I will be the aromatic snob

[bazsup]

Aromatics are probably 60% of my tobacco use. I love the Boswell Green Tea and enjoy the Berry Cobler. I also enjoy Escudo and recently have enjoyed Luxury Bullseye Flake. I like the variety. I lean more to the aros in the warm weather.

Smoke what you enjoy, and enjoy what you smoke.

 

[happypipester]

I think that aromatics most definitely have a place (and, as others have mentioned, a very substantial place) in the pipe smoking world. It's largely a matter of personal preference when it comes down to it.

That said, I almost never smoke aromatics, but I do keep some around. MacBaren's Honey and Chocolate is a favorite. I would really like to try some of the Boswell's aro's at some point, they must have something pretty good going on.


Cheers!
HP

 

[adauria]

I'm basically an aro smoker. Smells good, tastes good, score one for me. Trout Stream is my preferred blend. I just opened my first can of Autumn Evening this evening and was like, "Wow!" When I opened it I almost took a little bite it smelled so good. Smoked to the dottle with one light. It was much drier than I anticipated. Not a goopy mess. The taste matched the smell, too. It will be my #3 favorite after Trout Stream and the Pipeworks & Wilke #191 mix.

Autumn Evening is one of my short list aromatics that I actually enjoy. It's a real quality smoke all around.

-Andrew

 

[Bullwinkle]

Autumn Evening this evening and was like, "Wow!" Amen!

Autumn Evening, Sundays Fantasy, Firedance Flake & Sunset Breeze are on my short list of Aro's to keep in stock.

 

[SocWorkerSmoker]

Bullwinkle - I so wanted to like Autumn Evening. I just could not get into it. The taste was to bitter, reminded me of cigarettes. I am wondering if I need to give it another try. For an aro, have you tried Captain Cool? By far my favorite. Not to sweet, perfect taste, great all day aro smoke.

:cheers:
SWS

 

[jj1015]

The biggest problem I have here is defining an aromatic, and apparently I'm not alone. This problem is made even more acute if I'm to take seriously GL Pease's assertion that virtually ALL tobaccos (even supposedly "pure" Vas) have some flavoring added to them. And that's not even getting into the question of whether Lakelands or English blends like 965, which has cavendish, are technically aros ... One could also be REALLY contrary and ask how latakia can be considered a natural tobacco flavor, since it's enhanced by the various spices that are added during the smoking/curing process, but perhaps that's carrying it a bit too far ....

That being said, I would agree with those who say there are some quality American aromatics on the market. Not many, perhaps, but they are out there. Autumn Evening is the first to leap to mind, but others have already pointed it out. Captain Cool by McLelland is basically a premium version of Capt. Black, and I gladly go through a tin every year or two.

Pennington Gap, Classic Burley Kake and Shortcut to Mushrooms are also superlative smokes, IMO. If you count some of the lightly flavored American-English blends as aros, then both Epiphany and Gatlin-Burley should probably be listed as top-shelf tobaccos. Haddo's Delight and Barbary Coast are (if I remember correctly) flavored with spirits, and many people believe that both the distinctive sweetness of the Frog Morton series as well as the famous "ketchup" signature attached to many McClellands blends are in fact the products of some kind of artificial flavoring (I don't believe that's the case, but since I have no way to know for sure I figured I'd throw it out there, as well, given the split opinions seen on TR).

In short, it seems to me there are a great many nice aros out there, at least so long as you stay away from stuff like Capt. Black. But even that is just my opinion, as many smokers really like stuff like 1Q and others (such as myself) really enjoyed them way back when we first picked up a pipe.

 

[brentona]

Aromatics, FWIW are an appropriate public smoke for me.
I also find myself going back to Stanwell Melange if I'm in the mood for something sweet. It was the first tinned tobacco I bought, so I'm not sure if it's sentimental or not...
That being said, I haven't smoked good ole Melange in 2 months or so.

I'm too hung up on my delicious GLP and McClelland Englishes to take notice of other things.

 

[scottbtdmb]

The biggest problem I have here is defining an aromatic, and apparently I'm not alone. This problem is made even more acute if I'm to take seriously GL Pease's assertion that virtually ALL tobaccos (even supposedly "pure" Vas) have some flavoring added to them. And that's not even getting into the question of whether Lakelands or English blends like 965, which has cavendish, are technically aros ... One could also be REALLY contrary and ask how latakia can be considered a natural tobacco flavor, since it's enhanced by the various spices that are added during the smoking/curing process, but perhaps that's carrying it a bit too far ....

That being said, I would agree with those who say there are some quality American aromatics on the market. Not many, perhaps, but they are out there. Autumn Evening is the first to leap to mind, but others have already pointed it out. Captain Cool by McLelland is basically a premium version of Capt. Black, and I gladly go through a tin every year or two.

Pennington Gap, Classic Burley Kake and Shortcut to Mushrooms are also superlative smokes, IMO. If you count some of the lightly flavored American-English blends as aros, then both Epiphany and Gatlin-Burley should probably be listed as top-shelf tobaccos. Haddo's Delight and Barbary Coast are (if I remember correctly) flavored with spirits, and many people believe that both the distinctive sweetness of the Frog Morton series as well as the famous "ketchup" signature attached to many McClellands blends are in fact the products of some kind of artificial flavoring (I don't believe that's the case, but since I have no way to know for sure I figured I'd throw it out there, as well, given the split opinions seen on TR).

In short, it seems to me there are a great many nice aros out there, at least so long as you stay away from stuff like Capt. Black. But even that is just my opinion, as many smokers really like stuff like 1Q and others (such as myself) really enjoyed them way back when we first picked up a pipe.

Shortcut to Mushrooms, LOL, I gotta try that blend. Maybe I will smoke a bowl of it and get to meet the ghost of Alfred Dunhill :lol:

 

[Falconer]

It's kind of funny. You can smoke a cigar and nobody says anything. Light up a pipe of aro and you'll get comments every time. Either they like the smell or compain it's too overpowering. Once as an experiment in a casino I cut an inch off a cigar and put it in my pie. It wasn't two minutes before an old lady came over and said. "That stinks". Then management told me no pipes are allowed. Truth is my Jobey didn't like it much either.

 

[jacko]

Just a few observations from a new pipe smoker. First I think the history of aromatics makes the perception they are a less of a serious smoke, possible juvenile. Pipe smoking is a sophisticated past time and lighting a hand cut pipe with peaches and cream just seems to loose something. That being said if you take a look at all Peterson's special blends in the past few years they would all be classified as aromatics (even thought they don't directly market as such). I have purchased a few of these (Summertime 2010, 2010, 2009 L.E.) which I have found all to be amazing smokes (once allowed to breath). My question is why would the juggernaut of pipe companies only produce aro blends?

Frankly as we move away from easily accessible pipe tobaccos at our local stores which purposely attempt to persuade minors into smoking with flavored blends to independent companies existing mostly online, I think the lines will continue to blur to the point where it will be impossible to differentiate...

 

[gandalfpc]

I have seen "Peachy Scrap" chewing tobacco on ebay from time to time - always wanted to try a peach tobacco

The new Peterson Summer 2010 blend pointed out by another Bob'er sounds like just the ticket - two tins on the way

 

[fmw]

I feel exactly the same about aromatics as the original poster, apart from the part about being worthy. Who cares? Some people feel exactly the same about Latakia as you do about aromatics. In fact, Latakia and even Perique has been called aromatic in a different context. See the G.L. Pease FAQ (as mentioned by jj1015) for more about casings, although casings don't necessarily make an aromatic, of course.

My personal take is that you can draw a parallel to menthol cigarettes. Aromatics replace a more natural flavor with an artificial one, which appeals to people that either don't care for the natural tobacco taste or simply prefer the artificial aroma. They make the tobacco more accessible and this explains the popularity, just like with many foods and beverages. One could say that a "serious smoker" is someone that appreciates the tobacco as it is and doesn't want it disguised as something that it isn't. At the same time smoking isn't just about taste, but also about the rituals and relaxation and that experience is universal.

Personally, the casings on tobaccos like Rainer Long Golden Flake and Davidoff Royalty are the limit of what I can stand. I even go as far as considering LGF as somewhat of an aromatic within the range of the tobaccos I have in my very modest cellar. Originally, I'm a cigar smoker and if I wanted vanilla or cherry flavors I would have some ice cream or eat a cherry, not smoke a pipe.

 

[gandalfpc]

I think what most object to is the application of humectants and the use of very poor quality papery tobaccos as the base for heaped on flavorings.

The idea that there is no difference between quality of tobaccos is not one I sit with - there are some very high quality baccys out there.

All that said though - smoke what you like is the best way to go - just don't go investing in a cellar worth of aromatics unless you intend to smoke them, because they will not gain value over time like the quality non-aro blends.

 

[velveteagle]

I think what most object to is the application of humectants and the use of very poor quality papery tobaccos as the base for heaped on flavorings.

The idea that there is no difference between quality of tobaccos is not one I sit with - there are some very high quality baccys out there.

All that said though - smoke what you like is the best way to go - just don't go investing in a cellar worth of aromatics unless you intend to smoke them, because they will not gain value over time like the quality non-aro blends.

Common Sense flows well with you gandalpc.. I am so blessed to have the gift of Choice.. How can we choose if others take away our choices.. If it tastes well and I love the smell I will smoke it.. Interpretation can distort the senses..

Chuck..

 

[gandalfpc]

I like a variety of tobaccos - and find the breadth of tobacco choices from smokey meats to sweet deserts to be quite pleasing