*Why* do you love your preferred tobacco?

[futureman]

As a novice pipe smoker who has a hard time choosing what to try next, I would be interested to know why you prefer the tobaccos you do. What draws you to, say, English blends rather than straight virginias (or vice versa)? Why do you favor burleys? Or (and this I am very interested to know) what is to about latakias that excite some and deter others?
In short, what is it about these tobaccos that incline you to reach for them whenever you wish to smoke?

 

[spyder71]

Hello Future. I would say for me it is Burleys first and mostly because of flavor. I also tend to like the way it burns and with the exception of aro's I have at least liked all the Burley based blends so far.

Va's tire my mouth out and make me sore. Not sure why but I get a burning sensation from straight VA. Not just a little tongue bite, whole mucous membrane on fire feeling if I smoke too much of the VA's.

So, Burley for me because it burns cooler, I tolerate it really well, it tastes great with Perique.
Latakia I just simply love! For me it is the smokey smell and flavor. I'm smoking P.S. Proper English as we speak!

 

[futureman]

This is helpful, Spyder. I'm finding I have a similar response to VAs, but I sure do like the flavor. And I enjoy the cooler smoke from burleys (smoking Golden Extra right now). I sweeter tasting burley, or perhaps a *lightly* aromatic burley could be perfect for me.

 

[juvat270]

I love burleys and English blends. What Spyder71 said goes double for me. I love the taste of burely and with English blends I love that "campfire smoke" taste and aroma.
VAs are my least favorite. With very few exceptions, most straight VAs and VaPers taste harsh and acrid to me. I never get the sweetness people describe and out of all the different types of tobaccos, VAs have the most "cigarette" like taste to me, which is not what I want when I smoke a pipe. (Smoked cigs for 18 years, time for something new )
As I said though, there are exceptions. Orlik Golden Sliced for example is a VA that I like a lot!

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I smoke pretty much only aromatics. Usually aromatics with some combination of Virginia, Burley, and Cavendish/Black Cavendish. Plus I haven't had an aro yet that tasted chemically or soapy as some say. I've tried an English blend and for some reason it totally threw my stomach through the ringer on several occassions, so I've put them on hold for now. I've had two Perique blends, Scottish Cake and Frog Morton on the Bayou. Preferred the Froggy over the Cake, and enjoy a bowl of it from time to time. One thing's for sure I'd definately reccommend giving each style a try.

 

[puffin]

I started with English blends, and then went through a phase where I was tasting anything and everything, and discovered that I like most tobacco. Recently I have started playing with doing a bit of blending on my own, finding that I prefer a base of virginia (like baskerville I like this fresh, natural tobacco flavor) for a natural, sweet, slightly citrus flavor, and add a little (sometimes a lot of) perique for spice, and some latakia for the smokiness. Smokes really nicely fresh, and I am hoping that it grows with a bit of aging.

 

[withnail]

When I first came back to pipe smoking, I was stunned at all the variety there is out there. So, I tried a few very different blends and made some notes about what I liked and what I was less keen on. I then looked out some blends that had those same tobaccos in different combinations to see what difference that made. I love most kinds of tobacco - Burleys for the rich nicotine kick, Virginias for the sweeter lighter taste and Latakia for its distinctive, almost sour/sharp taste. I've also liked most of the aromatics I've tried and like to have a bowl of one now and again for a change. The time of day is the main factor in what I smoke.
The only two blends I haven't enjoyed are - Erinmore (smelt like vomit to me!) and Sam Gawith 1792 which tastes good and rich, but gives me such a case of the nic-ups that I have put it aside for now.

 

[judcole]

It's all about the palate. I mostly smoke various latakia blends. I love the richness of a good balkan, the smokiness of the latakia.

Good virginias are sweet and smooth. I can enjoy the very subtle taste of burley, but have to watch the nic level. Aromatics I can generally do without - I want to taste 'baccy, not cherries or whatever. ::

 

[futureman]

Thanks for the responses so far! Clearly the best thing to do is to try as many as I can and see what I prefer. Threads like this help me narrow the field of tobaccos I'll likely try. Here is what I've recently ordered:
Mac Baren Vanilla Cream - I keep coming back to this particular aromatic (I've had McClelland's VBC and Dunhill's 21000 so far), so I thought I'd try another.

FMOTT - this will be my first English!

Solani 633 - looks to be a solid Va/per flake, and was convinced to try it based on a report I read in these forums.
If I could afford to by another tin, it would be Sillem's Black. The description fascinates me.

 

[olderthandirt]

why you prefer the tobaccos you do

Preferred eh... hmmm, it's in a flake or plug form.

This allows me to work with it (play with it) prior to setting it afire.

Cut, bend, fold, cube, rub, I get to make it what I want at the moment.
Though it is often flue cured, it is usually fire cured.

It is cured and blended in such a way that it releases it's nicotine readily.

While I appreciate the flavors that a bowl of pipe tobacco can have to offer I smoke for nicotine.
Flavors come primarily from the tobaccos used rather than toppings.

If it has a notable topping it will generally be of the "traditional English" (still trying to fully figure out just what those are!)type. Bergamot, almond, licorice, Tonquin etc.

 

[smokenscotch]

I enjoy Aro's, English and Va's. It all depends on the mood i'm in and time of day I suppose. Yesturday afternoon I was around the house with my wife and we were getting ready to entertain some guests. I wanted a pipe but I didn't want to offend anyone coming over with a strong smell, so I had some Petersons Christmas Blend that has a really nice sweet smell. Later last night when everyone left and after numerous ounces of Dalwhinnie 15 yr scotch, I was full and wanted a strong smoke, so I lit up some Dunhill Nightcap. The VA's I also enjoy on certain days when I want to taste the true sweetness come out of the tobacco.

 

[smokey422]

I smoke and enjoy all types of tobaccos. As far as why I smoke my favorites, taste is the most important quality. If it doesn't taste good, there's no reason to be smoking it. The second quality I look for is a good lighting and burn rate. If I have to relight a dozen times per bowl, it takes some of the enjoyment away. The third quality I look for is value. This doesn't necessarily mean that the cheapest tobaccos are always the best. Value is a combination of good taste, quality tobaccos, and price. As an example, two of my favorite brands are Boswell's and L.J. Peretti. Both are relatively expensive tobaccos but their price is justified by their superior taste and quality ingredients. It is those three things that determine my favorites.
Smokey

 

[rigmedic1]

I will start by saying I smoke all sorts of tobaccos regularly, and it is because I like variety throughout the day. I do not like straight Virginias, as like Juvat270, they taste acrid and harsh to me. I love the tasty start of a burley blend, and the cool smokiness of Latakia, and the peppery hint of Perique, so I enjoy combinations of these most. I do get sweetness from cavendish, and go for aromatics that include it. (and the ladies like the room note.) :: I dont like heavily cased stuff.

 

[igloo]

As long as it is complex and ever changing down the bowl , count me in .