Pipe tobacco recommendations (Sweeter, non-aromatic/burley)

[WilliamIam]

I smoke and thoroughly enjoy Backwoods "Wild N Mild" cigarillos, and have tried a few blends of pipe tobacco made by a local tobacconist. The only problem is that ...they're special blends I can't find anywhere else

1) Are there commonly available tobaccos that have a darker, sweeter flavor? I find that mostly burley tobaccos are not to my liking. I think some straight out black cavendish would be to my liking, but the last place I looked only had a 2-lb bag O.O I've smoked a little Captain Black plain (no subtype) and it's just way too light for my liking.

2) I'm not opposed to some added flavoring, but I really like the natural sugars. Are there other captain black or similar blends I can get that have more natural sugar to them? I don't believe I like the "aromatic" labels. I really like the brazilia cigars by CAO.

The description for the wild n mild includes "aged and sweated for over a year". I believe this is the taste I like the most.

thanks,
William, the occasional pipe smoker.

 

[jwhite]

Well in the piping world the black and mild tobacco would be considered very much an aromatic as would Cap'n Black. That being said the are many quality aroes that aren't super heavy on the toppings, provide good flavor, and don't goop up a bowl. I don't smoke a lot of the grocery store blends but if that is what you're looking for in terms of availability. Try Prince Albert original crimp cut or Walnut, they should be available in most stores and discount smoker type outlets. I'd try the discount place first as they'll have the best price and may have both, mine does. If you want to order online try Cornell & Diehl Autumn Evening it's a red virginia with a mild maple topping it doesn't bite and is a huge step up from drugstore blends. Sense you mentioned strength and burlies I think you might like Gawith and Hoggarth rum flake or Bobs Chocolate Flake. Both are predominately burly blends with some VA and condiment leaf that is not over sweetened with a nice scent. Don't be intimidated by flake cut tobacco the G&H flakes rub out easily and you can load you're pipe as usual. If you want let me know and I'll hook you up with some links for online shopping. Hope this helps.

 

[WilliamIam]

Hey thanks for the response. I'm still finding out what I do like.

I don't particularly like the black and mild blends. The tobacco is too.. low in flavor and too acidic for my liking. I was referring to the Wild and Mild Black and Sweet Backwoods cigars reviewed here: http://www.epinions.com/review/Backwoods_Black_N_Sweet/content_497095970436

Are they still aromatic? because I like the sweet and dark flavor. I've tried others by the same brand and they're just... Not sweet and dark enough. That's why I was thinking I don't particularly like the aromatics.

I picked out only the darker chunks from my captain black one time and realized I only like that part of it - and not the yellow, light colored tobacco.

Does that make any difference, or do I need to rtfm? And in that case, where is tfm?

William

 

[jwhite]

The backwoods are definitely aromatic cigars, not that there's anything wrong with that.
I think you'll find the spectrum of pipe tobacco pretty broad, both in terms of quality and style. The black bits in captain black are a dutch style Cavendish which is steamed burly till its black, and is widely used to carry the toppings and sweetening agent of an aromatic blend. It's a process to smooth out and make smokeable fairly low grade leaf, as it has little flavor on its own it is a good candidate for flavoring. There are high-grade cousins in which good whole leaf is layered in a cake, pressed and heated darkening the leaf and allowing the natural sugars develop more of the flavor profile. While not as heavily topped the two flakes mentioned above are of the latter type. The lighter bits in CB are light burly and a little bright virginia, again not great quality and are useful as blending components to add a bit of nicotine and help the burning characteristics of the blend. Sense you mentioned you enjoy CAO Brazilians you could probably do with a more full bodied smoke I'd recommend the G&H Bobs Chocolate I mentioned earlier. Its satisfying without being overwhelming, dark sweet and smoky, and a pretty dark flake. Id also recommend Rattray's Marlin Flake a very tasty dark pressed Virginia sweet and rich without much added flavor. I think once you get the hang of getting the flakes dried to a suitable moisture level for your tastes, rubbing them out, and loading you pipe you'll wonder why you ever spent your time on others. I'm running the risk of writing a treatise on the subject so I'll stop here. But there is just a ton of info on the subject.

You should consider checking out the pipe smokers social group as I'm sure others could offer thier 2c as well.

 

[auk1124]

Does Rattray still make Old Gowrie? If so you might pick up a bit of it some time and try it. I actually liked it a little better than Marlin Flake although everyone thought I was weird. One of my favorite drugstore smokes was "Maple" if I remember the name right - drugstore burley with a maple topping. But then I just loved burleys.

Carter Hall in a cob is a truly wonderful thing. Any pipesmoker out there owes it to himself to spend a summer night on the back porch with a jug of good whiskey, a cob, and a pouch of Carter Hall.

 

[jwhite]

Does Rattray still make Old Gowrie?

yes they do.

 

[ouch]

I'd suggest www.tobaccoreviews.com for a wealth of information.

 

[WilliamIam]

I'd been there, and there is lots of info, but I don't see a way to easily navigate without being too focused if you will. That's why I came here. Much easier and faster to ask someone who knows than go reinvent the wheel.
Will

 

[jwhite]

Asking other pipe smokers is a good idea, you can then use the suggestions you receive and go to learn others opinions of those blends at tobaccoreviews.com.

 

[ouch]

Short version, eh?

Only smoke real tobacco, nothing flavored.
There are two main categories- Virginias and latakia blends. For the former, choose Rattray, Esoterica, Astleys, McClelland, Fribourg & Treyer, Reiner, S. Gawith, or Gawith Hoggarth. For the latter, choose G. L. Pease and a few others.

 

[WilliamIam]

Thankee sir. That's a lot more concise. I was looking more for a place to start than where to go next - which was the problem with tobaccoreviews. Too much detail at this point.

Whenever payday is, I'm going to find something richer than captain black to smoke!

William

 

[jwhite]

Good deal! Let us know what you get and what you think of it once you've tried a couple more blends it becomes easier to get others opinions as you can use them for comparison, if that makes any sense.

 

[plexibass]

You should also join over at www.smokersforums.co.uk. Plenty of tobacco info as well as super nice folks. I'm plexibass over there as well.