haveldad
Junior Member
Posts: 477
Favorite Pipe: Kaywoodie Freehand Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Vintage Syrian
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Post by haveldad on Nov 5, 2018 10:11:40 GMT -5
So I'm trying to downsize my opened cellar a bit, the jars I actively pop or whatever. But something I noticed after trying some Stonehaven and HH Magnum Opus last night I realized that many blends I've tried and found decent but never really decided if I liked it/ dont reach for it much if at all. Whilst some blends I immediately liked or disliked many fall in an inbetween or make me feel like I'd rather be smoking X,Y, or Z.
Is there a way you all decide if you like something? I have 4oz of plum pudding I really liked when I first started smoking but now I don't much care for it. No reason I can understand why.
This issue really started brewing when I decided I wanted to buy all the new Sutliff and SPC offerings. But I'm worried that I'll still prefer Vintage Syrian over anything new and waste my money. Or that the red Virginia crumble kake will taste like 515 RC-1 and cost way more. (10$ isn't a lot but I'm very poverty stricken from college).
So any tips gents? Should you smoke other blends too when trying something new? Compare? Or smoke only the new blend for a week? What about when you don't care for it much and decide to let it age and retry it?
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Post by peteguy on Nov 5, 2018 10:17:48 GMT -5
Jar it back up and save it for a later day.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2018 10:18:20 GMT -5
After the tobacco is aged for at least a year, especially a Virginia, and at the proper moisture level is achieved I usually know if it’s a tobacco I’d enjoy often after smoking the very first bowl in one of my pipes that I consider a superb smoker.
If I don’t care for the blend much I definitely don’t want to cellar for my future smoking pleasure.
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haveldad
Junior Member
Posts: 477
Favorite Pipe: Kaywoodie Freehand Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Vintage Syrian
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Post by haveldad on Nov 5, 2018 10:24:52 GMT -5
After the tobacco is aged for at least a year, especially a Virginia, and at the proper moisture level is achieved I usually know if it’s a tobacco I’d enjoy often after smoking the very first bowl in one of my pipes that I consider a superb smoker. If I don’t care for the blend much I definitely don’t want to cellar for my future smoking pleasure. I've had very few blends I don't like but in my quest to find something similar to HH vintage Syrian nothing has been close. There's a sadly high amount of Balkans that make me go "Meh". Virginia's have a bit more variance but when I'm not amazed by them I always feel like I need to let them sit and some back. Recently I re opened some escudo I didnt like fresh and after 10 months its so peppery it makes me sneeze the moment I puff. Not a fan. But in many other blends I'll simply be unimpressed, maybe I should stop comparing blends so much. |
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chasingembers
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First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Nov 5, 2018 10:32:04 GMT -5
And nothing ever will be. Over the past thirty years I've had favorites disappear and have found nothing comparable, but have found other blends to love.
Bingo. Find a blend to enjoy on its own merits, not what you would like it to be.
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haveldad
Junior Member
Posts: 477
Favorite Pipe: Kaywoodie Freehand Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Vintage Syrian
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Post by haveldad on Nov 5, 2018 10:37:06 GMT -5
And nothing ever will be. Over the past thirty years I've had favorites disappear and have found nothing cimparable, but have found other blends to love. Bingo. Find a blend to enjoy on its own merits, not what you would like it to be. That shall be a difficult burden to bear lol. Every time I smoke and English right now I just think of Vintage Syrian and how I need to find something similar so when my pound is gone I can replace it. I've found a few good englishes that hold weight as there own, though Sadly they're both Germains offerings.... |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2018 10:40:38 GMT -5
After the tobacco is aged for at least a year, especially a Virginia, and at the proper moisture level is achieved I usually know if it’s a tobacco I’d enjoy often after smoking the very first bowl in one of my pipes that I consider a superb smoker. If I don’t care for the blend much I definitely don’t want to cellar for my future smoking pleasure. I've had very few blends I don't like but in my quest to find something similar to HH vintage Syrian nothing has been close. There's a sadly high amount of Balkans that make me go "Meh". Virginia's have a bit more variance but when I'm not amazed by them I always feel like I need to let them sit and some back. Recently I re opened some escudo I didnt like fresh and after 10 months its so peppery it makes me sneeze the moment I puff. Not a fan. But in many other blends I'll simply be unimpressed, maybe I should stop comparing blends so much. Don’t have the intention when your purchasing a new tobacco you’ve never smoked and try to compare it to the original or any of your favorites. I rarely buy a new release, one reason is I may really enjoy the blend and at this point in my life I don’t care to start cellaring more for the future. The only new release I recently purchased was 5 tins of Sutliff Crumble Kake Red, it’s good now but definitely needs some age. |
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haveldad
Junior Member
Posts: 477
Favorite Pipe: Kaywoodie Freehand Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Vintage Syrian
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Post by haveldad on Nov 5, 2018 10:52:48 GMT -5
I've had very few blends I don't like but in my quest to find something similar to HH vintage Syrian nothing has been close. There's a sadly high amount of Balkans that make me go "Meh". Virginia's have a bit more variance but when I'm not amazed by them I always feel like I need to let them sit and some back. Recently I re opened some escudo I didnt like fresh and after 10 months its so peppery it makes me sneeze the moment I puff. Not a fan. But in many other blends I'll simply be unimpressed, maybe I should stop comparing blends so much. Don’t have the intention when your purchasing a new tobacco you’ve never smoked and try to compare it to the original or any of your favorites. I rarely buy a new release, one reason is I may really enjoy the blend and at this point in my life I don’t care to start cellaring more for the future. The only new release I recently purchased was 5 tins of Sutliff Crumble Kake Red, it’s good now but definitely needs some age. That's a good point. Not sure why I started doing that honestly. Lucky me I'm still many years young so I'm trying to find something that isn't going away that I love. All my favorite Balkans/Englishes are unobtainables for the most part which sucks, though I still haven't found a Virginia/Vaper I've fallen in love with. I used to love McClelland now no.27 fresh when the vinegar was at its strongest. But now I've got two bowls left to smoke before I say gooebye to that blend. |
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Post by puffy on Nov 5, 2018 11:02:23 GMT -5
When I first started pipe smoking I thought I had to try every blend out there.I found that I only really liked about 10 percent of them.I really didn't like about another 10 percent of them.The other 80 percent were OK but not great..Over time I learned what types of blends I like.These days I stick to them.If you find a blend that is just OK don't buy it next time..Some say that over time your taste can change.What you don't like today you might like later on.It hasn't happened to me.
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haveldad
Junior Member
Posts: 477
Favorite Pipe: Kaywoodie Freehand Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Vintage Syrian
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Post by haveldad on Nov 5, 2018 11:06:20 GMT -5
When I first started pipe smoking I thought I had to try every blend out there.I found that I only really liked about 10 percent of them.I really didn't like about another 10 percent of them.The other 80 percent were OK but not great..Over time I learned what types of blends I like.These days I stick to them.If you find a blend that is just OK don't buy it next time..Some say that over time your taste can change.What you don't like today you might like later on.It hasn't happened to me. Hasn't happened to me either.... Nightcap was one of my first tobacco and I've loved Englishes/Balkans since. Royal Jersey Lat I recently got to try and it was very enjoyable, the moisture content needs to be right or it doesn't smoke well. |
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Post by clintonvilleleather on Nov 5, 2018 11:37:58 GMT -5
Must be cool and satisfying like ODF.
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Post by mwps70 on Nov 5, 2018 12:51:25 GMT -5
It took me a long time to like heavy Virginia blends. The grassy aroma was off putting and I just didn't like the flavor. But luckily either my taste buds changed or I just matured in pipe smoking. I now love Virginias. I still haven't been able to find many aros that I like. Point is, things will change down the road so I would just jar them and forget about them for a while and down the road try again. You might be surprised. Most of all have fun and enjoy what you like now.
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Post by Baboo on Nov 5, 2018 12:57:03 GMT -5
If I keep going back to it, I figure I like it. If I don't smoke & like it in a Blue Moon, I figure I might smoke it with pleasure again when Neptune is in Perihelion... anything is possible...
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Post by pepesdad1 on Nov 5, 2018 13:33:54 GMT -5
I've had very few blends I don't like but in my quest to find something similar to HH vintage Syrian nothing has been close. There's a sadly high amount of Balkans that make me go "Meh". Virginia's have a bit more variance but when I'm not amazed by them I always feel like I need to let them sit and some back. Recently I re opened some escudo I didnt like fresh and after 10 months its so peppery it makes me sneeze the moment I puff. Not a fan. But in many other blends I'll simply be unimpressed, maybe I should stop comparing blends so much. Don’t have the intention when your purchasing a new tobacco you’ve never smoked and try to compare it to the original or any of your favorites. I rarely buy a new release, one reason is I may really enjoy the blend and a t this point in my life I don’t care to start cellaring more for the future. The only new release I recently purchased was 5 tins of Sutliff Crumble Kake Red, it’s good now but definitely needs some age. My feelings exactly! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2018 13:34:47 GMT -5
Try blends you think you don't like with a filter before deciding. And in different pipes, briars and cobs. And on different days. Sometimes I'll smoke something I really liked the first time I tried it, then the second time it's kind of meh. And vice versa. Sometimes there's no ambiguity, and it's love or hate at fist puff.
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Post by peterd-Buffalo Spirit on Nov 5, 2018 13:54:16 GMT -5
… as has been stated...don't compare...it will never work out the way you want it to...sure some similarities exist but that's about all I can say...Your Vintage Syrian and my beloved Burley London Blend are in the past...I'm satisfied with what's available now and this is the important thing...
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Post by kxg on Nov 5, 2018 13:55:38 GMT -5
How do I decide if I like a blend?
I smoke it. I really can't ultimately tell by reading about it, looking at it, smelling it, or divining it. The ultimate test is in the smoking. And if I'm not crazy about it, I jar it up for some aging, leaving a small jar for near term smoking; who knows, I may like it the second or third time around or in a few months or years.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2018 13:57:47 GMT -5
My subconscious seems to know, every time, when I instinctively reach again and again for a specific blend and also a specific pipe, despite no apparent conscious acknowledgement of their outstanding virtues. The point is, it works.
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haveldad
Junior Member
Posts: 477
Favorite Pipe: Kaywoodie Freehand Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Vintage Syrian
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Post by haveldad on Nov 5, 2018 14:07:24 GMT -5
My subconscious seems to know, every time, when I instinctively reach again and again for a specific blend and also a specific pipe, despite no apparent conscious acknowledgement of their outstanding virtues. The point is, it works. I do this too which is sort of why I started this thread. I subconsciously choose often the same blends, and even the same pipes. My meer is grabbed very often just because it delivers an amazing smoke every time. There are many times I even grab something and then stop, look at something and go "Huh I haven't smoked this in a while I should try it again" and normally I just decide to smoke my first choice anyway. I'm not sure if this means I don't like these blends, many that I seldom grab are good. Things like firedance flake that I really liked, but I wouldn't smoke that often. Maybe I just need to get a better organized cellar, using totes or something instead of a filing cabinet. |
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Post by jeffd on Nov 5, 2018 14:40:41 GMT -5
So any tips gents? Should you smoke other blends too when trying something new? Compare? Or smoke only the new blend for a week? What about when you don't care for it much and decide to let it age and retry it? I try new stuff, especially based on things I hear about on the site. I research it a bit, see what JimInks thinks, see what it is made of, and try it. Hit or miss. My experience is that i don't have to try. Not trying to be glib, but those blends I like, I liked without trying to figure anything out. By and large they took hold of me, not the other way. If I like it I like it and if I am not sure if I like it, it means I don't like it. To me, smoking a blend I love absolves me of any worries about other blends out there I might love but haven't tried. There likely are, but I am soaring in my easy chair smoking my favorites. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2018 15:00:37 GMT -5
My subconscious seems to know, every time, when I instinctively reach again and again for a specific blend and also a specific pipe, despite no apparent conscious acknowledgement of their outstanding virtues. The point is, it works. I do this too which is sort of why I started this thread. I subconsciously choose often the same blends, and even the same pipes. My meer is grabbed very often just because it delivers an amazing smoke every time. There are many times I even grab something and then stop, look at something and go "Huh I haven't smoked this in a while I should try it again" and normally I just decide to smoke my first choice anyway. I'm not sure if this means I don't like these blends, many that I seldom grab are good. Things like firedance flake that I really liked, but I wouldn't smoke that often. Maybe I just need to get a better organized cellar, using totes or something instead of a filing cabinet. I wouldn't be surprised if many other pipesmokers aside from us also share this 'habit'. What you have described is basically the difference between blends that our left/critical brain recognizes as quality stuff and those blends that our right brain/instinctive/sensual side just happens to like even more. We can't, however, explain precisely what really makes that difference for us, between the two types. But knowing this we should just experiment, revisit and enjoy. One appeal to our subconscious is that some blends we like are also easier to prepare and less fussy to smoke, so we go for them more often. Which means Sutliff wins for many. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Nov 5, 2018 18:25:34 GMT -5
I honestly have no idea.
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Post by morallynomadic on Nov 5, 2018 19:45:19 GMT -5
When I started branching out and trying new tobaccos, only a year ago after smoking one thing for years, I was very scattered. I have tried well over a hundred blends in the last twelve months but I can count the number I would want to really "cellar" on one hand.
My usual course of business has been to buy a small amount of a ton of different blends and I usually end up with a bunch of little jars.
What I've found really makes up my mind about a blend is picking a blend and smoking it. I smoke through it until it's gone, even if that means smoking one blend for a week. Driving, walking, sitting, for an hour, for fifteen minutes... I just smoke the shite out of it. When it's gone, if I don't think "man, I should get some more of that." .. I don't.
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Post by zambini on Nov 6, 2018 10:13:43 GMT -5
For me, it takes a whole tin to figure out whether I like it or not. Out of the gate some blends seem great but don't hold up over the course of a whole tin or start ok only to improve. Something like Presbyterian can easily be overpowered by other blends in a rotation but on their own reveal greater depth; conversely aromatics I've tried prove impossible to smoke for days at a time without the flavor being too much. Also, different cuts mean different technique which takes a few bowls to learn and relearn. In my experience, it's easier to figure out whether you dislike a blend.
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Post by roadsdiverged on Nov 6, 2018 10:19:19 GMT -5
If I keep grabbing for it, I like it. Also, if I'm at work and have a craving for a certain blend, and think about it all day, it must be speaking to me. I have a lot of samples that dont do that for me. They work out well when I'm smoking but busy with other things. They are blends that when I'm out I wont be purchasing again.
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Post by mwps70 on Nov 6, 2018 10:34:30 GMT -5
For me, it takes a whole tin to figure out whether I like it or not. Out of the gate some blends seem great but don't hold up over the course of a whole tin or start ok only to improve. Something like Presbyterian can easily be overpowered by other blends in a rotation but on their own reveal greater depth; conversely aromatics I've tried prove impossible to smoke for days at a time without the flavor being too much. Also, different cuts mean different technique which takes a few bowls to learn and relearn. In my experience, it's easier to figure out whether you dislike a blend. Very well said and I agree. It's much easier to decide if I don't like a blend or don't see the need to cellar a blend. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Nov 6, 2018 11:00:53 GMT -5
For me, it takes a whole tin to figure out whether I like it or not. Out of the gate some blends seem great but don't hold up over the course of a whole tin or start ok only to improve. Something like Presbyterian can easily be overpowered by other blends in a rotation but on their own reveal greater depth; conversely aromatics I've tried prove impossible to smoke for days at a time without the flavor being too much. Also, different cuts mean different technique which takes a few bowls to learn and relearn. In my experience, it's easier to figure out whether you dislike a blend. Very well said and I agree. It's much easier to decide if I don't like a blend or don't see the need to cellar a blend. +1 Well said, zambini. It's easier to figure out what I DON'T like. |
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Post by ChewsUrOwnAdventure on Nov 6, 2018 14:38:11 GMT -5
How do I decide what I like, and what to stock up on?
Step 1: Accept that my tastes and opinions will change over time. I'm not entirely same man I was yesterday.
Step 2: Try new blend and obsess over it.
Step 3a: Buy lots of it over time. Worst case, I've got a new obsession after two or three tins and can call it quits, and maybe I've got ebay/trade fodder in a few years.
or
Step 3b: If it's unique, go deep in one shot. I'm not currently obsessed with Bengal Slices, for instance, but if I ever get obsessed with it again I've got enough to roll around in a pile of it.
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gav
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Post by gav on Nov 6, 2018 21:19:50 GMT -5
I usually find the blends I like don't last very long. I finish a tin of 40th ann very fast
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Screaming Jazz
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Enjoying a peaceful night
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Post by Screaming Jazz on Nov 7, 2018 14:45:49 GMT -5
Does a blend offer something unique to me? Is there a blend that does what this blend does but better? Would I reach for this over something else? Those are the questions I ask when considering if something is worth stocking up on. I smoked a bowl of Dorchester for the first time this morning. While I found it good and pleasant, it is not something I will be buying any time soon. It offers nothing unique, to me. I have better VaPers that do what it does better and I would reach for instead.
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