Think I'm Moving On From Aromatics

[simnettpratt]

Since revisiting my pipe hobby, I've been smoking mostly aros: 1Q, RLP-6, 7 Seas Regular with some OTCs (Capt. Black etc) given to me by my brother-in-law, but I think I want to try some other non-aros. Really liked Erinmore Flake and Solani's Aged Burley Flake Blend 656, so I have 8oz of Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake arriving this week from smokingpipes.
It will be nice to know I'm smoking a VaPer, and you can't beat $21 with shipping for 8oz. I hope it will be less sweet than the aros I've been doing, and hope it doesn't taste too much like hay. Should arrive Thursday.

 

[cigrmaster]

You should enjoy the PS flake, it is a high quality blend with natural sweetness and a good tobacco flavor. I would recommend cube cutting it, I have found that preparation works best for me. You also might want to smoke it in a nothing larger than a group 5 pipe as flakes do well in smaller pipes. If you enjoy the PS let us know and we can suggest a multitude of other flakes you would enjoy.

 

[mso489]

Let us know what you like on the non-aromatic road. I've enjoyed McClelland's Va red cake and Lane's Burley Without Bit, for their

unadorned simplicity. Dunhill's Mixture 965 and Nightcap. Five Brothers. You'll likely double back for some of your old favorite

aros as time goes by, but it's good to have a change.

 

[simnettpratt]

Thanks for the tip, cigr! I did not know flakes liked smaller pipes, which all mine are anyway. I'll be cube cutting it, though I will have to try folding and stuffing and rubbing as well to see if I can taste the difference.

 

[andrew]

Welcome to the world of highbrow pipe smoking comrade. Aro's just don't cut it imo.

 

[bigboi]

Thanks Cigrmaster, now I am going to have to find a smaller pipe to smoke my flakes out of to see if I can taste the difference now.

 

[billinsfl]

I smoke 'em all and you should too! Aromatics, twists, flakes, strong, mild; whatever suits you whenever!

 

[daytonsean]

I always kept blue note and otc's. When I tried Old Dublin I cut way back on everything else.

 

[mustanggt]

Attaboy!!! Welcome aboard, though you are one more competitor for Escudo and others that most of us clamor for. I hope you're quick on the keyboard so you can beat the rest of these guys. :lol:

 

[rhogg]

I find it difficult to find enjoyable aros... but they are out there. The key for me seems to be that the tobacco not the flavoring must take center stage. What can I say? I like tobacco.

 

[judcole]

Good luck on the next stage of your pipe smoking journey.

 

[simnettpratt]

Yeah, tired of the aro sweetness. Plus, when I'd meet with the Dallas pipers, they'd be breaking open aged tins of burley and I'd be smoking my Captain Black, they wouldn't say anything but they'd look at me funny. Hey, whatever you like is what's right for you, eh?
My granddad got pretty messed up getting gassed in the trenches of WWI and was never able to hold a job afterwards. He smoked whatever was the cheapest tobacco and only had one pipe and no tamper - his index finger was black on the end, but that one (almost certainly cheap) pipe gave him a lot of solace. He'd smoke and just stare into the fire; now we know what he was remembering, we just thought he was mean.

 

[crazypipe]

When it come to pipe tobacoo ,I have always been all over the place.

One day i'm smoking va the next day it's PA half & half, i smoke it all ::

 

[kashmir]

Bout time! Just kidding. You might tho want to give London Mixture a go. Or try some C&D Latakia offerings like Star of the East, Pirate Kake, Engine 99, Odessa ... Those are some of my favorites.

 

[fnord]

Simnettpratt:
You wrote:
"My granddad got pretty messed up getting gassed in the trenches of WWI and was never able to hold a job afterwards. He smoked whatever was the cheapest tobacco and only had one pipe and no tamper - his index finger was black on the end, but that one (almost certainly cheap) pipe gave him a lot of solace. He'd smoke and just stare into the fire; now we know what he was remembering, we just thought he was mean."
That three line paragraph you wrote just might be one of the saddest comments I've ever read on this forum.
Not everybody returning from a war lived/lives happily ever after, many were/are deeply wounded and his behavior made a substantial enough impact that you still remember it today.
I'm sincerely glad you've made peace with your memories of him and I hope you still have his pipe.
Fnord

 

[05venturer]

A great switch from Aro's IMO would be Frog Morton Cellar. I have found that to be a favorite of mine. As for good burley Burley London Blend is AWESOME!!!!!

 

[05venturer]

@roth, I don't find Burley London Blend to be anything of an Aro. Just a high quality burley blend. IMO

 

[simnettpratt]

Yow, now I've got sixteen specific recommendations to research.
Looks like we open with Altadis Blue Note at $12.50 for 8oz, then the C&D's Engine 99, Red Odessa and Star of the East at under $17/8oz, as is McBaren's Burley London Blend, but it tastes like an aro to some.
Five Brothers comes in at $19/8oz, but it has a big nic kick. Your Escudo's safe, the most expensive at almost $44/8oz. The Luxury Navy Flake was only $15/8oz, plus it's flake, which I like.
I cannot tell if I will like a tobacco from the description, except I know liquorice, menthol and anise are bad words to me. Thanks for the help guys, will head over to Altadis or C&D when the PS Luxury Navy Flake gets low

 

[lucky695]

+1 FMC

 

[thesmokindragon]

Many of us travel the non-Aro road, so we will guide you home brother, no worries...
If you like Solani ABF and Erinmore give these blends a go;
Peterson's UF

MB's Old Dark Fired

SG's St. James and FVF

Escudo