Assistance With Tobacco Selection

[spoonman]

I'm looking for some advice on what tobacco to try next. I've found a place in Australia that sells 10g samples of tobacco and have tried the following so far:

Squadron Leader
Frog Morton
Samuel Gawith Navy Flake
Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake
Peterson Connoissuer's Choice

I was not a fan of the Navy Flake, Full Virginia Flake or Squadron Leader. Connoissuer's Choice was ok - it smelled a lot nicer than it tasted, and I really enjoyed the Frog Morton.

I'd love to hear the thoughts of the tobacco gurus on the forum about what to try next based on my experiences as described above. I have access to Samuel Gawith, McClelland, Peterson, Peter Stokkebye and the usual pouch tobaccos found everywhere.

Thanks in advance!

 

[johnmrson]

Would you care to share where it is? I'd love to try small samples of different tobbacos.

 

[Psicko]

10g samples sound awesome. Not sure if you didn't care for FVF because it is a VA, but if they have Sam Gawiths Best Brown Flake, give it a try I like it more than FVF. Try SG's balkan flake, Bob's chocolate flake is also good. I'm not sure of the selection of SG stuff. I would try everything you can from all brands. For McClellands I suggest 5100, 2015, and 5110 for bulk blends. Also give the McClellands grand oriental series a try. I have been impressed with every one in that series I have tried. I have not gotten into any of my peterson blends yet, so I can't personally chime in. I have heard many a people like them. As far as Peter Stokkeybe, I have tried the Luxury bullseye flake which is a va/per that is decent, and the luxury flake which is a va, which I didn't care for, but other people like them. I do like PS's balkan flake though. If carter hall is a usual pouch tobacco you can get, I say give that a shot.

To long didn't read version:
10g samples is awesome, try everything you can! Everybodies tastes are different. Only you will know if you like a blend if you try it.

 

[Blue Raccoon]

Presbyterian Mixture

 

[RobAtSGH]

On the McClelland side - if you like Frog Morton, give Frog Morton on the Town a try. It's similar, with the addition of a pleasant aromatic component. If you want more of the resin-y, smoky Oriental/Latakia profile, give Oriental Mixture No. 12 a try. Though you said you didn't like Squadron Leader, so more Latakia may not be your thing.

Your tastes seems to be away from predominantly Virginia tobaccos - is that because they bite you, or you don't like the flavors?

If you have access to MacBaren, try their Navy Flake, which is more burley-based, and may be more to your liking. It's a shame that Edgeworth Sliced has been discontinued, else I'd point you there as well.

 

[buyandhold2018]

Personal tastes vary widely, but I can tell you that the offerings from McClelland are my favorite tobaccos, I think because they taste the most natural to me... you may want to try 5100, Aurora, Beacon or some of their numbered Virginias.

 

[RobAtSGH]

Personal tastes vary widely, but I can tell you that the offerings from McClelland are my favorite tobaccos, I think because they taste the most natural to me... you may want to try 5100, Aurora, Beacon or some of their numbered Virginias.

5100 Red Cake is a great tobacco for demonstrating what aging does for Virginias. Buy some fresh outta the bag, and it's kinda malty/grassy in flavor. Put it away in a tightly sealed jar for 4-6 months, and it gets sweet, with fruity notes on top of that malty base.

Another good McClelland VA that's an incredibly mellow smoke is Dark Star and its bulk cousin, 2035 Dark Navy Flake.

 

[stroppy]

Interesting that the three you didn't really like are all from the same house. Perhaps you just don't get along with Samuel Gawith's style? It's not for everyone.

Your enjoyment of the rather unique Frog Morton tells that you're not adverse to Virginia's or Latakia or, for that matter, Mclelland's style so don't be afraid to go there. And I think that with a bit of perseverance you'll really appreciate Connoisseur's Choice. It's a great aromatic once you get to know it and I'd suggest you venture into this style a little more.

It's great that you can get samples the way you do. There are a lot of nice tobaccos out there and I hope you smoke as many as you possibly can.

 

[spoonman]

Thank you for the responses guys. After researching what was in each of the blends I had been trying and basing my next purchases on that, all I did was confuse myself! It seems that it's just a matter of trial and error.

@RobAtSGH - I was getting a bit of bite at first, but that was just my poor packing and smoking technique. After I got that sorted, I found I just didn't like the flavour. It seemed a little 'harsh' tasting, whereas the Frog Morton was a 'softer' smoke.

@johnmrson - the website is www.tobaccoblends.com.au. They have a shop in Frankston. They only do the samples of the imported tobacco, not the local pouch tobacco.

 

[RobAtSGH]

@RobAtSGH - I was getting a bit of bite at first, but that was just my poor packing and smoking technique. After I got that sorted, I found I just didn't like the flavour. It seemed a little 'harsh' tasting, whereas the Frog Morton was a 'softer' smoke.

I think that Dark Star or 2035 Dark Navy Flake would be a good next try for you, and maybe one of the McClelland green-label Orientals. Stokkebye Luxury Twist Flake might be a good choice for you as well, if you can get it.

Dark Star and the Twist Flake are both nicely mellow smokes.

 

[johnmrson]

Thank you for the responses guys. After researching what was in each of the blends I had been trying and basing my next purchases on that, all I did was confuse myself! It seems that it's just a matter of trial and error.

@RobAtSGH - I was getting a bit of bite at first, but that was just my poor packing and smoking technique. After I got that sorted, I found I just didn't like the flavour. It seemed a little 'harsh' tasting, whereas the Frog Morton was a 'softer' smoke.

@johnmrson - the website is www.tobaccoblends.com.au. They have a shop in Frankston. They only do the samples of the imported tobacco, not the local pouch tobacco.

Lol, fantastic. I grew up in Frankston. My Dad still lives down that way so I've got an extra reason to go and visit him now.
Thanks for the info.

 

[Captain Pete]

It's hard to go wrong with any of the McClelland offerings. Most of their Orientals (green tin) are pretty good, as well. If you can find the 221b series Black Shag by McClelland, you might give that a try.

 

[spoonman]

I thought I'd update my thread for the benefit of any other new pipe smokers. I found that as I smoked each blend a few more times my tastes changed a little. I really came around to SG Full Virginia Flake, and I began to enjoy Squadron Leader a little more. So based on that, I have since sampled the following:

SG Best Brown Flake
SG Grousemoor
Peter Stokkebye Optimum
McClelland Frog Morton Across The Pond
McClelland Mellow Mack
McClelland Three Cherry
McClelland Red Cake

The verdict? I found SG BBF to be a slightly more mellow, but slighty rougher version of FVF. Still enjoyable. I really enjoyed Grousemoor, and really, really enjoyed Mellow Mack. It was nice to find that there is an aromatic that still has plenty of mouth-feel. PS Optimum was disappointing - it didn't seem to have any taste or noticeable pleasant aroma. Three Cherry was severely disappointing, extremely synthetic tasting with quite an acrid aroma. Red Cake was just nice, nothing bad about it but nothing that really caught my attention. Frog Morton ATP was good, but I prefer Frog Morton Original.

In summary, I would buy full tins of FVF, Frog Morton, Mellow Mack and maybe Grousemoor. But why do that when there is more sampling to be done! Up next will be the following:

SG Firedance Flake
SG Chocolate Flake
McClelland 221B Arcadia
McClelland Oriental Mixture #2045

I've also got a Medico briar on the way with a blind buy tin of University Flake. It seems very popular around here and gets good reviews elsewhere so I thought I'd give it a go. I was also thinking of buying a pouch of WO Larsen Simply Unique - has anyone had any experience with this?

 

[jwhite]

Thanks for keeping us up to date. Keep posting I really enjoy reading about our members adventures in tobacciana.

 

[spoonman]

I gave University Flake a go last night - interesting, not quite what I was expecting. It's probably one of the stronger tobaccos I've tried, but I could pick up the berry flavouring. I just folded a flake into my pipe, so next time I might rub it out and see if that changes it a bit. I will reserve my judgement on University Flake until I've smoked it a few more times.

 

[Laney1566]

I might add that 5100 is a great blending tobacco. For a Virginia it is very mellow if you find the sugars in the Virginias to produce tongue bite.
I blend 7 parts 5100---7 parts ribbon burley and 2 parts Latakia and age it at least a year. Notice the parts equal 16 oz or 1 American pound. I don't do metric blending...lol

It can be smoked right away, but after a year the marriage of flavors produce a great smoke.