@jfreedy ~ I agree with your take on the Sun Bear. I had a bowl the other day and the 1st third of the bowl was underwhelming. But wow! The rest of the bowl was fantastic! It's going to be hard to leave this one alone to age.
Recently Mac Baren released its latest batch of their Stockton spun tobacco, Smoking pipes had it, so I purchased a few tins.
It's different than any tobacco I have tried to date; It is sliced into coins (maybe coins isn't exactly the right term, "birds eyes" as they are 1/2 the size of bullseye flake)
The outside is spun Virginia, the center is unsweetened Cavendish made from smoked dark-fired Kentucky tobaccos.
I liked it fairly well but decided I would probably benefit from some aging, so I opened all the tins and put the contents in mason jar.
I stopped in at Outlaw Cigar in Kansas City and they recently received their Esoterica/Germain drop. I was surprised to see Kingfisher available. Even tobaccoreviews.com says it’s no longer in production. I’ve found very little on the internet about it’s return, short of an article from 2009 that said Germain is taking over Kingfisher and Stokkebye is taking over Pelican production. Does anyone have any information on the return of this blend?
@Kmhartle Sounds like it could be a good blend. I love Kingfishers, cool birds. I use to see them on top of utility poles down by the irrigation canal near the house where I grew up. It was pretty cool when I saw one swoop down and drill a fish in the ditch for his supper. I only saw it happen once, although I saw the Kingfisher/s a few times. I have not seen one for probably 30+ years though🙁
We had our monthly pipe club meeting at Arlington pipe & cigar tonight and the owner is really tight with Arango as they are local.
Because of this relationship they almost always have esoterica in stock (though nor displayed, you have to ask for it) and they had received a shipment recently and several tins of Kingfisher were included.
I've been enjoying Peretti English blends especially English 110, Omega and Tashkent. That order is from most balanced to highly Oriental, I haven't come across a Latakia bomb yet! There Cambridge slices is a pleasant English Krumble Kake.
@motie2 The only English aromatics I've tried are MM American Patriot which has a nice bourbon Cavendish and Presbyterian which I always find has a cherry note. When I re-up on some Peretti favorites I plan to add Prince of Wales which has an Irish tobacco. I approached tobacco from the opposite direction, Black and Gold (1Q) was my choice from '74 until '96. When I got back into it I found 1Q different and unappealing. A tobacconist asked "Don't you like the flavor of tobacco?" And thus began my exploration of unflavored blends.
From a new Peretti order I'm very impressed with Boston's Best Cavendish. It's a Virginia Cavendish processed with honey. Slightly sweet without covering the tobacco taste. Mild and bite free, a nice blend enjoyable while driving or doing outdoor chores.
Came across Ken Byron ventures recently. Does anyone have experience with his blends? The art is amazing and the blends sound really interesting. Prices seem a little high. Thoughts? Experiences?
@RockyMountainBriar give his website a look. I think it’s kbven.com some neat stuff. Pretty fantasy comic pop culture leaning. Like it feels new and modern like specialty coffee not steeped in tradition. I’ve heard a few people even make McClelland references about his tobaccos.
Another good shop that makes its own blends is Watch City Cigars. https://watchcitycigar.com/watch-city-blends/ They do a couple of seasonal blends that are released around the holidays. I liked their Elf's Dandruff but it's not available at this time. Another good one is Persian Slipper which is a Scottish blend.
Comments
smoking pipes usually carries Dan Tobacco. Right now most of the blends are out of stock.
John Cotton Double Pressed Virginia
https://www.pipesandcigars.com/mobile/p/john-cottons-double-pressed-virginia/2021433/#p-2020939
Sounds like it could be a good blend. I love Kingfishers, cool birds. I use to see them on top of utility poles down by the irrigation canal near the house where I grew up. It was pretty cool when I saw one swoop down and drill a fish in the ditch for his supper. I only saw it happen once, although I saw the Kingfisher/s a few times. I have not seen one for probably 30+ years though🙁
https://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/12086/ken-byron-ventures-verge-engine-overdrive
https://kbven.com/shop/veo/?v=7516fd43adaa
I’ve been wandering.
I’ve become intrigued by English Aromatics; aromatics with some Latakia.... e.g., HGL, Burma Road, Captain Bob’s.
In my first pipe life, 1964-1984, I mostly smoked English and Balkan blends, along with Escudo, a VaPer.
The only English aromatics I've tried are MM American Patriot which has a nice bourbon Cavendish and Presbyterian which I always find has a cherry note. When I re-up on some Peretti favorites I plan to add Prince of Wales which has an Irish tobacco. I approached tobacco from the opposite direction, Black and Gold (1Q) was my choice from '74 until '96. When I got back into it I found 1Q different and unappealing. A tobacconist asked "Don't you like the flavor of tobacco?" And thus began my exploration of unflavored blends.
I love Stonehenge Flake and also Regents Flake.
https://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/2950/kanes-of-new-zealand-lamb-cake-slices
Mmmmmmm. Meaty.
Mmm.......Lamb SPAM.....NOT.
Actually has lamb drippings in it😳
Mutton is freaking nasty😖
Haven’t heard of that one, but I’m still a newb.
Ken Byron Ventures has made some interesting blends and I've tried a couple of them.
He gets regularly discussed on a couple of other pipe forums and most of the complaints are about how he creates a blend, announces it and then is sold out in a few hours.
https://kbven.com/product-category/current-menu/?v=7516fd43adaa&filtering=1&filter_product_brand=142
They do a couple of seasonal blends that are released around the holidays. I liked their Elf's Dandruff but it's not available at this time. Another good one is Persian Slipper which is a Scottish blend.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=chFE00IpiVo&list=PL5bk8l-rKXpF9loCe9j9evXu-3Q_zRHHg&index=23