Fazby
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- Apr 22, 2010
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Edited 12/15/16 - some additions; some rearranging
Normally, I have not been much of an aromatic fan, having only really liked Dan’s Blue Note and IRC Three Star Blue. I tend toward virginia and latakia blends. However, I decided to try a bunch of cherry blends along with a few others. The results are basically three groups, and one absolute reject. Man, this was fun!
Possibly useful for a sort of calibration: If you enjoy a blend in a group, you may like others that are included. Conversely, you may eliminate blends if you didn’t like one in that group.
Caveats:
1. This is subjective and based on my taste preferences and notions of strength. YMMV.
2. I normally smoke one bowl a day. If I was looking for an all-day blend, I might shift groups.
3. Not at all scientific. Gave up quickly on some blends; spent more time with some because I really enjoyed them
4. They blends are in alpha order in the groups. No attempt to rank these within a group is made.
Pipes used: Cob, Meerschaum (ideal for tasting!); Savinelli “author”, Ferndown billiard, Peterson bent billiard, and LaCroix bulldog
The group one blends did not get more than two or three bowls as I wasn’t getting anything from the blend. The ones noted as ‘very small sample’ involved little sample bags from the Chicago Show.
Reject:
McLintock Black Cherry – this had an off taste that simply would not go away. Can’t get past it. Otherwise, I think it would have been a really nice blend.
Group one - too light for me
No other fault here. No off taste, nothing bad, except I couldn’t taste it. Too light/mild. All I got was a burned tongue from puffing too hard trying to get flavor. For me, since it is just Steam, Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye. If you like ‘em very light, you may like these.
C&D Cherry Cavendish
Lane 1Q (not cherry & very small sample)
Lane MV1000 (not cherry & very small sample)
MacBaren 7 Seas Red
Newminster Very Cherry
Sutliffe April Dawn
Group two – nice, acceptable, and enjoyable; happy to smoke ‘em and recommended
These are nice, soft smokes; potentially good all day blends. The flavor dissipates quickly in many, but the tobacco is good and provides an enjoyable smoke. The last half to two thirds of the bowl is very good – the blends sort of settle in.
CAO Cherry Bomb – nice and will actually dry when the tin is left open
Drew Estate Heirloom Cherry – can burn a bit hot, but tasty
IRC Gourmet Aromatic - more subtle flavor
IRC Cherry Cordial - a little more flavor that the one above
Lane Dark Red - little flavor to me. TK6 is better in my opinion
McClelland Three Cherry Blend
Paladin (this surprised me)
PS Cherry Bon Bon (not as good as the Black Cherry Cavendish)
PS Cherry
Stanwell Cherry - light flavor
Group three – the (my) favorites; my first choice and highly recommended (see caveat two)
These keep the cherry flavor though the bowl. The tobacco is good as well.
Bjarne Viking Erik the Red - nice cherry flavor and good tobacco
Captain Black Red Sky –closer to medium than most aromatic blends.
Cult Blood Red Moon – just plain tasty
Decatur Cherry - Nice soft blend, good flavor
G&H Top Black Cherry - good tobacco, and decent cherry flavor. Hard to keep lit, though
Lane HG 2000 (not cherry)
Lane TK 6 – very similar to the Captain Black Red Sea. Saw this referred to as “Take 6”-I like that.
PS Black Cherry Cavendish – a little hard to keep lit; probably should have dried it a little more
P&C Scotty’s Butternut Burley (not cherry)
P&C Out of Office Civic Duty - quite enjoyable. Edged out by others, but good; especially price
I hope you find this useful!
Normally, I have not been much of an aromatic fan, having only really liked Dan’s Blue Note and IRC Three Star Blue. I tend toward virginia and latakia blends. However, I decided to try a bunch of cherry blends along with a few others. The results are basically three groups, and one absolute reject. Man, this was fun!
Possibly useful for a sort of calibration: If you enjoy a blend in a group, you may like others that are included. Conversely, you may eliminate blends if you didn’t like one in that group.
Caveats:
1. This is subjective and based on my taste preferences and notions of strength. YMMV.
2. I normally smoke one bowl a day. If I was looking for an all-day blend, I might shift groups.
3. Not at all scientific. Gave up quickly on some blends; spent more time with some because I really enjoyed them
4. They blends are in alpha order in the groups. No attempt to rank these within a group is made.
Pipes used: Cob, Meerschaum (ideal for tasting!); Savinelli “author”, Ferndown billiard, Peterson bent billiard, and LaCroix bulldog
The group one blends did not get more than two or three bowls as I wasn’t getting anything from the blend. The ones noted as ‘very small sample’ involved little sample bags from the Chicago Show.
Reject:
McLintock Black Cherry – this had an off taste that simply would not go away. Can’t get past it. Otherwise, I think it would have been a really nice blend.
Group one - too light for me
No other fault here. No off taste, nothing bad, except I couldn’t taste it. Too light/mild. All I got was a burned tongue from puffing too hard trying to get flavor. For me, since it is just Steam, Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye. If you like ‘em very light, you may like these.
C&D Cherry Cavendish
Lane 1Q (not cherry & very small sample)
Lane MV1000 (not cherry & very small sample)
MacBaren 7 Seas Red
Newminster Very Cherry
Sutliffe April Dawn
Group two – nice, acceptable, and enjoyable; happy to smoke ‘em and recommended
These are nice, soft smokes; potentially good all day blends. The flavor dissipates quickly in many, but the tobacco is good and provides an enjoyable smoke. The last half to two thirds of the bowl is very good – the blends sort of settle in.
CAO Cherry Bomb – nice and will actually dry when the tin is left open
Drew Estate Heirloom Cherry – can burn a bit hot, but tasty
IRC Gourmet Aromatic - more subtle flavor
IRC Cherry Cordial - a little more flavor that the one above
Lane Dark Red - little flavor to me. TK6 is better in my opinion
McClelland Three Cherry Blend
Paladin (this surprised me)
PS Cherry Bon Bon (not as good as the Black Cherry Cavendish)
PS Cherry
Stanwell Cherry - light flavor
Group three – the (my) favorites; my first choice and highly recommended (see caveat two)
These keep the cherry flavor though the bowl. The tobacco is good as well.
Bjarne Viking Erik the Red - nice cherry flavor and good tobacco
Captain Black Red Sky –closer to medium than most aromatic blends.
Cult Blood Red Moon – just plain tasty
Decatur Cherry - Nice soft blend, good flavor
G&H Top Black Cherry - good tobacco, and decent cherry flavor. Hard to keep lit, though
Lane HG 2000 (not cherry)
Lane TK 6 – very similar to the Captain Black Red Sea. Saw this referred to as “Take 6”-I like that.
PS Black Cherry Cavendish – a little hard to keep lit; probably should have dried it a little more
P&C Scotty’s Butternut Burley (not cherry)
P&C Out of Office Civic Duty - quite enjoyable. Edged out by others, but good; especially price
I hope you find this useful!
