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Post by Legend Lover on May 12, 2019 2:58:27 GMT -5
I entered this hobby because I love the smell of smoke. So I mostly smoked aromatics at the start. I still enjoy a good aromatic, but I'm finding myself gravitating to non-aromatics.
I find the experience more enjoyable and the flavours seem to be deeper too.
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2019 5:05:25 GMT -5
Paddy, glad you took the step beyond aromatic blends. You’ll notice a far more range of complexity of natural flavors in non aromatics. Seems your palate is maturing the more you enjoy a pipe, good for you👌👍👍
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Post by scrooge on May 12, 2019 6:23:28 GMT -5
Welcome to manhood Paddy! Seriously though it's a good sign, deeper flavors await your journey. But never forget your roots re-visit from time to time.
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Post by bigwoolie on May 12, 2019 7:21:51 GMT -5
I entered this hobby because I love the smell of smoke. So I mostly smoked aromatics at the start. I still enjoy a good aromatic, but I'm finding myself gravitating to non-aromatics. I find the experience more enjoyable and the flavours seem to be deeper too. I find myself in the exact same place. I received a tin of John Cotton Smyrna from a generous patcher, and was amazed at all the little spices and flavors I was experiencing. I still have an aromatic from time to time (mostly Lane BCA) but I'm really enjoying the expansion of my horizons. I have Dark Fired Kentucky Burly now, Carter Hall, and I just got in a tub of Sir Walter Raleigh regular, not aromatic. Years ago in Alaska, when I first started, I smoked what I could get. That was 30 years ago. Mostly varieties of Borkum Riff, Captain Black and Velvet from the grocery store. (That Velvet was not a pleasant experience). |
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Post by Legend Lover on May 12, 2019 7:30:55 GMT -5
It's funny that you mention deeper flavours. You'd think aromatics would be more flavourful, but what tends to happen is that the topping disappears leaving not much left. With non-aromatics the flavour tends to increase as you go through the bowl.
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Post by roadsdiverged on May 12, 2019 7:54:27 GMT -5
Welcome to the world of deliciousness LL.
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Post by sperrytops on May 12, 2019 10:08:46 GMT -5
Yup, the same road we all took. While I've smoked for many years, off and on through the 70's, 80's and 90's, until post 2000 I only smoked two blends: Rattray's Accountants Mixture and Erinmore Flake. Then in early 2000 I was in a Tinder Box and noticed the artwork on a tin of Frog Morton and asked the proprietor. That was the beginning of my real journey. I kept branching out from there. I was never an aromatics fan until strangely, more recently. But I only like a few aromatics, preferring the lighter less sweet versions from Europe (Reiners, for example). Any way, now I smoke a great variety of tobaccos and enjoy them all.
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elric
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Post by elric on May 12, 2019 10:10:28 GMT -5
I entered this hobby because I love the smell of smoke. So I mostly smoked aromatics at the start. I still enjoy a good aromatic, but I'm finding myself gravitating to non-aromatics. I find the experience more enjoyable and the flavours seem to be deeper too. Most pipe smokers start with aromatics I think. Probably because we're seduced by the idea of vanilla or caramel or cherry flavours. Once I found on-line tobacconists, a new world of choice opened to me. Although I've got some nice aromatics, (Moes Confetti, Mark Twain & Nougat) I can't remember smoking a bowl for months. One thing I've learnt, just for a change of pace, is to blend in a very small amount of an aromatic to an English blend. I also mix in Windsail Virginia to my aro's so they're not so sweet. The idea came to me because I do enjoy a lightly topped semi-aro such as PS Luxury Twist Flake or Orlik Golden Sliced for e.g. |
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Post by trailboss on May 12, 2019 20:59:17 GMT -5
I started on an aromatic also, when I revisit them now, I don’t get a flavorful experience.....the room smells great, but the satisfaction just isn’t there.
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Post by addamsruspipe on May 12, 2019 21:46:40 GMT -5
Have to agree. I have reached a point where there are only few aromatics that do it for me anymore. Give me a nice English blend, something with Latakia or some good Virginia.  |
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Post by bonanzadriver on May 12, 2019 21:53:28 GMT -5
Seems like a common theme.
I too thought I'd like the aros and loaded up on dozens of samples. If it wasn't terrible tongue bite it was disappointment in how the tobacco tasted vs what I expected.
I have become an avid English smoker and enjoy VaPers as well.
The only aros I tend to smoke are Sutliff's Peach Cobbler, a wonderful buttery creamy peach flavor throughout the entire smoke, and Molto Dolce.
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Post by Wolfman on May 13, 2019 20:15:23 GMT -5
I smoked Captain Black for about seven years before discovering I enjoyed ‘English’ tobacco. Overtime my tastes would evolve to Balkans, VaPer, straight Virginia’s, VaOr, Burley, back to Balkans and now all of the above, sans aromatics.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2019 0:47:14 GMT -5
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Post by Dramatwist on May 14, 2019 1:02:19 GMT -5
...he should, if available in his location... |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,911 
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 May 14, 2019 1:28:16 GMT -5
Aros are best appreciated somewhere in the middle of the journey and really aren't beginner blends. They now taste exactly as they smell to me after many years. Heavy Latakia or burley blends are best to start with to attuned your sense of taste in how to detect flavors in smoke and later more subtle blends like the Virginia families and aros.
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Post by Legend Lover on May 14, 2019 1:49:03 GMT -5
I have a tin that I haven't opened yet. Maybe I should crack it open and jar. |
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elric
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Post by elric on May 14, 2019 9:49:40 GMT -5
Aros are best appreciated somewhere in the middle of the journey and really aren't beginner blends. They now taste exactly as they smell to me after many years. Heavy Latakia or burley blends are best to start with to attuned your sense of taste in how to detect flavors in smoke and later more subtle blends like the Virginia families and aros. Interesting. My first latakia experience was over an ounce sample of Becks ol' Limey Bastard. I though it smelt foul. Didn't taste foul though so I mixed it 50/50 with Windsail Virginia. It took me a while to become accustomed. One bowl at night was good. Two was one bowl too many. Now 18 months later my all day smoke usually contains latakia. |
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Post by kxg on May 14, 2019 10:04:30 GMT -5
When I began my hiatus from pipe smoking 30+ years ago, I was smoking straight Latakia for the most part. In the last year, since taking back up the pipe, I’ve branched out considerably with VaPer’s, VaBur’s and the like leading the way. English blends with Latakia are on the shelf as well. I do smoke some aromatics but not on an everyday basis. So many blends, so little time!
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Post by Ronv69 on May 14, 2019 13:16:55 GMT -5
I was mature, but I am moving backwards. I lit up a bowl of WCDCC last night and I went outside for a few minutes. When I came back in the smell gagged me. I had to light 2 candles. I seem to have lost it.
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,911
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 May 14, 2019 13:20:33 GMT -5
Aros are best appreciated somewhere in the middle of the journey and really aren't beginner blends. They now taste exactly as they smell to me after many years. Heavy Latakia or burley blends are best to start with to attuned your sense of taste in how to detect flavors in smoke and later more subtle blends like the Virginia families and aros. Interesting. My first latakia experience was over an ounce sample of Becks ol' Limey Bastard. I though it smelt foul. Didn't taste foul though so I mixed it 50/50 with Windsail Virginia. It took me a while to become accustomed. One bowl at night was good. Two was one bowl too many. Now 18 months later my all day smoke usually contains latakia. Thirty years ago most of my blends were heavy English types now it's mostly Virginia/Orientals and Aros. Latakia is the rare choice. |
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Post by PhantomWolf on May 14, 2019 18:28:34 GMT -5
Aros are like desert to me. I can eat pretzels all day, but an ice cream sundae is something I need to be in a mood for. haha
I know many people start with aromatics, but IMO, I find them to be much more temperamental. Honestly hated them early on and it wasn't till I had a year or so to get my fundamentals down that I really found some appreciation for them.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2019 18:37:54 GMT -5
Funny, I went from being a Lat-head to Virginia's, Va/Per and of all things, aromatics.
Recommend Sutliff Red Virginia Crumble Kake. That is delicious and on sale right now on 4noggins.
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Post by Scott W on May 14, 2019 19:53:39 GMT -5
I actually went the other way. Being a cigar smoker, I never liked aromatics or so I thought so I stuck to heavy English/Balkan blends and then introduced Virginia’s after a friend gifted me some OGS. I then got intrigued with what I heard about Velvet and ERR Match so I tried them and the wife commented how nice the car smelled one day so I branched out a bit and tried a bunch of aros.
I still prefer unflavored tobaccos but have grown to enjoy Fudge Cake, Candy Corn, Old St Nick (thanks Paddy!), Lane BCA and a few others.
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longtom
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Post by longtom on Jun 7, 2019 10:49:35 GMT -5
I entered this hobby because I love the smell of smoke. So I mostly smoked aromatics at the start. I still enjoy a good aromatic, but I'm finding myself gravitating to non-aromatics. I find the experience more enjoyable and the flavours seem to be deeper too.
I'm right there with you... started out with a bunch of aromatics... then soon after joining here got turned on to ODF (thanks sperrytops!) and Plum Pudding SR (thanks pepesdad!)... the non-aros are a lot richer and more flavorful...
Now the aros taste sharp or synthetic or something to me and I have to cut them down... for instance if I smoke 1Q I'll mix some with a bullseye flake...
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stone
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Post by stone on Jun 7, 2019 11:12:47 GMT -5
When you say you love the smell of smoke do you mean any smoke or pipe smoke?
I'm glad you posted this because I'm just touching the edge of the "tobacco" flavor rather than the "added" flavor.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2019 11:33:05 GMT -5
I entered this hobby because I love the smell of smoke. So I mostly smoked aromatics at the start. I still enjoy a good aromatic, but I'm finding myself gravitating to non-aromatics. I find the experience more enjoyable and the flavours seem to be deeper too. Good for you sir, your palette is changing and you'll be enjoying some great tobacco blends out there.
And I'm sure you meant the aroma of Pipe tobacco, fresh or while burning, not really the smoke. I say that because I hate the smell of tobacco smoke, specially old dirty ash tray smell.
Won't smoke inside the house or truck because of it. But, in the way of noses I reckon mines a bit temperamental.  |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jun 7, 2019 11:49:52 GMT -5
Good to see you on, Ron...you've been missed. How is the shop going? Gonna be carving anytime soon?
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Post by Legend Lover on Jun 7, 2019 11:57:10 GMT -5
I entered this hobby because I love the smell of smoke. So I mostly smoked aromatics at the start. I still enjoy a good aromatic, but I'm finding myself gravitating to non-aromatics. I find the experience more enjoyable and the flavours seem to be deeper too. Good for you sir, your palette is changing and you'll be enjoying some great tobacco blends out there.
And I'm sure you meant the aroma of Pipe tobacco, fresh or while burning, not really the smoke. I say that because I hate the smell of tobacco smoke, specially old dirty ash tray smell.
Won't smoke inside the house or truck because of it. But, in the way of noses I reckon mines a bit temperamental. let me elaborate... I love the smell of the tobacco. I love the smell of tobacco burning in a pipe... Ie the smoke. But I also love the smell of other smoke. When someone is burning grass in Ireland I open the windows of the car. But I don't like the smell of a smoked-in room the following day. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2019 15:00:15 GMT -5
Depends on what was smoked in the room, for me. Some blends do better in this regard than other.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2019 15:05:00 GMT -5
Good to see you on, Ron...you've been missed. How is the shop going? Gonna be carving anytime soon? Little by little sir, gona be awhile yet. |
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