Question on Flavor

[bullet08]

if you never retrohale before, be warned. you might get a sensation like inhaling pool water. do it slowly and small amount of smoke.

retrohale doesn't do a thing for me. but it seems to work well for many. also french doesn't work for me much better. used to french smoke and retrohale when i smoked cigarettes and i do them out of habit. don't do french any more since i don't inhale.

what works for me the best is taste. but i understand smell is as important if not more. sniffing smoke from the bowl and ones out after i exhale gives me some hints. but taste is what brings me the joy the most.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Awesome stand up comedy

 

[Humblepipe]

Sorry... I'm late to this one. Just a quick note. I have been transitioning from aros to English blends.

One recent surprise... ordered "Russ' Coco-Nut" a while ago before going heavy on English blends. It was back ordered and I forgot I had ordered it. It recently came in and so I tried it. Wow! Great room note, light, NOT gimmicky. I am a fan and I'm ordering more. You can order it in 2 oz quantities too for almost nothing to give it a try (P&C).

 

[Drew72]

if you never retrohale before, be warned. you might get a sensation like inhaling pool water. do it slowly and small amount of smoke.

retrohale doesn't do a thing for me. but it seems to work well for many. also french doesn't work for me much better. used to french smoke and retrohale when i smoked cigarettes and i do them out of habit. don't do french any more since i don't inhale.

what works for me the best is taste. but i understand smell is as important if not more. sniffing smoke from the bowl and ones out after i exhale gives me some hints. but taste is what brings me the joy the most.

I got great advice (on this thread, I believe) on how to retrohale... better than any youtube video I watched. So I can do it without any discomfort, but I am with you, I can't say it has done anything to improve the flavor for me. I am learning to really just enjoy drawing on the pipe, seeing the plumes of smoke, and enjoying the taste of the tobacco for what it is. I always try to catch a whiff of the smoke when it is exhaled, so I get hints of the "room note" when I get lucky. I am sure my tasted buds will adjust. But for the 1-2 bowls per week I have been smoking, it is indeed relaxing... just different than my initial expectations.

thanks

 

[Drew72]

Sorry... I'm late to this one. Just a quick note. I have been transitioning from aros to English blends.

One recent surprise... ordered "Russ' Coco-Nut" a while ago before going heavy on English blends. It was back ordered and I forgot I had ordered it. It recently came in and so I tried it. Wow! Great room note, light, NOT gimmicky. I am a fan and I'm ordering more. You can order it in 2 oz quantities too for almost nothing to give it a try (P&C).

on advice from someone on this forum, I ordered several of Russ' blends and awaiting their arrival... I'm still finding my way... part of the fun of this hobby, I suppose!

Cheers

 

[Humblepipe]

on advice from someone on this forum, I ordered several of Russ' blends and awaiting their arrival... I'm still finding my way... part of the fun of this hobby, I suppose!

Cheers

I know all about it. I am also still finding my way. Good times!

 

[diamondback]

I got great advice (on this thread, I believe) on how to retrohale... better than any youtube video I watched. So I can do it without any discomfort, but I am with you, I can't say it has done anything to improve the flavor for me. I am learning to really just enjoy drawing on the pipe, seeing the plumes of smoke, and enjoying the taste of the tobacco for what it is. I always try to catch a whiff of the smoke when it is exhaled, so I get hints of the "room note" when I get lucky. I am sure my tasted buds will adjust. But for the 1-2 bowls per week I have been smoking, it is indeed relaxing... just different than my initial expectations.

thanks

Interesting. If not for retrohaling, I doubt I’d enjoy pipes or cigars that much. Having been on coffin-nails, the retrohale was second nature when I began piping. (Everything else was pain and awesomeness for a little over a year — until things fell into place).

 

[danimalia]

The Amphora sampler is definitely worth seeking out. I've had the original, Burley and Kentucky blends, and they're all fine smokes. The KY and Burley versions rank up there with all the top burley and VA/KY flakes, IMO. Neither is my favorite of its respective genre, but they're seriously good smokes at a sweet price.

Russ O. is a very skilled blender, and makes great blends in just about every genre. H&H Anniverary Kake would be an excellent VaPer for a beginner.

I am also a big believer in retrohaling, as I find it to be pretty essential in getting the whole flavor experience with a blend. YMMV, of course, but I'd suggest you keep doing it, and eventually it will be hard to smoke without doing it.

 

[Humblepipe]

The Amphora sampler is definitely worth seeking out. I've had the original, Burley and Kentucky blends, and they're all fine smokes. The KY and Burley versions rank up there with all the top burley and VA/KY flakes, IMO. Neither is my favorite of its respective genre, but they're seriously good smokes at a sweet price.

Russ O. is a very skilled blender, and makes great blends in just about every genre. H&H Anniverary Kake would be an excellent VaPer for a beginner.

I am also a big believer in retrohaling, as I find it to be pretty essential in getting the whole flavor experience with a blend. YMMV, of course, but I'd suggest you keep doing it, and eventually it will be hard to smoke without doing it.

Ref: Russ O. blends. Really nice to be able to buy in "bulk" (essentially comes in a zip lock bag) and buy as little as 2 oz to simply try something out. Prior to discovering this, I had purchased way too much of some stuff I ended up not enjoying.

 

[olkofri]

Just a quick note. I have been transitioning from aros to English blends.

Naoooooo! Stay away from me!!

nana

 

[Humblepipe]

Naoooooo! Stay away from me!!

nana

Truth is I am trying any and all things non-aro. I rather like a Turkish blend I acquired too.

 

[anotherbob]

Tim Allen? Never heard of him.

some guys just have all the luck. I think he's a coke dealer who turned to comedy in the 80's. Not really my cup of tea, his jokes are mostly sarcastic manly jokes. I never really like the combo of sarcastic and slightly haughty in a comedian. It might be your cup of tea or not. I bet not though (if we're placing money on it).

 

[sandollars]

Truth is I am trying any and all things non-aro. I rather like a Turkish blend I acquired too.

Sorry olkofri, another one working their way over to the Dark Side.

charb,

Have you tried BLACK FRIGATE???????

 

[Humblepipe]

Sorry olkofri, another one working their way over to the Dark Side.

charb,

Have you tried BLACK FRIGATE???????
View attachment 11202

It's on my list now.

 

[olkofri]

BF isn't really an English. It's on a league of its own. Not everything with latakia is an English. Sillem's Black is an aromatic.

 

[saintpeter]

inglorious? inglorious stench of Latakia!?!?! Hang on...me and tribunal are getting together to discuss revoking your man card... What's next, are you going to tell us you don't like the smell of diesel exhaust?

Hold it! That is toooooo vague. Are you talking #1 or #2 diesel?

 

[hauntedmyst]

Hold it! That is toooooo vague. Are you talking #1 or #2 diesel?

Both, or even better diesel from back before the 1990's when they started cleaning it up. You could go downtown and watch the diesel buses belch out a black cloud of the back that smelled like heaven. Maybe if they took one of those old buses to each high school and ran it in the cafeteria for 5 minutes a day, we wouldn't have as many boys wearing make up as we do these days.

 

[hauntedmyst]

7charb, you should try Knightsbridge from Park Lane Tobaccos in New York. Wonderful English blend with zesty orientals. Their Old Church is supposed to be excellent too but I haven't tried it. Margate is worth a try if you can find it.

 

[Humblepipe]

7charb, you should try Knightsbridge from Park Lane Tobaccos in New York. Wonderful English blend with zesty orientals. Their Old Church is supposed to be excellent too but I haven't tried it. Margate is worth a try if you can find it.

Thanks. I have a taste for the exotic stuff. I'll put these on my list.