Underrated and Recommended

[drrock]

Almost anything by Milan Tobacco.

I've tried Jefferson Street, Doctor's Orders, "Our" London Dock, Sunset Rum, & Wall Street.

All of their pipe tobaccos are of the highest quality, are not "goopy" & are simply delicious.

If you like the aromatics from Uhle's, Vtpipes, and Peretti, give Milan a try

 

[drlpipe]

MacBaren's Solent Mixture - I hardly ever see people talk about this one, but I think its one of the best they make and definitely the best that isn't part of the HH series. It just tastes great to me and smokes well, fragrant and with enough going on to stay interesting.
McClelland's Beacon Extra - Another one I don't see a ton of talk about. To me, as someone who has smoked nearly every VaPer available in the US, this is right there with the best. I've had some absolutely transcendent smokes with this in the bowl.
GLP's Cumberland - This one seems to get a lot less press than many other GLPs and definitely less than something like JKP. This is really better to my tastes and one of the best blends he does.

 

[igloo]

LJ Perreti deserves a big shout out .

 

[rcstan]

G&H commonwealth .... English

You mean SG Commonwealth :mrgreen:
My daily English. Lots of folks complain on the reviews that is one-dimensional ( half Lat and half VA ). I find it to be sort of a chameleon blend, depending on the particular pipe, packing method, dryness level, mood etc. It's always smokey, sometimes slightly bitter, sometimes nutty, sometimes sweet; sometimes I get a Nic kick ( nothing like 1792 but definitely there ), sometimes I don't.

 

[rcstan]

Sundays Fantasy from Radfords is one you never hear mentioned and is a different Aero..

I've had the pleasure to smoke some of that. Indeed, very different flavors there and one of the coolest pieces of artwork on the tin. Has to be at the right moisture level or it will bite like a ferret. It's not imported in the US anymore AFAIK but it can still be had from the UK ...

 

[allan]

I guess by reading an earlier post, Lane and Stockabbye are very commercial pipe tobaccos? Cigars International is selling them in bulk, and of course claiming to be every bit as good as Mclellan and Dunhill.
I'd like to try to buy some bulk at reasonable prices, but as an example, Cigars International will sell five pounds of 'early morning' (dunhill) for $349.00
I mean, really! I guess I like to smoke, but five pounds? Who in heavens name can buy five pounds unless you are reselling the stuff?
I just tried Mclellan's number 8 and I think I'm in love! Smooth and without bite, IMHO.
Where do you guys buy bulk when you find a blend you like?
thanks

allan

 

[igloo]

Five pounds would be a whole unopened true bulk bag . :worship:

 

[gecko13]

Hello Allan.
Welcome aboard.
I don't find the purchase of 5 pounds unreasonable or odd. I have done it many times with bulk blends I am fond of, and if there is a good deal. My monthly order (tins, and bulk blends) is generally around 5 pounds, distributed across 1 or more choices. As for where to buy bulk, there are several very good sources listed in the left margin that help sponsor this site

 

[allan]

I certainly meant no offense to anyone, I just couldn't imagine at this time buying five pounds of one type of tobacco. To me it would be like buying 10 boxes of one cigar, which, of course, could be possible, but in 35 years I have not done that. Too many new brands to lock into one cigar IMHO.
I guess when I find a blend that I really am sure about, storage could be an option.
Allan

 

[ssjones]

5 lbs would be a lot of tobacco for myself, not sure I'd make that investment all at one time. (no, I'm sure that I would not). I have to drive by Cigars International in the next two days (Hamburg PA), perhaps I'll stop and try a few ounces of the Early Morning Dunhill knock-off.

 

[allan]

In reading other posts on the forums, I see now that many folks buy in large bulk and store up to 'age'. Rothnh said that he believes that tobacco prices are going to skyrocket, and in thinking this over, he is probably right. Calling it the 'Alfred E. Newman' approach--well, I'm not sure about that.
Aging pipe tobacco is completely new to me. Do most blends age well? Is that a ritual done by many?
As a cigar smoker, I love to age my cigars, but it has happened that weavels have entered the large humidor I have destroying many great cigars. I'm not sure why it happened, but I was quite cautious after that checking each cigar and controlling the humidity etc. So certainly my first impression of storing up large quanitities of pipe tobacco gives me pause.
Is there any possibility that this or similar type of destructive bug could infest stored tobacco?
Thank you

Allan

 

[lordnoble]

I've not head of it, but I wouldn't say it isn't possible. I store in glass mason jars which I've sterilized. So if anything goes wrong with a blend, it's contained to one jar and it was in the blend before I put it away. YMMV
-Jason

 

[doctorthoss]

Allan --

Aging pipe tobacco is done by many (probably most, actually) and is quite easy to do. Either leave the tobacco in its original tin or store it in canning jars.
Most blends age well, with the exception of some of the goopier aromatics. That does, however, depend somewhat on what you mean by age "well." Blends with lots of VA or orientals will change a great deal over time due to the high amount of sugar. Burley-based blends will age as well, but the difference is far less dramatic (the good news being that burley blends will remain stable over long periods of time). English/latakia blends usually age well, but the latakia becomes "softer" after a few years and will turn into a much different blend after long enough. Aromatics don't necessarily age well, so trial-and-error with specific blends is the only way to know.
The best thing about aging is that most tobaccos will last for many, many years. A well-sealed VA in a canning jar may well "keep" for 40 or 50 years!

The trick is to store them in airtight containers --again, preferably glass canning jars -- and keep them in a cool, dark place.

 

[cigrmaster]

allan, once you begin to find your favorites, it would behoove you to start buying them in quantity. Price will be triple of what they are now in a few years and possibly higher.
I would suggest you sample all kinds of different blends and keep notes. Many of us have had out tastes change over the years. I once loved my English blends but then lost my taste for them and now only smoke Virginia and Virginia/Perique flakes. When I came back to my pipes 8 months ago, I began trying all kinds of different blends in the categories I prefer. Once I had a good idea of what my favorites were, I began buying in large quantities. Most of my favorites come in tins. Only 4 of my favorites are bulks and I have about 35 pounds stocked up with those with more coming. I am still looking at new blends but I have a list of 21 that I am loading up on. I have determined how much I smoke a year(9-10 pounds) and I am trying to get a 25 year supply. I think that anyone who loves pipes tobacco should get a plan going so that they will have a cellar to smoke out of when the crap hits the fan
All of my favorites age extremely well so I have no issues about loading up on them, my bulks I store in bail top jars with silicone gaskets, and my tins get stored as is. I have tins as old as 17 years and they are perfect when opened. You will never have to worry about beetles, there are no larvae in pipe tobacco like there is in cigar tobacco. I have had beetles ravage some quality cigars over the years. I once got a box of Trinidad Fundadores( Cuban) from one of my suppliers that was loaded with beetles, it infected a couple of other boxes before I found them. I always kept my cigars at 65 degrees and 62-65 percent humidity and never had problems, unless the beetles came in from a supplier.

 

[spyder71]

You sure do see a lot of C&D blends and I will add one more, Engine 99. Great English with lots of Lat flavor

 

[allan]

Gentlemen
I am extremely appreciative of all of the advice given, and although I have been noticing small increases in cigar prices I am not aware of the coming huge tax. Is this discussed on another forum? (amazing for a legal product to be treated this way)
I have given a donation to a lobby group shown on one of the cigar sites against punitive tobacco taxes, but that is about the extent of it. Being in NY, I'm certainly aware of non-smoking policies that are just about everywhere.
I would be intereted to learn more.
Thanks again

Allan

 

[freakiefrog]

I am currently enjoying a tin of Aston "Rainy Day". Our winters tend to be cold and rainy here and I'll have to say it's a stronger aromatic on the pallet than most with a good flavor. I like to have this sitting on the front porch on cold drizzly evenings reading a book before dinner..

 

[cigrmaster]

allan, the cigar lobby has much more juice than the pipe tobacco one. When Florida instituted a new tax on tobacco, they didn't touch cigars but threw an 85% on the wholesale price on pipe tobacco. The ryo industry drew attention to pipe tobacco and now the FDA is going to see about messing with us also. RYO were using pipe tobacco to get around the tax laws so now we are fair game.
Obviously the new guys need to first find their favorites which does take time. I do not want people to get paranoid but the facts are the facts. Here is a break down, state by state of tobacco taxes, they are only going to go up in the future. Once the government is able to stop the online retailers from shipping tobacco( there is legislation pending) we will be at the mercy of the states. Check out your state.

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0169.pdf

 

[salewis]

I have smoked Penzance and afree with you that this tobacco is in a league of its own. After trying two or more dozen English blends including GLP Westminister I always come back to my favorite Dunhill's My London Mixture. This blend a unique blend of latekia, turkish, other orientals has a nutty sweet taste with a hint of latekia at during the first half of the bowl and a little stronger latekia taste near the second half of the bowl. A mild to medium nicotine hit and a very dry smoke.

 

[shawn622]

C&D Night Train is awesome!!!