Recommendations for Moving Away from Aromatics.

[Sam Gamgee]

Hello! I've been quite content for the past 15+ years to smoke my aromatics, but lately they just don't taste the same. It seems like my taste is changing and I'd like to find some other tobaccos to enjoy.

To give you a hint of my palate, at least thus far, I have thoroughly enjoyed Captain Black Gold, Carter Hall, and Stokkebye's Nougat. I just got a new shipment of the Nougat and it's doing absolutely nothing for me. Not only does it not taste very good, it actually tastes bad. Maybe I got a bad batch?

Based on my past choices and how I enjoyed them, can you recommend some non-aromatics that I can move into? My taste longs for the hints of coffee, cocoa/chocolate, raisin, and almost "earthy" (dare I say soil-like?) flavors that I used to get from smoking these blends. I always enjoyed how those flavors would linger in my mouth for an hour or so after my pipe was done. Those sensations are exactly what I am after. Lately all I'm getting is a burned after taste.

Years ago I was trying all kinds of tobaccos in tins (Blue Note, Presbyterian, Frog Morton) and I didn't like anything about any of them. They were way too strong and the flavors were just too harsh. My mind still remembers those experiences and based on my memory I don't think I'd like them any better today. I have never understood the terms for different tobaccos and had no idea what I was buying. I think it's those black tobaccos that I dislike so much. I don't know the proper name for those.

Are there some "in-between" blends, something with the flavors I've descried that somewhat lends itself to aromatics while also ranging into new territory?

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

Maybe I got a bad batch?

Maybe order an ounce or 2 from another shop to see if that might be the case.

My taste longs for the hints of coffee, cocoa/chocolate, raisin, and almost "earthy" (dare I say soil-like?)

If coffee flavored... it is an aromatic and limited, but definitely try Warped Saint Espresso next time it becomes available. For chocolate/raisin.. look into burley. HH Burely Flake or ABF (if you can find it). From reading many other posts on burley, I know C&D makes some solid burley blends, so anyone else that can chime in on those... have at it.

They were way too strong and the flavors were just too harsh. My mind still remembers those experiences and based on my memory I don't think I'd like them any better today. I have never understood the terms for different tobaccos and had no idea what I was buying. I think it's those black tobaccos that I dislike so much. I don't know the proper name for those.

The Blue Note is throwing me off (black Cavendish), because the black tobacco in Presbyterian and FM are Latakia. If you are looking for a crossover, like an English aromatic, you can't go wrong with Boswell Northwoods.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Maybe order an ounce or 2 from another shop to see if that might be the case.


If coffee flavored... it is an aromatic and limited, but definitely try Warped Saint Espresso next time it becomes available. For chocolate/raisin.. look into burley. HH Burely Flake or ABF (if you can find it). From reading many other posts on burley, I know C&D makes some solid burley blends, so anyone else that can chime in on those... have at it.

The Blue Note is throwing me off (black Cavendish), because the black tobacco in Presbyterian and FM are Latakia. If you are looking for a crossover, like an English aromatic, you can't go wrong with Boswell Northwoods.

Thanks, man!

 

[PA Piper Mike]

Thanks, man!

Also, the only 2 C&D burley blends I can comment on are haunted bookshop (which seems to be a love it or hate it blend) and Pegasus. And Pegasus is a good burley blend that I enjoy. You can also get the opinions of others in...

Pegasus: Love for One Blend :: Pipe Tobacco Reviews

Does it have any flavorings? Is it sweetened, and how much, compared to PA, Carter Hall or Edgeworth? I don't mind a bit of molasses, but am generally not fond of fruit or licorice. Thanks! I do not detect any added flavorings. The touch of Virginias adds a natural sweetness and the cavendish...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[Waning Embers]

cocoa/chocolate, raisin, and almost "earthy" (dare I say soil-like?

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Also, the only 2 C&D burley blends I can comment on are haunted bookshop (which seems to be a love it or hate it blend) and Pegasus. And Pegasus is a good burley blend that I enjoy. You can also get the opinions of others in...

Pegasus: Love for One Blend :: Pipe Tobacco Reviews

Does it have any flavorings? Is it sweetened, and how much, compared to PA, Carter Hall or Edgeworth? I don't mind a bit of molasses, but am generally not fond of fruit or licorice. Thanks! I do not detect any added flavorings. The touch of Virginias adds a natural sweetness and the cavendish...

pipesmagazine.com

The reviews of Pegasus make it sound like something I might be looking for.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

The reviews of Pegasus make it sound like something I might be looking for.

They sell it in bulk too so on your next order you can just grab an ounce of it to try.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

It sounds like you might enjoy trying some other Burley tobaccos with the traditional molasses/cocoa dressing.

I like these three:

Sutliff Ready Rubbed Match (more dressed up)
Uhle's 00 and Perfection Plug (less dressed up)

 

[sablebrush52]

Hello! I've been quite content for the past 15+ years to smoke my aromatics, but lately they just don't taste the same. It seems like my taste is changing and I'd like to find some other tobaccos to enjoy.

To give you a hint of my palate, at least thus far, I have thoroughly enjoyed Captain Black Gold, Carter Hall, and Stokkebye's Nougat. I just got a new shipment of the Nougat and it's doing absolutely nothing for me. Not only does it not taste very good, it actually tastes bad. Maybe I got a bad batch?

Based on my past choices and how I enjoyed them, can you recommend some non-aromatics that I can move into? My taste longs for the hints of coffee, cocoa/chocolate, raisin, and almost "earthy" (dare I say soil-like?) flavors that I used to get from smoking these blends. I always enjoyed how those flavors would linger in my mouth for an hour or so after my pipe was done. Those sensations are exactly what I am after. Lately all I'm getting is a burned after taste.

Years ago I was trying all kinds of tobaccos in tins (Blue Note, Presbyterian, Frog Morton) and I didn't like anything about any of them. They were way too strong and the flavors were just too harsh. My mind still remembers those experiences and based on my memory I don't think I'd like them any better today. I have never understood the terms for different tobaccos and had no idea what I was buying. I think it's those black tobaccos that I dislike so much. I don't know the proper name for those.

Are there some "in-between" blends, something with the flavors I've descried that somewhat lends itself to aromatics while also ranging into new territory?

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

It sounds like your next foray might be Burley for the nuttiness and, depending on the blend, a bit of chocolate. Take a look at Watch City Cigars blends and try Watch City slices and Deluxe Crumb Cut. Not chocolatey, but really well balanced Burley. Also check out Uhle's, which has been producing much loved Burley blends for 80 years.

You might also check out HU Makhuwa, which is a Burley based blend with a decided chocolate note. At least it used to be. My only hesitation is that the last batch I bought, back in 2019, was utter crap. K&K had crapped up the blend something fierce, just as they had crapped up Director's Cut. But they've improved Director's Cut since then, so maybe they did the same with Makhuwa.

Look for the presence of Malawi in a blend to add some chocolate to the profile.

 

[proteus]

According to me, I would try Sir walter Raleigh non aromatic. Orange package. Old joe blue label. Newminster 400. Peter Stockebye navy flake, twist flake, bulls eye flake. Haunted bookshop cake and spc plum pudding reserve

 

[SBC]

If you are looking for a crossover, like an English aromatic, you can't go wrong with Boswell Northwoods.

If burley winds up being a dead-end for you (as it is for me), I feel that this is the right recommendation for you. A hint of sweet, a hint of toasted marshmallow, on a dark, earthy latakia foundation.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

So, what are those black tobaccos called? I vehemently dislike the flavor of that stuff. If I know what it's called I can be sure to avoid the stuff with that blended in.

 

[obc83]

Eagerly watching this thread. I'm always chasing this particular flavor dragon. Seems like we have similar pallettes. Thanks.

 

[SBC]

So, what are those black tobaccos called? I vehemently dislike the flavor of that stuff. If I know what it's called I can be sure to avoid the stuff with that blended in.

If you mean the black bits in Presbyterian and Frog Morton, that's latakia. (Although IMO you can't really taste it in Presbyterian.)

Different varieties and uses sometimes give flavors like campfire smoke, leather, beef jerky, BBQ sauce, or earthiness.

Often overdone, but in balanced proportion, the brisk and masculine taste of autumn to me. I like it like I like to smell the neighbor's chimney for the first time this season.

Have you tried it recently?

 

[Sam Gamgee]

If you mean the black bits in Presbyterian and Frog Morton, that's latakia. (Although IMO you can't really taste it in Presbyterian.)

Different varieties and uses sometimes give flavors like campfire smoke, leather, beef jerky, BBQ sauce, or earthiness.

Often overdone, but in balanced proportion, the brisk and masculine taste of autumn to me. I like it like I like to smell the neighbor's chimney for the first time this season.

Have you tried it recently?

Thanks. I have not tried it in a good while, but it's got a thick, "oil-like" flavor (best way I can describe it) that I really dislike and don't think I could ever get accustomed to. I still remember the tin of Blue Note I got once that almost made me sick it had so much of. But when I just went and read the description for Blue Note, they are calling it "silky black cavendish" and not latikia.

One of the reasons I've always stayed off the non-aro blends is because I've never been able to fully understand these elusive terms (without spending a lot of money, anyway). I actually dumped out the Blue Note, the FM, the Presby, and many others before I stopped buying tins and started exploring more aros. The only thing I've ever liked that was in a tin was called Erinmore and it was in little sticks I have rub into crumbles to get into my pipe. A friend hated it and passed it along to me. I realize for someone who has been smoking pipes for around 17 years I should know more about this: but rather than geeking out on all the details, I've always just wanted to smoke a pipe.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Eagerly watching this thread. I'm always chasing this particular flavor dragon. Seems like we have similar pallettes. Thanks.

I hope you end up finding what you like as well. It's a tough thing having a craving in one's mind and hoping to find it, only to be disappointed upon getting a new blend. On some level I think I'm still chasing the sensation I discovered when I first began smoking a pipe. There was a local bulk blend called "Irish Puff" (very sweet, nutty, and earthy) that was just ridiculously delicious. They changed the blend (claiming they could no longer get some of the ingredients) but kept the name. I got some not long ago and it was unsmokable. I actually gave it to a lady who used it as potpourri on her coffee table. The journey continues...

 

[didimauw]

If you are looking for a non automatic, I suggest trying anything from Cornell & Diehl. They really know how to blend tobaccos to make the most of the flavors.

 

[anotherbob]

I say hit it on both ends. Really strongly rough edged stuff and mellow light stuff.

 

[brian64]

If you haven't tried a burley blend with Perique, try some Old Joe Krantz. I tried a Perique blend when I first picked up the pipe and I didn't like it. But a few years later I fell in love with it and never looked back.

 

[Briar Lee]

Although they were sold as aromatics, both Revelation and Holiday match blends have a noticeable amount of Latikia.

I keep a pound of each handy for middle of the road smokes.