What Might You Add?

[badbriar]

Say you are relaxing with a preferred drink, a favorite pipe from the rotation and starting a flavorful, but rather mild English blend that is a bit light for your taste. What would you add to bulk it up a bit in strength without appreciably changing the taste profile?
I expect some will say 'nothing' because you wouldn't be smoking anything with latakia!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

By "strength" do you mean nicotine? You could just dip or use Snus or something else to boost your nicotine while smoking. Pretty much anything you add to the tobacco in the pipe is going to change the flavor.

 

[brooklynpiper]

I would smoke something else and age the light english blend.

 

[jbfrady]

What would you add to bulk it up a bit in strength without appreciably changing the taste profile?

There's a couple C&D blends I like to have on hand for just this reason: Oak Alley and Black Frigate. They both pack a punch and while they're good on their own, I never smoke them solo. If it just needs strength, Oak Alley is a nice booster. If it could also use a rum note, I'll kick in some Frigate.

 

[ashdigger]

Crack, I’d add crack

 

[El Capitán]

Crack, I’d add crack

 

[prairiedruid]

Spinach worked for Popeye.

 

[kcghost]

You'll get no help from me. I am about the poorest bender of tobacco in the world. If a tobacco doesn't for me on its own, I try another tobacco.

 

[mortonbriar]

If it is nicotine, a slice of rope in the bowl will do it, but yes the flavour will change.

 

[Coreios]

Kentucky fire cured, its similar as in smokey and a little will boost Nicotine.

 

[bullet08]

I would push down on the tobacco just a little. Normally that increases intensity of smoke for me. Used to pack rather tight since I enjoy the full taste. I know a lot will disagree. And for most part I do pack light.

 

[vosBghos]

Add some Five Brothers or check out C&D Super Balkan great tasting but with a bit of Burley kick

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

Just cut everything with Perique, 50/50.

 

[VDL_Piper]

Captain Black Grape is a fine addition to any blend, smoke it up.........

 

[anotherbob]

Crack, I’d add crack

trying to drum up business (when you get to investigate how they burned down the warehouse they smoke in?)

 

[ashdigger]

trying to drum up business (when you get to investigate how they burned down the warehouse they smoke in?)

$20 is $20

 

[Winnipeger]

Add some Five Brothers or check out C&D Super Balkan great tasting but with a bit of Burley kick

I second this response. Also try Morley's Best.

 

[pipingfool]

If it's taste or body that you're looking to "bulk up", then I second the suggestion to add just a touch of Dark Fired KY.

If it's nicotine, and you're wanting to keep the flavor as close to original as possible, then I would suggest a little White Burley. It might add a touch of nuttiness to the flavor, but that should meld pretty well with the other components. You might not even notice it past the Latakia.

Blenders will often add White Burley to blends just to give them a little bit more body as well as boost the nicotine, and a lot of the time it's not even listed in the components.

If that fails, then crack is probably your best bet.