Think I'm Moving On From Aromatics

[jgriff]

I'll let Sean speak for himself but it's probably not Altadis Blue Note but rather then Dan Tobacco Blue Note. Either is an Aro but pretty mild.
Personally, I think any of the Frog Morton stuff is the definitive crossover to introduce Latakia to anyone. But any of the simple stuff, like Orlik Golden, would work too.
But don't say the Escudo is safe until you have it. I keep trying new Va/Pers but I keep coming back to Escudo & SG St James Flake.

 

[simnettpratt]

Dan Tobacco, oh. Never even heard of Dan Tobacco. It's the mild aros from which I want a change. Exotic fruits and Bourbon Vanilla ... an extremely mild blend, according to smokingpipes. Frog Morton, University Flake and Escudo sound great, but I'm currently on more of a Miller Lite budget than a Chimay budget, and they're twice as much or more than say the C&D Engine 99 or Star of the East, so we're looking for budget conscious blends.
I bet I like this Luxury Navy Flake. My favorite blend so far has been MacBaren's Cube (or maybe Shortcut to Mushrooms), and I see smokingpipes has Cube on backorder in three different varieties, and all are aros. But I'd much rather try something new I don't like than stick with the same thing over and over.
Now if I could just figure out how to clean a dadgum pipe I'd be set!

 

[thesmokindragon]

Hear that brother...Might also want to give C&D's Night Train a try, great bulk pricing (SP.com has it for $29.41 for a 16oz brick) and one of my favs as well ::

 

[peckinpahhombre]

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.

I agree with the view that Brian Levine expressed on one of the last couple radio shows - I don't buy the whole "smaller pipes are better for flakes nonsense". I have larger and smaller pipes and have noticed no difference, except how long the smoke lasts.

 

[murf]

I have an Erik Nording freehand that I've dedicated to VA. I figure if VA is a "sipping" tobacco, I might as well get a good amt of it, sit down, and enjoy it. I'll smoke aros or english when I'm doing something at the same time (of course it's hard to do things w/a pipe that size hangin from your mouth!)
But anyway, I smoked aros exclusively when I first started. Started getting tired of them. I now have 3 pipes each dedicated to VA, and English. I find myself coming back to aros every once in awhile just to mix it up. Much like I'll give bourbon a break and switch to a single malt scotch. It helps to keep your tastebuds in check.
So, congrats on moving to VAs. I've just recently started appreciating those myself, these past few months. But I wouldn't write off aros completely. It makes for a nice revisit once in awhile

 

[cigrmaster]

peck, when you say larger pipes, are you talking ODA's and bigger? I think a group 5 is still a pretty decent sized pipe, I can get 2 hours sometimes with a bowl of flake in one. I think that certain flakes do well in a smaller 6 but some are just too much. I would not want to be smoking FVF or Irish flake in a large pipe. Do you smoke flakes in ODA and bigger pipes?

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Yes Harris - I have a Dunhill ODA and a large Ardor and both do very well with flakes. Now, if I don't want a 3 hour smoke, I won't use them (or won't pack them to the top), but they work fine from my perspective

 

[cigrmaster]

peck, I have a few 6's that when the mood strikes for a 2.5 hour smoke they do smoke certain flakes very well. I have not tried smoking flakes in ODA plus sized pipes. The flake that I probably enjoy the most in a bigger pipe is the Wessex Brigade Campaign Dark Flake, that flavor is something I never tire of. No way would I try Irish flake in a 6, it is just too strong. Hey as long as you enjoy the bigger pipes that is all that counts, there are no set rules. I think cube cutting allows flakes to be smoked in larger pipes, I would not want to fold and stuff in a 6 or bigger.

 

[simnettpratt]

I'm in luck; all my pipes are little! I never want a three hour smoke - one of the reasons I prefer pipes to cigars. I doubt I'm discerning enough to tell the difference between a larger pipe or a smaller one, but that's why we try both, isn't it?
I do know I took a wine tasting class from a snooty jerkwad, who polled us all as to what varieties we preferred, then sniffed when most of us put light German white wines. He said yes, most unsophisticated wine drinkers prefer light whites, but as we became more discerning we would find we only drink reds. He was a total jerk about it, but he ended up being right for me.
I can see doing an aro once in a while, especially if Cube and RLP-6 are aros; I like those. I believe the LNF will be the first blend I know to be a VaPer. I hope the descriptions 'sweetness' and 'hay' don't ruin it.
Journey, not a destination, right? And I'm pretty well convinced I won't have to try a blend with cat's pee, er Deertongue in it; thanks peck.
@roth: Age it two years. Yeah, like that's going to happen!

 

[ciderguy]

Carter Hall is a favorite value smoke for me. I know many find it a little simple, but sometimes it just hits the spot in a MM cob accompanied by bourbon. If you like the VaPer, then you I recommend that you try a VaPerO.