What Blend Caught You by Surprise?

[phred]

As a new smoker, there have been a few blends that gave me one of those "AHA!" moments. Black House was the first - I probably tried it earlier than I really should have, as it's not a beginner's tobacco, but it was definitely eye-opening. Next up was probably Luxury Bullseye Flake, and then Escudo.
There are plenty of others that I like, but those three each taught me something, and I look forward to my next lesson... :D

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Haddos Delight, I eased into perique through Telegraph Hill and then Fillmore. And, then Haddos, POW, a big burst of perique flavor that left my head spinning. I had no idea how puckery perique could be.

 

[jthomas04]

Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Black Irish X Twist. This stuff caught me by suprise and not in a good way. The taste and smell were awful and it ghosted the heck out of my pipe. Now Robusto by G.L. Pease suprised me in a good way. That stuff gets better tasting as the bowl progresses and leaves me wanting more.

 

[james80]

Elizabethan Muxture 2013, just bowled me over. Also Sir Walter Raleigh. I didn't expect anything from SWR so anything above that was a surprised.

 

[billypm]

Condor. I was ready to run screaming from this stuff, given the reviews of a crazy strong, CRAZY scented old-lady's-underwear-drawer kinda thing. Just knew I'd hate it. Then I was gifted some by a brother of the briar in Britain and-- whaddya know? I love it. LOVE it. Never dismiss a baccy til you've tried it.
Guess I'll have to get some Mixture 79 next. Who knows?

 

[salewis]

Gawith's Sam's Flake. I love Gawith's Virginias and also I am very fond of Turkish. Sam's Flake is a marriage between these two tobaccos and is now on my regular rotation.

 

[misterlowercase]

Robt. McConnell Latakia Flake -- deep dark plummy big flavor, with notes close to St. Bruno, and satisfyingly stout.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

For me, definitely Penzance. Just completely different than any other tobacco I had (have) ever tried.

 

[tarak]

McClelland Blackwoods flake. For me it was the first smoke that made my mouth water from natural Virginia flavor. I was like "oh this is what Virginia is about ". It is basically the tobacco that fully transitioned me to being a Virginia smoker.

 

[stbruno70]

Greg Pease's Sextant.
Many threads of flavour running through that blend, and the top note of dark rum was enchanting.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

McClelland's Blue Mountain. I thought I might like it, since I like H&H Black House. I didn't expect I'd fall in love with it! Sutliff's Balkan Luxury Blend 957 was quite a surprise as well. The only reason I wouldn't purchase Luxury Blend again would be simply because I like Black House and Blue Mountain better. :D

 

[oldtoby]

Drew Estates Meat Pie

 

[jservant98]

H&H BlackHouse...Good stuff! :puffpipe:

 

[homeatsea]

Rattray's Marlin Flake.

 

[kashmir]

Here's another one: Rattray's Highland Targe Tobacco. Just stumbled on an aged tin, well rusted at the base. I think its one actually made in Perth, Scotland. Instead of the new Rattray's line made in Germany. This one is simple a supurb smoke. Just grand. It's a typical Scottish Mixture, with Latakia and a Cavendish base. A fine blend.

 

[mrjerke]

Esoterica Kingsbridge. Probably overlooked because of the other blends in the line but I found it to be very sweet and delicious.
Looking at it the other way, I was underwhelmed by Luxury Bullseye Flake and Anni Kake. Though I will say I haven't had more than a couple bowls of each I was expecting big things from what I had heard. Oh and I'll add Penzance to that list. About 5 bowls in at this point and still hasn't blown me away. And I do love Latakia blends. I'm actually getting some Penzance tins soon from my new favorite supplier and I'm interested to see what I think versus the samples I've so kindly been sent by other forum members.

 

[oldtoby]

Kashmir, does the tin of Highland Targe have a gold bottom or silver?

 

[kashmir]

Oldtoby - The bottom is silver. I have other Made in Germany Rattray tins, and these are silver as well. Although they have a large white round sticker that says Made in Germany. This tin doesn't. Hence my suspicion it might be from the original Perth line.

 

[taerin]

LTF definitely caught me by surprise, it is soooooo creamy!

 

[oldtoby]

Kashmir,dating Rattray's tins can be confusing at best.
Gold bottom tins are McConnell make from the 70's-80's.

The silver bottom tins can be original Rattray's if there is opening instructions printed on the pop top lid.

The pop tops with diagram pic opening instructions are likely McConnell.
Check out the Loring Pages concerning "Dating English Tins". Much better at explaining than myself. It will also help answer the other questions on your other Rattray's thread.