Here's another great article by Russ Ouellette, exclusive to PipesMagazine.com
The Basics of Tobacco Blending
The Basics of Tobacco Blending
The Basics of Tobacco Blending by Russ Ouellette
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I'll leave the blending to the Masters.
It's like music, the more you know, the more you appreciate the art.
Thanks for that excellent article.
It's like music, the more you know, the more you appreciate the art.
Thanks for that excellent article.
The way I see it, blenders can't know what's good for me.
I've shamelessly experimented with what I put in my pipe and I've come up with the following blend:
1 part Latakia (preferably Syrian; I use Robert McConnell's Pure Latakia)
1 part Havana (I use Robert McConnell's Pure Cuban, or whatever it's called now, I don't keep the tin so I can't check; sliced low-to-mid-end cigars also get the job done)
2 parts Virginia (I actually use Robert McConnell's Maduro, but others have tried various Virginia blends and got different mixtures, each to their own liking)
After you mix the tobaccos together well enough, stuff them inside a jar as hard as you can with your fist. I use 7 ounces of tobacco in a 25-ounce jar. Let them blend for at least two weeks (the more the better) and then tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: Here we tend to smoke tobacco a little drier then I've found the few American blends I've come into contact with to be. This blend is similar in composition to Peterson & Sorensen Banker's, only a lot more robust. Have a cool smoke!
I've shamelessly experimented with what I put in my pipe and I've come up with the following blend:
1 part Latakia (preferably Syrian; I use Robert McConnell's Pure Latakia)
1 part Havana (I use Robert McConnell's Pure Cuban, or whatever it's called now, I don't keep the tin so I can't check; sliced low-to-mid-end cigars also get the job done)
2 parts Virginia (I actually use Robert McConnell's Maduro, but others have tried various Virginia blends and got different mixtures, each to their own liking)
After you mix the tobaccos together well enough, stuff them inside a jar as hard as you can with your fist. I use 7 ounces of tobacco in a 25-ounce jar. Let them blend for at least two weeks (the more the better) and then tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: Here we tend to smoke tobacco a little drier then I've found the few American blends I've come into contact with to be. This blend is similar in composition to Peterson & Sorensen Banker's, only a lot more robust. Have a cool smoke!
I don't blend tobacco myself, like many of you, but I still found the article quite interesting and helpful in understanding how a blend goes together.
I guess it's kind of like someone watching a cooking show that leaves the cooking to others.
(Although, I do like to cook).
I guess it's kind of like someone watching a cooking show that leaves the cooking to others.
(Although, I do like to cook).
My experiments are mostly failures (costly ones.) If you don't have immediate access to a diversity of blending varietals, then you're merely "making do" with what's handy -- which limits your options. It's hard to come up with a great tasting smoke under such restrictive circumstances.
Time and money are better spent exploring professionally blended tobaccos; and with the thousands of blends extant, there's little-enough time in one's life for that.
Time and money are better spent exploring professionally blended tobaccos; and with the thousands of blends extant, there's little-enough time in one's life for that.
Sometimes I will add a pinch of Latakia to my pack....
Just to tick off the War Department, if I'm feeling frisky...
Just to tick off the War Department, if I'm feeling frisky...
I think next time I do a P&C order I will order some of the blending tobaccos just to get a taste and feel for each one. That way I can expand my knowledge for future reviews.
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