Changing up blends during the hot months of summer?

[Brewdude]

Since summer is well under way here in the PacNW (finally), it's occurred to me not for the first time that many pipers switch to lighter blends. And those might include milder VA or Burley blends perhaps in a cob.

Seems the conventional wisdom has it that this would be the case during the warmer months, and the heavier Lat blends are best enjoyed during the colder months.

I'm not much on Lat-forward blends these days anyhow, but don't seem to have any pattern of changing up the rotation based on ambient temps. So, I'm still primarily in the Va/VaPer arena.

Of course I do change this up a bit, but seem to have fallen into a pattern recently. Need to shake this up a bit so I don't get burned out on the usual stuff. Which has happened before.

And you?


Cheers,

RR

 

[Andy Lowry]

This is Grousemoor season for me. It gets put away in the fall.

 

[Storm_Crow]

This is Grousemoor season for me. It gets put away in the fall.

I couldn't get that blend to work for me. I purchased a tin a few years ago with an interest in its claim as the oldest still produced tobacco blend. It was really quite different, but not in a way that suggested I should buy more. I would stop short of saying I hated it though...it was more a matter of thinking it a pleasant change of pace at the start of the tin, but by the middle of it, whatever scent is applied began to turn my stomach.

For me, tis the season for:

- Storm Front (and other low/medium nic burleys)
- Embarcadero
- Rum Flake (one of the few scented baccys that I smoke like candy)
- Rum Cake

 

[Andy Lowry]

This is Grousemoor season for me. It gets put away in the fall.

I couldn't get that blend to work for me. I purchased a tin a few years ago with an interest in its claim as the oldest still produced tobacco blend. It was really quite different, but not in a way that suggested I should buy more. I would stop short of saying I hated it though...it was more a matter of thinking it a pleasant change of pace at the start of the tin, but by the middle of it, whatever scent is applied began to turn my stomach.

For me, tis the season for:

- Storm Front (and other low/medium nic burleys)
- Embarcadero
- Rum Flake (one of the few scented baccys that I smoke like candy)
- Rum Cake

I'd guess you're in the majority with your Grousemoor observations. What keeps me going back to it is the faint perfume underneath the lemon-grass-ish flavor. I can't identify it, but it haunts me.

 

[deepbass9]

I'm in the light on the lat during the summer camp.  I still smoke them, but much more occasionally and usually the lighter and/or sweeter versions.  Margate and the lat/oriental stuff, as well as the Frogs.  Same with the VA and VaPers.  OGS and Escudo over FVF and Triple Play.  Stoved still gets some play...but really, everything gets some play, depending on my mood.

Most of the burley's I've encountered, with the exception of Boswell's, fall into the medium to full category so I smoke them too, but sparingly.  Except for ABF...that I can smoke all the time (but I don't).

This, though, is the time of the year that I smoke more aromatics.  I'll hit 'em once or twice during the fall/winter, but much more around the spring and summer.  Maybe it's the fruitiness that makes me think of them in the warmer weather....

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

I have been smoking a few Lats this summer but only because there have been some nights here in the Sacramento valley that have been strangely cool and almost late fall like in temperature. of course as I write this we're back near the triple digits again. Skiff, Margate and Odyssey have all seen a bit of action on those cooler evenings though.

On the warmer nights I have been enjoying McClelland FM 2000, Blackwoods Flake, GH Bright CR, Embarcadero and most recent Epiphany.

 

[CharlG]

It baffles me a bit, but I too like Lats in winter and lighter VA's and Burleys in summertime. Maybe because Latakia are seen as heavier, fuller?

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

It baffles me a bit, but I too like Lats in winter and lighter VA's and Burleys in summertime. Maybe because Latakia are seen as heavier, fuller?

I liken smoking a full Latakia blend in the summer to sitting by a camp fire on a 85 degree night.  

 

[Northern Neil]

I don't think I've been smoking long enough to really pick up on changing trends during season changes. That being said, I have a tin of Dunhill Flake open right now, with some MMacB HH Acadian Perique and Brigham Acadian Blend. All are VA's or VA/PER'S. Guess there might be something to this theory.

 

[ftrplt]

This subject has been discussed numerous times on various pipe boards (including the old JR Cigar and Knox Cigar boards which are the granddaddy and daddy of this board!). I, for one and only one, have never "adjusted' my tobacco likes/dislikes based on the season/temps. I'm constantly rotating thru a selection of Latweeds, Va's, Va/Orientals, Va/Pers, and Burleys, with the occasional Bob's/Mayor's Chocolate Flake and Troost Slices to break up the monotony!!! FWIW...FTRPLT

 

[femur]

During the winter I predominantly smoked Dark Horse. Now that it's summer, I seem to be smoking blends that are not as full bodied like Embarcadero, Davidoff Medallions, and Fillmore. I don't smoke lat's so I can't comment on that. So, yes, I guess I do smoke different blends depending on the season.