The Dark Side!!

Subject: The Dark Side!! Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:11 pm

Aromatics, they're almost like the dirty little secret. Most guys start off there and are led away by fellow BOBs who (correctly) point out that the better quality pure tobaccos are found elsewhere and that flavor can be found in fine, genteel blends that have pedigree and are spoken of with reverence in certain circles, circles the new disciple is encouraged to seek out.

Don't smoke that son, you'll go blind! Evil or Very Mad

But I like it rabbit

It's like telling a boy that he'll get much more satisfaction later in life with some hard work and an upstanding woman of good repute than he will spending time out in the woodshed with a pin-up of Jane Mansfield. True enough, but hell, as long as nobody's lookin....... pig

Good ol Jane! What self respecting gent'man doesn't pine for the good ol days of pin-ups and instant gratification with restraint cheers

And so it is for the seasoned pipesmoker and the lure of aromatics. I'm not talking Peach Melba Deluxe or Juicy Fruit Burley here but the old timey, fine smelling aro's that take you back to yesteryear, the stuff that smells so damned good you still want to smoke it eventhough you know it will never taste as good as it should. I suffer from this malady (gladly) and though I do have a few very nice pipes and a cellar full of respectable and tasty tobaccos, I still have this little corner set aside for pin-up art; a couple of dedicated pipes and a pouch or two of great smelling aromatic tobaccos

PB said something the other day that rings so true so often, [para] that seeking out a really good tasting aromatic can be an exercise in futility and anguish, a frustrating situation to say the least. I think it's simply the nature of the tobaccos used, either overly manufactured bitey crud topped with sauce or steamed-to-death dark stuff boiled in vanilla. It's enough to make a grown man cry Sad

Can't they just come up with a rich, dark earthy tobacco that puts out a satisfying aroma and also gives us a bit of something tasty to chew on? Does it all have to be Pit Bull bite or tasteless stew?

I've managed to find a patch of sorts that works well enough for me, stumbled on it in one of those little bursts of "Couldn't hurt to try". I like the Tinder Box, love going in there and smelling the glass jars filled with blends that sound wonderful (Fireside blend, North Sea, Lamplighter etc) and smell like something Gramps would smoke - smells that should be enjoyed on warm evenings outside when the world grows quiet and crickets and frogs dominate the choir of night sounds. Now, these blends produce a hollow stewed air kind of taste with a hint of what you'd hoped for when you buried your shnoz in the jar; a ghost of what they should be, lacking body and any kind of chewy mouth feel. If, however, you add some Gawith rope...... Twisted Evil

I have this bag of Fireside, a not too sweet, old timey smelling aro from TB, and PB's recent plight got me wanting to revisit it. I was in mid bowl of disapointment-town when it struck me, if only there were some leaf of substance and body in here.... Wait a minute, there's that inch long chunk of rope from the box pass.....

It works pretty darned well! Suddenly the stuff has body as well as smell, and there's some frickin taste there! I scissored the whole thing and added it to about an ounce of the Aro and whaddaya know, a pretty darn good smoking experience Very Happy

I'm not gonna sit here and pull your chain and tell you it's great or anything, but you know what? It's pretty damn good! Better than just about any aro I've smoked thus far. No bite (the TB blend is pretty stewed stuff) and some solid tobacco taste there. Oh sure, the hollow cavendish taste still floats around a bit, but it's matched with a good bit of body and it works!

So if you're inclined to sneak out to the woodshed from time to time and peek at the ol pin-ups of Jane, grab yourself some rope and a good smelling aro and don't be afraid to live a little Laughing

And don't ban me for this, I'm on medication geek

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These are horrible times and all sorts of horrible people are prospering, but we must never let this disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to annoy and hinder them at every turn.
I BLATANTLY ENDORSE

Subject: Re: The Dark Side!! Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:23 pm

Great post PD and awfully man of you for com'in out of the closet like that! Laughing

That being said and after reading your post.....you have got to try the Troutstream when you get the east coast box. An amazing aromatic that actually tastes a lot like the pouch aroma. As you put it, something that you can chew on!
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Joined : 27 Dec 2007 Posts : 53 Location : Minnesnowta

I'll second what Justpipes said, Troutstream is a good aro. Of course I'm an unabashed aro (also) smoker, so I'm partly heathen. Very Happy

I like MacBaren- Honey & Chocolate, PS Royal Guard Rum, and Bjarnes - The Special One to name a few.
_________________
-Jeff

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
-- Thomas Jefferson

Subject: Re: The Dark Side!! Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:27 pm

Good, no, "Candidate for monthly Hall of Fame", Post, PD.

I put a tin of Black Cherry (C&D I believe) in the Jeep and have been enjoying it. I smoke it in a "lat" pipe. No tongue bite. Burns nicely.

Very Happy

Paul
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"Manny changing the attitude in the clubhouse. It's like hearing that Pope Benedict XVI had 'em rolling in the aisles with his stand-up routine at the Vatican." -Dan Shaughnessy

Joined : 11 Mar 2008 Posts : 15

I'm waiting for some more aromatics to be added to the Hearth and Home series myself. Good idea though using some rope to fortify that weak aromatic!

Subject: Re: The Dark Side!! Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:15 pm

Subject: Re: The Dark Side!! Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:06 pm

Took a while to get around to sayin so, but thats a great post PD. I have been wondering how I should go about adding some body to aros, was afraid if I asked on one of the forums I would be accused of bein out in the woodshed in secret, but hell, she SHMBO doesn't mind, aned in fact enjoys it long as I don't spend tommuch time if ya know what I mean Wink

Bd

Never Forget!

Subject: Re: The Dark Side!! Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:07 pm

YUCK!!!

Ken
Pacem en Puffing! tongue

From The Northest Kingdom!! tongue

Joined : 27 Dec 2007 Posts : 117

I have smoked aro's for years
1Q mixed with CarterHall is great

Then I have blackberry winter from Justforhim--tastes just like blackberry pie.
Lanes TK6

All these have good taste to me

Subject: Re: The Dark Side!! Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:28 pm