Novice question

[javainseattle]

I was reading Pease's take on the novice vs. mild aromatics and, well, that's me all over. I won't quote the whole thing here, just this bit:

I generally recommend a full flavored, but not strong tobacco to the beginner. They'll be much more likely to get some flavor from their early experiences, and it will be much easier, then, for them to apprehend the idea of "slowing down," which is crucial to a great smoke.

So my question to the group is: can you recommend a "full flavored but not strong" tobacco for me?

Thanks
PS: Not sure if it matters but my pipes are a couple corn cobs and an older meerschaum (a Ural -- I'll have to post pix over in the pipe section).

 

[Dutch]

One of my favorite mild-medium blends, is Brown Clunee. If I hadn't read it has perique, I would have never known. It is full of flavor, and rarely gives me any tongue bite issues.

 

[Gumball]

So my question to the group is: can you recommend a "full flavored but not strong" tobacco for me?

When I was starting out I took a trip to my local Bricks-and-Mortar tobacconist.

Speak to the wise old herbalist, smell all the tobacco he has in jars, buy a sample of a broad selection of blends, and then you should be able to narrow down what type of blends you are going to enjoy.

You really cannot beat a show and tell

 

[deepbass9]

Lat included: Margate, Balkan Sasieni

No Lat: Classic Samsun, Boswell's Burley

VA: Luxury Twist Flake, Orlik Golden Sliced

 

[Storm_Crow]

A tasty full flavor tobacco with medium nic content that I can recommend is VA Spice from Hearth and Home.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

One question asked, a possible 1,000 answers could be given. It also brings up a point that has been a personal note of recent study with "reviews" and asking of questions like these.

Confusion as to what "full flavored, but not strong," means:

* Nicotine level? (...are you susceptible to the head-spinning nausea associated with stronger blends?)

* Body (...how thick the stuff is on the palette, meaty and waxy or thin?)

* Strength (...how much actual intended flavor the mix will give you, as in, volume/power?)

* Flavor (...what the goal of the tobacco is, some are stronger than others, of course, but some flavors/casings/toppings themselves are inherently stronger than others...?)

Now, these are my personal generic categories, because over at tobaccoreviews.com, there seems to be a direct and almost identical category "taste" and "strength." For example, I have never read of a tobacco over there, in my neophyte experience, that gets an overall "mild" strength and a "full" taste. I think these "gray" categories, at least for me, are somewhat misleading, too broad a category for too subtle differences in taste person-to-person. Or, I'm an idiot, and couldn't figure it out.

So as I started organizing and taking notes, I devised the categories you see above. I would get run out of town as a loon (or simply ignored) if I challenged TR.com's categorizations and method, because it seems both redundant and confusing--especially as a newbie (who has a tuned tongue). So, my personal categories might be bullcrap to someone else.

With that in mind, I'll see if I can answer the questions (with comparisons) with my categories:

SG's Skiff Mixture (English blend)
Nicotine: Moderate
Body: Light
Strength: Moderate
Flavor: Light

Patton's Storm Front (Cigar blend)
Nicotine: Moderate
Body: Moderate to Full
Strength: Light
Flavor: Moderate

Orlik's Golden Sliced (VaPer blend)
Nicotine: Moderate to Heavy
Body: Light
Strength: Moderate
Flavor: Moderate

GLP's Jackknife Plug (straight VA blend)
Nicotine: Very Heavy
Body: Full
Strength: Strong
Flavor: Moderate to Full

P&W's Nut Brown Burley (straight Burley blend)
Nicotine: Moderate to Heavy
Body: Light
Strength: Light to Heavy
Flavor: Light to Moderate

I have struggled with the disconnect between these categories, much like how watts and amps and volts are all different but relevant, mass vs volume, etc., meanwhile, trying to assemble some sense from it all...I think I may have gone from clarification to a whole different discussion... dangit. :lol:

...did I help? :lol: Probably not. I hope so, though. 8)

 

[mike_68]

I had great luck with Lane 1Q when I started out...full bodied(plenty of smoke and taste) but mild on the palate. The vanilla casing made plenty of fans with the family too! Also, a lot of Brick and Mortar places seem to carry this one under an alias so it's pretty accessible as well..

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Geez, I was so focused on my tangent I forgot to say:


Agreed, bring a pipe or three, hit up some stuff at your local pipe/tobacco shop, ask questions, experiment--that was perhaps the best advice of all. Try before you buy. 8)

 

[dshpipes]

Geez, I was so focused on my tangent I forgot to say:


Agreed, bring a pipe or three, hit up some stuff at your local pipe/tobacco shop, ask questions, experiment--that was perhaps the best advice of all. Try before you buy. 8)

Do all of this and then buy 2 tins of Bombay Court or Bombay Extra(if you're feeling froggy). Trust me.

 

[monbla256]

I take from your "handle" that you might live in Seattle and if so, you might want to go to a B&M there in Seattle. F.K. Kirsten comes to mind in the historic Fishermans Terminal as I recall. ( my daughter lives in Seattle and I bought some tobacco there while visiting last year) and speak with someone there and give some blends a try. Since you have stated some experience with aromatics, ( and most of us started with 'em) I would NOT recomend trying to start yet with any straight Virginia's yet as they DO require a bit more finesse, technique wise, to smoke cooly and without bite and If you were like I was when I started, you like to "puff" and get that smoke and taste and Va's need to be sipped to really appreciate and enjoy.
The main thing is DO NOT RUSH! Pick out one, maybe two blends and smoke them completely to allow yourself to truly get the "feel and taste" of the type of tobacco . I would not give you a blend to try as my idea would be based on 40+ years of smoking and what I would consider "light" might be WAYYY to full for your palate at this time. Besides at most B&Ms you can give a blend a try in one of your pipes and make a better decision based on that! Find a B&M and go at it !!

 

[javainseattle]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the range of answers. I'm going to fire up Evernote and start keeping notes. i know it's been said before: this site is a goldmine. Especially for those of us who no longer have the dads, uncles, and grandads around to guide us.

I am indeed going to get over to Kirstens. I made a trip to another B+M in my area and picked up a couple of their blends -- those are the ones I'm struggling with a bit. Too hot and in the end reminded me of bad rolling tobacco taste. And a nicotine hangover this morning!

I'll probably have to buy a Kirsten while I'm at it. They hurt my eyes to look at, but heck, it's a Seattle pipe and a piece of local history.

Kyle, thanks for your detailed break-down. I think part of this process is learning the words to describe what one is looking for -- your thought process helps.

 

[jlong]

You might consider hooking up with these guys.

Seattle Pipe Club

Have you visited the Tinderbox in Tacoma? They have some starter aromatics such as Wilshire (which is said to be Lane 1Q), Norse Gold, and Captain Spice. I don't know if they still do this but when I lived in Tacoma, they let you sample a few blends in the store before choosing.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Kyle, thanks for your detailed break-down. I think part of this process is learning the words to describe what one is looking for -- your thought process helps.

Sorry my brash insanity got a bit unruly, but hell, I'm fun at parties! :cheers:

Sometimes a wealth of information can be just as daunting as the tobacco itself--just lead your own way, we all kind of have to go through this kind of trial-and-error--you'll find your "pipe legs" soon enough. There's enough uncles and grandfathers here to be surrogate to your process if needed. :lol:

Good luck, we're here to help, and yeah, definitely keep notes in some way that's useful to you: It helps a LOT, I think.

8)

 

[Brewdude]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the range of answers. I'm going to fire up Evernote and start keeping notes. i know it's been said before: this site is a goldmine. Especially for those of us who no longer have the dads, uncles, and grandads around to guide us.

I am indeed going to get over to Kirstens. I made a trip to another B+M in my area and picked up a couple of their blends -- those are the ones I'm struggling with a bit. Too hot and in the end reminded me of bad rolling tobacco taste. And a nicotine hangover this morning!

I'll probably have to buy a Kirsten while I'm at it. They hurt my eyes to look at, but heck, it's a Seattle pipe and a piece of local history.

Kyle, thanks for your detailed break-down. I think part of this process is learning the words to describe what one is looking for -- your thought process helps.

Have to ask- is Kirsten still in biz? Heard otherwise several months ago but don't get into Seattle often to check out. At least their info is still up on the internet.

OTOH the TB in Tacoma is supposed to be good, but I have yet to visit. And I am a member of the SPC, so bad on me!

(Actually I was a member 10 yrs or so ago, but let it slip. Re-joined a year or so ago)


Cheers,

RR