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Post by Plainsman on Oct 18, 2020 9:28:54 GMT -5
The quoted is a review of Sutliff’s 1M by “JimInks” at tobaccoreviews.com. “This is very similar to Lane's 1-Q, with some differences. The vanilla is a little deeper in flavor here, and there's a slighter, more obvious honey bread note from the gold cavendish. The tobaccos are sublimated, but I did notice a little grass and citrus from the Virginia with a mild nuttiness and molasses from the burley. The black cavendish provides some brown sugar in the background. In regard to the "secret" flavoring, four different vanillas were used in the topping, one being cocoa, and I also sense a hint of marshmallow. The flavor is consistent all the way through. Has a mild nic-hit. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns at reasonable pace, very smooth, clean and cool, but leaves a little moisture in the bowl. Needs few relights. Has a pleasant after taste and room note. An easy going all day smoke.“ My question, if it is a question is— how many pipe smokers can do this? By “this” I mean discern the smoking components of a tobacco with such precision and discrimination. It’s not that I’m suspicious of the sophistication. It’s that I can’t do this. Am I alone? Should I take up basket-weaving and leave the pipe-smoking to the REAL cognoscenti?  |
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Post by lizardonarock on Oct 18, 2020 9:58:09 GMT -5
Cough cough bull shite. I have pretty good taste buds and can discern various flavors but I doubt they would be that accurate smoking ten plus pipes a day. Of course if someone else is buying I suppose I could get real creative. If you can find a reviewer that likes the same blends as you enjoy I believe it carries more weight. There you have it one mans opinion and it is not worth much.
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Post by lestrout on Oct 18, 2020 10:06:27 GMT -5
Yo plainsman - I listened to a lunchtime talk at the Chemical Heritage Institute by the director of the Monell Chemical Senses Center, the world's foremost institute studying tastes, smells and all things olfactory. He said, for the bell shape curve of taste perception, that although 50% of peeps were average (as you might expect), 25% were "Supertasters". He himself was such an extreme example that he couldn't stand coffee due to its bitterness, no matter how much sugar or sweetener he used. Too much of a good thing in my view, since I can't get started each day without coffee.
Interestingly, the director also said the bottom 25% of peeps can't discriminate taste much at all.
Anyway, Greg Pease, Russ Ouellette and wine tasters in general as Supertasters. Chefs also are, and both these wonderful and talented gents have that background. But like any other natural talent such as strength, musical ability, or athletic skill, getting experience and training honing the specific skill makes a huge difference. I started creating and running wine tastings many decades ago, and I now consider the complexities of pipe smoking at Jiminks' level exceed the many nuances of even spectacularly great and expensive wines.
Now like wine tasting, great music or sports, as long as you appreciate it, your personal level of skill has little bearing on your right or ability to enjoy.
hp
les
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Post by Goldbrick on Oct 18, 2020 10:16:08 GMT -5
I think a great many people can do "this" in a lessor way...most everyone can tell if their Virginia has perique in it ,of even if that same Virginia tastes of citrus or hay or has a yeasty, bread-like flavor. We all do it in some fashion when we pick between the jars in our collections; Jim's much ,much better at putting it into words than most of us, and I always look for his reviews if I'm really wondering why I like one blend more that another; he's like a Doctor of tobacco!
What knocks my socks off is the number of blends he knows that well, and the amount of tobacco he must smoke in a day even to learn all he's learned.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 18, 2020 10:38:26 GMT -5
In aromatics, I'm lucky right now to taste the main flavor added to the tobacco much of the time. When I can taste it along with the tobacco, it's a keeper.
Time and experience seem to help.
I love wine, but I can't taste all the subtle flavors they talk about either - but after many years and bottles I started recognizing some of them. I figure it'll be the same with pipe tobacco.
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 18, 2020 14:05:38 GMT -5
Jim's a special case. You would be surprised at how many blenders send him a sample and talk to him about what they are trying to achieve. He smokes 16 bowls a day and I have never seen him mention drinking coffee. He rates blends as compared to similar blends, and not by his own preferences. Just because he rates a blend highly doesn't mean that you will like it, but it will give you an idea of what it tastes like and how successful it is at what it's trying to be. His favorite blends cover a huge range. I can't taste hardly anything that he does, but that doesn't make him wrong.
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Post by Darin on Oct 18, 2020 16:11:04 GMT -5
My wife gets a kick out of my descriptions of things like "Treacle, Baking Spices, Pepper and Cedar" in cigars I'm smoking.
To her it's all just "stinky". LOL
There are many styles of reviews / reviewers and I agree that it's most important to find someone that comes close to your own palate.
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Post by kxg on Oct 18, 2020 20:47:03 GMT -5
I agree that Jiminks has a real talent, honed over the years. While I can't begin to taste everything he does, the more blends I smoke on a consistent basis, the more subtleties seem to appear. I've grown to trust Jim as to what I can expect from a blend. The trick, I believe is not trying to emulate Jim, but calibrate my palate to his descriptions so I know what to expect.
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Post by bonanzadriver on Oct 18, 2020 21:06:57 GMT -5
I, along with others here, am lucky enough to have met Jim and consider him a friend. I was fortunate enough to have met Jim several years back and to have learned from his knowledge, experience and pedigree.
Back in the day I would call him up and tell him about a new blend I had discovered. He'd ask me what I experienced. I would try to tell him and he would then ask If I had tasted "this" or noticed "that"? Of course I hadn't. I would then have another bowl and damned if I didn't notice what he had mentioned.
Although over the years I have developed a more discerned palate, I fear it is rather pedestrian in comparison with his.
So, in closing I would recommend that you try a blend for yourself first, take some notes and then look it up on Tobaccoreviews.com Then try another bowl and see if you don't notice the subtle notes he's suggested.
just my $0.02
dino
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 19, 2020 9:29:54 GMT -5
The quoted is a review of Sutliff’s 1M by “JimInks” at tobaccoreviews.com. “This is very similar to Lane's 1-Q, with some differences. The vanilla is a little deeper in flavor here, and there's a slighter, more obvious honey bread note from the gold cavendish. The tobaccos are sublimated, but I did notice a little grass and citrus from the Virginia with a mild nuttiness and molasses from the burley. The black cavendish provides some brown sugar in the background. In regard to the "secret" flavoring, four different vanillas were used in the topping, one being cocoa, and I also sense a hint of marshmallow. The flavor is consistent all the way through. Has a mild nic-hit. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns at reasonable pace, very smooth, clean and cool, but leaves a little moisture in the bowl. Needs few relights. Has a pleasant after taste and room note. An easy going all day smoke.“ My question, if it is a question is— how many pipe smokers can do this? By “this” I mean discern the smoking components of a tobacco with such precision and discrimination. It’s not that I’m suspicious of the sophistication. It’s that I can’t do this. Am I alone? Should I take up basket-weaving and leave the pipe-smoking to the REAL cognoscenti? I can only taste smoke...actually, that's wrong. I can't taste anything when I have a mouth full of smoke. I get a good mouthful and think, 'what do I taste?'...answer, nothing at all. Then I breathe it out and take a small amount in my nose as I exhale. This is what I 'taste'. I can distinguish certain things from the smell of my exhaled smoke - not berries or anything like that (except for Cult Blood Red Moon - I can really smell the cherry from that), but I can tell if there's vanilla present, or latakia. I can notice a difference between one tobacco and another, but I can't tell what that difference is. It's just a different scented smoke. I wish I had the pallet of Jim (I wish he was back), but it's not the taste of the tobacco that keeps me in the game - it's the overall experience...the slowing down, the contemplation, the aroma of the smoke - that's what I enjoy. If I did it for taste, I'd have quit a long time ago. It's the same with coffee - all I can taste is coffee. |
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Post by instymp on Oct 19, 2020 17:15:55 GMT -5
The quoted is a review of Sutliff’s 1M by “JimInks” at tobaccoreviews.com. “This is very similar to Lane's 1-Q, with some differences. The vanilla is a little deeper in flavor here, and there's a slighter, more obvious honey bread note from the gold cavendish. The tobaccos are sublimated, but I did notice a little grass and citrus from the Virginia with a mild nuttiness and molasses from the burley. The black cavendish provides some brown sugar in the background. In regard to the "secret" flavoring, four different vanillas were used in the topping, one being cocoa, and I also sense a hint of marshmallow. The flavor is consistent all the way through. Has a mild nic-hit. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns at reasonable pace, very smooth, clean and cool, but leaves a little moisture in the bowl. Needs few relights. Has a pleasant after taste and room note. An easy going all day smoke.“ My question, if it is a question is— how many pipe smokers can do this? By “this” I mean discern the smoking components of a tobacco with such precision and discrimination. It’s not that I’m suspicious of the sophistication. It’s that I can’t do this. Am I alone? Should I take up basket-weaving and leave the pipe-smoking to the REAL cognoscenti? I can't! I taste....... OK, good, real good or crap. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,910 
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
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Oct 19, 2020 17:40:03 GMT -5
The quoted is a review of Sutliff’s 1M by “JimInks” at tobaccoreviews.com. “This is very similar to Lane's 1-Q, with some differences. The vanilla is a little deeper in flavor here, and there's a slighter, more obvious honey bread note from the gold cavendish. The tobaccos are sublimated, but I did notice a little grass and citrus from the Virginia with a mild nuttiness and molasses from the burley. The black cavendish provides some brown sugar in the background. In regard to the "secret" flavoring, four different vanillas were used in the topping, one being cocoa, and I also sense a hint of marshmallow. The flavor is consistent all the way through. Has a mild nic-hit. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns at reasonable pace, very smooth, clean and cool, but leaves a little moisture in the bowl. Needs few relights. Has a pleasant after taste and room note. An easy going all day smoke.“ My question, if it is a question is— how many pipe smokers can do this? By “this” I mean discern the smoking components of a tobacco with such precision and discrimination. It’s not that I’m suspicious of the sophistication. It’s that I can’t do this. Am I alone? Should I take up basket-weaving and leave the pipe-smoking to the REAL cognoscenti? I can do it to some degree with non aromatics and blends without latakia. It's mostly in the retrohale. If you're depending just on your tongue to taste smoke, you miss the majority of its flavor. |
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Post by jeffd on Oct 20, 2020 20:55:12 GMT -5
Yes I think there are folks that can do this. Not everyone, but more than a few. Many distilleries and wineries and brewers hire "super tasters" to help them develop new products or test consistency of their legendary legacy products. Coffeemakers hire tasters with special discernment.
It seems like it would be an awesome gift, but maybe it is so distracting as to be a real curse.
I can't do this. I struggle to even describe a flavor.
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 20, 2020 22:01:23 GMT -5
Most people who have perfect pitch consider it a curse.
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 21, 2020 3:07:03 GMT -5
Most people who have perfect pitch consider it a curse. Not when it stops the rain from getting through the roof... |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 21, 2020 8:50:00 GMT -5
Most people who have perfect pitch consider it a curse. Not when it stops the rain from getting through the roof... 1 groan. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 21, 2020 11:02:04 GMT -5
Not when it stops the rain from getting through the roof... 1 groan. You're welcome... |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 21, 2020 11:11:57 GMT -5
You people with your thatched roofs! 😈 |
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 21, 2020 12:40:17 GMT -5
Good thatchers are getting hard to find. Margaret was among the last.
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 21, 2020 13:16:00 GMT -5
Just got a pouch of Sutliff’s #19, Coconut Almond. Smells real good in the pouch, like... tobacco. Tastes like tobacco, too. The more you puff the more it smokes. There might be some coconuts and almonds in there somewhere but I haven’t found them yet.
How’s that?
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 21, 2020 14:37:32 GMT -5
Good thatchers are getting hard to find. Margaret was among the last. I agree. There's no thatchers in Cass County. Of course everyone has a metal roof. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 21, 2020 14:39:12 GMT -5
Just got a pouch of Sutliff’s #19, Coconut Almond. Smells real good in the pouch, like... tobacco. Tastes like tobacco, too. The more you puff the more it smokes. There might be some coconuts and almonds in there somewhere but I haven’t found them yet. How’s that? Coconut and almond flavors just don't hold up in pipe tobacco. I've had coconut and amaretto scented tobaccos, but the taste was sweet tobacco. |
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Post by taiguy66 on Oct 21, 2020 15:29:39 GMT -5
It’s no different from the cigar industry where you hear aficionado’s talking about different flavours etc. For me and my bottom line: you may or may not pick up all the various nuances but if my taste buds are happy then I’m happy. Cheers......
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 21, 2020 16:33:24 GMT -5
Well, it was kind of a spoof but everybody is so serious minded. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 21, 2020 19:34:06 GMT -5
Well, it was kind of a spoof but everybody is so serious minded. Well, you are the most interesting thing that's happened here this month! 😁 🤠 |
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 22, 2020 18:51:56 GMT -5
Hmm. Probably not a compliment...
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 22, 2020 19:26:02 GMT -5
Hmm. Probably not a compliment... It was meant to be. |
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 22, 2020 19:28:03 GMT -5
Thank you, sir.
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Post by lizardonarock on Oct 22, 2020 19:29:03 GMT -5
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 22, 2020 22:13:34 GMT -5
There ain’t no drama, cat. Go catch a mouse. |
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