Virginia, Burley, Oriental, Balkan - What would you suggest

[haroldt]

Since taking up the pipe again about 2 years ago, I’m finding that I enjoy English blends far more then the aromatics I smoked way back when. Believe it or not, my wife prefers English blends over aromatics.
So on to my question. I’m looking for some suggest, but not any type of suggestions, so read on please.
I’ve been reading reviews on www.tobaccoreviews.com (great site) and I would like to branch out and try some different blends, but blends that are made up of only one or two tobaccos. So I’m looking for smokers that have a favorite Straight Virginia, Virginia blend or Burley, Burley Blends, Oriental, Balkan.
Below is a list of what I currently smoke:

Non Aromatic –
Dunhill or Match- Early Moring Pipe – this is my go to blend, I always have this on hand.
Dunhill or Match- London Mixture
Dunhill or Match -965
Cornell and Diehl – DaVinci (great latakia)
Cornell and Diehl – Epiphany (I think the perq is a bit much for me. I blend it Dunhill 965
Drew Estates – Meat Pie (a favorite)
Pipe and Cigar – Best of the Rest
Heart and Home – Larry’s Blend (an exceptional smoke)
McClelland – Blue Mountain (not finding anything special about this one)

 

[beefeater33]

Try some GLP blends...... My favorite is Westminster, a classic English if there ever was one.

Odyssey and Abingdon are great too--- They have a complexity about them that I like, the flavors seem to change back and forth through the bowl, and I like that in a blend, but some people don't.

Try Dan Tobacco's Midnight Ride...... It flies under the radar but its great stuff.

I don't like burleys much, so can't help you there........

A great Oriental forward blend is McConnell's Oriental, everyone should try a tin of that one.......Enjoy the Journey!!.. ::

 

[haroldt]

Thanks Beefeater. I'll check them out.
I see Robert McConnell - Old London Pebble Cut listed as an Oriental on Tobacco Reviews.
And the Midnight Ride gets GREAT reviews..
Will add to my list.

 

[bigpond]

Straight Virginia, Virginia blend or Burley, Burley Blends, Oriental, Balkan.

VA-Full Virginia Flake, Best Brown Flake, Medium Virginia Flake...do you sense a theme? These three (in order of recommendation and approachability) paint a very nearly complete picture of what bright leaf is all about from dark to brown to golden. For Red VA, I like Blackjack but McCrannies red ribbon and McClelland's 5100 are similar and very popular.
Va Blend-McClellands 24, is Va with Oriental, Butera's Blended Flake Virginia forward with Or and a little perique, ODF...all good and a very broad category. G&H Dark Flake and Brown Flake straddle a few lines here but both are top notch
Burley Blends-Semois, it's like smoking a cigar while eating cake batter, and Irish Flake, deep, rich and slightly sweet from the mild anise topping.
Balkan Blends-Skiff Mixture is heavy with leather, spice and citrus, wonderful stuff.

 

[beezer]

I second beefeater's Midnight Ride suggestion. I purchased a tin of this on a whim and was blown away from the first bowl. Hmm...now that I think about it I need to add a few tins to my next TAD order, as I'm getting low.
I have a tin of McConnell's Oriental in the cellar that I have yet to crack, but I've heard great things about this one as well.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Virginia-Mac Baren Virginia No.1

Burley-Cornell & Diehl Pegasus

Oriental-McClelland Yenidje Supreme

Balkan-Balkan Sasieni

 

[Perique]

Balkan Sasieni

Wilke No.10

 

[mso489]

It doesn't fill your one or two tobacco requirement, but I would encourage you to try Nat Sherman 536, their English available in a tin, which may be the most refined mild but flavorful English blend on the market. Last time I looked, smokingpipes.com carries this. It's a little expensive, but not prohibitive.

 

[haroldt]

Thanks to everyone that has made suggestions so far (looing for more from others) I'm compiling a list. I can see I'll have to do some purchases and report back as time goes on. So nice to be part of an active and friendly forum.

Burley Blends-Semois, it's like smoking a cigar while eating cake batter

Now that's an interesting way to write a description, Mr Bigpond.

 

[cobguy]

Burley Blends-Semois, it's like smoking a cigar while eating cake batter

... while standing in a barnyard. :D
Burley: C&D Big N' Burley and Old Joe Krantz (Also Carter Hall and Prince Albert)
Virginia: McClelland 5100 Red cake, Blackwoods Flake and Aurora
Oriental and Balkan: LJ Perreti Tashkent, Presbyterian Mixture and H&H WhiteKnight

 

[arkansastraveler]

Looks like you have some pretty good recommendations so far.Would like to give you a few more.These are in my opinion some pretty good barley blends. Matter of fact,it's my summer tobacco rotation.

Old Joe Krantz.Always keep a quart ziplock bag of this tobacco,in the seat beside me. Has a pretty good dose of perique in it. So it can be kinda spicy.

Le Brumeuse.Call it my Frenchy tobacco.Even though it's Belgian. Good pure taste. Just pack it tight,or the bowl will be over before you know it.

Jackknife plug. Another good solid tobacco. It seems like Pease and C and D know how to blend burley based tobaccos. I buy the plug and work it up myself. But, you can get it ready rubbed.

Last but not least is my special events tobacco. Solani 656. If you could only try one burley or burley blend this would it.It is the Kate Uptown of burley tobacco.

 

[Sjmiller CPG]

My favorite Oriental blends are McClelland's Frog Morton on the Town and Cornell & Diehl's bulk Oriental Silk.

 

[haroldt]

Wow. And the hits keep com'n!

 

[judcole]

Hearth & Home White Knight, for a Balkan. This is Russ' recreation of Balkan Sobranie Original from the early-mid 1970s, when he first smoked it. That's the blend that invented the Balkan genre. IMO, he hit the nail on the head.
I'd also suggest Dunhill Durbar in the Balkan range.

 

[mso489]

For a pleasant Balkan blend at a pleasant price, you might try Sutliff's Balkan 957. Sutliff tins are among the least expensive, but I am always surprised at how smokeable (they burn well) and tasty they are. I also like their Westminster, not to be confused with the GL Pease blend by the same name (also excellent but higher priced).

 

[haroldt]

With some many suggestions, I've made a list and have placed my 1st order for a few. You guys are going to break my bank!!
Anyway - I got my first order in from pipes and cigars. The order contained:
C&D: Old Joe Krantz - tried it - LOVE IT!! This is a keeper. I wrote a review of it at www.tobaccoreviews.com.
Match: Edgeworth Rready Rub - have not yet tried
H&H Capitol Stairs - have not yet tried
(3) H&H Mid-town Series: Derby Club (not tried) - Prince Andrew (Nice) - Sweet Cask (do not care for this)

 

[derfargin]

Since you thought the perique was a bit much in Epiphany, I'm surprised you didn't find it heavy in Old Joe Krantz. Glad you enjoyed it though.
Give GLP's - Gaslight a try if you haven't already. Greg does god things with the orientals in that one. It's a favorite of mine.

 

[ericusrex]

You might also try C&D's Haunted Bookshop and Morley's Best.

 

[ray47]

I'll also agree with C&D's Pegasus. You'll be hooked after the first bowl.

 

[haroldt]

Derfargin: I agree, I was concerned about the Perique, but found no issues with it in Old Joe.