The Doctor’s Own Blend

[telescopes]

Back in the early 80s, my best friend, Steve Metz, and I attended the same university. We were and are pipe smokers. Back then, we were partial to a blend sold at Tinder Box called Crown Royal. We just loved that blend and it had a great room note for those who frequented the Student Union while we were there.

Anyway, to make a long story short, John Dengler helped me come up with a similar blend that we developed together that reminded me of Crown Royal. That blend is the one I still smoke - the one that I refer to as Telescopes. Lately, I have also developed a desire for another Dengler blend, the Famous “Black Maria” pronounced “Mariah”. When John Dengler’s son-in-law, Larry, retired from the business and sold it, he provided me with the recipe to Black Maria. Having studied some tobacco recipes, I have come to see them the way one might view a musical chord. If you know the basic notes of one part of the chord, it is easy to see what the other notes should be. Studying the two recipes I had from Dengler, I realized with a little borrowing from some of the Black Maria tobaccos and adding them to mine, I could make a new recipe that would play off Telescopes and Black Maria. And so I did.

The new recipe has become a favorite of mine, “The Doctor’s Own Blend.” It is very much an American/English blend. It has a wonderful vanilla and nougat room note and the Latakia and Perique, while evident to the smoker, or hidden behind the aroma of the other tobaccos so that those around me never complain. A perfect all day blend, it is both good for when I am by myself or out in public.

So, what blends have you developed and how are they working out for you? Any real successes that have become keepers?

 

[Scottmi]

I am far from that level of sophistication, but I cannot help but mix blends to suit my own tastes, and have made several I keep going with. Bayou Veermaster is the favorite of my dabblings: 57% Bayou Morning, 43% Hamborger Veermaster (keeping it simple, one 2 oz tin of Bayou, one 1.75oz tin of Hamborger - or 60/40 if working with bulk). Straight Bayou Morning gives me niccups. Adding the Hamborger sweetens and smooths out this VaPer, just right, and is a favorite morning puff.

 

[yanoJL]

Tebbs Bend. It was my attempt at creating a blend similar to Rattray's Old Gowrie. Virginias, Perique, and Kentucky. There were three Virginias, actually, one of which I home stoved. All tobaccos were bought as "blending" tobaccos, I did not start with whole leaf. I created a casing recipe using vinigar, sugar and a modest amount of honey. I pressed the blend into a crumble kake.
In the end, it was the Kentucky that seemed to take center stage. So I chose the name Tebbs Bend after the town (and civil war battlefield) in Kentucky.

@telescopes I am curious, was the original Crown Royal flavored with the Canadian Whisky by the same name? And/or did you use whisky to flavor the Telescopes blend?

 

[telescopes]

Tebbs Bend. It was my attempt at creating a blend similar to Rattray's Old Gowrie. Virginias, Perique, and Kentucky. There were three Virginias, actually, one of which I home stoved. All tobaccos were bought as "blending" tobaccos, I did not start with whole leaf. I created a casing recipe using vinigar, sugar and a modest amount of honey. I pressed the blend into a crumble kake.
In the end, it was the Kentucky that seemed to take center stage. So I chose the name Tebbs Bend after the town (and civil war battlefield) in Kentucky.

@telescopes I am curious, was the original Crown Royal flavored with the Canadian Whisky by the same name? And/or did you use whisky to flavor the Telescopes blend?

Now that’s some home blending.

Crown Royale = Peter Stokkebye Vanilla Creme.

Looking back, Crown Royal was/is a fairly mediocre blend. Fortunately, my recreation erred in many ways and resulted in a much better blend. Lane BCA became the base and Sutliff Nougat helped open it up to make it more interesting. It has now evolved from there with the additions of blending Latakia and Perique.

My father has his own recipe using a base of Lane RLP with and additions of Maryland and blending Turkish tobaccos. It is then topped of with Sutliff B23 cherry. It is actually is quite good.

 

[yanoJL]

Now that’s some home blending.

...

Thank you.
ErnieQ, the head pipe tobacco blender from Watch City Cigars in Boston, has written and generously shared quite a bit of helpful literature on blending, casing, pressing and even "spirit infusion". So I followed his guides and tried a few ideas. It has been a fun experiment.
As we speak, I have another batch in-process. I am attempting to infuse 4oz of a C&D burley base with Bourbon. The infusion process can take a while. The longer you allow, the more stable the flavor. If pulled too early, the flavor will be weak and dissipate quicky.
So we'll see. (fingers crossed)

 

[Scottmi]

Thank you.
ErnieQ, the head pipe tobacco blender from Watch City Cigars in Boston, has written and generously shared quite a bit of helpful literature on blending, casing, pressing and even "spirit infusion".

I'd love to develop a better understanding of this. where can one find these writings?

 

[telescopes]

I'd love to develop a better understanding of this. where can one find these writings?

+1

 

[yanoJL]

I'd love to develop a better understanding of this. where can one find these writings?

@Scottmi - The following 3 links are all writings from Ernie (Watch City)...

Casing, pressing, and blending

Spirit Infusion

Making "Cavendish" at home

And just to add one more, this link is to a book, "Blend Your Own Pipe Tobacco" by Robert C.A. Goff. Warning: this link goes straight to a PDF, so your computer/phone will start downloading an eBook when you click it (FYI):
Blend Your Own Pipe Tobacco

 

[kcghost]

All that matters is that you like the new blends.

 

[telescopes]

I'd love to develop a better understanding of this. where can one find these writings?

+1

 

[vosBghos]

In keeping with the chord analogy been tinkering with an Turkish bass with a major third of Maryland and hitting the octave with a bright VA. But it don't sound/smoke right yet.