@James and Fnord, I know, it does sound more like a cellar than "go-to's", but I'm so wishy-washy that I can't just have one or two. At one time, I probably could have said only two or three, but I've never had only one, lol!
mine usually changes a couple times a year, but at the moment its a new bulk blend from mcclelland called "all natural". Pretty much a great virginia/burley blend. Affordable to smoke with a pretty good room note as well.
Thank you gentlemen (I use the term loosely of course), I appreciate the responses. If any of you were wondering what triggered the question here's the short story.
I was on a tour of SE Asia, thanks to a caring uncle who thought I should see more of the world I guess, when I first experienced 3 Star. The marine who offered and the circumstances under which he offered the pouch remain firmly etched in my psyche. Him and his tobacco helped a young airman get through a very scary night.
If by "go-to" tobacco is meant an old familiar evoking earliest memories of pipe smoking, then for me that would St Bruno flake.
Since I cannot buy that in America, I turn most often these days to GLPease Union Square or SG Full Virginia Flake for a VA, GLPease Westminster for an English and GLPease Abingdon or Lagonda for a full Lat.
I don't have a "permanent" go-to pipe tobacco since I always have a number of different tobaccos open at any one time. If I had to pick one for right now, however, it would probably be MacBaren Plumcake. When the current open tin of Plumcake is finished I'm sure I'll have a different go-to!