That would seem to indicate it is something related to what your body chemistry was doing at the time you smoked it - recent food or beverage, perhaps, any one of a number of things.
I catch a bad smoke every once in awhile as well. It happens. Sometimes it can even be the pipe.
I started all over C&D blends. I think I just love thier marketing. After 2 years now, I think I only have a couple Christmas blends and Black Frigate. Just moved away from them for some reason.
I am in the same boat. I can‘t stand most C&D blends. I just find them so harsh. I bought a tin of Sunday Picnic in 2012. I found it harsh and it tasted like ashy cigarettes. Jarred it. I came across the jar last year and opened after 8 years to give it another try. I found i disliked it just as much as before. It was just so harsh. C&D is just not for me, but so many people like their products.
Capstan Yellow on the other hand I find butter smooth and easy to smoke. Easy to fold and stuff. Burns cool for me. I find Mac Baren products excellent.
I like Capstan Blue. The MacBaran version tastes pretty close to the British versions, probably more because of getting the sauce correct, than because of the underlying blend of tobaccos.
C&D is not a favorite and represents the least of my holdings. But they do make a few blends, like Yorktown, that I like a lot as an all day smoke. Derringer is a bit harsh, but I still enjoy it. Bijou and Caroline Red Flake are pretty good. Some of the GL Pease blends made by C&D are quite good.
I hadn't thought about it much, but a lot of what I have is made by Sutliff for other labels.
There's a lot of variety available. Don't like the offerings of a particular manufacturer? Buy something else.
C&D is not a favorite and represents the least of my holdings. But they do make a few blends, like Yorktown, that I like a lot as an all day smoke. Derringer is a bit harsh, but I still enjoy it. Bijou and Caroline Red Flake are pretty good. Some of the GL Pease blends made by C&D are quite good.
I hadn't thought about it much, but a lot of what I have is made by Sutliff for other labels.
There's a lot of variety available. Don't like the offerings of a particular manufacturer? Buy something else.
I both like them, yellow and blue. It has a nice fragance. And easy to get at my neighborhood tobacco shop. Another friend to sleep in the cellar............
For aromatic smokes I’m absolutely smitten with East India Trading Company’s officers club and cellar reserve, lane 1q is another aromatic that I love. I’m looking into other types now and have found that I love peterson’s (formerly Dunhill, by the way I’m not sure if there’s a post about this but I’m curious about how Peterson is doing keeping the blends consistent with Dunhill.) nightcap and early morning pipe blends, Ashton’s winding road was the bridge between aromatic and English blends with isn’t bad really just kind of a neutral hybrid. I now float between the five blends daily, my drawn out point is when I first started smoking I wanted to try (and since it was my grandpas smoke of choice) and love Captain black. I tried CB after trying blends from a local B&M with a beginners pipe kit. Reeds weed was a mind blower, then I tried a few other things and by the time I got to CB IT WAS DOG SHIT. Room note an hour later was the only thing thing that reminded me at all of my grandpa but I’ve found that with any decent aromatic. POINT!!! I heard about capstan blue flake and some fantasy writer’s affinity for it and wondering if this tin is worth going after or is it just gonna be a waste of money like CB and if the flake and ready rubbed is any different in terms of flavor and room note.
Basically what is capstan comparable to ? I’v been burned before, still new to the hobby. I love east India trading company aromatics (only aware of their 3 blends), lane 1q, nightcap, early morning pipe, red ribbon Virginia, and longbottoms leaf…. Is JRR Tolkien on to something? Is there some sort of b&m jar bulk flake I can get an oz for less than $5 that is similar to capstan blue to save money? Should I get ready rubbed or flake (Is there a difference in flavor and aroma of the flaked vs rubbed?)….
Capstan may be broadly comparable to other medium Virginia flakes, not light (bright) and not fire cured or super stoved (cooked - makes it sweeter). Other than that what is a peach comparable to? My point is it has it’s points and merits within the straight Virginia field. It didn’t do much for me, unlike say F&T Cut Va or Cut Blended Plugs, or SG Full Virginia, but loads love it for decades and is broadly considered an excellent and genre-defining blend.
I prefer flakes over all other forms of tobacco, room note should be the same in any form but i only smoke while walking outside so couldn’t tell.
Agree with one of the points made above: the currently available Capstan Blue is very close to the original "Medium" blend. The key is the topping flavor. They have reproduced it pretty closely.