The English/VA noob Strikes Again!

[Lord Wigglybottom]

Well maybe not strike. But I'm back with another thread about these new (for me) 'baccys.

I checked the mail today, and the good Prof's package had arrived. I could literally smell the latakia from about four feet away from the mailbox. Got about halfway down the stairs (I live in a 2nd floor apt) and just knew it had arrived by the smell. An interesting experience, that.

So to Prof. Mike, I would once again like to extend my thanks for hooking me up with some good samples.

I opened the package to find some Asuka, some 3 Noggins, and some Commonwealth. So far all of them smell almost identical but for some very subtle differences. On first inspection, I can honestly say I very much dig the pre-burnt stank of these blends. Smoky, earthy, very slightly nutty with a thread of something I can't quite place but it reminds me of some kind of heavenly grilled meat.

My limit is one bowl a night, otherwise I'd just light 'em all up. I think it's better that way, don't you agree? That way there's time to meditate on the flavor and (for me) the effects of the blend.

They're all going into cobs eventually, and will be lit with my spankin' new zippo pipe lighter (I love this thing!) but the question remains: Which one first? Suggestions?

[CrankyChris]

I've tried several English/Balkan. To me, they all taste similar. I like them, but I enjoy straight VA or VaPers or even Burley more. I'm smoking GL Pease Abingdon right now, though.

I have to sorta' plan out my smoking. I try to build in strength throughout the day. If you start with a really heavy Latikia blend first thing in the morning, your palette may be shot for the rest of the day.

[sounds7]

You might want to try some of the lighter Balkans and work your way up to the heavy english blends. Viceroy and Macedonia by "Comptons of Gashiels" are nice friendly blends. Something with a higher amount of orientals and a slight bit less Latakia might be up your alley.

[SmokinJohnny]

I'm becoming a balkan/english/latakia lover myself. Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding is a favorite. Currently on a tin of Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend. They should call it Balkan Rush or something. It comes of bitter at light up but smooths out about 2/3 bowl with thick, spicy, tastey smoke along with some good shots of nicotine. It gets sweeter toward the end and leaves me in a silly stupor as I am right now (thank god for spellcheck). The after taste is impeccable. I can't do this in the morn. I would be totally useless at work.

The baccy shop where I got this has tins of Old Ironsides. I checked it out on the review forum and they rave latakia blast with the stuff. Something else worth trying.

I understand Balkan blends are good in a calabash? I've got a good meerschaum bowled calabash I've had for over 20 years that I broke the stem on awhile back. Think it's time to get er fixed??? Or maybe one of those Boswell Grizzlys??????????? YEA BABY!!

[Lord Wigglybottom]

Well, I decided to try the Commonwealth and no bones about it: I love the taste. It was a surprisingly light smoke with no tongue bite whatsoever - just taste magic.

It reminded me of this red copal I got a number of years back while I was in Mexico (copal is a kind of resin incense). There were some slightly sweet notes at the back of the throat, but the main body of taste was that smokiness. I was expecting a kick in the face just judging by the smell of the unburned tobacco, but it ended up being quite nice. It actually made me want to sip rather than draw, and I found myself taking tiny little puffs to savor the taste. I did have to force myself to slow down the puffing though because it was so good!

Two complaints about it though:

1) I was unable to finish more than a third of the bowl. This was not due to the tobacco itself but was due to something coming up and my having to put ze pipe down. On the plus side, I could not smoke this pipe too slowly. I spent about an hour on that one third of a bowl, just sipping away and it needed not one relight.

2) The smell. I smoke outdoors so I didn't really smell much but when I came back in it was quite obvious. The girlfriend made quite a fuss over it, and I have to agree with her. I did smell pretty gross. This made me very sad because it was such a wonderful smoke.

It will take me some time to finish that first bowl - it seems all my attempts to finish it are ill-fated. Ah well, I'll keep chipping away at it.

Still haven't decided what the next smoke will be yet. Will burn that bridge when I come to it.

[DubintheDam]

reference girlfriend: you smoke outdside, she's got what she wants, you've got what you want....she can live with it I'm sure.

reference relights: give it a little stir with the poker, tamp again and they put fire to her (the pipe not the girlfriend I mean)

[Lord Wigglybottom]

Oh she can live with it. Nothing a quick brush of the teeth and wash of the face can't cure. It smells a bit ciggy to me as well though, once I come in out of the breeze. Ah well - a small price to pay for such a fascinating taste.

Dub - not one relight needed. I was amazed that I could smoke it that gently and that slowly and still keep it lit.

What I do to save a bowl: I wait for the tobac to go out and then tamp it down and towards the center ever so gently while it's still warm. That way it's ready to go the next time I want to light up. Any thoughts on technique?

[sounds7]

Originally Posted by Lord Wigglybottom

Well, I decided to try the Commonwealth and no bones about it: I love the taste. It was a surprisingly light smoke with no tongue bite whatsoever - just taste magic.

It reminded me of this red copal I got a number of years back while I was in Mexico (copal is a kind of resin incense). There were some slightly sweet notes at the back of the throat, but the main body of taste was that smokiness. I was expecting a kick in the face just judging by the smell of the unburned tobacco, but it ended up being quite nice. It actually made me want to sip rather than draw, and I found myself taking tiny little puffs to savor the taste. I did have to force myself to slow down the puffing though because it was so good!

Two complaints about it though:

1) I was unable to finish more than a third of the bowl. This was not due to the tobacco itself but was due to something coming up and my having to put ze pipe down. On the plus side, I could not smoke this pipe too slowly. I spent about an hour on that one third of a bowl, just sipping away and it needed not one relight.

2) The smell. I smoke outdoors so I didn't really smell much but when I came back in it was quite obvious. The girlfriend made quite a fuss over it, and I have to agree with her. I did smell pretty gross. This made me very sad because it was such a wonderful smoke.

It will take me some time to finish that first bowl - it seems all my attempts to finish it are ill-fated. Ah well, I'll keep chipping away at it.

Still haven't decided what the next smoke will be yet. Will burn that bridge when I come to it.

Sounds like your a convert. Welcome aboard

[Lord Wigglybottom]

Originally Posted by sounds7

Sounds like your a convert. Welcome aboard

I don't know about being a full-fledged convert but I'm definitely a believer now!

I do still like the occasional (relatively) tasteless aromatic - it's like spending quality time with some really awesome incense. One very strange thing I noticed about the Commonwealth tobacco is there was almost no nicotine feeling whatsoever. Within a few puffs of an aromatic I'll feel that familiar relaxation/mild head rush (I'm pretty sensitive to these effects) but Commonwealth all there was was the taste. Is this normal? I thought the "heavier" blends were supposed to pack a bit more of a punch.

[Lord Wigglybottom]

Well, I tried the 3 noggins tonight. Sorry Prof. Mike, but it tasted and smelled like an ash tray

I'm not sure why but it seemed an ill-fated bowl from first fill. It took me several tries just to get it to stay lit more than ten seconds, and at around the fifteen second mark, my cob was ready to hit critical mass the bowl was so hot. Any thoughts on this blend? Any tricks I might need to employ to help things work out a little better?

Currently typing this post on my ipod whilst finishing my bowl of commonwealth to calm my palate down a bit from the 3Noggins experience.

So the tally is as follows:

Commonwealth: as many thumbs up as I can give it.

3Noggins: thumbs down at this point, however I am going to try it in my other cob to see if my first one just doesn't like being smoked.

Asuka: haven't tried it yet - maybe later this week.

[sounds7]

Originally Posted by Lord Wigglybottom

Well, I tried the 3 noggins tonight. Sorry Prof. Mike, but it tasted and smelled like an ash tray

I'm not sure why but it seemed an ill-fated bowl from first fill. It took me several tries just to get it to stay lit more than ten seconds, and at around the fifteen second mark, my cob was ready to hit critical mass the bowl was so hot. Any thoughts on this blend? Any tricks I might need to employ to help things work out a little better?

Currently typing this post on my ipod whilst finishing my bowl of commonwealth to calm my palate down a bit from the 3Noggins experience.

So the tally is as follows:

Commonwealth: as many thumbs up as I can give it.

3Noggins: thumbs down at this point, however I am going to try it in my other cob to see if my first one just doesn't like being smoked.

Asuka: haven't tried it yet - maybe later this week.

You may give Penzance a try. Its like commonwealth but has orientals in it. Very smooth, very smokey.