Bought 9 samples from County Squire due to enthusiasm here on TPL (got a hand written note from them in the shipment saying essentially welcome to the tribe) and tried the first blend prior to making dinner.
Its called Meriwether and I assume its named after the intrepid Mr. Meriwether Lewis.
I have to say it is one of the best straight Burley Virginia blends I've smoked, excellent flavor and fairly smooth, I may have to add this one to my already overwhelming rotation / cellar. so thanks to the TPL Community.
Smoked out of yet another new Molina pipe, this one a bent apple in a fairly natural stain. great smoker. Wife just doesn't understand the lure of pipes, but fortunately for me she's old-school and loves me in spite of myself.
@pipeman83 I have a question regarding The Pipe Rack, I noted their website is just informational but they will do phone orders for tobacco, do they put out a catalog or a list of house blends?
Tried the forth sample from TCS just after finishing bottling the Bloody Mary / Cesar mix from the remnants of the salsa canning project.
This one called "Shepard's Pie" listed as a (full English Oriental) sort of surprised me in that it was as moist as an aromatic when I opened the bag.
Normally I would not attempt to smoke much of anything this wet, let alone an English but I thought well these guys may know something I don't, so I tried it as is,
I could not keep it lit though it seemed to taste pretty good, been drying now for several hours and I'm set to try it again.
By the way @PappyJoe , regarding your latest post, if you were in a police line up looking for Santa Claus, I have to say (and no offense intended) I would be pointing at you.
Having now tried a couple of bowls TCS's "Shepard's Pie" with what I deem as the appropriate level of moisture content, I would describe it as a medium to full English. (more like a medium in the first half and then becoming full going on)
It starts out smooth and while the latakia is there, its the orientals that I noticed more. At the half way point the latakia is prominent with the oriental all but disappearing and if smoked at more than a leisurely pace at this point in the bowl it had a little bite, (note: my tongue probably more sensitive than most). Its a decent English, nothing special, I would give it a 7.4 out of 10; but if you consider the price point of 1oz - 1Lb $5.50 - $4.06 per oz respectively, it would be hard to justify purchasing more. I will say I really enjoyed the oriental flavors in the first 1/3.
Trying the Vauen No. 9 Himalaya Blend tonight in my newest EBay acquisition from our neighbor to the north, Canada. I just received it in the mail today and “spiffed” it up. It did not take much, it was a pretty clean, well care for estate pipe. A light reaming, an Everclear once over, a little Feibings medium brown stain and a light buff and final carnuba waxing. It is a Comoy’s Satina #483. The tobacco seemed a bit moist, but I got it packed pretty lightly and it seems to be burning nicely. A nice “room” note, a bit of fruityness, no bite, all-in-all a nice, NOT over-the-top aromatic, lots of white smoke. Tasty👍🏻 Sorry for the blinding glare off of my grape. The Himalaya Blend smoked to the bottom to ash and no goop.
Two bowls of P&C Out Of Office "Gone Fishing". Smoked it in my Brebbia Calabash. The Brebbia is the pipe resting on the typewriter. It's one of the few pipes I protect with a softy bit. It's a little heavier than most and I was beginning to get a bit of tooth chatter on it from gripping the bit too hard. So to prevent further damage I had to resort to a softy bit.
Sucks that it's only Wednesday, but I have Friday off this week! Starting the work day with some Escudo Navy De Luxe in one of my partial bent Savinelli billiards.
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Sorry for the blinding glare off of my grape.
The Himalaya Blend smoked to the bottom to ash and no goop.
Two bowls of P&C Out Of Office "Gone Fishing". Smoked it in my Brebbia Calabash. The Brebbia is the pipe resting on the typewriter. It's one of the few pipes I protect with a softy bit. It's a little heavier than most and I was beginning to get a bit of tooth chatter on it from gripping the bit too hard. So to prevent further damage I had to resort to a softy bit.
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SPC Plum Pudding, in my Savinelli 320 I forgot how good this blend is. I really enjoy it.