I find that Sutliff Aromatic English comes out of the bag already perfect! My all day blend more often than not.
As does MacBaren Solent Mixture.
As does MacBaren Solent Mixture.
Mixing Blends
- Thread starter jraggreg56
- Start date
i'm thinking about one of those presses. do you think the ones I see on amazon for $16 sufficient for the task?
Those both sound good! Looks like I have a couple more tobaccos to add to the next order...
I don't blend tobaccos. For some reason this skill is beyond me.
Occasionally, but rarely, I will mix a milder tobacco with a blend I find a bit harsh to take the edge off of it. Most of the time I do not mix blends but will, once in awhile, pack one on top of another in the pipe if I want multiple flavors. Once one finishes the other begins and they are separate and distinct without effecting one another or I've put it down and re-lit. I smoke larger chamber pipes. 20mmx45-55mm.
That is what I’m using. I put the tobacco on a paper plate and microwave for 15 seconds, then I load a sandwich bag and stuff into the press. The bag helps removal and holds in toppings. I crank it down (not a strength contest) and add a 1/4 or 1/8 turn for the first two days. Then wait. You will be surprised at how it changes a blend. For me, it mellows the harsh edges.
I pressed it, and it was good."Haunted Woods" is my mix of 50/50 Haunted Bookshop and Boswell's Northwoods. The drier HB and moister Northwoods mixed together make a perfect ready to smoke dryness (imho) and burns smoothly (and much slower than just HB). The Northwoods mellows out the nic-level of the HB so I can enjoy a whole bowl without feeling like I just got back on shore after a week at sea.The ghost must be an olde Engish lady or dandy from way back as the mix releases an unexpected incense/perfume note about 1/3 of the way in, which I do not get from either on it's own... Like a scented powder of old... rose and sandalwood, or..? I speculate the perique is working some magic with the latakia. I can't quite put my finger on this haunting scent...
Finished the first pressed cake today. Sooo nice...just glides into an easy bliss. I particularly like that this goes well with beer (so many don't in my experience). I think it is the perfume/incense that supports the tang of the beer (an IPA with a low IBU of 41) and the Latakia doesn't fight it. Developing the story, I do believe the ghost is a dandy with a bowtie, and a name that starts with "M..." I really liked the thin puck that 10 grams resulted in. Just started next press with 20 grams of each ingredient, divided up into four 10g portions, and separated with waxed paper rounds to see how that does keeping the pucks/cakes separate. A week at a time has been good for the pressing."Haunted Woods" is my mix of 50/50 Haunted Bookshop and Boswell's Northwoods. The drier HB and moister Northwoods mixed together make a perfect ready to smoke dryness (imho) and burns smoothly (and much slower than just HB). The Northwoods mellows out the nic-level of the HB so I can enjoy a whole bowl without feeling like I just got back on shore after a week at sea.
most of my blends are either a wild idea that hits me mid smoke (hey this would go great with that other one) or the mix of whatever is left at the bottom of the tin. Fun fact it always seems to either come out so good you start thinking blenders are all over rated or it comes out so terrible it makes blenders look more like wizards.
ain't that the truth! added a pinch of C&D mocha to some pretti 52 to see how that might go and just flattened it all. 52 is gonna stay 'pure' for me!
As a new pipe smoker, I’ve been trying a bunch of blends that I thought I’d like, so I’ve got many jarred to try later. However with pouches I didn’t like too much, that there aren’t enough to even bother the cost of a jar on, I’ve picked up a few oz’s of Lane Black Raspberry and Sutliff Sunset Rum-adding a bit of either has made a few good enough to smoke in my rotation to not waste them (Bokrum Riff Bourbon Mix with a little berry is a pretty good “all day but not every day”).
A friend gave me 3oz of Haunted Bookshop he couldn’t stand, that I didn’t like, but I mixed it with a tin of Barbados Plantation and the result was good enough I’ll make more “Haunted Plantation” when it’s gone.
I finally found an aromatic that I really enjoy last week by mixing 2 parts Lane 1Q with 1 part each Sutliff Windsor 805 and Sunset Rum. Just mixed up 8oz of that as my go-to aro.
A friend gave me 3oz of Haunted Bookshop he couldn’t stand, that I didn’t like, but I mixed it with a tin of Barbados Plantation and the result was good enough I’ll make more “Haunted Plantation” when it’s gone.
I finally found an aromatic that I really enjoy last week by mixing 2 parts Lane 1Q with 1 part each Sutliff Windsor 805 and Sunset Rum. Just mixed up 8oz of that as my go-to aro.
Chopper, your blend has piqued my interest, as I have some Mark Twain in my cellar, together with a variety of English tobaccos. Let the experimentation begin!
I've mentioned this in other Threads; I like an adaptation of Shelby Foote's preferred blend (two-thirds Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend to one-third "rough-cut"). In my case I use Granger as the rough-cut, and it's goooooood!
A little bowl of Derringer from a Barker sandblast. 
I do the same thing. Tobaccos that I won't buy again are mixed with Black Cavendish. Some times it makes a great smoke and other times it makes it possible to clear out a tobacco.
I combined Plum Pudding Special Reserve with Mac Bighten Vanilla Roll Cake roughly 50/50 and it was great.
I posted recently and really enjoyed 1/2 flake of HH Bold Kentucky and Newminster Navy Flake. I think the Dark Fired mixed with any sweeter Virginia would be a good combination.
About to light up some Newminster 403 mixed 2:3 with Peter S Bullseye. I’ll report back.