Well I see some Burley's and Va/per. Your missing English. Might I suggest GLP Chelsea Morning, or Low Country Cooper.
Tobacco Taste
- Thread starter Swampfox
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Yes sir you may. I just looked up some reviews and they both sound great. I will add them to the next order. Also, a couple questions; Can English blends have toppings or casings? Do they have to contain Latakia?
I think you need to smoke a few simple, non-aromatic blends to help you get oriented, starting with the usual base tobaccos for many blends, Virginia and burley. These are both available in the Amphora series, specified simply Virginia and burley. Or you can choose an all Virginia and an all burley bulk tobacco from Sutliff or C&D, but the Amphora blends make it really easy. Once you get your footing, you can branch out and try a few other genres, But get started first with the basic leaf.
English blends can have casings, but no toppings. Some fellow members may want to correct me on this. And they do usually have some constituent of Latakia, which varies with the blend in question. English is usually some combination of Virginias, Orientals, and Latakia and or Perique. They are considered in some circles as the most unadulterated of the tobacco blends. But I'm sure there are those who would debate that notion.
Regarding correlation to beverages: it seems to me that people who like peaty scotches are more likely to appreciate Latakia-heavy blends than those who do not.
Pretty sure that English blends can have toppings - for instance, the anise topping in Bengal Slices.
I stand corrected. But toppings are not "normal" to English blends.
I have been smoking pipe for 3 months and slowly sampling. I have same type questions but am learning more as I try new blends. Related to your question the only one I can analogize to food is Latakia. They say it’s like a camp fire but I disagree. Yes it’s very Smokey but not ashy at all. To me I live in Texas and love some good slow cooked smoked brisket. After some sweet smokey rub and 12 hours on the smoker the meat is rich and smokey with deep flavor. To me the Latakia is like taking a bite of juicy smoked brisket that has a little bit of fat and a little bit of bark. It just taste so good!! I have tried low amounts in Early Morning Pipe and 965 and I like it. I am focusing my sampling on ones I have with Latakia but need to move to Virginias and VaPers to see if I get find the “sweet spot”. Maybe this weekend. I use my morning smoke for EMP and my evening smoke for trying a new blends.
Let us know how it goes!
Also - looking at your screen name, any chance relating to Francis Marion?
I will be glad to keep y’all posted as I try different blends. I’m thankful for the recommendations. As to the screen name, yes, kind of. I’m interested in history, am a forester, and thereby spend time in swamps often so a friend starting calling me that and it stuck (she also knew I was from a county that shares his name).
Almost ALL pipe tobacco has some casing (it’s just sweetness to make the tobacco palatable). Toppings are a different story altogether.
Typically English blends don’t have toppings, but the further you go East of the UK into Europe, the more often a topping of alcohol or anise etc is added.
This is a wonderfully simple idea that had not occurred to me ( forest for the trees)! I think my next purchase will be some Amphora. I will take your advice and sample from the different basic categories in their line. That would be a great starting/reference point. Thanks!
Sutliff used to have a quiz along these lines. If you checked a lot of steak and pork dishes, I think they recommended stronger English blends, if I recall. I don't remember what indicated Virginia blends. In the Sutliff inventory, I always got directed to No. 5, though I never tried it. It is a medium English blend as I recall. Just riffing off the quiz, I think if you go for spicy dishes, Perique might have appeal.
Interesting. The reason I asked to start was that I smoke cigars from time to time and there seems to be some correlation to general palate tastes and cigar preferences. I don’t mind doing lots of sampling but was hoping to avoid duds as much as possible. Honestly the more I read reviews, the better all types are sounding in their own way…….can’t wait to find out.
Lots of great advice. I am also only 3 months experienced. My only advice is avoid a blend with both Latakia and Perique together until you can appreciate them separate. I love Latakia but tried a blend with both and it was very complicated and for me like putting hot sauce on my steak. It’s not bad, just a odd mix to appreciate. Separately you could love steak, or love hot sauce, but putting them together to early might turn you against both. I was fortunate enough to try EMP before I tried Elizabethan. I love Latakia but am going to try a VaPer before I get back to a LatPer.
I saw this in your other thread and can follow the train of thought. From my limited understanding Perique and Latakia are wild cards in terms of love hate. It makes sense to try them separately to start with as you say. If the mail would only hurry I will give you a report.
Mail finally showed! Trying Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fire as I type. I’m enjoying it more than my aromatics. There are definitely different multiple flavors coming in and out, and very nice spice. I’m getting the campfire taste but also some chocolate now and then as well as dried fruit flavor. Pretty cool! Nice to start 1/1.
You may be trying too many different blends too quickly. A codger blend like Captain Black White is not overwhelmingly aromatic, has a bit of complexity, and is very accessible and easy to manage. Once you've mastered that kind of blend, you'll find it easier to get the most out of the more specialized-natural tobacco categories. Make sure you jar up the blends you've already purchased. You might enjoy them more in the near future.