| Author | Message | ||
     Ben Wadler Member Username: Benny Post Number: 13 Registered: 06-2006 |
Hey guys, Lately I have been enjoying a few blends which are English-like in charachter, but not technically English blends, as they depart from the Virginia-Latakia-Perique formula. They each throw something different in the there: De la Concha's WARHORSE rounds it out with burley. Connoisuer's MEDIUM #2 deepns it with a black cavendish. Barclay's MAIDEN LANE takes it up a notch with some sharp turkish action. Im wondering if anyone else is into these blends, and if so what they might recommend for someone like me, who doesn't get into the other heavy Englishes so much. I would figure that VA/PER blend might be a nice alternative for me, but the ones that Ive tried (Solani, and Pease's Telegraph Hill) lost their flavor on me, and turn kind of funky halfway through (kind of like my old aromatics used to). Anyway, I appreciate and recommendations, and happy smoking Ben | ||
| Robert Bittner Member Username: Rmbittner Post Number: 170 Registered: 01-2005 |
Ben: Since I'm pretty sensitive to perique in a blend, I'll quibble with your characterization of English blends as following a Virginia-Latakia-Perique formula. Some of the richest blends do contain all three elements. But I'd step out on a limb and say that most English blends do *not* include perique but do also contain some Turkish/Oriental tobaccos for spice. Since I don't know what it is about the V-L-P blends that doesn't appeal, I'm a little unsure what kind of recommendations to make. But if you like the "sharp Turkish action" of Maiden Lane (which I haven't tried), you might be interested in exploring Balkan blends, which tend to give more weight to the Orientals. I'm into a tin of Pease's Charing Cross now, which is a good, middle-weight Balkan; his Odyssey, a "full Balkan," is probably his most popular Balkan. Presbyterian Mixture is another Balkan you might enjoy. (It's in my to-be-smoked stash for this year.) Since you're leaning toward Va/Per blends, I'm going to assume that the element that makes traditional English blends "heavy" to you might actually be latakia. If that's the case, you really might enjoy the English blends that include Syrian latakia (as opposed to the more typical Cyprian variety). Syrian is lighter, fruitier (assuming latakia can ever be fruity!), and, for me, utterly bedazzling. If that sounds appealing, McLelland's Syrian Full Balkan is good, although it didn't seem as "full" as I'd hoped. (But that may be just the thing you're looking for.) You might also want to seek out MacBaren's fairly new HH Vintage Syrian blend. Along different lines, Dunhill's 965 is a popular English that also includes cavendish, like your Medium #2. Finally, I can't help putting in a plug for Penzance, which is English but in its own truly unique style. Love it. Hope that helps! Bob | ||
| David Dorn Member Username: Tacoeatingzebra Post Number: 80 Registered: 05-2006 |
Va/Lat/Perique... aren't those the components of nightcap? i mean i've never detected non-latakia orientals when smoking the stuff, but i could be wrong. | ||
| David Dorn Member Username: Tacoeatingzebra Post Number: 81 Registered: 05-2006 |
oh... and also a very good VA/Perique blend that i highly recommend is Pease's Fillmore. I am primarily a smoker of english/balkan blends, but fillmore is an amazingly good diversion. also esoterica's dunbar is top notch and almost as good. | ||
| Walter Wong Member Username: Moshee Post Number: 100 Registered: 01-2006 |
I favor Count Pulaski which I would classify as an American-English due to the burley component in the blend. The Count is medium bodied when compared to Penzance or Lancer's Slices in the latakia department. The Count is, IMHO, also a sweeter smoke. Count Pulaski is available from Pipes and Cigars for a mere $17.89/lb. Don't let the price or the fact that the Count is an Altadis blend fool you. It is one good bite free smoke. | ||
| Amos Manchild Member Username: Lobo Post Number: 60 Registered: 04-2005 |
I agree with David's Latakia-less Va/Per suggestions, but for a Va/Per/Bur with some turkish consider C&D's good to the last puff Night Train (turkish is not listed but Craig Tarler assured me it's in there.) You might enjoy adding about 10% turkish to the Va/Pers you have and see if doing that eliminates the loss of flavor and the "funkynes." | ||
| smokey strodtman Member Username: Smokey422 Post Number: 399 Registered: 08-2005 |
A tobacco you might like is Cornell&Diehl's #416 Plantation Evening. It's a medium English with aged VAs, Latakia, Perique, and a little Turkish. For a good Balkan, try Pipes and Cigars' Ten to Midnight or Larry's Blend. |