One from Column A Dept: Mixing tobaccos...
Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 6:40 pm
Haven't we all done this?
It has become apparent to me that once one gets into piping, a bit of blending just seems to happen. It's like Ralfy who once recommended what he called "Rumsky", wherein he mixed a bit of MGXO (I think) with the tinies bit of a good smoky Islay. He made clear that we'd like the result, and secondly to be rather stingy with the the Islay as the smoke was potent and only a bit was needed. Blending 101.
As far as tobaccos are concerned, it's seems pretty common for pipers to blend in a little nutty Prince Albert, a straight ahead non-aromatic burley to get just a touch of nuts, possibly a little cacao and to extend another blend, and improve the burn. That does indeed work.
But sometimes the opposite's true.
Da'rum and Dai are aware that recently I had a nose opening experience with MM 965 (a match which may actually have been a bulk Dunhill 965). Recently I'd taken the time to try to help out our local cigar/pipe superstore with their tobacco selection. My reward - a free tin of Ashton's Artisan Blend - a VERY highly rated Balkan compared to Dunhill's Nitecap, but with less nicotine, more sophistication. A smooth Syrian latakia, Turkish Oriental, Perique and a dark Virginia. One source notes a bit of unflavored cavendish, or possibly a fired Kentucky.
The Aritisan Blend is full bodied, strong but balanced, a healthy dose of nicotine, but carries one of the highest ratings on Tobacco Reviews. So I couldn't wait to get home and try it. It reminded me of 965 but deeper, stronger, and a really serious Balkan. Not a daily smoke. But after doing so, I thought I'd noticed just a hint of ghosting from BCA (a very, very nice vanilla forward Sutliff bulk, lovely) and then it occured to me.
Why not try a blend just to soften the very English Artisan - so I mixed a pinch of Artisan with maybe 2/3 pinch of BCA, mixed it and let it dry for maybe 15 minutes. Then loaded my mini-meer with the new blend, topped by just a mini-pinch of leftover BCA on top - like whipped cream. The result was actually terrific. Lit up with the smooth, creamy smoking BCA, but then which smoothly transitioned into the blend of mostly Artisan but mellowed with BCA for a little bit of everything.
It was actually great! What I'd accidentally achieved was a blending of two tobaccos that I liked for very different reasons but which somehow worked well together. It was very, very nice.
Do tell your story, how you came to do your own blend and what happened, eh?
It has become apparent to me that once one gets into piping, a bit of blending just seems to happen. It's like Ralfy who once recommended what he called "Rumsky", wherein he mixed a bit of MGXO (I think) with the tinies bit of a good smoky Islay. He made clear that we'd like the result, and secondly to be rather stingy with the the Islay as the smoke was potent and only a bit was needed. Blending 101.
As far as tobaccos are concerned, it's seems pretty common for pipers to blend in a little nutty Prince Albert, a straight ahead non-aromatic burley to get just a touch of nuts, possibly a little cacao and to extend another blend, and improve the burn. That does indeed work.
But sometimes the opposite's true.
Da'rum and Dai are aware that recently I had a nose opening experience with MM 965 (a match which may actually have been a bulk Dunhill 965). Recently I'd taken the time to try to help out our local cigar/pipe superstore with their tobacco selection. My reward - a free tin of Ashton's Artisan Blend - a VERY highly rated Balkan compared to Dunhill's Nitecap, but with less nicotine, more sophistication. A smooth Syrian latakia, Turkish Oriental, Perique and a dark Virginia. One source notes a bit of unflavored cavendish, or possibly a fired Kentucky.
The Aritisan Blend is full bodied, strong but balanced, a healthy dose of nicotine, but carries one of the highest ratings on Tobacco Reviews. So I couldn't wait to get home and try it. It reminded me of 965 but deeper, stronger, and a really serious Balkan. Not a daily smoke. But after doing so, I thought I'd noticed just a hint of ghosting from BCA (a very, very nice vanilla forward Sutliff bulk, lovely) and then it occured to me.
Why not try a blend just to soften the very English Artisan - so I mixed a pinch of Artisan with maybe 2/3 pinch of BCA, mixed it and let it dry for maybe 15 minutes. Then loaded my mini-meer with the new blend, topped by just a mini-pinch of leftover BCA on top - like whipped cream. The result was actually terrific. Lit up with the smooth, creamy smoking BCA, but then which smoothly transitioned into the blend of mostly Artisan but mellowed with BCA for a little bit of everything.
It was actually great! What I'd accidentally achieved was a blending of two tobaccos that I liked for very different reasons but which somehow worked well together. It was very, very nice.
Do tell your story, how you came to do your own blend and what happened, eh?