What Is Your Favorite "Complex" Blend?

[sittingbear]

As I read the reviews for my favorite blends, I notice that many of them are described as "simple all-day smokes" or "not very complex." Which is maybe why I like them, as I like to do other things when smoking, such as reading, typing, etc, so I guess I don't focus so much on the complexity of the flavor but rather the simple pleasure, warmth, and flavor of my favorite blends. So this brings me to ask, what are your favorite "complex" blends to smoke? If a person was looking for a blend to sit and contemplate as it burns down, what would you recommend?

 

[mikefu]

I think the most complex one I’ve had is SPC Potlatch, but I don’t find myself smoking it much. The ones I smoke most often that I consider “complex” are MacBaren Mixture Scottish and HU Director’s Cut. They both change a lot during the bowl, but are accessible and tasty.

 

[Casual]

Magnum Opus, mainly because it’s so coarse cut that it’s easy for my beginners palate to differentiate flavours as it burns down.

 

[autumnfog]

My first english mixture was Old Dublin and it was a fantastic, eye opening experienxe.

 

[anotherbob]

Savenellis gold coins. Though it's a love hate with that one. Sometimes it's the best bowl I've had in ages and I feel like I could live in a hole in the ground happyilly if I had a great supply of it and sometimes it goes horrid and is one of my least favorites.

 

[kcghost]

Escudo for me.

 

[F4RM3R]

Bill Bailey's Balkan blend. It's a bit of an everything but the kitchen sink blend. Virginia latakia Kentucky oriental perique. Its amazing. The various tobaccos sort of trade off taking the lead as the bowl goes down, from latakia to kentucky to oriental and Virginia coming in at the end with some sweetness. The perique hides nicely in the background for the whole experience. A great blend I think, as far as complex ones go.

 

[jaytex1969]

I think the most complex one I’ve had is SPC Potlatch...

+1

I was coming to add this but Mike is on the ball.

 

[hawky454]

I think this is pretty subjective as some blends that I find quite complex are simple to others and vice versa. Anyway, I find some of my favorite English blends to be quite complex such as Exotique Mixture and Skiff Mixture. But I also get a lot of complexities from stuff like St. Bruno and Full Virginia Flake or St. James Flake. I guess it all boils down to what makes a blend “complex”. I think one can find complexities in any blend be it OTC or obscure boutique blends.

 

[alaskanpiper]

GH Bob’s Chocolate Flake and Ennerdale Flake, SPC Potlatch and Plum Pudding et al, HU Indaba, Germain’s Special Latakia Flake, Dan Salty Dogs, PH Curly Block.

Surely more but thats off the top

 

[boston]

Dorisco, with 3+ years age.

 

[rushx9]

Whiteknight has a fair amount of complexity for a straight Balkan. Esoterica And So To Bed balances a complex fruity topping with an already complex English mixture.
And then there's the complexity of something like Condor... you can never quite put your finger on what's in the topping, but it's so easy to not care and just enjoy the simplicity of the "Condor Moment"

 

[Dandy Pipesmoker]

For me many of Greg Pease's creations can fit in the complex category.
Apart from the composition that can fall within certain known canons, its blends require a little concentration and dedication to be appreciated.
There are many excellent blends from many different manufacturers that can be called complex but for me the most intricate and fascinating made today are those of Pease.

 

[drrock]

The most complex pipe tobacco I’ve ever smoked is Peretti’s Cuban Mixture. Outstanding!

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't care much for Latakia and I think many of the more complex blends have it. Like the OP, I mostly enjoy simpler blends. The few complex blends I smoke occasionally would include SPC Plum Pudding and Mississippi River SR, GLP Westminster, HU Manyara and Soraya. I suppose C&D Sunbear has a bit of complexity.

 

[kschatey]

Arango Balkan Supreme - Very flavorful overall and seems to change quite a bit for me as I smoke through a bowl.

 

[cigrmaster]

A few of my more complex blends are the following.
1998Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky
2004 Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake
2007 Stonehaven
2008 Escudo
2002 Solani 633

 

[gervais]

A few of my more complex blends are the following.
1998Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky
2004 Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake
2007 Stonehaven
2008 Escudo
2002 Solani 633

I can't wait to have some 16 year old fvf to smoke. I'll let you all know how it tastes....in 16 years ?

 

[pitchfork]

Agreed. First blend I thought of.

Magnum Opus, mainly because it’s so coarse cut that it’s easy for my beginners palate to differentiate flavours as it burns down.

 

[Paul 3.0]

GLP Meridian, I think its almost criminal how underappreciated this blend is. One of those that I find nuences in everytime I smoke it.