Trying English blends

[mtwaller]

I don’t hear people mention it as particularly sweet, but I found that Captain Earle’s Mystic was really sweet in a good, natural kinda way. When dried properly it also burns like a dream.

I smoke English blends almost exclusively. Some of my favorites, in no particular order:

Mac Baren HH Latakia Flake
Ashton Artisan’s Blend
Peterson (Dunhill) Nightcap
Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding
Hearth & Home BlackHouse
Drucquer & Sons Blairgowrie

The list could go on forever, but the above are all premium quality blends. If you find one or two you love, stock up on ‘em. In the few years I’ve been into pipes I’ve seen tobacco prices increase probably 30% or more…

 

[jlopez]

Engine 99 is the first english, and really first pipe tobacco, I tried. It was the catalyst that moved me away from cigars, slightly.

I would second the recommendation to try it out!

 

[greysmoke]

No shortage of great recommendations. Working your way through the GL Pease English blends would be a great experience. And Westminster is a great place to start -- although stop off at Gaslight as soon s you can.

 

[milk]

Could somebody here recommend a beginner’s English or crossover tobacco with an English element? I’ve only ever smoked Virginias and some aromatics. I’d like to try an English or a mixture but maybe I can’t go all the way at first. Plus my family can’t take too harsh of a smell and I live in a country where I can’t get very obscure blends. I can get Rattray, Dan, Solani, R. McConnell, Peterson, C&D, Samuel G, and a few others.

 

[BriarBrook]

I'm not a huge English fan but I do really enjoy EMP and Nightcap.

 

[sigaholic]

I started with English blends. Switched to Vapers and Virginia. Seldom do I go for the English.

 

[Servant King]

My top three would be:

Bronze - Sutliff Voodoo Queen
Silver - Sutliff Balkan Sobranie Orig. Mix Match
Gold - Peterson EMP

Noteworthy to mention that both Sutliff blends are available in bulk for a very fair price for how delicious they are.

 

[jon11]

I don’t smoke Latakia too often but when I do it is exclusively GLP blends. Gaslight is my favorite.

 

[rmbittner]

Could somebody here recommend a beginner’s English or crossover tobacco with an English element? I’ve only ever smoked Virginias and some aromatics. I’d like to try an English or a mixture but maybe I can’t go all the way at first. Plus my family can’t take too harsh of a smell and I live in a country where I can’t get very obscure blends. I can get Rattray, Dan, Solani, R. McConnell, Peterson, C&D, Samuel G, and a few others.

For Rattray’s, I’d recommend Black Mallory, a delicious English with cavendish, or 3 Noggins. If you can get Gawith Hoggarth, Balkan Mixture; it’s not a Balkan as I define the genre, but it’s a delicious, rounded English. McConnell’s Oriental is highly recommended, as is Dan Tobacco’s Gordon Pym, although the latter is on the heavier side of latakia blends. If you can get GLPease, I highly recommend Caravan as an example of how stellar a true Balkan can be. (And only GLP has an actual range of Balkan blends.) For a soft English, his Maltese Falcon is very good; his Westminster is an archetypal English that smokes fresh as if it’s already been cellared for a decade.

 

[rmbittner]

Could somebody here recommend a … crossover tobacco with an English element?

SG’s Navy Flake and Perfection are two favorites. GH’s Bob’s Chocolate Flake too. These are all definitely not like typical aromatics but they do feature flavors such as rum, vanilla, and cocoa being added to more typical English tobaccos (i.e., latakia).

 

[Architeuthis]

Not that there’s any right or wrong answer when this question is asked but… what’s your favorite pipe to smoke these in? I’m currently using my BBB 335 apple as my dedicated English pipe.
Ok. You got me. I’m just looking for an excuse to get a new pipe.

I've tried an assortment of shapes and what comes through, for me anyway, is that I like latakia blends with a nice dose of orientals in a pipe with a wider bowl. My go-to is a Savinelli prince. And if you haven't tried it yet, get your hands on some Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader. Its currently in stock at several places online.

 

[Architeuthis]

Could somebody here recommend a beginner’s English or crossover tobacco with an English element? I’ve only ever smoked Virginias and some aromatics. I’d like to try an English or a mixture but maybe I can’t go all the way at first. Plus my family can’t take too harsh of a smell and I live in a country where I can’t get very obscure blends. I can get Rattray, Dan, Solani, R. McConnell, Peterson, C&D, Samuel G, and a few others.

If you want to just dip your toe in with latakia, you might try what are often called "Scottish" mixtures/blends. Rattray's Jock's Mixture is quite good. It is lightly seasoned with latakia and is a relatively mild smoke. A more typically English, and medium bodied blend would be Peterson's Early Morning Pipe. A good bulk offering from C&D is their Super Balkan. For a fuller-bodied blend, you might try Rattray's Accountant's Mixture. For a very oriental forward blend, give Rattray's Red Rapparee a try.

 

[milk]

If you want to just dip your toe in with latakia, you might try what are often called "Scottish" mixtures/blends. Rattray's Jock's Mixture is quite good. It is lightly seasoned with latakia and is a relatively mild smoke. A more typically English, and medium bodied blend would be Peterson's Early Morning Pipe. A good bulk offering from C&D is their Super Balkan. For a fuller-bodied blend, you might try Rattray's Accountant's Mixture. For a very oriental forward blend, give Rattray's Red Rapparee a try.

Thanks. Those are all easily available so I’ll look into them.