Balkan Sasieni this morning before my colonoscopy and a large bowl of Mac Baren Old Dark Fired this evening after the grogginess wore off. This Old Dark Fired is a nice smoke.
Dust cloud has semi blocked the sun and cooled things off a bit here in the St. Louis area today. Decided to do some Sutliff Carmelo in a Hilson Viva with a custom extended stem. A great little 30/40 minute smoker...
I'm not a huge VaPer smoker but I do add some to my cellar every summer. I sliced a bit of Dan Tobacco Salty Dogs plug today and I must say, it's a fantastic Navy blend. A little pricey but if this ages like I think it will, I'll be adding more to my cellar for the coming years.
Tried an new (to me) blend from C&D this evening while at Arlington Pipe & Cigar called Sunset Harbor flake, it is purported to be a Balkan, most likely due to the inclusion of Izmir as the oriental component.
I bought the tin while I was there tonight and I liked it enough to by a second tin.
As English type blends go this one is a simple 3 part blend Latakia, Oriental & Perique. I was nervous about the perique but decided to take the chance as I can only tolerate a condimental amount.
The one word I will use here is creamy, the latakia was not a super strong variety, the perique was almost unnoticeable, the flavor of the Izmir was there but not overwhelming.
Did I say it was creamy, and it was almost to the very bottom of the bowl, oh and the flake easily fell apart between your fingers. this blend really surprised the hell out of me as it was not what I was expecting..
Smoking some of the Mac Baren HH “Rustica Flake” in a small Wally Frank Ltd. prince, and drinking some Thai Iced Tea. I was afraid of the Nicotiana Rustica Tobacco’s preported vitamin-N hit. I rubbed out 1/2 of a flake and let it dry for about 30 minutes. It’s still being cantankerous to keep lit, maybe because I am a bit leery of puffing it to nausea. I took the stinger out of this pipe to smoke it. It’s smoking much better.
The tin note of this tobacco was close to SG “Black XX”, just not as “oily”. So far the flavor is bland as hell, I’m not getting any of the smoky, BBQ meat, sweetness of the SG which I do enjoy in moderate amounts 🙁. It is dang spicy on the retrohale, I do not recommend this practice, it almost makes my eyes water. I caught a couple of minuscule wisps on an accidental inhale too...dang again. If you happen to be a pipe smoker that inhales, more power to you with this stuff. On occasion, if it gets to the back of my throat, it’s like a red pepper seed (like what I put on pizza liberally) got stuck back there. It stings a bit. The tobacco flavor is not objectionable, just not what I expected either. There is a unique aroma and flavor peeking through that I can’t really place. Maybe the Rustica? Besides the multiple relights, even in this small bowl, it is burning nicely to gray ash. No tongue bite at all, and smoking cool (probably because I am smoking very, very slowly, needing to relight every three or four puffs?). Thankfully, I do not feel any of the Vitamin-N I was so worried about. This might be better in a bigger pipe?
@RockyMountainBriar Thanks for the review, I will probably pass on getting a tin, the vitamin N was not a concern but I was hoping it had some flavor when I considered getting some.
Smoking my bench pipe a Dr. Grabow "Grand Duke" that has Half & Half stamped on one side of the shank. I bought it years ago at an Antique Mall. I have replaced the bit a couple of times. It smokes really well. I use Savinelli Balsa Filters in it.
Preparing for tomorrow. I go back to work full time which is good, 15% decrease in wages which is not so good. I am no longer salaried, now hourly (not sure if that will be good or bad?). Smoking some Samuel Gawith “Stokkeby 4th Gen. Small Batch Aged Virginia Flake” in a Stokkeby “Fathers, Friends, and Fire” Bent Brandy. Drinking a Blue Dolphin on-the-rocks.
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I’m keeping a good thought for you this morning......
👍🏻 My pleasure, I thought it might interest some. I can say it is pretty unique.
Smoking some Samuel Gawith “Stokkeby 4th Gen. Small Batch Aged Virginia Flake” in a Stokkeby “Fathers, Friends, and Fire” Bent Brandy. Drinking a Blue Dolphin on-the-rocks.
Glad to hear the good news. Being hourly may mean you will get overtime for any hours over 40. We will hope!!
It also means they can cut my hours per week easier and reduce the payroll🙁
@jfreedy Beautiful Pete!