Underrated Blends

[BingBong]

A few that come to mind, off the cuff:

• F&T Vintage
  (CVP gets all the attention, but IMPO "Vintage" -- admittedly a very differently style of VA -- is a far better tobacco than CVP)
  
  
• McConnell Black Flake
  (Speaking of F&T CVP, if you like that style -- as I do, just not CVP -- then I think that this is like a much better version of it. If you like CVP then you should love Black Flake.)
  
  
• Low Country Edisto
  (I complained about the loss of McC and then Sutliff Red VAs, and that I didn't love any of the Reds still standing. Then finally I tried this. Guys, if this isn't just un-aged CRF, then it's darn close. I would not be surprised if CRF turns out to be just 5YO Edisto. Darn good.)
  
  
• Boswell J.M.'s Private Stock
  (Nobody ever talks about this lightly topped dark-and-red VaPer flake. Looks like a very dark VaPer, but taste is more dominated by quality Red VA flavor, and it seems to be very lightly topped with something that may be cocoa and red fruit. To me this is one of the great secrets of the pipe tobacco world and I'm surprised that nobody else is catching on!)

Apart from Blackjack, the Vintage Flake is about the only F&T I'll reorder; I fold and stuff into my Dunhill billiard and enjoy.

I have an idea that McConnell Dunhill clones are rebadged Charatan clones (or v.v.), both made by Kopp - again, apart from their Rolls, their Black* Flake is the only one I'd reorder. Folded and stuffed in a Peterson Prince, very nice.

*edit, correction

 

[Douglas]

Peterson's Old Dublin.
A very pleasant smoke, it has been in my regular rotation for quite a while. Those times when I'm not sure what I'm in the mood for I will usually pack a bowl of Old Dublin.

I have had Ol Dublin in my shopping cart more than a few times but it has always been bumped for something else. I need to go ahead and try it. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Pypkė]

GLP Cumberland
GLP Horizons
C&D Blue Ridge

Three blends that I have recently enjoyed that seem underrated.

 

[fr0st]

Lane HGL​

This is an Aromatic/English blend. It’s a nice, smooth, and satisfying smoke. There’s just enough Latakia to enhance the other leaf. Has a vanilla type aroma. I don’t often smoke aromatics or Latakia blends, but I regularly reach for this if I am smoking indoors or in mixed company. Available in bulk.

Smoker Friendly “Sweet and Natural”​

This is blended by Sutliff for the Smoker Friendly stores. Not sure if it will still be available after Sutliff’s demise. This is a straight burley. Sometimes I smoke it alone, but I also use it as a blending component. Available in 12 oz bags, only in store.

 

[Scottmi]

Cornell & Diehl Cordial is criminally undersmoked. Excellent light Scottish blend in the vein of the old Dunhill Aperitif.

thanks! I am definitely going to give this one a try.

 

[Scottmi]

SixPence and Jackknife Plug from GL Pease imo

I do love that Sixpence -- went through my first tin of that FAST.

 

[anotherbob]

Yeah, it’s an excellent blend that is tagged with an unfortunately too clever name that leaves people with the entirely wrong impression/expectation. A real case of judging a book by its cover.

To paraphrase the Bard, “Would an English by any other name smoke so sweet?”

I kind of hate that don't judge a book by it's cover, because that's how covers work now. They're supposed to hint at whats in the book and what type of book it is. This is actually a case where it applies properly though. That's awesome.

 

[khiddy]

I kind of hate that don't judge a book by it's cover, because that's how covers work now. They're supposed to hint at whats in the book and what type of book it is. This is actually a case where it applies properly though. That's awesome.

I will confess that wine labels are much the same way – if it has a good looking label, I'm likely going to give it another glance!

 

[krizzose]

A few that come to mind, off the cuff:

• F&T Vintage
  (CVP gets all the attention, but IMPO "Vintage" -- admittedly a very differently style of VA -- is a far better tobacco than CVP)
  
  
• McConnell Black Flake
  (Speaking of F&T CVP, if you like that style -- as I do, just not CVP -- then I think that this is like a much better version of it. If you like CVP then you should love Black Flake.)
  
  
• Low Country Edisto
  (I complained about the loss of McC and then Sutliff Red VAs, and that I didn't love any of the Reds still standing. Then finally I tried this. Guys, if this isn't just un-aged CRF, then it's very close. I would not be surprised if CRF turns out to be just 5YO Edisto. Darn good.)
  
  
• Boswell J.M.'s Private Stock
  (Nobody ever talks about this lightly topped dark-and-red VaPer flake. Looks like a very dark VaPer, but taste is more dominated by quality Red VA flavor, and it seems to be very lightly topped with something that may be cocoa and red fruit. To me this is one of the great secrets of the pipe tobacco world and I'm surprised that nobody else is catching on!)

I also think Edisto is pretty good. I wonder if they didn’t case it with a bit of sugar. Whatever it is, I’m glad I have some. It should age really well

 

[Zamora]

I like PS Norwegian a lot, it's a great no nonsense smoke but I don't see people talk about it much. Not the most flavorful but so easy

 

[anotherbob]

I will confess that wine labels are much the same way – if it has a good looking label, I'm likely going to give it another glance!

wine labels can get so stupid

 

[Worknman]

CD Yorktown always comes to mind, especially with a few years of age.

 

[Skippy Piper]

If you can handle a fair bit of nicotine then I think Five Brothers and Gawith Hoggarth Kendal Dark are criminally underrated. Five Brothers is easily the smoothest, nuttiest, and just all around cleanest tasting Burley I've ever smoked and Kendal Dark is pure fireplace smokey dark fired Virginia goodness. Both are shag cut blends so they're incredibly forgiving and easy to pack and light, and my favorite non-aromatic smokes.

For aromatic blends, I'll toss in a recommendation for my favorite cherry blend you don't hear talked about too much: Smoker's Pride Cherry Cavendish. You'd think that it'd be rubbish considering it comes in a big 12 ounce bulk bag for $25, but after trying just about every cherry blend on the market this one is my favorite.

It's got a mildly sweet candy cherry flavor (think cherry Tootsie Pop) with no chocolate, vanilla, almond, or any other flavors that often find their way into cherry blends. Just straight non-cough syrupy cherry flavor with a little nutty earthiness from the Burley, a little grassiness from the Virginias, and a bit of Black Cavendish to smooth it all out and add body to the smoke. Give it a try if you're a cherry blend aficionado!

 

[quantumboy]

Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme. I bought a bunch in bulk many years ago and it remains a favorite. Don't know if it's still available and if it is, whether it's still the same, but I have not tired of it after 15 years.

 

[khiddy]

Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme. I bought a bunch in bulk many years ago and it remains a favorite. Don't know if it's still available and if it is, whether it's still the same, but I have not tired of it after 15 years.

It's the same blend as Arango Balkan Supreme, still quite available and relatively cheap nearly everywhere!

 

[Lucro]

I’m not sure if it’s underrated but my favorite light English of late is Boswell’s English Biscuit. A little smokiness from the Latakia and a bready sweetness from the Virginias. It’s rounded out with cavendish but if I am being totally honest I'm not sure of its purpose. It is worth a go if your looking for an English but don’t want a lat bomb.

 

[WerewolfOfLondon]

Wiffagarf Broken Scotch Flake. A fantastic, but unloved straight va.