Jesse, I would never hate you for that. My hatred for you is purely about the Barlings.Please don't hate me, but I don't have any, though I would love to enjoy another tin of Ardath's State Express London Mixture
I agree with you on the idea that it's all just tobacco and as good as it may be, it'll never be more than that. I'm a brewer and I have tasted many "white whale" beers and at the end of the day, never have I tasted anything that made me forget my woes(at least not with one sip ?).If you can spare the extra coin, Pipestud often has tins of MacBaren's HH Syrian, which is an excellent Syrian Latakia blend.
As for me, my experiences with previous white whales have taught me not to get too excited for any tobacco, as frankly, they're all just tobacco. Some of them are wonderful, but they can never transcend that basic fact for me. With that out of the way, I'd love to get a chance to try some McC Dark Star, Esoterica Tilbury, some of the old heyday Sobranies (759, Virginia No. 10). I know the Tillbury will come around, but some of the others are gone forever.
Sent you a PMI see HH Vintage Syrian pop up from time to time for steep prices, but I actually saw multiple 100g tins at a pipe shop about an hour north of me. If you call them, they will ship to you. Let me know if you want the contact info.
I'am awaiting a blend you can smoke like a freight train engine without biting and still tastes amazing and also has a scent that makes people feel like throwing wads of cash your way. Sadly it seems like no one has thought this through and realized what a fortune that they could make off such a blend, until they do I wait patiently.
McClelland Blackwoods Flake, or Beacon Extra for me.
McClelland was my favorite blender when I picked up the pipe. At the start, I only ordered tobacco when I finished a tin, and so when McClelland shut down, I had no “cellar” supply. I was able to get one more tin of Blackwoods before they all sold out. I may never have the pleasure of combusting Beacon Extra again though!
Lesson learned. If you like something, get some backup tins of it!