has helped me with flavors, whether its a good one to dry out, etc... If I don't love it, I put it in a jar and will try again later. This is why I'm adding all these new ideas to my list, so I don't lose them. But it may be a bit until I can get to them.
Then I mix in my current personal favorite (C&D Autumn Evening) when I want to not think and enjoy the pipe
I'm not sure if anyone recommended Gawith tobaccos to you yet, but Rum Flake and Best Brown Flake are certainly worth trying!
The Drucquer & Sons series by master blender GL Pease are as good as I’ve ever smoked and rival the unicorn Esoterica blends for quality sourced leaf. Give Casbah and Loch Ness a try.
@Mike N is right. These are good ones and if my cellar had just then, I would be happy.
L.J. Peretti: almost any of their burley blends (They will help you choose the right one);
Boston's Best Cavendish (real tobacco with very light honey casing)
Crown (lightly aromatic English)
Boswell: Private Stock (a really underrated Virginia/Perique)
C&D: Opening Night (very nice straight Virginia)
Boston's Best Cavendish (real tobacco with very light honey casing)
Crown (lightly aromatic English)
Boswell: Private Stock (a really underrated Virginia/Perique)
C&D: Opening Night (very nice straight Virginia)
For a lighter Drucquer blend with a bit of Cavendish I also recommend The Merry Monk and King's Fool. These may be a good transition from goopy aromatics to full English.
Very good assortment of recommendations so far. The only one I think I would add being a newbie piper as well. “Same amount of time I might add.” Would be Petersons early morning pipe. IMO this is a perfect introduction to English blends. Very light and smooth. Just natural tobacco flavors. I highly recommend it!