Overrated Tobaccos

[hessenland]

In the light of the re-introduction of Dunhill Tobaccos and similar stories, I want to know what tobaccos that have been hyped up in many online communities do you folks see as overrated?
There seems to be the trend, to which Greg Pease referred to, that we always desire the unobtainable. I think this is certainly true with pipe tobacco. We crave Dunhill's Navy Rolls when we had Escudo at our disposition for years. Many tobaccos seem to enjoy the same status and are not all that great after all. (Don't get me wrong, Navy Rolls are delightful!)
My first example is SGs Squadron Leader. It's a good solid English, but there is much better out there. Just consult Mr. Pease's offerings for example. Edgeworth Sliced is in the same boat.
What do you guys think?

 

[lordnoble]

I agree, but I think it's also in the eye of the beholder. Some blends (as Pease said in his article) started out a completely different blend than they are now. Some are also victim of, "Oh crap! Samuel Gawith blends are hard to find and I found some! I'm going to squirrel it away in case I decide I like it some day or if I want an upper-hand in a trade!" That's my guess. That, and our tastes for things evolve, so one day I love FVF, the next it's just a meh blend. Just my opinion. YMMV.
-Jason

 

[unclearthur]

In this hobby as in all parts of life there is a lot of me too-ism . I think some of the so called great blends of the past Are only great looking back at something that is no longer available. Some self styled "expert" proclaims that Whizzing Dog (to make up an example) was great. and the me too's join the chorus. It all comes down to individual taste. Otherwise Borkum Riff and some of the other "drugstore" brands would be long gone.

 

[lordnoble]

Whizzing Dog? Isn't that made by the same company that makes Merde de Cheval? :lol:
-Jason

 

[hauntedmyst]

Penzance is way over rated. None of your should buy any of it. Ever. Muhahahaha

 

[flipflopsandshades]

I was very disappointed with the "airy to little to no taste" of 1-Q. Maybe I got a bad batch or maybe I need to smoke more of it but I expected much more.

 

[wolfscout]

I always expect more from tobaccos that have higher price tags. Usually they let me down. That or my sense of taste is just non-existent due to tongue bite when I first started. :lol:

 

[hobie1dog]

You really need to isolate yourself and make it a point to just sample all the blends out there, as there will always be the Holy grail blends that will be touted as the next Coming of the Supreme Being. I've been let down more times by buying some famous blend and thinking "I just don't see what everyone likes about this"
Penzance being the exception. :worship:

 

[tedswearingen]

I think most of the 'hyped' pipe tobaccos are overrated. I'd include all of the current U.S. offerings of Dunhill, Sam Gawith's FVF and Squadron Leader as well as Esoterica's Stonehaven on a long list of good blends that are way too apprised.
Of course, this is just my opinion!

 

[collin]

As a relatively new smoker,....I couldn't really point out a highly rated tobacco that shouldn't be highly rated.
I do, however, know of several that I didn't care for nearly as much as most reviewers, but in an effort to not look stoopid, I'll refrain from mentioning them.

8O

 

[admin]

The over-hype is what can lead to disappointment too.
Suppose you have two different tobaccos that are completely equal and the same in all ways.
One of them you have very high expectations for because of all the hype.
The other one, you haven't heard anything about.
You will probably think the other one is better.

 

[lordnoble]

Lets not forget the ones that you hype-up yourself based on nothing other than the tin description. Those are the worst!
-Jason

 

[chero]

i don't know guys, without the flavors they all taste the same to me or my taste buds have been smoke cured from years of smoke like a ham in the smoke house.

 

[wolfscout]

@ chero ... that's what I'm thinking too.

I really can't find something that strikes me as a got to have...

 

[hilojohnny]

Whizzing Dog???....

Yes, it is all in the eyes of the beholder.....Your disappointment may be my Holy Grail....

but how do I get ahold of some Whizzing Dog???..... :nana:

 

[pstlpkr]

I was very disappointed with the "airy to little to no taste" of 1-Q. Maybe I got a bad batch or maybe I need to smoke more of it but I expected much more.

Hey Wolf.

When I read the initial question for this string 1Q immediately came to mind.

1Q is a light and airy smoke, it does have (IMHO) a good taste... just not very strong.

Maybe that's the point. I use it as my "go to" smoke for that very reason. I don't want something that is too complex or sophisticated all the time. I smoke 6 or 8 bowls sometimes more sometimes less, but only 1 or two of those will be PS Bulls Eye Flake or GL Pease Haddo's Delight, or something else during the course of a regular day. 1Q (for me) is the base line, that allows me to truly relish the more complex blends.

I don't think that 1Q is overrated. It's just utilitarian. That for me puts it towards the top of all tobacco blends because, I can smoke it all the time.

 

[hauntedmyst]

We're living in the Golden Age of Pipe Tobaccos. I think with the sheer volume of quality choices, its harder to say you have to have one, because there is another good one right around the corner. I wouldn't say that was the case 30 years ago. Yes there were plenty of blends but I personally think the quality has gone up along with the quantities. I know I'll miss some of the My Own Blend 700 when it runs out but there are other great blends out there similar to it.

I don't think that 1Q is overrated. It's just utilitarian. That for me puts it towards the top of all tobacco blends because, I can smoke it all the time.

Well said Lawrence!

 

[expatpipe]

Reminds me, everytime I'm about to order Three Nuns, I read a review that states that todays TN is just crud put into a tin using the old classic name. There might or might not be any truth to that. But, I always pass it up on my orders because of.

 

[mole]

....and Chevy is better than Ford.

 

[mattia76]

Okay, I'll say it: I don't like 965. I've tried 3 different tins at different points in my smoking history, and can't get into it. Burns great and is really smoky, but I can't EVER get any ofthe supposed sweetness to come through like I can with Nightcap or other Englishes.

Highly overrated.