When you return to your first love.

[quantumboy]

Been getting back into piping after a lull - not a complete lack of piping, but a severe cutback to favor cigars for a few years, for whatever the reason. I've been working through a bunch of well aged weed just to familiarize myself with what I had in stock. Many of you have seen some of those reviews. Lots of variety, including vapers and VA blends that have NOT traditionally been my favorites. Some have become outstanding, but with some others, I am remembering why I haven't touched them in years!

So last night I put three favorite english/balkan blends in my case and headed to the front porch: Early Morning Pipe, Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme, and my top secret hush-hush proprietary 50/50 blend of Balkan Flake and Full Virginia Flake. While smoking them I began to remember fondly why I took up pipes in the first place. I have learned a lot these past few months about aged tobaccos and have a new appreciation for blends high in VA and others, but my true love has always been latakia blends and last night that fact came home strongly once again.

For tonight's vigil I have dug out some 15 year old Commonwealth and some old Abingdon from Pease.

 

[Sig]

Stokkebye Balkan Supreme is probably my favorite Latakia blend.
I have a bunch from a decade ago, and it just seems to get better....in my opinion.
I cannot tell you how many times I've heard that Latakia blends don't age well. I dont agree with that.....some don't, but many do....same as any genre.
Ive tried the Arango Balkan Supreme recently and, to my memory, it's not even close to the Stokkebye from years ago.
I know it's still made by Stokkebye, but either it's different now, or my decade old stock is just that much better. But I absolutely loved the Stokkebye when new, but the recent Arango was just ok.

 

[Waning Embers]

Ive tried the Arango Balkan Supreme recently and, to my memory, it's not even close to the Stokkebye from years ago.
I know it's still made by Stokkebye, but either it's different now, or my decade old stock is just that much better. But I absolutely loved the Stokkebye when new, but the recent Arango was just ok.

It's the age. It's the same blend just different distributors. P&C's Balkan Supreme is the same as well.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Been getting back into piping after a lull - not a complete lack of piping, but a severe cutback to favor cigars for a few years, for whatever the reason. I've been working through a bunch of well aged weed just to familiarize myself with what I had in stock. Many of you have seen some of those reviews. Lots of variety, including vapers and VA blends that have NOT traditionally been my favorites. Some have become outstanding, but with some others, I am remembering why I haven't touched them in years!

So last night I put three favorite english/balkan blends in my case and headed to the front porch: Early Morning Pipe, Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme, and my top secret hush-hush proprietary 50/50 blend of Balkan Flake and Full Virginia Flake. While smoking them I began to remember fondly why I took up pipes in the first place. I have learned a lot these past few months about aged tobaccos and have a new appreciation for blends high in VA and others, but my true love has always been latakia blends and last night that fact came home strongly once again.

For tonight's vigil I have dug out some 15 year old Commonwealth and some old Abingdon from Pease.

I thin it's hard to deny the convenience of having a cigar sometimes, and while there are a couple of cigars I really enjoy, I find that the taste profile are too similar overall, feels like there's MUCH more diversity when it comes to pipe tobacco.

 

[quantumboy]

I thin it's hard to deny the convenience of having a cigar sometimes, and while there are a couple of cigars I really enjoy, I find that the taste profile are too similar overall, feels like there's MUCH more diversity when it comes to pipe tobacco.

I agree completely. I love the taste of cigars, and while there is variety, there is still a very cigar-like taste to them all, very distinct. As you mentioned, the variety in pipe tobacco is endless, which is why I am being pulled back in so strongly.

 

[quantumboy]

I have a bunch from a decade ago, and it just seems to get better....in my opinion.
I cannot tell you how many times I've heard that Latakia blends don't age well. I dont agree with that.....some don't, but many do....same as any genre.

Totally agree. No doubt in my mind that English and Balkan blends can age very well. I still have several jars from the way back machine, and I think I am enjoying it more now than I did before. I also have some of their English Oriental Supreme and Proper English, basically variations on the theme. It's been so long since I've tasted those that I plan to break them out this week.

 

[Sig]

It's the age. It's the same blend just different distributors. P&C's Balkan Supreme is the same as well.

I know it's the same, but may not be the SAME. Ingredients and processes can change over a decade.
Even getting one component tobacco from a different supplier can change the blend.
Again, I'm going from memory, but 10 years ago I immediately bought 5 pounds of the Stokkebye. This last Fall when I tried the Arango, it was OK, but I didn't buy more.
Of course I have changed over a decade, but I have a pretty good memory of blends that I really like.
Either way, this particular Lat blend aged great. So has SOTE over the years...another of my favorites.