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Smokeybandit

Might Stick Around
Nov 10, 2025
70
181
Out of curiosity, for someone such as myself who is an unapologetic Captain Black enjoyer, how similar is Visions of Celephaïs to Captain Black Grape? I've never had CB Grape before since it's last production was a bit before my time in the hobby but a grape pipe tobacco sounds pretty interesting, and whenever I hear it brought up folks always talk of the mythical Grape version as if it's the Esoterica of the Captain Black lineup. I'd like to try something at least somewhat similar!



Oh hey, that's been my everyday RYO blend for close to a decade! I only tried it in a pipe once and wasn't a big fan, but that was a long while ago and my tastes have changed a fair bit since then so I should probably give it another go. puffy
Same, I just recently quit RYO and decided to try in a pipe and wow, very different taste and so sweet. 😎
 
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Waning Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
47,737
129,092
how similar is Visions of Celephaïs to Captain Black Grape?
Celephaïs is a grape bomb.


whenever I hear it brought up folks always talk of the mythical Grape version as if it's the Esoterica of the Captain Black lineup.
I've not found much of Esoterica to be enjoyable enough to highly rank it as such but CBG is my favorite Captain Black.
 

MisterBadger

Lifer
Oct 6, 2024
1,235
11,014
Ludlow, UK
"Oi vay" conveys dismay and disapproval.
I can't agree. Being Yiddish for 'woe', ('veh') is what one might say when imagining - as a Va/Per smoker, for example - that Captain Black Grape was the only tobacco available. To anyone. Ever. Similarly, a heavy aromatics afficionado might equally disparage a straight dark fired Kentucky.

Disparagement is simply a negative personal, evaluation and therefore understood to be subjective, and it is not at all the same as disapproval, which would be like suggesting that G&H Dark Plug should be reclassified as a Class A drug, or that all those who smoke it are degenerates.

I've been extremely rude about some tobacco blends I've reviewed, but to date no one has, um, disparaged me for it, or accused me of being disapproving. But neither I nor Spearheadbill have been rude about anyone who actually enjoys such a blend. There's no accounting for tastes, as folks say.

In Welsh, we say "Ych a fi" (pronounced 'Ugh a vee', meaning, literally, "Yuck to me"). This I take to be the context of Spearheadbill's expostulation.
 

BriaronBoerum

Can't Leave
Jan 13, 2025
430
2,052
Brooklyn, NY
Still going through new blends and getting to know familiar ones, but let's see, if we're looking mainly at satisfying, easily available smokes:

OGS
PS LTF and LBF, Marlin Flake
MacC Scottish Flake, Peterson University Flake
GLP Windjammer, Ellipsis Flake
Arango Balkan Supreme, C & D Stratfordshire,
Lane HGL, Sillem's Black
C & D Crooner,
Rattray's Bagpiper's Dream,
and I'll throw in GH Bosun Flake, even though it's anything but easily available.
 

MisterBadger

Lifer
Oct 6, 2024
1,235
11,014
Ludlow, UK
Still going through new blends and getting to know familiar ones, but let's see, if we're looking mainly at satisfying, easily available smokes:

OGS
PS LTF and LBF, Marlin Flake
MacC Scottish Flake, Peterson University Flake
GLP Windjammer, Ellipsis Flake
Arango Balkan Supreme, C & D Stratfordshire,
Lane HGL, Sillem's Black
C & D Crooner,
Rattray's Bagpiper's Dream,
and I'll throw in GH Bosun Flake, even though it's anything but easily available.
Blimey! 15 blends! You're no minimalist, are you? 😆
 
Sep 13, 2023
1,036
19,393
Long Beach
I can't agree. Being Yiddish for 'woe', ('veh') is what one might say when imagining - as a Va/Per smoker, for example - that Captain Black Grape was the only tobacco available. To anyone. Ever. Similarly, a heavy aromatics afficionado might equally disparage a straight dark fired Kentucky.

Disparagement is simply a negative personal, evaluation and therefore understood to be subjective, and it is not at all the same as disapproval, which would be like suggesting that G&H Dark Plug should be reclassified as a Class A drug, or that all those who smoke it are degenerates.

I've been extremely rude about some tobacco blends I've reviewed, but to date no one has, um, disparaged me for it, or accused me of being disapproving. But neither I nor Spearheadbill have been rude about anyone who actually enjoys such a blend. There's no accounting for tastes, as folks say.

In Welsh, we say "Ych a fi" (pronounced 'Ugh a vee', meaning, literally, "Yuck to me"). This I take to be the context of Spearheadbill's expostulation.
Thank you Mister, having made many disparaging remarks in my long life I was almost miffed at his hostile response to my innocuous statement. Now if I had said that he was vulgar, raffish, uncivilized or uncouth? those would have been "fighting words" but I would never use such terms for someone who simply chooses to smoke repugnant tobacco for pipes.
 

telescopes

Pipe Dreamer and Star Gazer
It should come as no surprise that my own blend would be first, my dad's blend, and then John Denger's Black Maria. Each of these blends has been severely blown apart due to the wreckage of Sutliff. I do enjoy Esoterica blends and I have 22 lbs of their blends - that will carry me forward for quite a while.
 
Sep 13, 2023
1,036
19,393
Long Beach
It should come as no surprise that my own blend would be first, my dad's blend, and then John Denger's Black Maria. Each of these blends has been severely blown apart due to the wreckage of Sutliff. I do enjoy Esoterica blends and I have 22 lbs of their blends - that will carry me forward for quite a while.
I only keep B.K. Flakes and Dorchester. The rest get auctioned off to the highest bidder.