Thoughts on Carter Hall

[afilter]

I have seen this blend recommended to new smokers here in the forum many times. I had never really noticed it before myself. I had to stop by and pick up some lighter fuel today and noticed Carter Hall on the shelf, so I decided what the heck I will give it a try. I loaded up a meer for the drive home.

I have to say I was not impressed. No bite, which is why it may be good for newbies, but it was just bland and kind of blah.

Have my tastes been spoiled by finer and stronger baccy that I just do not appreciate it? Is there something I am missing or do others feel the same way?

Thoughts?

[dj1340]

I personaly like Half & Half. Has a very clean nutty taste, very smooth.

[Zeabed]

I use it mainly as a mixing blend myself. Specifically, to tone down high nic blends a bit. By itself, it's a bit chaffy.

[DSturg369]

Myself, I like Carter Hall, both by itself and as a mixer. I taste a lightly sweet and all burley flavor.

[afilter]

I will give it a try again at some point. I just did not notice much flavor at all just a hint of an odd woody after taste.

Captain black was one of the first baccy I ever tried and aside from being too moist(syrupy) it had a very nice taste, this was just kind of there.

I did have some SL in the morning, next time I will try it when I have not smoked anything for a day or so.

[viking12344]

I find this and Prince Albert very similar with Carter Hall being the sweeter of the two. I smoke Prince Albert all day long at work as its, imo a great work tobacco. Once you light it, it stays lit. The taste is pleasurable but not too complicated and it has low tounge bite IMO.

[MarkC]

Well, it just so happens I have a bowl of Carter Hall going right now. No, it's not a flavor powerhouse; it's pretty mellow. I guess "inoffensive" is the word. A little sweetness, a little burley flavor, but not a whole lot going on. On the other hand, it tastes like tobacco to me; I wouldn't smoke Capt. Black on a bet, but that's just me. Different strokes and all that. Carter Hall is just my go to drugstore brand, not my favorite tobacco. But, I'm out of English, my order won't be here until freakin' Wednesday for cryin' out loud grumble grumble, and I just don't feel like smoking a VaPer right now. So I guess my reason for liking Carter Hall is pretty much the same as your reason for not liking it, afilter...

[KevinV]

I wouldn't say you're "spoiled", it just comes down to personal taste. I've been smoking for 28 years and prefer Prince Albert over all other tobacco with Carter Hall coming in a close second. It's not due to a lack of experience or because I'm a newbie, it's just my preference. I like the taste of burley without the overwhelming taste of artificial casings...PA and CH deliver that well. If you prefer the taste of Virginias or otherwise, you'll move in that direction. Same with beers. I prefer medium lagers, others prefer wheat ales, etc. It's a matter of what pleases your palate.

I do however consider myself fortunate to have my preferred blend readily available to me at a reasonable price (until recently in FL that is) wherever I go.

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by KevinV

I wouldn't say you're "spoiled", it just comes down to personal taste. I ..... prefer Prince Albert over all other tobacco with Carter Hall coming in a close second, it's just my preference. I like the taste of burley without the overwhelming taste of artificial casings...PA and CH deliver that well. If you prefer the taste of Virginias or otherwise, you'll move in that direction. It's a matter of what pleases your palate.

I do however consider myself fortunate to have my preferred blend readily available to me at a reasonable price ..... wherever I go.

Edited just a tad for me, but I agree completely with this. Kev

[sounds7]

If you are a person who prefers a stronger tobacco such as something from the Virginia or English camp you are not likely to find the mellow burley tobaccos all that appealing. There are some exceptions though. My personal opinion however is that drug store tobaccos have too many additives and I am not one to smoke a filter pipe. One additive I would really try to steer away from is propylene glycol (common referred to as "PG"). This is , essentially, antifreeze, and is used as a medium for delivering the flavoring agents in aromatics, as well as for its properties as a humectant to keep cheap, bulk-manufactured tobacco moist longer. It also effects the flavor and smoking properties of tobacco, and makes it generally unpleasant. It's a little hard to detect PG in a tobacco without smoking it, unfortunately. Ever notice how your drug store blend gets bitter at pipes end? Bingo! anyway I try to avoid buying tobacco that comes in a pouch but there are also plenty of tinned tobaccos that have PG in them, but these tend to be easier to spot, based on price.


http://www.ndp.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/7573/$File/swedish-match-pipe-08.pdf

http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk...itiveslist.pdf

For a good Burley may I suggest "Mac Baren golden extra" which is a very smooth and tasty smoke when I want a Burley.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by afilter

I have seen this blend recommended to new smokers here in the forum many times. I had never really noticed it before myself. I had to stop by and pick up some lighter fuel today and noticed Carter Hall on the shelf, so I decided what the heck I will give it a try. I loaded up a meer for the drive home.

I have to say I was not impressed. No bite, which is why it may be good for newbies, but it was just bland and kind of blah.

Have my tastes been spoiled by finer and stronger baccy that I just do not appreciate it? Is there something I am missing or do others feel the same way?

Thoughts?

I couldn't agree more. It has its followers, I'm just not one of them

[sounds7]

Another Burley which is high on my list.
Solani Aged Burley Flake

[RichieR]

Lately, I've been saying really nice things about CH after smoking up a 2 oz sample. I went and purchased a 14 oz tub, but the tub version is not as good as the 2 oz sample. Not sure what the deal is, but the sample was more alive then what I am smoking now.

Next time I make an order, I'll probably pick up another 2oz sample in order to figure out what is going on. If the 2oz sample continues to impress, then I'll stick to that, and refrain from buying any more tubs of this stuff.

In order to give my tub version of CH a little more life, I've been adding tiny amounts of McConnell's latakia, or their perique, and I quite like it that way.

I hate it when this happens. I used to be a huge MacB Plumb Cake fan when I used to smoke it out of the pouch, but when I smoked it from the tin, it was horrible.

Now I have to retract past statements that CH could compete with my high-end blends. Well maybe the bulk version can still compete, but not what I am currently smoking, out of this bottomless 14 oz tub.

[Mister Moo]

I bought a tub of CH at JR's yerterday - $19.50, I think it was - along with some comparatively deviant lakeland blends.

What can I say? It's like a palate-cleansing sorbet between courses. I like a lot of different things but CH and a cob is a combo that, on some days, can't be beat. Tasty, great room-aroma (other folks say), easy to fill, easy to burn and for some reason it sparkles in a corncob pipe. Puff-puff.

[AcworthAl]

I smoke both CH and PA, mainly in the morning when I am not ready for a heavy blend. Typically, my first smoke in the AM is Five Brothers in a Cob. Then either CH or PA. A richer burley is Blue Grass Melody, it is more flavorable that either CH or PA