I've noticed that lots of tobacco blends are mentioned constantly by pipe smokers. But I've also noticed that some of my favorites seem to never crop up in discussions. So I thought I'd start this thread to see if anyone else wanted to give a shout-out to the blends you love that tend to be overlooked or underrated. (Of course, if you'd like to keep your secrets to yourself, I understand! It can be tough to find some blends already, without encouraging others to start buying them! 
)
I want to start by mentioning three.
Rattray's Jocks Mixture. This is a ribbon-cut blend of Virginias, with just a dash of latakia, tied together with unsweetened black cavendish. I find this quite delicious as a change of pace from more latakia-forward blends and straight Virginias. The latakia never stands out; it is purely a condiment here. And the cavendish adds just a light touch of sweetness that seems to bring the whole blend together beautifully. I think this should age wonderfully.
Dan Tobacco's London Blend #1000. For me, this is the standard medium-weight English by which I judge all others. It is not the best of its type, nor is it a luxury blend like, say, Westminster. But it is a very well-made, consistent, and solid example of what an English blend should be, in my opinion. (For others, this may be the role that Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium plays in their rotation.) I think it's very well worth seeking out, and I'm constantly surprised by how few seem to know about it.
Esoterica's And So to Bed. There have been very few blends that have entranced me from the very first puff. Penzance was one; this was another. There's a lot going on in this blend, and I don't pretend to know all the ingredients. But for me it starts with solid latakia flavors that give way to the orientals, a tiny bit of sweetness (from the cavendish here) that only rarely peeks through, and dark and toasty-tasting Virginias (which I suspect are African). It needs drying out first. But for me this is rich, luscious, delicious stuff.
Anyone else care to share?
Bob
)I want to start by mentioning three.
Rattray's Jocks Mixture. This is a ribbon-cut blend of Virginias, with just a dash of latakia, tied together with unsweetened black cavendish. I find this quite delicious as a change of pace from more latakia-forward blends and straight Virginias. The latakia never stands out; it is purely a condiment here. And the cavendish adds just a light touch of sweetness that seems to bring the whole blend together beautifully. I think this should age wonderfully.
Dan Tobacco's London Blend #1000. For me, this is the standard medium-weight English by which I judge all others. It is not the best of its type, nor is it a luxury blend like, say, Westminster. But it is a very well-made, consistent, and solid example of what an English blend should be, in my opinion. (For others, this may be the role that Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium plays in their rotation.) I think it's very well worth seeking out, and I'm constantly surprised by how few seem to know about it.
Esoterica's And So to Bed. There have been very few blends that have entranced me from the very first puff. Penzance was one; this was another. There's a lot going on in this blend, and I don't pretend to know all the ingredients. But for me it starts with solid latakia flavors that give way to the orientals, a tiny bit of sweetness (from the cavendish here) that only rarely peeks through, and dark and toasty-tasting Virginias (which I suspect are African). It needs drying out first. But for me this is rich, luscious, delicious stuff.
Anyone else care to share?
Bob
