Need Help Reducing The Size Of My First Tobacco Purchase

[Sig]

As was mentioned already, Latakia has a very distinct taste. I can't even tell you how many pipers almost give up due to their hatred of Latakia.
If you're trying to figure out what you like with a beginner pallete, Latakia may be all you taste. It's a mix of campfire and strong perfume.
Your list is good, but some of the ones mentioned can be difficult to get sometimes.
In my opinion C&D, including GL Pease blends are a great place to start. They have all the genres, do them well, and are inexpensive and always available.
I would HIGHLY suggest the Cult BRM. It's the only one of the cherries that has any flavor, and it's good.
Ive recently been trying aromatics for really the first time in almost 30 years of piping.

 

[Peter Turbo]

personally i would drop the sutliff and macbaren since theyre no longer around. id drop the sansepolcro since thats a limited. you have three peterson english blends id drop it down to one. everything else looks good.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Here’s my recommendations for you.


* Cornell & Diehl Sansepolcro
* Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired
* G. L. Pease Quiet Nights
* Peterson My Mixture 965
* Orlik Golden Sliced
* Capstan Flake Blue
GLP Ellipsis

I threw the last one in as it is an oriental blend and quite good. Drive safely.

 

[BriaronBoerum]

If you're not already overloaded with good advice, I'm just gonna add my two cents as a new-ish smoker.

When I was starting out, I heard a lot of advice about starting with aromatic blends, or with a solid codger blend, before getting into Latakia-heavy English and Balkan blends. My tastes ran the other way, I really liked English blends right away, but the aro's I tried were mostly lacking, and I've only recently learned to enjoy burley based codger blends (Just so you know: OJK is Old Joe Krantz, and HBS is Haunted Bookshop, two popular burley blends from C&D).

I'd say open a tin of an English blend and take a sniff or two; if the BBQ aroma grabs you, add it to your travel cellar. And in general, enjoy the process! It's worth listening to those with more experience, you'll learn a lot, but just keep in mind two things: first, don't force yourself to like anything, just because it's highly rated/recommended/blended with 50% Anatolian unicorn farts, and second, be aware your tastes will very likely change as you try more different blends.

 

[Crev]

As was mentioned already, Latakia has a very distinct taste. I can't even tell you how many pipers almost give up due to their hatred of Latakia.
If you're trying to figure out what you like with a beginner pallete, Latakia may be all you taste. It's a mix of campfire and strong perfume.
Your list is good, but some of the ones mentioned can be difficult to get sometimes.
In my opinion C&D, including GL Pease blends are a great place to start. They have all the genres, do them well, and are inexpensive and always available.
I would HIGHLY suggest the Cult BRM. It's the only one of the cherries that has any flavor, and it's good.
Ive recently been trying aromatics for really the first time in almost 30 years of piping.

I've tried but can't find an English without Latakia. I even tried using the Tobacco Locator on Smokingpipes.com

 

[Peter Turbo]

I've tried but can't find an English without Latakia. I even tried using the Tobacco Locator on Smokingpipes.com

These days “English” blends all have latakia.

 

[BayouGhost]

* Escudo Navy De Luxe. A more affordable option would be to try some standard VApers like BayouMorning ribbon to see if you like the genre, but everyone should try Escudo at least once so there is that.
* Cornell & Diehl Sansepolcro
* Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired: Since you can no longer buy this readily, replace it with another DFK heavy blend such as Jackknife plug RR or if you can find it, Hearth and Home Smoky Mountain or possibly Country Squier Cowboy Coffee. You can buy the Jackknife Plug Smokingpipes if you are making one big order. Get the ready rubbed so you don't have to fiddle around with cutting the plug while on the road. Careful as it has strength.
* Sutliff Vanilla Custard-No comment. I don't smoke aromatics.
* G. L. Pease Quiet Nights

* Peterson Nightcap-If you like this more than 965, try Quiet Nights later.
* Peterson My Mixture 965-Must Try
* Peterson Early Morning Pipe-Must Try. Gateway drug for many to English blends.

* Orlik Golden Sliced See note below on VA blends. Good stuff, but at cost so you may want to try the genre first.
* Lane Limited 1-Q
* Capstan Flake Blue-Replace with a more affordable option. Opening Night is a good one or Yorktown. This will give you an idea if you like pure VAs. Others will have similar suggestions that may be better or more affordable.
* Captain Black Original

I would also add C&D Burley Flake #2 to see if you want to dive deeper into that sort of thing.

 

[Sig]

I've tried but can't find an English without Latakia. I even tried using the Tobacco Locator on Smokingpipes.com

Yes for English or a Balkan Latakia is a must. But like someone else mentioned, using Quiet Nights as a Red Virginia, or Nightcap as a VaPer and 965 as a Cavendish probably arent the best options. Many long time pipers cannot pick those tobaccos out of these blends.
It's like picking out the white pepper in a heavily spiced Paella. Some of these tobaccos are playing very minor rolls in Latakia based blends.
C&D Opening Night is a great example of a Red Virginia.
Many of C&D blends have no casing and no topping so you can taste what the tobacco is supposed to taste like. Then you can play with other blends as you find what you like. Very few blenders have blends with no added casing or flavors, C&D is one of the few who rely on the taste of the tobacco. Their youtube videos have their current blender, Jeremy Reeves explaining many of their component tobaccos and blends.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Just to be clear, I wasn’t advising against English/Latakia blends.
They are definitely a genre to try to see what you like.
I was just pointing out to not expect to smoke and English/lat blends that has Virginias as way to see if you like Virginias

 

[Crev]

Yes for English or a Balkan Latakia is a must. But like someone else mentioned, using Quiet Nights as a Red Virginia, or Nightcap as a VaPer and 965 as a Cavendish probably arent the best options.

C&D Opening Night is a great example of a Red Virginia.
Many of C&D blends have no casing and no topping so you can taste what the tobacco is supposed to taste like.

I did mislabel many products in my list, as to what they belonged to.

It's very helpful to get a recommendation that is "pure to form", like you did on C&D Opening Night.

For me, I think it would be helpful to find recommendations for each category that people like while still being "pure". If that makes sense.

I may try to find them in Cornell & Diehl as you suggested. Any specific recommendations are appreciated.

 

[NookersTheCat]

I see people here saying don't buy Sutliff Vanilla Custard or Cult Blood Red Moon because they are discontinued. This is false. CBRM is already made by STG (check the label on your tins... many believe it to be a tinned Lane TK-6 and I tend to agree with them) and Sutliff VC is one of the very few Sutliff bulk blends that is being kept... check the notice letter sent eariler this year.

Now, they're may be a change in quality of VC when the existing US stocks dry... or a blip/change when they move between their 2 Denmark factories. But neither blend is being discontinued in the US. This is Fake News...

 

[NookersTheCat]

Oh, and all English blends have Latakia... it's what makes them English. Not all Latakia blends are English (even though many people say this) but all English blends have Latakia (Yes, there are other blends made in/branded from England that don't have Latakia... but they are not considered "English blends")

 

[Sig]

I did mislabel many products in my list, as to what they belonged to.

It's very helpful to get a recommendation that is "pure to form", like you did on C&D Opening Night.

For me, I think it would be helpful to find recommendations for each category that people like while still being "pure". If that makes sense.

I may try to find them in Cornell & Diehl as you suggested. Any specific recommendations are appreciated.

I will come up with a list as soon as I sit down for awhile.
Just reading their descriptions on the C&D website can be very helpful. They tell you about the component tobaccos and and flavors added.
They will tell you a blend is a STRAIGHT Virginia, or a STRAIGHT Burley, and what varieties are in the blend.
Many of their best blends DO contain small amounts of another tobacco for several reasons.
For instance....one of their most popular Burley blends, Pegasus, contains a very small amount of Virginia for sweetness. Straight Burley can be a bit cigaretteish. Some added Virginia can change that. But it's still in their Burley lineup.
Also, they add unflavored black Cavendish to many of their blends. According to Jeremy Reeves, this tobacco has almost zero flavor, but is added to improve mouth feel and create thicker smoke. Thicker smoke helps you taste the tobacco better because it covers your taste buds better than without the Cavendish. Again, this is all explained on their youtube channel.
Many pipers absolutely HATE any Cavendish because they confuse unflavored, not goopy black Cavendish with goopy American aromatics. Hence the reason he made the video explaining it. Like he says, "you can't taste it, but you would miss it if it weren't there."
This adventure is just going to get more confusing as you go. I suggest buying a couple 1oz samples of each genre before you commit to too many tins. Once you know you like Virginias, or Burley, or English..... you can dive into the higher end tins.
You can get 10 one ounce samples delivered to your door for $40.
I assume you're in the USA because you said you were a truck driver, not a lorry driver.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Hello everyone, I am a truck driver and I stay on the road 1-2 months at a time. I've bought a couple of pipes that are waiting for me when I get home and I'm now purchasing several types of tobacco to take back out on the road with me to figure out which ones I like. I'm going to take just a few off of this list (with your help). I can always try them later but the majority of them I will take with me and have about 8-10 on the road. What do you think? Here is the list I currently have:


* Escudo Navy De Luxe
* Cornell & Diehl Sansepolcro
* Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired
* Sutliff Vanilla Custard
* G. L. Pease Quiet Nights
* Peterson Nightcap
* Peterson My Mixture 965
* Peterson Early Morning Pipe
* Orlik Golden Sliced
* Lane Limited 1-Q
* Capstan Flake Blue
* Captain Black Original

Primary redundancy is between Vanilla Custard/1-Q/Captain Black. All three of those should be approximately the same thing.

I have only limited experience with Capstan Flake Blue and OGS, but in general straight VA flakes do not agree with me (bitey).

Escudo, love it.
DFK/VA blends, love it.
Sutliff Vanilla Custard, love it.
G.L. Pease Quiet Nights, love it.
"Peterson" (formerly Dunhill) blends have a special place in my heart for being the only thin cut (nearly shag cut) leaf on the market, and therefore very easy to keep lit. Flavor is one thing but if you want zero fuss these are the blends to have, love it.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

I'd consider trimming down to one Aromatic (1-Q because it's allegedly the best seller in the US, or Cult Blood Red Moon because I know from personal experience that it's solid. Or if you prefer grapes to cherries - Visions of Celephais) for a pouch of Five Brothers.

 

[khiddy]

I'd consider trimming down to one Aromatic (1-Q because it's allegedly the best seller in the US, or Cult Blood Red Moon because I know from personal experience that it's solid. Or if you prefer grapes to cherries - Visions of Celephais) for a pouch of Five Brothers.

Five Brothers is a fantastic recommendation.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Peterson My Mixture #965 is very much a middle ground between Early Morning Pipe and Nightcap, so of those three, I’d just start with that one. It’s a great “gateway English blend.”

 

[Lumbridge]

You’ll ghost the truck!

Truck ghosted by Haunted Bookshop = Haunted Truck Stop?

 

[Lumbridge]

I know the urge is to try everything under the sun right now, but I think the best course of action might be to pick a handful that look promising and really spend some time with them before branching out more. I still get the feverish impulse to open a bunch of tins, but force myself to limit it to a half dozen or so at a time and work through them. I feel that it can lead to greater appreciation of the tobacco.

If you come across a blend that really doesn't seem to be working for you, maybe jar it up and come back to it later. You might be surprised that you enjoy it later on. I've only ever dumped one blend in the trash after the first try, because it was just that bad. C&D Sweet English, if you're curious.

 

[Crev]

I know the urge is to try everything under the sun right now, but I think the best course of action might be to pick a handful that look promising and really spend some time with them before branching out more. I still get the feverish impulse to open a bunch of tins, but force myself to limit it to a half dozen or so at a time and work through them. I feel that it can lead to greater appreciation of the tobacco.

If you come across a blend that really doesn't seem to be working for you, maybe jar it up and come back to it later. You might be surprised that you enjoy it later on. I've only ever dumped one blend in the trash after the first try, because it was just that bad. C&D Sweet English, if you're curious.

There is that urge but I can manage it I think. I wish it was as easy as finding something like Bob's Tobacco Company that sells pure sample bags of each category that allow you to get a true sense of each type so you know what you like before trying the "multi-blends" out there. The problem is I don't know Bob and his tobacco might stink. I basically am trying to just feel things out before I place my order, probably later today and take advantage of some father's day deals.