Topped is a very specific term for adding a flavoring after the tobacco is processed. Topped and cased are not interchangeable terms.
I'm just trying to clarify for communication sake, not being a smartass. I hope I'm not anyways.
Why Do Aromatics Have a Bad Rap?
- Thread starter mikethompson
- Start date
I'm just trying to clarify for communication sake, not being a smartass. I hope I'm not anyways.
Absolutely, but my gut tells me they wouldn't call something like Germain's Royal Jersey with Cavendish (literally a cavendish blend) a 'cavendish', and probably would call something like a Danish Virginia blend with topping a cavendish. I think they're just using the term to refer to what we're calling 'aromatics', but implicitly not including something like a Lakeland. Who knows!
I always like watching threads across any forum that fall into the timeless debate of whether language should be prescriptive or descriptive. I think it’s neat that the same debate that raged two thousand years ago still rages today in almost any context it can exist. Smarter men than I have made better arguments in both directions than I ever could, so I just leave it to the impassioned to figure out - maybe they’ll come to a consensus in another 2000 years or so.
My personal take is: I don’t like aromatics, so if I like it, it isn’t an aromatic. Simple as. The Vanilla Cream is an aromatic? Black Frigate? I like them, so clearly they must not be aromatic.
Follow this logic and you will never contradict yourself in life!
My personal take is: I don’t like aromatics, so if I like it, it isn’t an aromatic. Simple as. The Vanilla Cream is an aromatic? Black Frigate? I like them, so clearly they must not be aromatic.
Follow this logic and you will never contradict yourself in life!
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1) An aromatic is any pipe tobacco with added flavoring. So that would include most pipe tobacco blends. It's just a matter of degree.
2) They are so disliked because
a) Some of them are truly terrible. Artificial flavors that cover up the tobacco flavor and aroma.
b) Some are drenched in Propylene Glycol to give the false impression that the product is "fresh".
c) Some people just need to prove to the world that they are dicks elitists that have far better taste than you do.
I enjoy several different aromatics, primarily with more pronounced natural flavors, like Esoterica Peacehaven (apricot?), or Rattray's Exotic Orange. Otherwise, I avoid the goopy ones like the plague. So, until a really exceptional tuna flavored pipe tobacco blend comes along that everyone can all enjoy equally...
People want tobacco with good taste
Having not enjoyed 965 I just grabbed some Blue Ridge Special to remember why I like it - the Latakia is a nice complement, IMO - my biased sense of room note is old school tobacco but the flavor isn’t knock me over with the L word. Just a different kind of “nice”.
Ever since several blenders announced to us that virtually all blends have something add to them, I have quit saying anything negative about aros.
I smoke only vapers and straight Virginias. They are the only tobaccos that have had staying power with me over the decades. I steer clear of anything commonly thought of as aromatic, including Lakeland blends. That said, there is one tobacco that I smoke from time to time that seems like an aromatic to me, although maybe not an aromatic in the usual sense of the word. It is a flake made by Watch City called Nor’easter. This has some latakia and who knows what else. To me it is truly a stunning tobacco, unlike anything I have ever smoked before.
Ah, the "why do aros get a bad rap" question. A classic in the genre! 
My own personal views on the subject were more or less echoed to a T by SBC, so I won't elaborate too much on my own tastes and opinions on aros.
I will say, however, that there may be one very simple reason people are asking to not receive aros that is being overlooked: overchoice.
See, since an aro can taste like damn near anything, the choices and possibilities are massive, and such an exhausting list of possibilities makes it hard to choose or easily explain one's preferences to another. In this case where users are being asked exactly what kind of tobaccos they do not want, it may be easier for both the giver and receiver to just say no to all aros instead of breaking down a list of all the flavors you like or may like. Sure, other genres of pipe tobacco (e.g. VaPers, Balkans) have a good deal of variance in their flavor profiles, but broadly speaking, you know what to expect in terms of their overall flavors and makeup. But aros can taste like anything from peach cobbler to blackcurrant wine. And in terms of composition, they can also be damn near anything provided they smell and taste pleasant. With such wide variance, one may be better off shopping for their aros for themselves rather than burden a stranger to guess someone's entire taste.
My own personal views on the subject were more or less echoed to a T by SBC, so I won't elaborate too much on my own tastes and opinions on aros.
I will say, however, that there may be one very simple reason people are asking to not receive aros that is being overlooked: overchoice.
See, since an aro can taste like damn near anything, the choices and possibilities are massive, and such an exhausting list of possibilities makes it hard to choose or easily explain one's preferences to another. In this case where users are being asked exactly what kind of tobaccos they do not want, it may be easier for both the giver and receiver to just say no to all aros instead of breaking down a list of all the flavors you like or may like. Sure, other genres of pipe tobacco (e.g. VaPers, Balkans) have a good deal of variance in their flavor profiles, but broadly speaking, you know what to expect in terms of their overall flavors and makeup. But aros can taste like anything from peach cobbler to blackcurrant wine. And in terms of composition, they can also be damn near anything provided they smell and taste pleasant. With such wide variance, one may be better off shopping for their aros for themselves rather than burden a stranger to guess someone's entire taste.
If I had to venture a guess as to why a lot of pipe smokers dislike aromatics I'd say it's probably due to bad experiences with cheapo aromatics back when they first started their pipe smoking journey. The kind of aromatics that are soaked in propylene glycol, are difficult to light and keep lit, often cause tongue bite just from the high heat required to get them burning, and leave your pipe a wet goopy mess afterwards. I won't name any brand names, but we all know the ones.
Personally I'm a big fan of aromatics, but looking over my tobacco rotation all the aromatics I tend to smoke are much drier Danish style aromatics and Lakelands that don't suffer from any of the problems listed above. Mac Baren Vanilla Cream and 7 Seas Red Blend, Cornell & Diehl Autumn Evening, Super Value Bourbon Whiskey, and Gawith Hoggarth Ennerdale, Kendal Black Cherry, and Bob's Chocolate Flake. All very tasty aromatics that are pleasantly dry right out of the tin, light and burn easily, don't have even the slightest bit of bite, and leave your pipe clean and dry after smoking. I think the only slightly wet aromatic I actually smoke now and then is Cult Blood Red Moon, but it's such a pleasant tasting and downright agreeable blend that I can forgive it for being a little on the wet side.
Of course I also smoke a few non-aromatics, mainly Cornell & Diehl Haunted Bookshop, Carter Hall (which is a little aromatic but still more of a Burley blend to me), and Peterson Early Morning Pipe. I'm not terribly picky about whether a tobacco blend is an aromatic, a non-aromatic, a Lakeland, or otherwise; the important things are just that it has an enjoyable flavor, is mechanically sound when it comes to how it lights and smokes, and has at least a noticable amount of nicotine. As long as they meet those criteria I'm open to trying just about anything.
Personally I'm a big fan of aromatics, but looking over my tobacco rotation all the aromatics I tend to smoke are much drier Danish style aromatics and Lakelands that don't suffer from any of the problems listed above. Mac Baren Vanilla Cream and 7 Seas Red Blend, Cornell & Diehl Autumn Evening, Super Value Bourbon Whiskey, and Gawith Hoggarth Ennerdale, Kendal Black Cherry, and Bob's Chocolate Flake. All very tasty aromatics that are pleasantly dry right out of the tin, light and burn easily, don't have even the slightest bit of bite, and leave your pipe clean and dry after smoking. I think the only slightly wet aromatic I actually smoke now and then is Cult Blood Red Moon, but it's such a pleasant tasting and downright agreeable blend that I can forgive it for being a little on the wet side.
Of course I also smoke a few non-aromatics, mainly Cornell & Diehl Haunted Bookshop, Carter Hall (which is a little aromatic but still more of a Burley blend to me), and Peterson Early Morning Pipe. I'm not terribly picky about whether a tobacco blend is an aromatic, a non-aromatic, a Lakeland, or otherwise; the important things are just that it has an enjoyable flavor, is mechanically sound when it comes to how it lights and smokes, and has at least a noticable amount of nicotine. As long as they meet those criteria I'm open to trying just about anything.
G
Gimlet
Guest
My grandfather used to grow his own tobacco. I was too young to get the full procedure from him in person but from what my mother told me, he dried the leaves, packed them into a large tin, laced them with brandy, compressed the block with weights, sealed the tin and buried it under the compost heap for months where it slowly baked in the heat. He went halves on it with the local vicar who supplied the brandy.
Was he making an aro?
Was he making an aro?
Yes, and it sounds like he was making Molto Dolce.
Gawith make some great aros. Their cherry, rum, apple and aniseed brown flavoured twists have just a mild hint of the topping and are stout tobaccos. No artificial or chemical taste.
Same goes for their Louisiana Flake, Mahogany, Bourbon Flake, Summer Reserve, Spirit Of Scotland, Broken Scotch Cake (chocolate) and Spring Time Flake. All quality tobaccos that taste of tobacco but with varying degrees of flavouring that doesn't taste harsh or artificial.
Same goes for their Louisiana Flake, Mahogany, Bourbon Flake, Summer Reserve, Spirit Of Scotland, Broken Scotch Cake (chocolate) and Spring Time Flake. All quality tobaccos that taste of tobacco but with varying degrees of flavouring that doesn't taste harsh or artificial.
H
HRPufnstuf
Guest
Aros have a bad rap because there is an inherent need in society for prejudices to create a palpable hierarchy.
I can't personally be bothered.
I can't personally be bothered.
Over here in the UK it's just called Gawith Brown Twist AN. They can't use the word aniseed anymore because of EU rules so they abbreviate. Black cherry becomes BCH, apple becomes AP etc.
to my definition a snob isn't a person with strong opinions on enjoyment. They think it makes them better then others. Like because I enjoy better tobacco then you I am a better person. Instead of I am just better and more serious about getting enjoyment out of this thing. One thing I find funny is every snob I've met is literally a super slob about something else. They only smoke the finest cigars but think bath tub gin the bees knees.While, I do smoke the occasional aromatic here and there, I am very picky about which ones. I just prefer the taste of tobacco, and I am even picky about cased "pure tobaccos".
There is not a damned thing wrong with being a snob. People root for football teams and put rivals down all the time. Please, please... call me a snob. I love it. If it bothers you... then good.
That said, most of my comments regarding aromatics are just jokes. Mostly because aromatic smokers tend to be uneasy about it, lacking some confidence in their choices, which adds to the fun of poking at the genre. It's absolutely ok to like and smoke whatever blends you want.
I had to smoke a pipefull of 1Q as I read this thread.
I can't add much more to this thread that hasnt already been said but I didn't get aromatic tobacco right away. I thought they burned hot and wet and tasted mostly like sweetish steam. But then one day they 'clicked' for me and lo and behold now I can see what the fuss is about.
I never would have thought it true for me but now i can say I even like (dare I say love?) a good cherry pipe tobacco...
I can't add much more to this thread that hasnt already been said but I didn't get aromatic tobacco right away. I thought they burned hot and wet and tasted mostly like sweetish steam. But then one day they 'clicked' for me and lo and behold now I can see what the fuss is about.
I never would have thought it true for me but now i can say I even like (dare I say love?) a good cherry pipe tobacco...