Thoughts on the following and describe them

[MortarMessiah]

I'm looking for similar blends to Haunted Bookshop. The following blends I'd like to know y'all's opinion and if you have any blends you think I should try let me know. Old Joe Krantz, Pegasus, Three Friars, Jack Knife, and Briar Fox, are ones I think might be similar but have never had. Was wondering what you that have tried them,what yall think. Please describe them or give some similar recommendations that's in this general area of tobacco

 

[Philosophical Smoke]

OJK...pure awesomeness to me. Be prepared though. It'll knock you on your ass! I have never had the other 3. I personally don't find OJK anything like HB.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

Of these I've had OJK, and will say two things about it:
1- It's pretty good.
2- You'll smell like a smoker. I work with a woman who has a very powerful sense of smell, and she never knew I smoked until I walked in one morning with some Old Joe particles apparently still clinging to my hair.

Pegasus had a rather strong showing in the Blend of 2024 eliminations thread, so it's definitely got some advocates here who can sing you it's praises.

 

[MortarMessiah]

Yes I've heard OJK is a heavy version of HB. And I heard Pegasus is a very good smoking blend, very laid back. I'm in love with Haunted Bookshop. It's become special to me really. It's a quite serious obsession I have for it. I have other blends I enjoy like OGS. But it doesn't hit me like Haunted Bookshop. I smoke HB and I'm in a pleasant mood, the aroma around me is nice, my mind wonders off in thought, and then afterward I just bask in the aftermath that smothers me. It's like a said a very intense love I have for it right now. I'm eager to find anything like it. I like the leathery and nutty flavor, I like it's a bit sweet And spicy. Goes great with coffee and chocolate.

 

[brian64]

OJK...pure awesomeness

That pretty much covers it.

 

[seanv]

Yes I've heard OJK is a heavy version of HB. And I heard Pegasus is a very good smoking blend, very laid back. I'm in love with Haunted Bookshop. It's become special to me really. It's a quite serious obsession I have for it. I have other blends I enjoy like OGS. But it doesn't hit me like Haunted Bookshop. I smoke HB and I'm in a pleasant mood, the aroma around me is nice, my mind wonders off in thought, and then afterward I just bask in the aftermath that smothers me. It's like a said a very intense love I have for it right now. I'm eager to find anything like it. I like the leathery and nutty flavor, I like it's a bit sweet And spicy. Goes great with coffee and chocolate.

I had a love for HB a few years ago. I smoked it daily for years. I had to force myself to smoke other things after a while. Not too long ago I opened a jar from 2018 and smoked that quickly. It was so good with a few years on It

 

[seanv]

I'm looking for similar blends to Haunted Bookshop. The following blends I'd like to know y'all's opinion and if you have any blends you think I should try let me know. Old Joe Krantz, Pegasus, Three Friars, Jack Knife, and Briar Fox, are ones I think might be similar but have never had. Was wondering what you that have tried them,what yall think. Please describe them or give some similar recommendations that's in this general area of tobacco

I’ve tried all of these blends except Jackknife. They are all very different and all worth trying. I would read a few reviews to know what to expect, then get smoking

 

[trudger]

If you love HB don’t bother with Three Friars in my opinion. Odd blends out of your list are Briar Fox and Jack Knife, they are not like the others. I think Briar Fox and Jack Knife are under the radar blends on this forum and worth a try.

 

[brian64]

I think Briar Fox and Jack Knife are under the radar blends on this forum and worth a try.

Jack Knife is very good...especially with some age on it.

 

[Skippy B. Coyote]

You've done your research well, as many of those blends are very similar to Haunted Bookshop! Here's my thoughts on a few of them that I've tried:

Old Joe Krantz is Haunted Bookshop with the Perique and dark Burley content increased for a stronger nicotine hit and a more musty and peppery flavor profile, which also significantly increases the mustiness of the tin note and room note. It's got a real barnyard funk to it, and I was told by other members of my household that the room note from Old Joe Krantz smelled quite literally like vomit.

Pegasus is basically Haunted Bookshop with the Perique removed and replaced with unsweetened Black Cavendish, which makes the smoke a little gentler and less abrasive while adding just a touch of sweetness to both the tin note and flavor of the smoke. The nicotine content is noticably lower as well, dropping it from the upper end of medium to the center of medium in my book.

Briar Fox is essentially just Pegasus but with the percentage of bright and red Virginias in the mix increased, to make it more of a 50/50 split between the Virginias and Burleys in terms of flavor. The nicotine content is about the same as Pegasus but the room note of Briar Fox is less pipe'y and more distinctly cigarette'y, which makes sense given that most cigarettes are mix of Burleys and Virginias.

In any case, they're all quite good and if you're a fan of Haunted Bookshop then I can almost guarantee you'll like Pegasus and Briar Fox as well. Old Joe Krantz may be more hit or miss depending on your tastes, and I certainly wouldn't smoke it when company is around unless you'd like them to leave rather quickly.

 

[dottlejockey]

I've smoked all these blends for years -- except Pegasus, which is a newer love -- and each are unique.
Just for fun, my preference (in order):

1. Pegaus (smoked daily)
2. Jack Knife (satisfying, like HB)
3. Haunted Bookshop (like a good ole friend i visit here and there and no catch-up is required)
4. OJK (good stuff, but haven't had it in a while due to trying so many new blends in 2024)
5. Briar Fox (used to smoke this more often many years ago, good blend, but not in current rotation)
6. Three Friars (decent smoke, but i never stocked up, also no longer in current rotation).

My opinion is, if you're interested in them, try them all and decide for yourself. If cost is prohibitive, i'd prioritize OJK and Jack Knife if you're already a HB fan. Then again, you can't pass up Pegasus...it just might take some of your affection, leaving HB a bit jealous. Only one way to find out...

 

[Steddy]

C&D Riverboat Gambler. It’s like a cross of Haunted Bookshop and Old Joe Krantz with Oriental added.

Three Friars is the most Virginia forward.

Jacknife Plug with age on it is a different animal than when it is fresh. It loses its sharp edges and gets deeper. Love it aged, don’t want to smoke it fresh.

Skippy nailed every thing else. Try them all for sure. Old Joe smoked slow is one of my favorites.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Jack Knife Plug is the outlier, as the only burley is Kentucky Dark Fired.
I’m not a burley guy, so that’s about all I’ve got to contribute.

 

[ak2000]

C&D Kelly's Coin is smoother than HB IMHO.

 

[Steddy]

How could we forget the C&D Burley Flake series.

 

[MortarMessiah]

So I Ordered some Old Joe Krantz and Burley Flake #1 from C&D. It hasn't arrived yet. I sadly killed off the last of my HB this morning, so I been smoking Escudo mostly today. Which I know isn't on this list but it's been a treat today. I was gonna order some Pegasus but they were sold out. Someone above said Riverboat gambler, I put that on my list. I'll let y'all know how the OJK and BF#1 turn out when they get here.

 

[MortarMessiah]

C&D Kelly's Coin is smoother than HB IMHO.

I just read about Kelly's Coin. Might have to try it

 

[jakesmokes]

I'm looking for similar blends to Haunted Bookshop. The following blends I'd like to know y'all's opinion and if you have any blends you think I should try let me know. Old Joe Krantz, Pegasus, Three Friars, Jack Knife, and Briar Fox, are ones I think might be similar but have never had. Was wondering what you that have tried them,what yall think. Please describe them or give some similar recommendations that's in this general area of tobacco

OJK if you want a stronger haunted bookshop. Pegasus if you want a smoother sweeter smoke. I find them all similar but they all have there differences. If you enjoy haunted bookshop everything you’ve listed would be a good choice to try I wouldn’t imagine you hating any of them.

 

[MortarMessiah]

C&D Riverboat Gambler. It’s like a cross of Haunted Bookshop and Old Joe Krantz with Oriental added.

Three Friars is the most Virginia forward.

Jacknife Plug with age on it is a different animal than when it is fresh. It loses its sharp edges and gets deeper. Love it aged, don’t want to smoke it fresh.

Skippy nailed every thing else. Try them all for sure. Old Joe smoked slow is one of my favorites.

I feel like a lot of tobacco is better with age on em. Sometimes I'll open a can and it'll be terrible, but I jar it and couple months later it's beautiful and taste great. Haddos Delight was like that for me and anything English for me, has got to have some time on it.

 

[MortarMessiah]

I feel like a lot of tobacco is better with age on em. Sometimes I'll open a can and it'll be terrible, but I jar it and couple months later it's beautiful and taste great. Haddos Delight was like that for me and anything English for me, has got to have some time on it.

Not that I would know, I'm super new to smoking, this is just what I've found so far