Newb With a Question About Off Flavors

[scupbucket]

Hi! Got into the hobby about a month ago and have been trying some different tobaccos. I currently have 3 pipes in rotation (eyeing a ton more) and have noticed a bit of an odd flavor now and then with certain blends. I'm a slow smoker by the way... usually about an hour per bowl. This flavor is almost a steamy metallic taste that occurs when I draw a light smoke or when the tobacco is about to extinguish. Its not noticable though when I relight or get the pipe going for some strong puffs. I'm currently trying 6 different blends and the two this occurs most with are blended with light and dark cavendish. For some reason I can't taste the nutty tobacco flavor in those... Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[roadqueen]

Being fairly new to pipe smoking myself, I really can't offer any useful advice. However, there are many educated and experienced pipe smokers that will chime in and give you some excellent tips, I'm sure.
I just wanted to pop in and say - Welcome! ::

 

[judcole]

Welcome aboard.

the two this occurs most with are blended with light and dark cavendish. For some reason I can't taste the nutty tobacco flavor in those.

Sounds to me like the blends. These are probably so loaded with crap that there is no tobacco taste to taste. :D

 

[easterntraveler]

I would wait on the pipes and get some better quality tobacco. After that if still happens it's probably the pipes. What are the blend names? What kind of pipes do you have?

 

[numbersix]

Welcome to the forums scupbucket.
I agree with Jud on this one. Some tobaccos will be called "chocolate" or "nutty" and yet the flavor just isn't there. And some have preservatives or other ingredients that may taint the flavor.
Branch out and try a sampling of quality tobaccos - be sure to visit some of the posts on this forum about tobacco. You'll get a lot of recommendations - but be forewarned, it can take a while to get a feel for what you may like long term (but that's part of the fun!)

 

[bobpnm]

Welcome! The stuff added to pipe tobacco has to have an effect. The experienced here will always advise to try blends that have as little added to them as possible. That pretty much rules out almost all aromatic blends. Like everything else, some aromatics are better than others. It didn't take me long to learn that real tobacco flavor has nothing to do with fruity or vanilla tin and room notes. Different kinds of tobacco taste different. Try them all! You might be surprised how good minimally processed Virginia and Perique taste together!

 

[scupbucket]

Thanks for the welcome everybody... looks like I came to the right place!

What are the blend names? What kind of pipes do you have?

The blends are from a local spot that is dedicated primarily to pipes... great place. The blends are called Seville, a blend of light and dark cavendish, and Moontrance, virginias and cavendish cased with a honey vanilla flavoring. Two of my pipes I'm keeping for aromatic blends. One is a meerschaum lined briar bent billiard and the other is a briar estate billiard. I keep them clean as much as possible but I've been reading up about sour pipes... not sure if that's what I'm tasting?

 

[mso489]

You are a very recent smoker, so I think none of your pipes (if bought new) are broken in yet, and

this can always make even good tobaccos taste a little off, depending on the pipe and the tobacco.

As others suggest, you need to try some better tobacco. Buy this in small quantities until you find

several you like -- most are available in bulk in 2 ounce quantities. This is a fun part. Look around

the tobacco posts and reviews here in Forums and try tobaccos that are generally popular.

 

[thesmokindragon]

+1 w/Jud...focus on "high quality" bacci above all else..grab some MM Cobs ::

 

[cigrmaster]

Most aromatics are loaded with PG and casings and that is what could be producing the metallic taste. I would recommend getting a tin of Dunhill Flake and trying that. Read up on the cube cut method of preparation and give it a whirl. It is an all natural Virginia Flake that is normally readily available at most tobacconists and it comes at the prefect moisture content. if after smoking this you still get a metallic taste then it is your pipes.

 

[juptierspipe]

Harris nailed it I believe. I'm a big aromatic fan myself and I'm very aware of the metallic taste during relighting your referring to. Give P&W aro sampler a try. No artificial flavors from her Rumcake,Cherry cavendish,Bleeker street are all great tasting/burning blends and número uno IMO H&H Manor Heights. If you want to stick with aros give any or all of these blends a try I think you'll be happy with the taste! ::

 

[cavendish]

Buy tobacco before you buy more pipes. Buy GOOD tobacco not OTC blends and I'm pretty sure you will notice a difference. If you like aromatics try out Peter Stokkebye Nougat or 4noggins Three Blind Moose. Also Mac Baren 7 Seas Regular and Royal are nice aros. I hear Lane makes some nice aros but I've never tried their blends.

That's the fun of the hobby. Trying the thousands of blends out there is what makes it so fun.

 

[pipebow88]

I think there is some good info here already. Though there is one thing I will add. I have a fairly strong dislike for anything cavendish. The only tobaccos i can recal with cavendish I've cared for at all were Stokkebeye luxury bullseye flake and Macbaren roll cake. Everything else I've tried with cavendish in it tastes metallic to me. All were also cases where I know the pipes were not the problem. I practically gave up on cavendish. I mostly stick to virginia/vapers and english now.

B

 

[scupbucket]

Now that's what I call some assistance! I already put a dent in the card and ordered a few tins. Also on the way home from work yesterday... for the helluvit... I broke down and bought a pouch of captain black white... and...
I liked it...