Old Gowrie vs Hal O The Wynd vs Brown Clunee?

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TheWhale13

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 12, 2021
803
3,426
Sweden
Could anyone care to explain what you find the differences between these popular blends are, and which one you prefer?

I myself prefer OG compared to HOTW, for some reason which I can't really explain, maybe the latter is a bit muted in flavor. I've never tried Brown Clunee.
 
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TheWhale13

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 12, 2021
803
3,426
Sweden
I haven’t had OG. How does it compare to Hal? I really enjoy H.
It's been a while since I've had Old Gowrie, but I am smoking some HOTW right now, and think that they are quite different. Similar enough of course, but different. I remember OG as a lively, sweet and spicy Virginia with a smidgen of perique. While HOTW is a little less lively, with more bass and power. A bit darker, but muted, with some more darker burley or Kentucky presence. So all in all I prefer OG, and have a few tins aging. But it would be fun to hear what Brown Clunee is like too, if anyone here have tried it.
 

mikestanley

Lifer
May 10, 2009
1,698
1,127
Akron area of Ohio
Hal O the Wynd is more stoved Virginia. I find a stoved Virginia difficult to smoke. Packing and a proper burn rate just elude me with them. Usually leaving me a rather hot, flavorless smoke. I haven't smoked either Old Gowrie or Broun Clunee fresh or even from recent productions, preferring to let my Virginias to sit for a decade or so. Both are wonderful. Very easy to smoke and to get the wonderful flavors from the smoke they produce. I guess if I had to decide. Brown Clunee is a bit milder.

Mike S.
 

bluegrassbrian

Your Mom's Favorite Pipe Smoker
Aug 27, 2016
6,635
63,841
41
Louisville
This has been discussed ad nauseum - you'd probably benefit from trying your search function.

There was a fairly recent thread that went on for pages.
 
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rmbittner

Lifer
Dec 12, 2012
2,759
2,024
I can’t really add much to the conversation, but I’ll say that I am *extremely* sensitive to perique, yet I find Hal o’ the Wynd a very enjoyable smoke IF you take it very slowly. With very slow puffing, it reveals a sweetness that I haven’t found in either Old Gowrie or Brown Clunee.

It’s been a while since I’ve smoked either OG or BC, but my notes tell me that I thought BC had a bit less nicotine and an overall darker flavor than OG. (I’m also quite sensitive to nicotine, but have no trouble smoking any of these blends.) If you enjoy Virginias, though, I feel sure you’d thoroughly enjoy all three of these blends.
 
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Jan 28, 2018
13,913
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Sarasota, FL
I found Brown Clunee primarily Virginia flavors, okay but a bit bland. I like OG the best, I get mostly Virginia but the perique definitely comes through nicely, maybe a bit of DFK adding some body. Sweet and spicy. HOTW is good and the most complex. I find the DFK to be more of a player and kind of overwhelms the Virginia at times. I don't care much for that.
 
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pantsBoots

Lifer
Jul 21, 2020
2,349
8,912
HotW is higher in DFK, so spicier and I reach for it the least.
OG is a wonderful VaPer and sits in the middle of my preference.
BC is my favorite as the Perique and DFK are dialed way back, which lets the Virginias shine more.
 
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judcole

Lifer
Sep 14, 2011
7,437
38,381
Detroit
Although folks talk about perique in HotW and OG, it is very, very much a condiment - it's not a major player at all. I would bet no more than 1% in either. I've got tins of both that will hit 10 years next year.
I've not smoked Brown Clunee,