Yikes! The Tin Note - Yum! The Taste

[nwohioan]

Friends,
The other day I cracked open a tin of C & D's Green River Vanilla. The tin note hit me in the face like an '86 Mike Tyson left hook. It was super creamy and sweet (like marshmallow-ish) and was off-putting. I prefer subtly over pungent when it comes to aros, and with this one, I was attracted to the idea of the Vanilla Burley.
It was pretty moist too. I set it out 4 days to air-out. (Even then a little on the damp side).
But lo and behold, I packed my Savinelli Sistina 106 3/4 of the way full and lit, and I am unbelievably surprised by it. It is a very mellow and smooth smoke, with the vanilla aroma rising out of the burley flavor. Not a bad aro.
I know the tin note is, for the most part, very very different from the taste and room note in most cases. And, it got me thinking: what are some tobacco that may not have smelled the best in the tin yet pleasantly surprised you by the taste and room note? (aromatics as well as non-aromatics).
Cheers!

 

[bnichols23]

Probably Erinmore for me. I was relatively inexperienced when I first tried it (late 60s), so I was expecting something quite different & was a little surprised when I cracked the tin. At that point, though, I'd paid for it, so first impression be damned, I was by-God gonna smoke it!
Glad ever since that I did.

 

[ccdeere]

I recently opened a tin of old CandD Red Odessa. Smell was immediately off putting to me, putridly tangy. I do have to say the first few bowls were not much better, but I found the right pipe to smoke it in and let it dry a bit and am now finding it quite good.

 

[thomasw]

3Ps, great plug by Peterson but I recall the first time I opened a tin ... no way to get around the fact that had a manure scent. But a great smoke if you enjoy the genre.

 

[newbroom]

There are so many that fit this description for me.

I guess the most 'memorable' was my first Latakia blend.

I actually got giddy before even opening the package because its 'aroma' permeated the packaging and it was like nothing I'd ever smelled. I thought:"Ah HA!, so this is what they're all tawkin 'bout" "I wonder how it will taste?"
Otherwise, almost anything with a topping requires an acquisition for its aroma to seem pleasant to me. As in 'acquired taste'. I'm most fond of pure, rich tobacco smell and taste.

 

[oldtoby]

SG Bracken Flake almost made me wanna puke when I first smelled the tin note.
But the smoke was oh so good. :wink:

 

[lordofthepiperings]

Frog Morton On The Bayou was that way for me. The tin note smelled pretty bad to me. It was very similar to the turtle food my littler brother feeds his pet turtle. The flavor profile was vastly different though and I actually enjoyed the blend.

 

[pipestud]

It has been my experience that when I pop a tin for the first time, the more putrid the smell the better the smoke. I still remember smoking some outstanding Gordon Pym (English blend made by Dan Tobacco) one night while comfortably sitting in my easy chair and watching a good movie with the wife and kids. I opened the tin and the horrific odor that immediately immersed the room sent both kids and the wife screaming out of the room in watery eyed terror. My faithful dog remained until I lit up and began smoking. Heavy blue smoke filled the room. That's when Daisy (my dog), raced to the back door and began scratching it like nobody's business begging to be let out. I watched the rest of the movie all alone and happy.

 

[jaytex1969]

I popped a tin of C&D's Burley Flake #3 a while back. It had been on the shelf for a couple of years.
The tin note was a rancid Velveeta thing. After an hour of dry time, I could overlook the remaining aroma and thoroughly enjoyed the smoke.
Now, sitting in the tin for a month or so, either its receded or I've gotten used to it. Smoking it right now and still enjoying it.