I started off straight out-the-gate with Seattle Pipe Club's Plum Pudding and Wild Man as a noobie piper. I can't recall a time or place where restricting someone's viewpoint is the best way to get someone who's interested, started into this lifestyle/hobby, as a reference of good advice.
Anyhow, my preferences were not for the English (being American myself
), however, Peterson's Old Dublin had its way of creeping into a bowl or two over time. I had more recently given 965 a go and to my surprise, it is a very enjoyable smoke indeed. One that I have added to the rotation and cellar.
While I have no English blend recommendations for you, if you want to start to venture out a bit into the lands of VA and not lose the Latakia entirely, I would highly recommend GL Pease's Laurel Heights. It's predominantly a red VA base with a whisper of Latakia and is absolutely delicious when sipped low and slow. I find there enough Lat to be effective and noticeable (slight smoky, woodiness) though perhaps for the diehards, it will be amiss.
Anyhow, my preferences were not for the English (being American myself
), however, Peterson's Old Dublin had its way of creeping into a bowl or two over time. I had more recently given 965 a go and to my surprise, it is a very enjoyable smoke indeed. One that I have added to the rotation and cellar. While I have no English blend recommendations for you, if you want to start to venture out a bit into the lands of VA and not lose the Latakia entirely, I would highly recommend GL Pease's Laurel Heights. It's predominantly a red VA base with a whisper of Latakia and is absolutely delicious when sipped low and slow. I find there enough Lat to be effective and noticeable (slight smoky, woodiness) though perhaps for the diehards, it will be amiss.
).
