THE QUEST FOR THE BEST: aro's

[dmcintyrelee]

I have been piping for a few years now and thanks to many kind people on this forum and other vast resources (like tobaccoreviews.com) I have been able to learn about many of the wonderful and unknown blenders and blends out there.
I started out buying most of my stuff from pipesandcigars and other larger websites like that, but now am finding myself trying to seek out the "finer" blenders out there. Boswell and Wilke (of course) but then to my surprise really great ones like The Country Squire (their black and tan? OMG... so so good) and recently ordering from Hilands Cigars who I hear offers a wicked black gold blend (I'll be judging that soon enough!) These are blenders who sell independently and whom you will not find on larger more corporate pipe tobacco sites. Really searching for those off the beaten path names, not so much LANEs or McLellands... looking for those unknown mom and pop corner store blenders out there. Have a personal favorite? please share!

 

[mso489]

The world is your oyster. So many choices. For off the beaten path, for mere starters, Peretti's in Boston and Iwan Ries house blends.

 

[dmcintyrelee]

Thanks for the feedback mso489!

I have tried a few Iwan Ries blends (Dr. Bradley, Old Colonial and 3-star ebony) they weren't bad and had a very old school vibe to them. Never heard of Peretti's yet so thank you for the tip, I will be sre to check them out.

I love oysters!

 

[ray47]

Most online tobacconists offer aromatic samplers. Take a look and see what pops your corn.

 

[mcitinner1]

My gosh, there are so many, and some are called aromatic by one guy, but not by the next guy. I saw Russ O. say that aro's are 95% of sales at P&C, in a post one time.

 

[mikestanley]

Haven't smoked them all by a long shot but McClelland Stave Aged is the best I've had.

Mike S

 

[kodos44]

I thoroughly enjoy a well blended aromatic. Like yourself, I've also been sampling many of the offerings that are blended in house. My recent favorites have been the 4noggins house blends, in particular 3 Blind Moose and Bald Headed Teacher. I think that Rich Gottlieb is an incredibly underrated blender. 3 Blind Moose is currently my favorite blend with a cup of coffee. I also appreciate the suggestions in this thread. Glad you started it!

 

[elpfeife]

Another local shop you might look into is Georgetown Tobacco. They have a nice website and some of their blends are tinned.

 

[dmcintyrelee]

I should have mentioned Georgetown.. their Night Owl and Reverie are also some of my favorite "off the path" blends... really nice stuff there. 4-noggins was one of the first "other" brands I have toured... Lord Methley's and Thomas Blends are a few stand outs there for me.. tried several. Out of all I have had so far, and I will exclude Tewksbury (RIP), I'll say that The Country Squire is my stand-out.. seriously everything I have got from John David Cole has been a win.

I know there are more out there!

 

[brassonly]

I don't know if you have ever tried any of Seattle Pipe Club's tobaccos. For me I have fallen in love with 2 of their blends, Mississippi River and Plum pudding.They are both amazing tobaccos with amazing flavours. I'm sure glad I tried them after someone had told me how much he loved their tobacco. Hope you keep enjoying yourself as you discover many new blends.

 

[J. Mayo]

I've really gotten away from aros recently and been lost in English / Balkan land, but Tewksbury Hobbit's Weed was one of my all-time favorites......and I still enjoy Boswell's Berry Cobbler quite a bit. Cult Blood Red Moon was in one of my most recent P&C orders, I cracked the tin and had a few bowls. It's definitely a fine smoke and one I'll keep around. 4noggins Bald Headed Teacher was mentioned above, also one I can vouch for to try. However, there was a forum member at one point in time that blended one he called "Halfling's Leaf" but for the life of me I can't remember what his username was. If you're looking for mom & pop blends I'd definitely recommend it. Sorry I can't recall who to contact to order some, maybe someone will chime in that knows if and where you can get it.

 

[ashdigger]

I absolutely hate aros so let me give you my recommendation.......

 

[craiginthecorn]

I've barely scratched the surface of the World of Pipe Tobaccos, but my clear favorite out of the thirty or so aromatics I've tried is Uhle's Marquette Blend. It actually tastes as good as is smells, and it smells great.

 

[jravenwood]

Two words; Trout Stream.

 

[J. Mayo]

Two words; Trout Stream

Oh yes I forget Trout Stream......very fine smoke

 

[ben88]

Lane Limited: MV-1000

 

[64alex]

If you want to adventure in something different and controversial try some of the Lakelands from the Samuel Gawith/Gawith Hoggart (now combined companies which are still using equipment back to the 18th century so there is also a lot of history in them). They are a different kind of aros, first of all because the tobacco is first notch quality and second because the flavoring is not "food type" flavoring typical of the American aros but a different floral/almond/vanilla type. Be warned it is a love or hate kind of tobacco so be prepared you might like or not but it is something you should try if you are looking for aros experience. Some of them could be 1792 flake (I had a bowl last night and it is delicious but be prepared it is one of the strongest in nic dept), Ennerdale, Bob's chocolate flake.

 

[dmcintyrelee]

I dabbled with a few of those lakeland blends.. have a jar of bobs chocolate flake aging currently.. and some firedance.. it does pay off if you are able to detect the second layer, just below the iconic soapy/floral thing those blends share. Maybe more for the discerning and complex smkokers. Good stuff though. Flakes too,, tried a bunch.. Erinmore, MacBaren Vanilla and Navy Flake. Really finding myself in a burly phase right now.. which is why this thread is already great because thanks to CRAIGINTHECORN, I have learned about Uhle's and have an order in for a few of their different blends... and I am hearing they are burly specialists. MS0489,, thanks for the Peretti tip too.. another source I am excited to try.

 

[drrock]

I'm a big fan of aromatics. I would highly recommend blends from well-known tobacconists like Uhles, Boswell, Peretti, 4Noggins, Milan Tobacconists, and Pipeworks & Wilke in addition to the biggies from Lane, Sutliff, etc.

Check out the reviews of these blenders' offerings on tobaccoreviews.com & try blends based on what sounds good to you. It's the journey that's fun!

 

[mso489]

Not an off-the-path blend, but jiminks highly recommends Edward G. Robinson, and I can second the motion; it's an old Americana blend with burley and other leaf, and a nice touch of flavor, but definitely tobacco-forward. In the Peretti line, lasttango sent me a generous supply of their aro Thanksgiving Day, which is seasonal and may be coming back around in the fall, a nice pastiche of flavors but still tobacco forward.