Pipe Tobacco Genres and Phases
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Is there a VA blend that is universally considered to be "forgiving" of novice technique? Also hoping @sablebrush52 will chime in on this one. Thanks in advance!
Rubin cuts are more forgiving in terms of packing and burning. CVP is a flake but rather forgiving on your tongue. Cut very thin, the flakes dry quickly and are easier to pack. I've found Union Square, Opening Night and Newminster 400 to also be easy on the tongue. I think most mouth reactions though are more chemical than heat.
I like C&D Yorktown for that. I can smoke it all day It's not a particularly complex or demanding blend, but it offers enough interest that I don't get tired of it. It's easy to smoke and doesn't demand that you obsess over cadence lest you set fire to the pipe.
I find that I get the best flavors from Virginias when they're just shy of bone dry, dry to the touch when squeezed twixt thumb and index finger, little to no feeling of cool moisture against my skin when squeezed, but still pliant.
Pack loosely so it doesn't smoke hot.
Definitely sip the smoke and don't worry about relights, though Yorktown burns readily.
The thing is, don't be afraid to experiment with packing density, cadence, and chamber size. This is how you learn.
With any new-to-me blend, I try different levels of moisture, which can affect the flavor profile, different packs, and different chamber sizes.
I haven't found the "narrow and tall for Virginias and wide and shallow for complex blends" rule to be reliable. I'll smoke just about anything in everything and it generally works well. Maybe give some OTCs a try. Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic is plenty tasty, and so is Edgeworth Ready Rub match. These are also pretty easy smoking.
Take your time and explore. It doesn't matter if some smokes are not great. It's all part of the learning process. These days I often just use the old fashioned "codger scoop". But, I know what that scoop should feel like when I do it, so I'm not cramming a ball of tobacco into the chamber, just herding the leaf. Otherwise I just drizzle pinches into the chamber tamp, it down lightly, and I'm all set.
I do have a tin of Union Square from 2019 but none of the other blends mentioned.
Like a lot of long term smokers, I have migrated away from latakia blends. I still smoke 'em, but since I am retired and widowed I find myself smoking more - and lat heavy blends are not something to smoke all day. I'm still apt to close my day with a lat blend.
I started with the best smelling stuff in the tobacconist jars, hazelnut etc.
One tobacconist suggested I try a mild English blend which was very tasty.
MM965 soon followed and really opened my eyes to the possibilities.
I tried Flakes and the recommended bready Virginia’s and many other boutique blends like Barbary Coast and enjoyed all but…
As Alex Jr also relates, burley’s nuttiness with hints of cocoa pulled me in and I became a fan of MacBaren blends such as Norwood, Golden Extra, Harmony, Scottish Mixture, Burly London Blend, ODF, HH Acadian Perique — you get the idea ? —MacBaren. My go to blends being Norwood and BLB.
But later, I began to really appreciate the classic OTC’ s as being the most satisfying of simple pleasures. Carter Hall, Edgeworth RR, Prince Albert, SWR and then……
Granger Wow! This tasty burley blend just sings. At times it’s just good. At times it’s phenomenal. But I always reach for my Granger.
One tobacconist suggested I try a mild English blend which was very tasty.
MM965 soon followed and really opened my eyes to the possibilities.
I tried Flakes and the recommended bready Virginia’s and many other boutique blends like Barbary Coast and enjoyed all but…
As Alex Jr also relates, burley’s nuttiness with hints of cocoa pulled me in and I became a fan of MacBaren blends such as Norwood, Golden Extra, Harmony, Scottish Mixture, Burly London Blend, ODF, HH Acadian Perique — you get the idea ? —MacBaren. My go to blends being Norwood and BLB.
But later, I began to really appreciate the classic OTC’ s as being the most satisfying of simple pleasures. Carter Hall, Edgeworth RR, Prince Albert, SWR and then……
Granger Wow! This tasty burley blend just sings. At times it’s just good. At times it’s phenomenal. But I always reach for my Granger.
Do you mix the Granger with anything or is that considered sacrilegious?
In all seriousness, I have. When I mixed it with Carter Hall years ago, all I could taste was Granger. That was the moment I knew I’d found a very flavorful tobacco. I know tastes vary, but Granger, for me is flavor forward. Other blends, especially C&D burley (no offense to the HB lovers) lose flavor fast. Like hot air.
I’ve mixed University Flake and Granger and enjoyed it. I’ve mixed Virginia #1 and Carter Hall and liked that as well. But I don’t often mix my tobaccos.
Tonight, as I’m writing this— I’m smoking two pipes at once, allowing each to cool as I alternate. One is a big Cob Full of Granger. The other is a smallish Stanwell with aged and rubbed out Orlik Golden Sliced which I’m finding quite enjoyable.
Each time I relight the cob, I smile and am glad my cellar runs 10 years deep with Granger.
I find myself smoking more aromatics lately. I’m puffing on a bowl of Bca 1Q mix right now.
I too am a bit of a pinball pipe smoker. While @mso489 may have a home base in burley's mine seems more English/Balkan oriented. While I usually don't start my day with latakia, I almost always have at least one bowl of a latakia forward blend a day. I find I like them most at night, particularly in the summer when supper has been eaten, the A/C is running full tilt and the day is winding down.
Since it is summer though I find I gravitate more towards VA and VA/Pers. I'm really loving some Missouri Meerschaum Pipe Tobacco "Country Gentleman" on the way to and from work. Country Gentleman
Missouri Meerschaum Pipe Tobacco "Missouri Pride" is my usual morning smoke these days. It reminds me strongly of Carter Hall and a good day always starts with The 3 C's (Cob, Coffee, Carter Hall). Missouri Pride
I've never had Granger though and it seems a few people really like it. I'm going to have to get some at some point. I used to see it around, down here, but a lot of the drug stores and groceries have stopped carrying pipe tobacco of any variety.