What Underrated Blends in Production do You Now Cellar?

[AppalachianPipe92]

Interesting you mention that, the video I watched that made me think this would be a good topic, the person mentioned Former's which I never heard of, as well as Pelican and a blend called Hiking but can't quite remember who was producing it and none of which I've heard of previously.

Hiking is good stuff!

 

[fireground_piper]

Everything I buy these days comes from the houses of C&D and Mac Baren so it’s all regularly stocked and even on sale a couple times per year.

All of my random tins and jars that I bought during the first few years of trying everything, I look at figuring it will take years to slowly get through it here and there. I’m too lazy to do a bunch of trades but if I could snap my fingers and turn my Reiner, gawith and esoterica jars into C&D I would do so in a heart beat.

Fortunate enough for me I guess.

 

[mikeysmokes]

Everything I buy these days comes from the houses of C&D and Mac Baren so it’s all regularly stocked and even on sale a couple times per year.

All of my random tins and jars that I bought during the first few years of trying everything, I look at figuring it will take years to slowly get through it here and there. I’m too lazy to do a bunch of trades but if I could snap my fingers and turn my Reiner, gawith and esoterica jars into C&D I would do so in a heart beat.

Fortunate enough for me I guess.

Not a fan of Reiner? I've come across it recently, did a little digging and they seem to be just as coveted as the Esoterica blends, although that seems to apply specifically to blend 71.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

A few I forgot to mention earlier, but are some of my deepest cellar items:
-Bayou Morning
-Sunday Picnic
-HH Pure VA
-Burkey Flake 1 and 3

All readily available at any time, lucky for me.

 

[fireground_piper]

Not a fan of Reiner? I've come across it recently, did a little digging and they seem to be just as coveted as the Esoterica blends, although that seems to apply specifically to blend 71.

I have 193 grams of Long Golden Flake from a 200 gram purchase. Can’t get into it and I’m a predominantly Virginia fan. I just tried it again last week after giving it over a year in the jar.

 

[NomadOrb]

I don't know how underrated they are, but I have lots of Wessex Burley Slice and PH Dark Strong.

 

[PipesRock]

Cut Virginia Plug
Brown Flake (Unscented)
De Luxe Navy Rolls
Balkan Supreme
Luxury Bullseye Flake

underrated?? Louisiana Broken Flake, maybe, but not too underrated.

 

[Architeuthis]

really deep on Royal Yacht as well, I enjoy it any time of day.

When this came back into production a couple years ago I made sure to get enough to last as long as I draw breath. It's a little polarizing and some really don't like it. Like AppalachianPiper92, I'm rather partial to it.

 

[mikeysmokes]

That's going to be a very subjective topic. Off hand I would say that the Sutliff matches offer some excellent choices, and one that I like very much, that is never mentioned, is Troost match.

It most definitely is, but I think that's the fun part. You mention something I haven't heard of and I read up on it and add it to the list. Maybe I'll get around to trying it, maybe I won't. But if it's mentioned afterwards it'll ring that bell and I'll have more incentive to try some. I don't really have favorites per se, I have preferences. Like pie, there's really no such thing as a bad pie, but there's most definitely flavors I'd rather eat over another. Even then, on any given day one could be more appealing than another!

 

[mikeysmokes]

I think one overlooked blend is Three Friars. I've only seen a few people post that they are smoking it. Most of my cellar is Haunted Bookshop and the Old Joe Krantz variants. Haven't been at this long enough to see any of the blends I like go out of production.

Same, although when I initially got interested that was just a few weeks before McClelland decided to close up. Managed to snag a few tins, recognizing what was happening though!

 

[mikeysmokes]

St. Bruno Ready Rubbed/Condor Plug (tie for 1st place. )
Erinmore Flake/3P’s (tie for 2nd place)
Dunbar/Tillbury (3rd place)

3 Ps just might have to be included on the next order. Almost pulled the trigger but decided not to and I've seen more than handful of references since then.

 

[mikeysmokes]

I think that’s the one that Embers says “out-grapes Captan Black grape”. I like the grape in Dreams. It’s almost a brandy note.

Ok, that might have to be added to the short list. I do enjoy a good grape flavor!

 

[mikeysmokes]

I don't know about underrated. Lately I've been enjoying GLP's Barbary Coast for its interesting cube-cut burley base, Perique, and brandy flavoring. I've also gotten some good smokes out of D&R Two-Timer, twice toasted burleys, both as-is, and mixed with other blends or condiments. I'm enjoying a new round of C&D Tuggle Hall, a burley based English blend, PC's Match Elizabethan, C&D's Mountain Camp and their Big'n'Burley, among others. I'm going to open GLP's Jack Knife soon, I think.

You were actually the one who talked me into OJK when I first signed up a few years ago. Can't say I remember how it smoked fresh, but the age it acquired since is delightful!

 

[mikeysmokes]

When this came back into production a couple years ago I made sure to get enough to last as long as I draw breath. It's a little polarizing and some really don't like it. Like AppalachianPiper92, I'm rather partial to it.

That's enough for me to add that to the short list! I've seen that mentioned and advertised a bit when do my shopping, gotta see what it's about.

 

[mikeysmokes]

Like anything, some manufacturers just have a following. I almost want to do C&D, GLP, etc only orders and pick a handful of blends.

 

[hawky454]

3 Ps just might have to be included on the next order. Almost pulled the trigger but decided not to and I've seen more than handful of references since then.

I wasn’t smitten by it on my first go many years ago but I wasn’t prepping it right, in fact, it took several revisits before it clicked for me. I love plugs and for the price, I personally think 3P’s is the best you can get in the US. I haven’t tried the newish Cascadia Plugs though, they look good but I seriously doubt they are any better than 3P’s and they are more expensive. I highly recommend 3P’s but don’t expect it to blow your mind right away, this is a tobacco that is greatly rewarding but it can be too much work for a lot of smokers, which I understand, but I’ve learned to love the ritual of plugs. I hope that you learn to love it too.

 

[simong]

St. Bruno, plugs & flakes from Samuel Gawith, Gawith Hoggarth & Germain's RDF.

 

[monty55]

Most of my cellar is GLP Chelsea Morning, and Low Country Cooper which I think is highly underrated.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I wasn’t smitten by it on my first go many years ago but I wasn’t prepping it right, in fact, it took several revisits before it clicked for me. I love plugs and for the price, I personally think 3P’s is the best you can get in the US. I haven’t tried the newish Cascadia Plugs though, they look good but I seriously doubt they are any better than 3P’s and they are more expensive. I highly recommend 3P’s but don’t expect it to blow your mind right away, this is a tobacco that is greatly rewarding but it can be too much work for a lot of smokers, which I understand, but I’ve learned to love the ritual of plugs. I hope that you learn to love it too.

Please describe your ritual of plugs.

I picked up some 3P and Cascadia tins and am looking forward to starting my own ritual (and enjoyment).

I also picked up a noodle press for creating my own plugs, once the time and desire are right.

 

[sablebrush52]

have preferences. Like pie, there's really no such thing as a bad pie, but there's most definitely flavors I'd rather eat over another.

And, there are people who truly and absolutely loathe pie. You asked for Terra Incognita and have largely been quoted the Top 40 greatest hits. Be bold and go where few have gone before. Resist the hive mind if you dare!