Favorite blends of low renown?

[juanmedusa]

What blends do you like that seem to not enjoy widespread acclaim? Why?

 

[Anonymous]

Mac Baren Cube Silver, Bronze and Gold.

These tobaccos have a very bad rep' (especially Cube Silver) because most people that rated them so poorly just don't, really, know how to smoke them: they probably don't know that a moist tobacco shouldn't go in a pipe, but it should rather be on the dry side.  And that you can't puff your pipe like a son of a gun. :lol!:

I have never had any problems with this MB line. They are outstanding aromatics that do also taste like tobacco, contrary to a lot of aros.

 

[d4klutz]

CAO Black is another one that I think doesn't receive much attention. I had a tin, and decided to brave it. I was pleasantly surprised. It is one that my wife will let me smoke in the house. No nasty after-smoke ashy smell, and the room note is pleasant. It is even smokeable right out of the tin, though I prefer to give it 5 min of air time. I now have 2 more tins on the way. Stanwell's Vanilla is another one. I have been exploring the world of Aromatics lately, and am finding some decent ones. However, I do tend to steer clear of cherry :lol!:

 

[idbowman]

Villiger After Dinner (1888).

It's a nice little VaPer. On the mild side, but smooth, easy to smoke and generally very pleasant. The few reviews it gets are pretty good, but there aren't many of them, so it seems like no one knows about it. Demand must be low - P&C has had them on pretty deep discount for a long time now.


I guess this might be more of a "sleeper blend that flies under the radar" than it is a blend that gets low acclaim, come to think of it.

 

[RDPipes]

I'd tell ya but, then I'd have to eliminate you.

 

[DrT999]

Probably Sam Gawith Westmorland Mixture; certainly an acquired taste.

 

[ftrplt]

Spillman's Mixture is seldom, if ever, mentioned around here. One of my absolute fav's!!!! :cheers: FTRPLT

 

[juanmedusa]

Villiger After Dinner (1888).

It's a nice little VaPer.  On the mild side, but smooth, easy to smoke and generally very pleasant.  The few reviews it gets are pretty good, but there aren't many of them, so it seems like no one knows about it.  Demand must be low - P&C has had them on pretty deep discount for a long time now.


I guess this might be more of a "sleeper blend that flies under the radar" than it is a blend that gets low acclaim, come to think of it.

So to be clear, whether lots of folks don't find the virtue in it when they smoke it but you do or they do find virtue in it but it's so few pipers (sleeper blend) I want to hear about it here. This post was well received, thanks.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

Guilford Courthouse - The poor man's Embarcadero. Smoked slow in a wide bowl, it's really quite nice.

 

[monbla256]

Much of the straight Va production of McC's are not as lauded as the inferior stuff the brits and others put out and I can think of two McC's straight Va's that never if hardly ever get mentioned, 2010 Classic Virginia and 5120 Fragrant Virginia Blend. Because they are not the group approved "in your face" flavor wise 'baccys, most folks miss out on the WONDERFUL subtletie they have in flavor and smokeability!! :twisted: :twisted: JMOCO :twisted: :twisted:

 

[juanmedusa]

I feel ya, Monbla. There are such good McClelland Virginia blends it seems some will always be overlooked. My favorite is Mature Virginia #24. Any McClelland Personal Reserve or Mature Viginia series blend is going to be really good to great but this one doesn't get much run. Perhaps I'm just partial to great Virginia tobacco with a hint of Turkish but I don't know why it seems no one else is.

 

[Thomas Tkach]

I think GH&Co. aren't as universally well-liked as I think they should be. I have been exploring some of their flavored stuff (Ennerdale, Kendal Flake, BB#2), and I like it, though I hate most aromatics. But I also really like Brown Flake US and Bright CR Flake which are one the purer end of the spectrum and are every bit as good as the SG VAs everyone raves about. The Brits certainly do VAs way better than the inferior stuff coming out of Kansas City! :cheers:

 

[Thomas Tkach]

I feel ya, Monbla. There are such good McClelland Virginia blends it seems some will always be overlooked. My favorite is Mature Virginia #24. Any McClelland Personal Reserve or Mature Viginia series blend is going to be really good to great but this one doesn't get much run. Perhaps I'm just partial to great Virginia tobacco with a hint of Turkish but I don't know why it seems no one else is.

I've been trying to grab more VA-Turk blends. I got some McC 2020 (little latakia in it) and some C&D Orion's Arrow (a good bit of Perique, too). They're pretty good! I also have samples of McC Arcadia and a tin of C&D Sunday picnic to try!

 

[monbla256]

I think GH&Co. aren't as universally well-liked as I think they should be. I have been exploring some of their flavored stuff (Ennerdale, Kendal Flake, BB#2), and I like it, though I hate most aromatics. But I also really like Brown Flake US and Bright CR Flake which are one the purer end of the spectrum and are every bit as good as the SG VAs everyone raves about. The Brits certainly do VAs way better than the inferior stuff coming out of Kansas City! :cheers:

Considering they don't have the good American Carolina Va's to work with as the boys in KC do, they don't do a bad job with the African stuff they have available !! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[Bugsahearn]

My favorites are Ennerdale & grousemoor. They get some hate on the internet ("this is vile stuff" "haunts my pipe" etc) but they are also best sellers so what does that tell you

 

[MisterE]

Solani Silver Flake is one I really like that people don't make much fuss over. It's a Va/Dark Fired blend that is way underrated. Fine by me, as long as it's not discontinued. It also comes with a cool, oversized tin that's great for other stuff.

 

[Brewdude]

Formers Straight Grain, Cross Grain, and Bird's Eye don't get a lot of airplay on the forums. All are solid VaPers with varying proportions.

Well made and presented, and while they aren't mind blowing in-your-face blends they are all great for the slow sipping flake aficionados who enjoy an understated yet superbly crafted VaPer with more emphasis on the 'ginnys.


Cheers,

RR

 

[monbla256]

Formers Straight Grain, Cross Grain, and Bird's Eye don't get a lot of airplay on the forums. All are solid VaPers with varying proportions.

Well made and presented, and while they aren't mind blowing in-your-face blends they are all great for the slow sipping flake aficionados who enjoy an understated yet superbly crafted VaPer with more emphasis on the 'ginnys.


Cheers,

RR

I would have to agree with you dude as these are some "sleeper" blend/mixtures and my fave of the three is the Cross Grain. some DAMN fine Va flakes !! :twisted:

 

[MichaelM]

I'm suprised Newminster SRS doesn't get more attention. I've been smoking it for a few months now and find it to be a nearly perfect all day smoke. The VA are pleasant (i.e. not soaked in vinegar) and nicely balanced by the burley (DFK). Simple tobacco flavor when you just want to smoke, but enough spice and complexity to make it interesting when you are feeling contemplative.
Mike.

 

[Psmith]

For me that would be Sherlock Holmes by Peterson.

It is not a blend that has received much love on TR or anywhere else. I will admit when I first bought it my reaction just under "meh". But I found, to my surprise, that it aged rather nicely. While at first it was a kind of colour-less dead grass hue, it had over the course of a year transformed into a rich orange and red. And the aroma developed too. Nothing over the top..just classic aromatic pipe tobacco.

I often wonder why it is so detested. Maybe the name. It just doesn't seem to suit the title of Sherlock Holmes. I would think a bold oriental would be more appropriate for that moniker. I guess many have bought it with an idea in their mind of what they would be getting but instead got something totally different and thus launched hate at it.

Anyway, that is a less renowned blend that I doubt goes out of stock anywhere but will have a place in my collection. I like it a lot and strongly recommend it but one must open the can, close it back up, and forget about for at least 8 months before smoking.