St. Bruno and Condor

[andylowry]

Thanks to a friend in England, I got 50 grams each of Condor Long Cut (flake, actually) and St. Bruno in the mail yesterday. Since they're both unavailable through normal channels, why, of course I had to find them both delightful. Why is it I never get something hard-to-find and hate it?
Condor is sort of a more deeply fruity Erinmore and is quite pleasant until the bottom quarter of the bowl is reached, at which time it turns into a cigar butt. A week-old, cheap cigar butt. Bracing! More please!
St. Bruno is slightly milder and less fruity/flowery, and there's only a hint of cigarbuttiness. The nozzle on the spray-bottle of Lakeland Essence has been choked down some on this one, but it's still detectable. Were Bruno available to me, it could easily become an everyday smoke. It's not, of course, and that is proof that the world is unjust.
Both are dense, wet flakes, which benefit from a bit of pre-drying.

 

[papipeguy]

The last time I smoked Condor (about 2 months ago) I got a soapy taste. Have you picked that up? A couple of other people noticed it too. I recall getting the same taste years ago as well.

 

[andylowry]

The last time I smoked Condor (about 2 months ago) I got a soapy taste. Have you picked that up? A couple of other people noticed it too. I recall getting the same taste years ago as well.

Sure, that's part of the charm of the Lakeland style. I know a lot of people are put off by it, but I like it. I'm also a fan of GH Ennerdale, so my tastes are quite perverse.

 

[papipeguy]

I enjoy the SG blends like Grousemoor and 1792 but have not picked up the soapy taste in them. I guess I'll have to cleanse my pallate with some vodka and give Condor another try.

 

[andylowry]

I enjoy the SG blends like Grousemoor and 1792 but have not picked up the soapy taste in them.

Oh, I think I see what you mean. 1792's floral flavors are sharper and acidic, somewhat citrus-y. GH Dark Flake Scented is like that too, only more so. Condor and Ennerdale have a fruity violet/lavender/licorice thing going on that comes across as soapish, like my metaphorical great-aunt's "delicates" drawer. (Grousemoor is still unexplored territory to me, but it's on my list...)
These fruit/floral styles are really hard to describe, and the individual components hard to pin down. I've got some GH Kendal Flake smoldering right now, and it's supposed to have a bazillion different flavors in it, none of which I can distinctly identify. Well, maybe the heliotrope, but danged if I can find any of the purported almond in it.

 

[expatpipe]

I never chose Erinmore Mix to be my all day smoke.. but seems it has been choosing me. OK price for this side of the pond. One step above an OTC blend, but a pretty darn big step. Taste great from start to finish. I have not flown the condor yet or visited St.Bruno's church. Might think about it though now you mentioned it.

 

[fred]

I enjoy St Bruno Flake but cannot say the same thing about Condor...

Erinmore, Grousemoor, 1792 or Ennerdale for that matter. The G&H

blends are considered traditional English blends, using the term in

the geographic sense, but most are just out of my taste profile, however

I do enjoy Brown Flake Unscented, Brown Bogie and Broken Scotch Cake.

Walnut Flake and Player's Navy Flake are also considered traditional English

blends and I enjoy them, with the only complaint that they are not easy for

me to obtain. I'm just not a fan of heavily cased Lakeland blends, but I'm

not shutting the door as my tastes can change and have done so in the past...

 

[strongirish]

I think that these two blends are an aquired taste or either you like it or not. I am in the like it er love it camp myself. I sure wish one could still buy it here in the states. They would be regulars in my rotation for sure.

 

[capnbellamy]

The last time I brought St. Bruno (I'm English, it's one of the most available ones), I honestly couldnt find anything good about it. It was too harsh, too wet and really not very pleasant. Almost all Peterson's varieties (which I'd be willing to ship out to people, by the way), are much better. I may return to it in the future, but for now it's defenitely on my 'No' list.

 

[papipeguy]

Ah, now I understand what you mean, andylowry. The violet reference must be what I'm picking up. Kind of like Howard's Violet Gum. An acquired taste to be sure.

 

[morlader]

Both blends are widely availailable here in the supermarkets ( UK ).I smoked Condor ages ago but not used it since getting into Sam Gawith,however maybe now I will have another look at it.Not keen on St.Bruno though.

 

[unclearthur]

I like the St Bruno flake but can pass on the ready rubbed.

 

[davesussex]

Ive tried both and didnt like either really, I also live in the uk where in most places this is all you can get, condor a bit strong on the nicotine for me to, I smoke mellow virginia most the time as it seems to be the best of what you can get in newsagents and supermarkets. I wish there was a tobaconists where I live.

 

[jimmyg]

Try mixing them both together, its what i call my Gardening smoke,for outdoors cutting the grass and pottering around the flower beds,then i smoke a more subtle and sweeter mix for indoors, keeps the wife happy :crying:

 

[julesholling]

Even though i live in the UK and see both of these everywhere i go i have never actually tried any. I've tried Clan before which is a definite no for me now but i think i'll have to pick up a pack next time i'm in Tesco just to try it

 

[lagavulin92]

I was on a school trip with my class in Barcelona and tried the St. Bruno (pouch 4.60 euro - 5.5 dollar). I was also introduced to the Erinmore flake that way. It was wonderful and I regretted not buying more of it. Then on the day of return I had to go to the smoking zone to light my pipe. I HAD to! The non-smoking zone was all cramped and the seating designed to accomodate the vast majority whereas the SZ was twice big and with miniature palm trees and wonderful deckchairs. Bartcelona rocks, I'll definitely go there again. The saving alone will justify the trip.
For anyone of you who lives in the UK and want to visit Spain I'd recommend it. Being an EU citizen, you can go through the "no customs declaration" door so you can take 10 lbs of tobacco as a souvenir.

 

[jimmyg]

just been out and bought some erinmore and i think its a better smoke than bruno or condor :clap: