Finding the Sweet Spot: it seems a personal journey...
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 3:31 pm
In terms of finding one's own sweet spot, pipe tobacco seems a very personal journey...
Let me explain. I'm sure I'm not alone in beginning with an aromatic: in my case that was the iconic 1-Q, still beloved by many, many pipers. The aromatics were nice, but I wanted a REAL aromatic, Lane's BCA being clearly superior in this regard.
The next step was a foray through some famous OTC's - first the well known Carter Hall (with a little more burley and then the equally famous, straight ahead burley Prince Albert. Out of this came a love for the roasty, nutty burleys. Call me a codger, but at least spell my name right. This led to purchase of Sir Walter, Half and Half, Granger and the tobacco that got me laid - Middleton's Cherry Blend.
I began to appreciate the burley, but also liked a bit of aromatics. Next up was Lane's RLP-6, a lovely blend of cav, burley and virgina, which kept my burley, but with just enough virginia and cavendish to keep it interesting. I'd come to appreciate the Lanes. This led almost naturally to HGL, which many reviewers swore this was the RLP-6 with just a touch of latakia, yet another element. The complexity and balance was appearing. I'd gone from aromatics, to codgers, to what might best be called an American blend.
And I liked them. Next - and quite by accident - my tobacconist "Jim", turned me on to what turned out to be Sutliff''s 504 Aromatic English, with the same components but with some perique and some latakia but with the latter becoming more evident, but still not dominating.
Now this actually grabbed me. I was actually there to try the Dunhill 965, but this was a full English, no aromatics and with the latakia starting to take over. A bit too much. My beloved burley was now at the back of the bus. But then I spotted the 504 Aromatic English (Sutliff) and bingo! A winner!
A funny thing - it took no more than a couple puffs, and I immidiately loved it. All the diverse elements, including just a touch of aromatic, lots of balance, no pushy components, but all still there. And now my roasty, toasty, nutty burley was back. Lovely. I immediately bought two ounces. A few days later I picked up a Sutliff R-Blend, which allegedly is a remake of the old and d/c'd Einstein's Revelation. Call it the 504 but with little if any aromatics (a distant deep fruit). Call it a light English, but with the distinction of ALL the components in balance.
Had found my sweet spot?
Just to be sure I revisited my Missouri Meerschaum Patriot, and an H&H Magnum Opus, both by Russ O. Both are well regarded, full out English blends, with the Opus getting raves. Now the latakia was the star, the balance was gone, and the other components - not least my burley - were now just condiments. Although the Opus seeming had more quality, both were still rather singular, and past my swee spot.
And so - by finding my sweet spot, and then passing it by - was I able to finally determine just where my personal spot was. For now the 504 Aromatic English is just about it, with the R-blend a close second.
What's your story? Where's your sweet spot, and how did you get there?
Let me explain. I'm sure I'm not alone in beginning with an aromatic: in my case that was the iconic 1-Q, still beloved by many, many pipers. The aromatics were nice, but I wanted a REAL aromatic, Lane's BCA being clearly superior in this regard.
The next step was a foray through some famous OTC's - first the well known Carter Hall (with a little more burley and then the equally famous, straight ahead burley Prince Albert. Out of this came a love for the roasty, nutty burleys. Call me a codger, but at least spell my name right. This led to purchase of Sir Walter, Half and Half, Granger and the tobacco that got me laid - Middleton's Cherry Blend.
I began to appreciate the burley, but also liked a bit of aromatics. Next up was Lane's RLP-6, a lovely blend of cav, burley and virgina, which kept my burley, but with just enough virginia and cavendish to keep it interesting. I'd come to appreciate the Lanes. This led almost naturally to HGL, which many reviewers swore this was the RLP-6 with just a touch of latakia, yet another element. The complexity and balance was appearing. I'd gone from aromatics, to codgers, to what might best be called an American blend.
And I liked them. Next - and quite by accident - my tobacconist "Jim", turned me on to what turned out to be Sutliff''s 504 Aromatic English, with the same components but with some perique and some latakia but with the latter becoming more evident, but still not dominating.
Now this actually grabbed me. I was actually there to try the Dunhill 965, but this was a full English, no aromatics and with the latakia starting to take over. A bit too much. My beloved burley was now at the back of the bus. But then I spotted the 504 Aromatic English (Sutliff) and bingo! A winner!
A funny thing - it took no more than a couple puffs, and I immidiately loved it. All the diverse elements, including just a touch of aromatic, lots of balance, no pushy components, but all still there. And now my roasty, toasty, nutty burley was back. Lovely. I immediately bought two ounces. A few days later I picked up a Sutliff R-Blend, which allegedly is a remake of the old and d/c'd Einstein's Revelation. Call it the 504 but with little if any aromatics (a distant deep fruit). Call it a light English, but with the distinction of ALL the components in balance.
Had found my sweet spot?
Just to be sure I revisited my Missouri Meerschaum Patriot, and an H&H Magnum Opus, both by Russ O. Both are well regarded, full out English blends, with the Opus getting raves. Now the latakia was the star, the balance was gone, and the other components - not least my burley - were now just condiments. Although the Opus seeming had more quality, both were still rather singular, and past my swee spot.
And so - by finding my sweet spot, and then passing it by - was I able to finally determine just where my personal spot was. For now the 504 Aromatic English is just about it, with the R-blend a close second.
What's your story? Where's your sweet spot, and how did you get there?