So THAT'S What Real Tobacco Tastes Like....

[didimauw]

Throughout the years, I have been very faithful to one specific blend as most of you know. Carter Hall. I have gotten many comments regarding this. Some good, some bad.
"You gotta try some real tobacco"
I thought for a while that I could only smoke this blend. Tried many other kinds, with only 2 real successes. Old dark fired (a rare treat) and Aged Burley Flake.
Well then I heard about MacBarens Burley Flake, and had to give it a try.

The first bowl was amazing. Perfect moisture, stayed lit, packed easily. I didn't want it to end. I haven't smoked anything else in about two weeks now.
I attempted to smoke one bowl of Carter Hall, since trying this blend, and wow. Now I get it. I was thoroughly disappointed. It burned hot, fast, and tasted like chemicals. Something I had become immune to over the years. I don't even know if I'll ever go back to it...
Real tobacco.
So after getting through 3/4 of my first tin of this pure gold, I received this in the mail .

I feel like a whole new person. ::

 

[upnorth1]

Oooo that looks good, and it arrived on IPSD!

 

[mrmachado]

I just ordered this 12 days ago! Going to be delivered soon!
Reviews were great and, reading this, I'm even more excited!
Could you tell us more about what it tastes like?

 

[olkofri]

Another soul rescued from the evil clutches of OTCs. Bravo!

 

[didimauw]

Oh man...I'm terrible at actual reviews.
But I suppose if I had to describe it, I would say, like drinking chocolate flavored coffee, while eating salted peanuts.
But ymmv. I have a terrible sense of smell and taste.

 

[mrmachado]

I would say, like drinking chocolate flavored coffee, while eating salted peanuts.

That sounds delicious!
Irish Flake's taste isn't so different from that description in my opinion. But well, I have a bad sense of smell and taste too, so...

 

[seanv]

Sorry to hear about your breakup with carter hall.

 

[redglow]

Oh man, that Flake looks amazing.....

 

[Chasing Embers]

Bought two pounds of it when it released, and indeed it is a good one. As good as ABF. My collection is going the other direction. After decades of smoking "boutique" blends, I've often found myself preferring and buying more OTCs over the past couple of years.

 

[workman]

"One cob, one year, only HH Burley Flake"

 

[npod]

I LOVE the stuff!!! It quickly moved up to top 5 in my cellar. Welcome to the club.

 

[haparnold]

Agree 100% on Burley Flake. I love everything in the HH line I've tried, but ODF and Burley Flake could easily be my only two smokes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Ohhhh look, Didi is growing up. Just look at you, walking on your own and stuff. ::

Ha ha, no, that is great. I'm glad you found some real tobacco that you like. Now, we need to get you a real pipe! Ha!!
Always great to see you post.

 

[haparnold]

After decades of smoking "boutique" blends, I've often found myself preferring and buying more OTCs over the past couple of years.

I've come to realize that in almost all aspects of my life, I'm a middle-brow guy. Which makes pipe smoking awesome. C&D and GL Pease and Mac Baren really tickle my fancy without having to search for unobtanium.

 

[davet]

Real tobacco.

:rofl: I rarely smoked CH in the past but have been really enjoying it lately. Some blends I can smoke often others only on occasion or I get the same reaction you did, hot / chemical.

 

[pipeanddrum]

Congratulations!

 

[didimauw]

Yeah for years I just thought that tobacco was supposed to taste like that! Lol

 

[blackadderlxx]

Oh man. My mouth is watering now looking at all of those beautiful flakes...

 

[lawdawg]

I like Carter Hall in the same way that I like Budweiser - cheap, readily available, and hits the spot if you want something simple and straight forward. It's not an aged Virginia, a complex English, a top shelf scotch, or a fine wine, all of which should be enjoyed with some degree of contemplation. However, when I'm busy engaged in some other activity other than specifically enjoying my pipe and my beverage, Carter Hall and a Budweiser can provide plenty of enjoyment.
OP, you might want to try some of the various popular Virginia tobaccos. Virginias are not dissimilar from burley in that they simply taste like tobacco, though the flavor profile is different than burley.

 

[didimauw]

That's the problem, I can't do Virginia's. Tried many different kinds, and my mouth just won't let me.