Your Favorite Underrated Blend

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JOHN72

Lifer
Sep 12, 2020
5,817
57,240
51
Spain - Europe
Well. virginia flake of mac baren, with 113 reviews and a rating of 2.58. I think two and a half stars. Not a lot of reviews, or yes. But I remember reading their negative comments. But not content with that, being a novice, I started to stock up on this sweet and fantastic tobacco, which at that time, I do not remember well, was at 5 euros for a 50 gram tin. And now it is around 10 euros. A very acceptable, and fantastic tobacco, if you cannot have the HH range.
 

Dave760

Can't Leave
Jul 13, 2023
498
5,333
Pittsburgh, PA
I don't mind revealing this since the blend has long been discontinued and I therefore won't cause a stampede, but one of my favorites has been C&D's Guilford Courthouse. Glad i stocked up.

My other (in the US, at least) under-the-radar favorite was RB Plug. Also discontinued.

As a favor to all of you I'm not going to have favorites anymore so that i don't cause anything else to the discontinued.
 

Danimal92sport

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 7, 2024
101
940
42
Chicago USA
Sutliff Match Sunrise. Doesn’t smell or smoke like EMP, but I’ll be damned if it’s not a well-balanced, delicious, light, & sweet aro-English blend. This stuff is quite affordable, too. I live in Chicago, and based on reviews, I bet I’d also like Iwan Ries’ Three Star Blue. I need to get downtown and pick up a tub of that under-reviewed beauty.
 

WirelessSmoke

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 14, 2024
152
2,311
New England
Robert McConnell Red Virginia is one that I don't see getting a lot of attention, but I enjoy it quite a bit. From what I gather, it seems like many think it's just an ok or decent blend, but not something they would purchase again. I bounce around quite a bit through the 16 or so blends I have, and whenever I come around back to it I always think I have to remember to pick up another tin or two of it next time I'm buying tobacco.

G.L. Pease Embarcadero is still new to me, but after only 2-3 bowls in, I think this could be another blend I purchase more of that doesn't seem to get a lot of attention.
 

WirelessSmoke

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 14, 2024
152
2,311
New England
Well. virginia flake of mac baren, with 113 reviews and a rating of 2.58. I think two and a half stars. Not a lot of reviews, or yes. But I remember reading their negative comments. But not content with that, being a novice, I started to stock up on this sweet and fantastic tobacco, which at that time, I do not remember well, was at 5 euros for a 50 gram tin. And now it is around 10 euros. A very acceptable, and fantastic tobacco, if you cannot have the HH range.

I second that! I didn't realize that it was so underrated actually. It's the first blend that I bought a second tin of before I even finished the first. It's one I will likely stock up on in the future.
 
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K.E. Powell

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 20, 2022
588
2,169
37
West Virginia
Sillem's Councilor Flake is one of my favorite VaPers, yet it seems to get overlooked, especially these days as there are so many VaPers vying for attention. It has a natural earthiness and mellowness that makes it stand out, and it is pretty damn good right out of the tin.

As something of an honorable mention, I would shout-out the entire Old Ones line from Cornell and Diehl. Not every one is a banger, but they're all at least interesting, and some (i.e Mad Fiddler's and Visions of Celephais) are excellent, providing a flavor profile not often tasted. I think many overlook the Old Ones blends because they appear gimmicky. But they're worth trying!
 

Danimal92sport

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 7, 2024
101
940
42
Chicago USA
I've got two to toss in: Super Value Bourbon Whiskey and Mac Baren 7 Seas Red Blend.

S.V. Bourbon Whiskey is the most powerfully whiskey scented and flavored whiskey aromatic that I've ever found, and I've tried just about all of them currently on the market. There's no artificial whiskey flavored sugar syrup here, it smells and tastes like Sutliff just dumped a shot of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 into each pouch, shook it up a little to distribute it across the tobacco, then called it good. Absolutely astounding whiskey aromatic and I dare say the best there is if you can find a fresh pouch, though the whiskey will evaporate off as it ages so smoke it within a few months of opening.

As far as 7 Seas Red goes, it is a cherry aromatic but not a sweet one at all. There's no cough syrup flavor here, just natural, tart, and slightly sour cherry from top to bottom. It reminds me very much of a higher quality version of the old discontinued Middleton Cherry blend. Give it a try if you like the idea of a cherry aromatic but don't want something sweet or cough syrupy, or if you were just a fan of Middleton Cherry before it went the way of the West.puffy
I must have picked up the oldest 12oz bag of S.V. Bourbon Whiskey in the world at a B&M - zero whiskey scent. It does smell faintly like chocolate, but that’s it. I’m currently drying 2oz and will try to infuse some bourbon of my own just for an experiment.
 

Danimal92sport

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 7, 2024
101
940
42
Chicago USA
I guess I’ll add another, at the risk of breaking the rules ☺️

4Noggins Weybridge has been mentioned favorably here by a few people, and I just picked up 8oz. I’ve only had 2 bowls, so I'm drawing conclusions hastily, but I think it’s fantastically blended. A good burley base with awesome flavor from what seems like red VA all of the way through the bowl. I’m not sure I can pick out the perique but my nostrils can and I have a feeling it’s adding some excellent complexity as a light condiment. I’m probably going to smoke a lot of this stuff…

Tobacco reviews on Weybridge are few and quite mixed. Some love it, and some think it’s very bland - which surprises me. Granted, I like burley and I absolutely adore certain VA varieties.
 

crowbait

Might Stick Around
Dec 29, 2023
94
279
37
Alberta, Canada
Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Dark Virginia Cavendish seems way under the radar. Maybe "cavendish" has people expecting something like Captain Black or Lane BCA. But DVC is thick with musty, jammy, fermented Virginia flavors. Way more dynamic than you might expect from cavendish and still thoroughly smoke-able.
Captain Black Dark Cavendish is a guilty pleasure of mine to be honest. I know is a dirt cheap dime-a-dozen tobacco but I've never had a bowl I didnt enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to write home about it or recommend it to everyone but its just an old reliable for me.

I'm a big fan of Cavendish so I'll have to see if I can get my Canadian hands on some of thet Gawith, Hoggarth & Co DVC and test it out.
 

Mrs. Pickles

Starting to Get Obsessed
May 8, 2022
254
1,177
AZ, USA
Captain Black Dark Cavendish is a guilty pleasure of mine to be honest. I know is a dirt cheap dime-a-dozen tobacco but I've never had a bowl I didnt enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to write home about it or recommend it to everyone but its just an old reliable for me.
Nothing wrong with good old Captain Black. There’s even plenty right with it, in my opinion. Another excellent example of an underrated blend and hidden in plain sight. puffy
 
Apr 26, 2012
3,585
8,060
Washington State
One of my favorite blends that doesn't get much attention is Samuel Gawith - Perfection. Most people always recommend Squadron Leader, but rarely a mention of Perfection. Skiff Mixture is one of my favorite go to blends as well, but it gets more attention than Perfection, and has a better rating too. Perfection is a great English blend with a hint of Vanilla, and makes for a great anytime smoke.

Perfection - 142 reviews, 2.70 rating
Skiff Mixture - 228 reviews, 3.45 rating
Squadron Leader - 542 reviews, 3.37 rating

Of the three blends, I prefer Skiff Mixture, and Perfection over Squadron Leader.