The "Other" Carter Hall

[Chasing Embers]

:rofl:
Really, CH is a bit more nutty than CM, and I pick up the toppings more on CM, and less burley taste the CH. If I had smoked CM first, and never smoked CH, probably wouldn't have an opinion. CM is a good tobacco on its own, but I prefer CH.

 

[deathmetal]

I've gotta go for the more Burley flavor, to be honest. I am a simple man, but hopefully not a simplistic one.
hehe

 

[Chasing Embers]

I do however have a preference to Angler's Dream over Carter Hall.

 

[sablebrush52]

Chatham Manor is Carter Hall without the chemical aftertaste. Tubs will often be moister than the pouches, which dry out over time while waiting to be displayed for sale.
CH or CM both offer better flavor when smoked dry. CM comes at about the right level of dryness.

 

[deathmetal]

I'm probably going to end up ordering both. CH was totally tasty when paired with Five Brothers...
For some reason, sweetness is a strong flavor for me, so I have to cut it with something else to keep it from being overwhelming.
Luckily, the local Wal-Mart (!!!) stocks CH.

 

[cosmicbobo]

I have a tub of CH put away and an open tub of CM. Love both

 

[josephcross]

Never had a tub, but love smoking the pouches. My enjoyment of CH gives hope that one day I may better understand burly based blends better. Though it could just be that I like sweet stuff and CH is pretty sweet compared to other burly blends that I've tried.

 

[skypilot]

I tried an earlier tip, and put a small amount to bake at 170 degrees for 30 minutes. That's certainly an improvement, but still fairly pungent. There's some sweetness coming through, but still not anything like the pouch. More dry than straw, and crumbles easily, but with a light tamp, it smoked OK.
More is drying naturally, on the sill, in direct sunlight for the afternoon.
On the PLUS side, the room note in my kitchen is nothing short of incredible. :clap:

 

[deathmetal]

Though it could just be that I like sweet stuff and CH is pretty sweet compared to other burly blends that I've tried.

It is, compared to many. But it works with the CH vibe.

 

[skypilot]

Just a followup...
Got a second pouch of CH, and the pouch and tub contents look identical to me. Feel and smell are identical. However, the pouch 'baccy' still smokes less harsh and bitter than the tub contents (now dried pretty well), yet not as smooth as the first pouch.......{scratches head)
Along with this order, I got a sample pouch of STG's Smoker's Pride Rich, which tastes very similar to the CH, albeit with less cocoa, but also with less harshness/bitterness. I've taken to mixing it around 40%, with my Frankenblend of BCA/Sutliff's Chocolate Mousse/1Q/Spring Training....giving me a great 'breakfast blend' that has good aromatic flavors, but with good tobacco taste, too...with almost all of the sharp burley bitterness fully subdued.
Guessing that the tub of CH will have to become hamster litter, unless someone has an interest.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Wait, you guys can get Carter Hall to dry out? I've left pouches in my tractor over the Winter, open to the elements for at least four months, only to return to it in the Spring to find it still moist.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Middleton may be trying a new process or blender/packaging house. Someone else on another thread reported that their CH shipment was overly pungent.

 

[didimauw]

That's funny cosmic, the Carter Hall in my tubs are dry, like ready to smoke perfectly dry.

 

[skypilot]

Confession time. I'm going to lay all of the bitterness blame...well most of the blame... on my technique.
Granted, I took the CH tub contents, spread it out in a 9x13 casserole dish, and placed it in a west-facing window for three days, where it "cooked" during our late-ending summer. Then, it went back in the tub (sitting open on the counter), where it's been for the better part of two weeks. Every time I tried it, the bitterness was still pronounced.
This morning, I took out a brand new cob, and tried some with first coffee. The room aroma was good, but it was still pretty bitter to the tongue. Now, six hours later, I'm sitting on the back porch, watching a "leaf storm", as seasons begin to change here in NW Arkansas, and trying once again, to see if I can coax something enjoyable out of the CH. I'm just mindlessly checking email messages on my phone, when I suddenly realize that I have this sweet, non-bitter, cocoa taste flowing over my tongue. That's when I realized that I was sipping the pipe very slowly....VERY SLOWLY. It took me over an hour to smoke the contents of that Diplomat Apple.
This was as good as that first pouch...and just as sweet and chocolaty as Sutliff's Chocolate Mousse. I've discovered the same extra-sweet taste when smoking...and sipping...1Q. So, it all makes sense to me. Nice and dry...very slow smoking...and, the sweet nutty cocoa is there...in spades. It took a few more re-lights than usual, due to smoking so slowly, but "porch time" is all about slowing down, anyway. I'm a happy camper again.
However, the hamsters are sure going to be disappointed that they don't get that new pile of shavings after all. :puffpipe: :rofl:

 

[didimauw]

I think we have a winner!!!

 

[skypilot]

...and, now Smoker's Pride Rich Taste....same technique....same results. Awesome!
The porch is calling!

 

[didimauw]

So after years of only smoking Carter Hall out of the tub, I finally opened a pouch I had saved.
Turns out the tub IS actually more moist than the pouch. Also like mentioned above, the tub IS more cube cut. And the pouch More ribbony. Also after smoking the pouch, I noticed it's a much brighter taste, as in it must have more Virginia's in it.
Here's a tub that I moved to a glass jar so I seemed fancy.

And here's the pouch.