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Michael Shawn Eaton
Member
Username: Xdipper
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 11:16 pm: | |
Wow! Thanks in large part to this site, I decided to have my inaugural fall burley fest and embark on an exploration of the various good old American classic burley blends. I'm not talking about the fancy smantsy stuff either, just those good old "drugstore" blends that Ward Cleaver (Beaver's Dad) probably smoked back in the day. My quest began with a large tub of Carter Hall. It is without doubt one of the best tobaccos I have smoked at any price in years. I'm sure that regardless of what else I smoke that I like, I will always rotate back to Carter Hall eventually.
Other tobaccos on my hit parade are:
Kentucky Club
Granger
Rum and Maple (this should be interesting as it was the first pipe tobacco I ever smoked)
Walnut
I'm also intrigued by several of the House of Windsor tobaccos. In recent months I've smoked a lot of English/Balkan blends so Country Doctor and the like seem like interesting possibilities.
Is it just me or have you guys found that over the years your tastes have changed? In days of old, I smoked almost exclusively aromatics. Now for some reason, I prefer stouter, more tobaccoey blends. I haven't totally sworn off aromatics and will still pick up a pouch every now and again for a change of pace but 95% of the time I just don't care much for tobacco that tastes like peaches, vanilla, cherries, etc.
Again guys thanks for the steer on these old burleys. They (at least CH) have proven to be a great best of both worlds. A stout natural blend that doesn't smell like burning tires (nothing against English/Balkan blends but...well suffice to say most of them taste much better than they smell) Coupled with affordable prices, ease of operation and the fact that they leave a really cool smell in my moustache and hey, I'm good to go. Which burley would you recommend I try next? |
Randy Hall
Member
Username: Randal_hall
Post Number: 27
Registered: 09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 12:31 am: | |
Keep us updated, I have been wanting to try some of the 'Old School' stuff for a while now. |
Harvey Click
Member
Username: Fafhrd
Post Number: 411
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 05:55 am: | |
Tell me what you think of Middleton Walnut, Michael. I think it's a true delight that deserves much more attention. And while you're on your drugstore Burley adventure, don't forget good ol' Prince Albert, the most burley Burley of them all. |
W Robert Timm
Member
Username: Wrtimm2
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 03:57 pm: | |
Michael,
Greetings from one newbie to another.
I am sorta like you in that I like the "drugstore" brands also, although the premium tobacco's are great too. I still like the aromatics in that when I smoke them the family doesn't B&C about the smoke. Sometimes lately they have even tried to guess what I'm Smoking!
One of the "fancy one that I have tried and am in the process of laying a stock of is McCranies Red Ribbon. To me, as simplistic as MY palate is, it tastes great like a Drug store type and has a great aroma to it, although nothing fancy. If you get a chance, try a tin of this, as I feel you may like it.
I also am on the hunt for the Phillip Morris tobacco, "Field & Stream." I'm not new to pipe smoking as I smoked one around 15-20 years ago and since went to cigarettes then back to cigars, now back to the "enjoyable smoke" of my pipes. I started on Field and Stream and now I understand it is being produced by someone else. I am trying to find it locally before I go and order it to see if it the same blend that I was so used to or if has changed for the worst. I hope that the former is true and not the latter.
Anyhoo, let us know how you quest goes and let me know your thoughts on the Red Ribbon if you get a chance to try it.
Keep on puffin'
Rob Timm |
Bryan Nolte
Member
Username: Revelation4me
Post Number: 131
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 07:25 pm: | |
Don't forget Sir Walter Raleigh! I keep a pouch of this around for Corn Cob Pipe Smokin' time...a classic which in certain circles, gets a bad rap. Every once in a while, I love to see the "blue smoke" Sir Walter puts out of my cob!...Happy Puffing!...Bryan |
Walter Wong
Member
Username: Moshee
Post Number: 88
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 09:45 pm: | |
Prince Albert used to be a staple of mine. Around a year ago, I purchased a tub of the stuff and only finished 3/4 of the tobac before I tossed it. For some reason, it tasted plastic and even had a bite to it. However, I bought a pouch of it today and the PA was like its old self. I'll hold judgement on it until I try a few more pouches before I buy it in quantity again. Incidentally, the little pouch cost $4.23 with the draconian taxes here in WA state.
I recently tried Granger, which along with Briggs and Edgeworth Ready Rubbed, was my staple before Prince Albert. Granger (as manufactured by Pinkerton today) was a horrible experience. While the aroma in the can brought back memories, the smoking experience did not. Granger bit considerably more than I remembered and it's taste was not as I remembered.
In my old age, I yearn for the tobaccos of the past but sadly, they may not be the same under their new manufacturers. I'm still trying to get up the courage to try the new renditions of Briggs and Edgeworth Ready Rubbed.
I've heard that C&D has a new blend that is patterned after Edgeworth Slices but I don't know the name. I'll probably try that once I figure it out. |
Michael Shawn Eaton
Member
Username: Xdipper
Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 10:28 pm: | |
I also took a long hiatus from pipe smoking I started in 78, joined the military and then was predominantly a dipper of Copenhagen for a number of years. In all those years I only made brief returns to pipes. Since joining civilized society, the cultural pressures of not being able to spit in an empty gatorade bottle have urged my return to the briar. It's been 2 months since I even thought about Copenhagen and I am back in full force with no intention of returning to spit tobacco. My next burley is likely to be either Rum and Maple or Granger. Will keep y'all posted. Cheers! |
Rich Henry
Member
Username: Rich_henry
Post Number: 63
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 04:31 am: | |
I'm an old cat. Been a pipe smoker for 41 yrs. In my humble opinion: Cornell & Diehl take me back to the "Drug Store". Good tobacco, good folks. "Mom & Pop" as it it gets these days. Happy smoking to all. |
herbert thompson
Member
Username: Hap_thompson
Post Number: 160
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 02:26 pm: | |
Michael, they've already been listed but the two that came to mind when I read your post were Prince Albert and Edgeworth Ready Rubbed. I haven't smoked Edgeworth in years but I keep the prince on hand.
Robert, Mcranies red ribbon,while not a burley, is a fine smoke.You might also try to get your hands on some Tom's Private Reserve...made from a crop of 1983 red virginia...it's a killer va. sorry to go off topic here Mel. Herb. |
Gary R. Thomason
Member
Username: Phantom55
Post Number: 257
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 07:30 am: | |
I agree with Rich, Cornell and Diehl produces tobacco blends more like the original drug store blends than the current renditions of these brands by the current manufacturers. |
Michael Shawn Eaton
Member
Username: Xdipper
Post Number: 21
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Friday, November 17, 2006 - 04:04 am: | |
OK, just an update, Since I started this thread I have tried Carter Hall, Rum and Maple, and Edgeworth RR. As you may have seen from my other thread, I even made a hybrid of the 3. I'm letting it age a little but occassionally dip into it. Amazingly of these three blends I have not found one that I don't like and don't plan on smoking regularly. Here are my notes on the three blends so far
Carter Hall: No-kidding burley, not very complex or fancy, no bite whatsoever. Some have compared it to cigarette tobacco but I disagree. It has the standard buttery, bread dough, burley taste. Every once in a while, a hint of a cigar taste emerges (not unpleasant, just enough to notice) but as quickly as you notice, it's gone and the standard burley taste comes back. Although I can't smell it while I'm smoking it, afterwards it makes my moustache smell like fresh dinner rolls so that's pretty cool
Rum and Maple: Very similar but also very different than Carter Hall. Rum and Maple is obviously not an aromatic and burley again is the star of the show. The casing on this one is a bit more pronounced. The taste is sweeter and my wife will pretend not to notice when I smoke this in the garage so the room not must be decent. The maple? taste is a bit more noticeable than the presumably absent rum. Of the three if I had to pick my breakfast blend, this would be it. Although it is a great all day smoke that seems crowd compatible. It's a bit more particular than either Carter Hall or Edgeworth and will get rather bitey and weedy tasting if smoked too fast or packed too loosely.
Edgeworth RR: This brings to the table a whole other facet of burley goodness. It doesn't share much in common with either of the previous two. Upon opening my 14 ounce tub, I thought I had purchased a can of Grape Nuts! Appearences aside though this was a fine smoke. The casing was and can aroma was something that took a bit of searching to get to but then it came to me- Cocoa Mix. Not cloying, sickening sweet like an aromatic, just a hint of it to keep you guessing. It's a different sort of taste almost a bitter chocolate nutty kind of taste but again the chocolate part is very subtle. There's a body and complexity to this one that make it stand alone in my first three experiences. It's not necessarily better or worse than the other two, just different.
All three will be in my regular rotation for the forseeable future, I can't pick a favorite but I have definite moods to smoke all of the three.
Next Up: Walnut, Granger, Field and Stream |
Michael Shawn Eaton
Member
Username: Xdipper
Post Number: 22
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 05:12 am: | |
The burley safari continues. I took a little side jaunt sampling Kentucky Club Mixture (box says aromatic but I say just a cased burley), and a hybrid consisting of 2 parts half and half, 1 part Prince Albert and 1 part Carter Hall, I've also tried Sir Walter Aromatic. My comments on all.
Kentucky Club Mixture: This stuff rules, While not an aromatic, it's got a bit more complex room note than your "standard" old school burlies. It's a smooth burley very suitable for any time of the day or night but especially good early in the day. This one has made the cut and will be part of my regular rotation. Pipe weed that smells good but has the body, nicotine and taste of tobacco. A beautiful thing.
The hybrid was also outstanding. IMHO half and half by itself is a tongue melter that tastes very weedy and burns very hot. In this hybrid however all of these blends come together synergistically and the slight virginia content of the half and half make for a little diversity from the monochromatic burley taste. This stuff is really good and while not as sweet or heavily flavored as some, the room note is nice, the taste is full and just really enjoyable, a set it and forget it tobacco ideal for yard work, fishing or quite sedentary reflection. A fantastic general purpose blend with a solid spot in my regular rotation (cheap and easy to blend too)
Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic- This is a tough one, I can't point to one bad thing about this blend it was a smooth smoke with a nice room note and a fair taste. There was just something in the casing of this one that made it not my cup of tea. It's not a horrible tobacco but it just did not seem to grab hold of me like the others. This, like rum and maple have made the once in a while when the spirit moves me and my "try this" list is done |
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