Recommendations for Low Harshness High Nicotine Blends

[IllegitimationStation]

Hello All,

I have noticed that certain tobaccos such as C&D Crooner, as well as SG Black XX Rope, have a surprisingly little amount of harshness when considering how much nicotine they pack. I happen to really love these kind of blends, and I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[solideogloria86]

Haunted bookshop has a pretty decent nic hit to me, and isn't harsh at all.

 

[NomadOrb]

Semois is buttery smooth to me and has ample vitamin N.

 

[spicy_boiii]

1792

 

[hawky454]

I second 1792 Flake. You mention the black rope but have you tried the brown ropes? I like Brown Bogie. Also give McConnell’s Latakia Flake and/or Commodore Flake a try. I think Condor is pretty darn stout too. A lot of times the strong blends are really smooth.

 

[IllegitimationStation]

I second 1792 Flake. You mention the black rope but have you tried the brown ropes? I like Brown Bogie. Also give McConnell’s Latakia Flake and/or Commodore Flake a try. I think Condor is pretty darn stout too. A lot of times the strong blends are really smooth.

1792 Is on my list! Thanks guys, haven't found any in stock anywhere yet, but I have signed up for plenty of "back in-stock" notifications & alerts.

Yes I currently have both GH Brown Bogie, and SG Black XX at home right now. Last month I did a head-to-head comparison, and I found Black XX to be much less harsh. It's actually surprisingly mellow. I found it to be buttery smooth, with little, to no discomfort upon retrohaling. I assume this is because of the difference in methods of processing the rope.

I will certainly begin some research on the other three you mentioned, and we'll see where I might like to spend my money first.

 

[ray47]

C&D's Pegasus and Old Joe Krantz Blue have a medium nicotine strength with no harshness. If you like Crooner you may want to give C&D's Gentleman Caller a try.

 

[hawky454]

1792 Is on my list! Thanks guys, haven't found any in stock anywhere yet, but I have signed up for plenty of "back in-stock" notifications & alerts.

Yes I currently have both GH Brown Bogie, and SG Black XX at home right now. Last month I did a head-to-head comparison, and I found Black XX to be much less harsh. It's actually surprisingly mellow. I found it to be buttery smooth, with little, to no discomfort upon retrohaling. I assume this is because of the difference in methods of processing the rope.

I will certainly begin some research on the other three you mentioned, and we'll see where I might like to spend my money first.

Just know that unfortunately you can’t get Condor in the States, it’s really expensive to order it from abroad these days too and a lot of people feel like it’s not what it used to be. I wouldn’t recommend getting any right now if you are a new pipe smoker but if you do get a taste for some old world tobaccos, Condor is certainly worth trying.

Samuel Gawith Lakeland Dark is also really amazing stuff, I’m not sure if it’s still sold or not but it’s 1792 without the Tonkin. The Tonkin flavoring makes 1792 such a different beast it’s worth trying both, I have both cellared deep.

 

[mso489]

Old Joe Krantz original seems mild to me, with sufficient nicotine, but that's me, a burley devotee.

 

[pauls456]

G&H Kendal Kentucky, Dunhill Royal Yacht. Mild taste, plenty of nicotine.

 

[IllegitimationStation]

Thank you everyone!

Also, I think it would be helpful for me to describe what I mean by harshness:

What I mean is a scorching discomfort in the sinuses/nose upon contact during retrohale. Very similar to horseradish, or wasabi. I retrohale a lot, so this sensation can make enjoying a smoke somewhat difficult to manage.

Because of their harshness, I've had negative experiences with both Five Brothers, and War Horse Bar. However, SG Black XX doesn't seem to bother me in this manner at all, not one bit.

 

[pipingfool]

I just picked up a 1/2 lb of GH Dark Birds Eye. It has an earthy sweetness with very little (if any) harshness. And it packs a pretty good Nic Punch.

 

[anotherbob]

depends on what you mean by harshness. Though if you mean less likely to bite, the interesting thing is higher nic typically means less sugars which is often cited as the culprit in the case of the bitten tongue.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Harshness means more than just bitey. Nicotine itself burns in the throat a bit, not so much the tongue. I find everything mentioned to have a touch of throat harshness to them. Throat as in the back of the mouth, not from inhaling, but just from being in the mouth. Hard to explain. But, This is what I love about heavy hitters. So, I just can't think of anything that fits his needs.

 

[Grangerous]

I saw your thread title and I instantly thought, Crooner. So I laughed when you mentioned Crooner. — one of the few blends that I can feel anything from and yes it’s tasty and smooth.

 

[IllegitimationStation]

I saw your thread title and I instantly thought, Crooner. So I laughed when you mentioned Crooner. — one of the few blends that I can feel anything from and yes it’s tasty and smooth.

I totally agree! It's quite smooth for how much Lady Nic is there. It's a go-to when I want to deeply satisfy that craving without blowing my head off.

 

[Davy Jones]

Try the mighty War Horse (Red and Green), mate.

 

[anotherbob]

Harshness means more than just bitey. Nicotine itself burns in the throat a bit, not so much the tongue. I find everything mentioned to have a touch of throat harshness to them. Throat as in the back of the mouth, not from inhaling, but just from being in the mouth. Hard to explain. But, This is what I love about heavy hitters. So, I just can't think of anything that fits his needs.

yeah then you get my confusion. Well in this specific case at least. Generally I find that the heavy nic blends are less bite prone but often have certain rough edges. Then again I find that pipe tobacco is rarely what I would call harsh in general. Interestingly latakia gets me in the throat and back of the mouth not in a ouch but in an odd way. Actually gives it a light anesthetic effect like certain herbs (kava is the most obvious but many others do as well.).

 

[IllegitimationStation]

FYI here’s a really good related thread! I very much “get” what the OP means below if that makes any sense.

Harsh Blends :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion

I can find a good smoke in many genres of blends or single leaf, but now and then I run up on a blend that is too harsh to be flavorful. I'm not talking about tongue bite, though sometimes that comes with it. I'm talking about a flavor that just tastes like bite. I've run into this with a Mac...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I usually find that “stout” blends, full of nicotine, tend to be smooth & supple when puffed properly. I can’t recall a recent harsh event with Condor, 1792, GH Dark Plug/Flake, or my beloved Haunted Bookshop. If sipped in a relaxing fashion, the nicotine will slowly pour over you like a warm ?. It’s almost to the effect that you almost don’t notice it. These blends, at least for me, aren’t to be ?ed. I suppose if I inhaled the stuff I’d be in ?‍? land, but that rarely ever occurs. ?️