Newby Needs Help

[virginiasaltydog]

I'm new to both pipe smoking and this forum. I have a question for some of you "experts", please. I stopped by the local Tinder Box retail store and 'sniffed' out several tobacco blends. Is there a noticable difference in the Tinder Box blends..."Wilshire" and "Sunset"? They smell very similar to me. Also, I would appreciate advice on the Tinder Box blend..."Midnight". I really liked it as well and was told that it would be a great tobacco to mix with either the "Wilshire" or the "Senset". Thoughts please! Many thanks!

 

[jah76]

Welcome aboard!
I've never tried Sunset but I believe that Wilshire is the same tobacco as 1Q from Lane. Both are Cavendish blends, but Sunset claims to be Virginia Cavendish and if I remember right Wilshire has black cavendish in it. Cavendish is a treatment more then a specific tobacco leaf. Personally I don't think mixing Midnight which is also black cav to Wilshire would net you much in the way of a new taste.
Let us know how you make out!

Cavendish

Cavendish is more a process of curing and a method of cutting tobacco than a type of it. The processing and the cut are used to bring out the natural sweet taste in the tobacco. Cavendish can be produced out of any tobacco type but is usually one of, or a blend of Kentucky, Virginia, and Burley and is most commonly used for pipe tobacco and cigars.

The process begins by pressing the tobacco leaves into a cake about an inch thick. Heat from fire or steam is applied, and the tobacco is allowed to ferment. This is said to result in a sweet and mild tobacco. Finally the cake is sliced. These slices must be broken apart, as by rubbing in a circular motion between one's palms, before the tobacco can be evenly packed into a pipe. Flavoring* is often added before the leaves are pressed. English Cavendish uses a dark flue or fire cured Virginia, which is steamed and then stored under pressure to permit it to cure and ferment for several days or weeks.

There are several colors, including the well-known Black Cavendish, numerous blends, and a wide range of flavors. Modern blends include flavors and ingredients such as cherry, chocolate, coconut, rum, strawberry, vanilla, walnut, and bourbon.

Cavendish tobacco originated in the late 16th century, when Sir Thomas Cavendish commanded a ship in Sir Richard Grenville's expedition to Virginia in 1585, and discovered that by dipping tobacco leaves in sugar it produced a milder and more mellow smoke.

A typical mix of ingredients would be around 54 percent tobacco, 22 percent water, 8 percent alcohol (Glycerol/Sorbitol) and the rest sugars and specific flavoring (e.g., cherry). Sources: Wikipedia)

 

[virginiasaltydog]

Thanks very much for your advice and for the info. Much appreciated! (I need all the advice I can get)!