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Busy day today. Decided to change up what I’ve been smoking. I’m smoking C&D Steamworks in a vintage Stanwell HCA.
I understand some people got -- or think they got -- tins contaminated by mold, which perhaps affected the reputation of Steamworks, but I've had 3 tins so far, and no problems. Great stuff!
Filling up my cob with Mac Baren Vanilla Flake.
Dark Twist with coffee. Now Eileen's Dream with more coffee. Didn't get much sleep so today may end up being more focused on coffee then tobacco. I wonder if they could come up with a caffeinated tobacco blend?
Started with Irish Flake around midday, as I’m off work - see my post about blend strength schedules 😊 Then, after dinner, I had a bowl of Spaghetti Western. Each smoked in a different BriarWorks Classic.
I’m going to have another bowl soon, but can’t decide what. I’m tempted to pick one at random, but I know what it’s like to pick the “wrong” tobacco for a given time and place. More likely, I’ll spend a good 10-20 minutes perusing and mulling over the many fine blends I’ve accumulated, before hopefully picking the “right” one 😊
I’m not really in the mood for Latakia, so the Black Frigate that arrived today will have to wait. Instead, I’m going to try the other new-to-me blend, Capstan Yellow Navy Cut.
I’ve just finished the Yellow Navy Cut. It was excellent! I can recommend both, if you like straight Virginia flake tobacco.
Still crazy busy, a good busy though. Feeling a little flavor change up, I’m smoking C&D Billy Budd in a Mastro de Paja Rhodesian.
I'm back. Recovering from the flu. Haven't been able to smoke for a few days. Just getting back on my feet.
Smoking some Exhausted Rooster. Tastes wonderful.
Glad you’re back and recovering! The thread seemed like something was missing without you.
Still smoking Billy Budd in a Mastro de Paja Rhodesian. Feeling like I may be entering a Latakia phase for a little while.
Today i mixed a bit of burley with Blocade Runner and i´m quite happy with the result. Followed by hot coffee and milk.
I just could smoke a bowl of Pesse Canoe Latakia flake 40. Two months in the jar and still improving.
Weather here is infernal. Raining non stop with strong wind.
Review I tried to post... smoking now
Bennington TobacconistNo. 15 Balkan Mix
I'm the kinda smoker that loves McClelland's Yenidje Supreme without even smoking it -- the tin note alone transports me to the original James Bond film "From Russia With Love" -- a spy in Turkey, on the run from Russkies. (I like smoking it, too, and if you wonder why it's hard to find in vintage markets, blame me. I hoard Tudor Castle, too - another blend with Yenidje).
And, yep, No. 15 is as advertised - a Yenidje forward English. It reminds me of Peretti's Royal -- I wish I had some on hand to compare. Equally smooth, and maybe even more prominently Yenidje of very good quality.
I actually like it better than Germain's 1820 and King Charles, better than Gawith's Skiff Mixture. Those blends (the Germain's, anyway) seem more Latakia forward, perhaps, but to me kinda boring.
Burned really well right out of the bag. Got a bit smokier towards the bottom of the bowl, but there's enough Virginia in the blend to keep it sweet, and give a mild nic buzz. Gives the impression of being 100% tobacco - not a hint of licorice or menthol or anything. The Yenidje note lasts all the way down - which to me is a great thing.
I don't know how Bennington does it - how a one shop source can get properly processed and select leaf to compete with the big players. But this stuff is as good as any Orient-forward blends currently available that I ever tried (writing this in March 2024).
David P. Ehlrich imported briar - big ol' calabash shape
It’s a dark day, personally. In that I’m having to deal with some pretty awful things. And, it’s tough. But, that’s life.
Tobacco gives me momentary relief from the above, especially when I choose the right blend to smoke. In this regard, today has been a success so far. I started with The Patience of Dr. Silence. Now I’m enjoying Pipe Force, Episode VI.
Think I might try Black Frigate later. It’s been a while since I had some Latakia and this is a blend I’m curious to try, after so many glowing reports.
I feel for you. I have some crap in my life that just sucks..... but I do find solace and mindfulness in my pipe breaks. You said it, that's life. We push through and we persevere. Piping is such a great way to turn off the world for a bit and be present for the joys of the moment👍
Sorry it fas a black day for you. Pipe smoking help to relief and also to think for a possible solution.
In this case, there is no solution. The only productive thoughts are concerned with how to accept things and get the most out of life. Tobacco helps with that, at least.
Black Frigate, in a black pipe, on a rather black Friday.
Appropriate 😏
That was very, very good! I can understand others’ enthusiasm. It’s been a while since I had a Latakia blend. And even longer since I enjoyed one as much as that! I think I might just jump aboard Ted’s Latakia phase train for a while! 😄
😃 I’m still on the Lat. I’ll wear myself out with it in a few days probably, but I’m really enjoying it right now.
Peterson University Flake in the Pete 68.
Spicy up front, settles down to earthy and bready, light body but heck of a nic kick. Smoking it slow, rubbed it out. I like it, can taste both tobaccos easily. Have an Arnold Palmer handy with it.
Today I tried C&D Carolina Red Flake with Perique. The first half of the bowl was lackluster. The second half seemed to get more flavorful. I will need to smoke some more before I weigh in.
Yes, good idea! Try to have as clean a palate as possible before you smoke it. Maybe try it at different times of the day too.
I absolutely love it. A top ten tobacco for me 😊
That was what convinced me to get it. I will give a thorough effort. My taste buds get silly from time to time so they can't always be relied upon for an accurate first impression.
Yes, I know the feeling! I completely mis-tasted a blend Ted sent to me, recently, as I’d eaten a rather strong curry and was a bit drunk on various alcoholic beverages!! 😄
A fair tasting can only be carried out sober and with a clean palate, (i.e. without having had any strong flavours in your mouth for at least a few hours - including toothpaste and/or mouthwash 😊)
Started out with a non-Latakia blend, as I prefer Latakia in the evening. So, I had HU Tobacco’s Louisiana Broken, in the meerschaum bent apple. This blend consists of a mixture of Virginia, Perique and Kentucky, in broken flake form. Absolutely delicious!
Next up: Spark Plug 😊
I’ve only squeezed in one pipe of Solent Mixture this afternoon and won’t get a chance to smoke again until much later. Today is my former mother in law’s birthday. She passed away three years ago, but me, my ex wife and stepson get together for dinner each year on this day.
Last bowl of the night, Seattle Pipe Club, Plum Pudding Special Reserve, in a Stanwell H.C.Andersen Churchwarden. Preceded by a pinch of Sir Walter Scott’s Latakia blend snuff.
You got me curious about snuff. Not very popular in the US. I went to a Smoker Friendly (tobacco chain shop with a bit of everything), and they carried McCrystals. I tried the supermint- really neat but the mint blocked the flavor of my subsequent pipe. More experimentation is necessary.
Menthol/mint are popular, I reckon it’s because they’re used partly as a decongestant! 😄
Floral essences are also fairly popular. But, I prefer pure tobacco snuff, my favourite being Sir Walter Scott’s St. James Parish, (which, as the name suggests, is primarily a Perique blend). I wasn’t a fan of snuff until I discovered there was a world outside mint and menthol.
I'm up more or less today. I'm smoking some C&D Carolina Red Flake. It's my first time smoking it so I don't know what I think about it. Though it certainly isn't bad. I need to explore it more.
Back home and sticking with Solent Mixture for tonight. Just a straightforward good smoke.
On this last day of March and Easter Sunday I am keeping it simple, just Mithril and coffee.
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