What are some "crap" pipe tobaccos to avoid?

[Ropey]

When I was a cigar noob, the first thing I learned was what to stay away from. Unfortunately that came at a pretty heavy price since I wasn't on any cigar forums. I bought my share of horrible Cigars International samplers and "mazos" of worthless junk before I realized what was good and what was absolute dog****.

I'm trying to avoid repeating that experience with pipe tobacco.

So to that end, what are some generally recognized crappy pipe tobaccos? And I don't mean just the OTC pouch tobaccos, but the stuff that masquerades as decent. The Gurkhas and 5 Vegases of the pipe world, so to speak. And building on that, what are some of CI/P&C's "house brands?"

For example, I got an ad in my inbox today featuring a P&C "Grab Bag Sampler." MSRP of $52.03, mine for only $19.99! It includes Villiger 1888 Late Night, Drew Estate Gatsby Luxury Flake, Hearth & Home Signature Sunjammer, and Borkum Riff LE Trinidad Rum.

I have never heard of any of these before and have no idea if they're any good. However, if P&C is anything like CI, then one of them will be semi-decent, another one will be somewhat ok, and the other two will be crap. I just don't know which is which.

Not that I would buy tins as samplers in the first place.. I'm just trying to get an overall feel for pipe tobaccos, as I did (over the course of months) with cigars. Thanks!

[Shemp Jizzle]

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/


is your friend.

[Hardheaded]

P&C is CI, just the pipe side of things. Your best bet is TobaccoReviews.com. I've not smoked any of those, but like cigars there are way more to try than can ever be smoked.

The Borkum Riff is an OTC pipe tobacco, and some people love it, just like some people love Captain Black. Personally I don't, but I do keep Prince Albert on hand. Just because it's an old school OTC blend does not in and of itself make it bad.

Unless its mixture 79. Just avoid that stuff and all should be good.

[JustTroItIn]

Do you have any idea of the types of tobacco you like to smoke(e.g. Virginia, Burley, English, Aromatics)?

The P&C house brand is Hearth and Home. H&H is quality tobacco blended by Russ Oullette, but not all of them are going to be winners to everyone.

Regarding the sampler you posted, I have heard of them all but tried none. I agree with Shemp on checking out tabaccoreviews.com.

I would personally stay away from bulk tobacco at your local B&M unless they really specialize in pipes. I purchased some real duds from mine when I first started on the pipe. One was so bad I thought it tasted like urine.

[Ropey]

The problem I have with the tobacco review site is that it doesn't really give me what I'm looking for. I'm looking for people's opinions of stuff to categorically stay away from.

For example, if some noob asked me the same question about cigars, I'd suggest he categorically stay away from Gurkha and 5 Vegas, among others. Obsidian, all Fonsecas, Black Pearl, CI Legends, Cu Avana, Graycliff, Xikar, Hesitant Pirate, etc. IMHO those are all crap cigars in every vitola and every line. That's a complete generalization, of course. There might be a Gurkha out there that's great. But a noob won't go wrong by staying away from any of those listed above because they have a general reputation for sh*ttiness. On a review site, some of those might even garner some decent reviews by people who like them.

What I'm looking for in this thread is for folks to state their opinions about what to completely avoid. I realize they're opinions only.


Unless its mixture 79. Just avoid that stuff and all should be good.
Just like that ;)


Do you have any idea of the types of tobacco you like to smoke(e.g. Virginia, Burley, English, Aromatics)?
At this point I'm trying them all.

[Tobias Lutz]

I would personally stay away from bulk tobacco at your local B&M unless they really specialize in pipes.

I concur- most of the time they are a Lane or Sutliff blend that has been "rebranded". Some are good, but some are real goopers. It is not always the case, but very often, you get what you pay for. I get close to 20 pipes out of a 50g tin. With that yield, I'm willing to pay the difference for something like Dan tobacco or Dunhill, rather than saving a few bucks on a cheaper brand. Some cheap tobacco is a winner, but you have to search for it.

[Emperor Zurg]

Crap tobacco is such a broad category I wouldn't know where to begin to list all of them...

But as a rule, and this is just me, I'm leery of anything by Sutliff or Lane and anyone else that sells primarily PG soaked Cavendish blends. This includes 'house blends' in glass jars since most of them are re-branded Sutliff or Lane products AFAIK

I've got nothing against a good aromatic... trouble is, good aromatics are hard to find.

As far as good tobacco goes...

As a general rule, I find anything from Dan Tobacco is good - aro or not. Some are better than others but none of their stuff is nasty.

Pretty much any non-aromatic from Peter Stokkebye is good. The aros are hit and miss.

I haven't had a bad blend from G. L. Pease so far.

I haven't had a bad non-aro from Hearth and Home so far.

I haven't had a bad blend from Estoterica so far.

I haven't had a bad blend from Dunhill so far

[Pugsley]

I think you're asking the wrong question. If you ask for sure winners you'll end up with a list so long it will take years to sample them all. And even then, you won't like all of them, but a list of recommended blends will be much more useful than a list of dogs.

[UncleFesterESQ]

I think you're asking the wrong question. If you ask for sure winners you'll end up with a list so long it will take years to sample them all. And even then, you won't like all of them, but a list of recommended blends will be much more useful than a list of dogs.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll27/UncleFesterESQ/images_zpsp3v6szfv.jpg (http://s284.photobucket.com/user/UncleFesterESQ/media/images_zpsp3v6szfv.jpg.html)

But I think Pugsley is!

[NeverBend]

Hi Ropey,

You're asking personal advice that's like having someone pick out your shirts.


Do you have any idea of the types of tobacco you like to smoke(e.g. Virginia, Burley, English, Aromatics)?
JustTroItIn is right, you have to start with what kinds or types of tobacco you like.


What I'm looking for in this thread is for folks to state their opinions about what to completely avoid. I realize they're opinions only.
Just like that ;)

At this point I'm trying them all.

I've read glowing comments on this and other forums about a tobacco that I find I don't like. I've read reviews about tobaccos that after tasting them I have to think that they smoker was a Martian. It's personal taste.

My problem with CI Gurkhas is construction but that's largely not a problem with pipe tobacco. Start with what Jack says and I'd suggest looking into tobaccos from makers of blends that you like and avoiding ones from makers you don't like but there's no silver bullet.

Pete

[Ropey]

Thanks for the replies so far. I don't think the question is that difficult to answer. What do you consider to be crap brands or lines or types of pipe tobacco? What broad category or maker or type of blend would you refuse to smoke again?

I'm asking for your opinions. Don't overanalyze or question my question. Just shoot from the hip. Spit it out man. Who cares if other people agree with you?

So far I've got Lane and Sutliff and Mixture 79. Any others?

[Branzig]

It doesn't help at all that taste is relative and pipe tobacco really can't be compared to cigar tobacco flavor profiles at all.

For instance, I may suggest you try out some nice GH&Co offerings like Kendal Flake, Ennerdale Flake, or Grasmere Flake. Over half the people on here would yell and protest in disgust. I think it is all really tasty! What one person may consider an awful company that you have to stay away from, many others may regard them as the greatest single tobacco company ever.

Plus, as NeverBend has pointed out, a lot of cigar issues are actually construction issues and QC problems. Most pipe tobacco doesn't suffer from this kind of stuff. While certain companies do use higher quality leaves, most amateur smokers can't tell the difference.

[Ropey]

What one person may consider an awful company that you have to stay away from, many others may regard them as the greatest single tobacco company ever. I want YOUR opinion. Why is everyone so afraid to state their opinions here? I don't understand.

And I don't want opinions of what people think is good. The thread is specifically about what people think sucks. People are telling me my "question is wrong." It's my question!

C'mon, this ain't the SAT. Should be super easy. Or is 98% of pipe tobacco really good? Is that it? Can you just not f*ck up pipe tobacco? I ask for a list of crap pipe tobacco and everyone gives me stuff they like.

[Branzig]

Or is 98% of pipe tobacco really good? Is that it? Can you just not f*ck up pipe tobacco?

That about sums it up I think. :p

Like I said, most cigars that I don't care for are all because of shit burn issues or poor construction. How do you poorly cut up tobacco leaves?

I mean hell, Carter Hall and Prince Albert are the "Black & Mild/White Owls" of the pipe world, and guess what? They rule. They are super tasty and good. Not like machine made cigars at all.

As far as myself personally, the only pipe tobaccos I don't care for are aromatic goopers, burley blends that are too heavy with perique, and weak English's that are too light on the latakia. But I would never say that the companies that make these blends are absolute crap and you have to stay away from them, because Cornell & Diehl, Samuel Gawith, and Peter Stokkebye all make amazing high quality tobacco. Some of the best actually.

So in review, there is no "Ghurka" or "5 Vegas" of the pipe world IMO. Sure, companies may make a blend or two that I don't care for, but the bulk of their blends are really great so 1 or 3 outliers doesn't spoil the brand for me.

The closest thing I will say to be aware of is Lane Limited. Because a lot of their blends are aromatic goopers.

[c.ortiz108]

How about rephrasing the question - "What's the worst pipe tobacco you've ever smoked?" I think people would be more willing to answer something that's personal to them, rather than saying categorically that something sucks. In your cigar example, I really like the Xikar maduro, and have had a couple of good Gurkhas, so even with that there's no unanimous verdict about what's good or bad. When I first joined the old site, a lot of guys recommended PDRs, and I've yet to find one I'd ever smoke again. Some things are trendy to like or dislike.

Having said that, I'm interested in the answers, too! Being a total pipe noob it would be good to have some idea of what to stay away from. So what are YOUR 5 Vegas Gold Maduros and Cohiba Red Dots of the pipe world? (yeah, I know some guys even like those!).

Is tobaccoreviews.com searchable by rating? If you have a couple of hundred and it's 2 starts, that should tell you something about a general consensus anyway.

[Branzig]

Is tobaccoreviews.com searchable by rating? If you have a couple of hundred and it's 2 starts, that should tell you something about a general consensus anyway.

Yes it is, and it is a great tool when searching for a specific tobacco from a certain "family." If you select "Virginia/Perique" on tobacco reviews, then sort by "Highly Recommended" you will see what the bulk of people think about highly regarded tobaccos.

[Bruck]

OK I'll try to answer directly, from one noob to another.

Good: most Navy flakes, C&D Pirate Kake, Dunhill 965, Sutliff Sweet Virginia
Bad: OTC, most stuff you see in big jars at the B&M, blends that are predominantly cavendish.

Taste in cigars is pretty subjective, but IMHO tastes in pipe tobacco is even more so.

[Ropey]

So in review, there is no "Ghurka" or "5 Vegas" of the pipe world IMO. Sure, companies may make a blend or two that I don't care for, but the bulk of their blends are really great so 1 or 3 outliers doesn't spoil the brand for me.That's pretty damn fascinating I gotta say. Guess I won't worry about spending a couple hundred bucks on unsmokable crap that winds up in the trash then, which is what happened in my first month of cigar smoking.


Good: most Navy flakes, C&D Pirate Kake, Dunhill 965, Sutliff Sweet Virginia
Bad: OTC, most stuff you see in big jars at the B&M, blends that are predominantly cavendish.
It is cavendish itself that's the problem, or the way it's implemented in the blends?


I think people would be more willing to answer something that's personal to them, rather than saying categorically that something sucks. Hehe I have no problem saying that stuff sucks, even when it's my opinion. I assume people realize that it's my opinion and they can take it or leave it. ;)

[Bruck]

It is cavendish itself that's the problem, or the way it's implemented in the blends?

MHO, take it or leave it - Cavendish is a good component, but too much of it is too much - makes for a bland blend. & the commercial aromatic cavendish blends tend to be overly sweet goopers.

[Branzig]

That's pretty damn fascinating I gotta say. Guess I won't worry about spending a couple hundred bucks on unsmokable crap

Why don't you sign up for the newbie pipe tobacco trade?

The hardest part about starting out in the pipe world is figuring out what you like. The sampler trade will give you a baseline of English, Balkan, Virginia, Aromatic, Burley and whatever other blends there are out there.

Once you get a few blends under your belt that you like you can experiment by buying up blends like it and spending 100s of dollars.

Also remember to give blends multiple goes in different pipes. 1 blend may be bland in one pipe but sing in another.

Have fun!

[mooster]

I want YOUR opinion. Why is everyone so afraid to state their opinions here? I don't understand.

And I don't want opinions of what people think is good. The thread is specifically about what people think sucks. People are telling me my "question is wrong." It's my question!

C'mon, this ain't the SAT. Should be super easy. Or is 98% of pipe tobacco really good? Is that it? Can you just not f*ck up pipe tobacco? I ask for a list of crap pipe tobacco and everyone gives me stuff they like.
You think like a cigar smoker. :D


You have to understand that you're dealing with an entirely different culture here. Cigar smokes are a dime a dozen compared to the number of pipe smokers. The smaller the group, the less likely you're going to get people criticizing others in the group. So a pipe smoker is unlikely to criticize a tobacco if he knows people that smoke it. To use buzzwords, we're more inclusive, because we need all the help we can get!

We do have a token baccy that many of us abuse: Mixture No. 79. So if you want a list of baccys to avoid, I guess that one could go on the list. I'll go out on a limb and risk offending some of my BOTLs here and say that as far as I'm concerned, Sutliffe is to pipe tobacco what Victor Sinclair is to cigars. The problem with that is that there are plenty here who smoke Sutliffe tobacco and enjoy it, so it's just one man's opinion. There really aren't any readily recognized dog rocket equivalents.

[NeverBend]

Ropey,

You may not like detailed responses but I, and others on this forum, realize that there are people, who may not be posting, who read the responses and that they may profit from a considered response. And please, when people take the time to respond don't tell them how to do it. If you knew the answer then you shouldn't be asking the question.

I'll give an example that goes to the heart of your question and that also illustrates the paradox that exists with pipe tobacco, if not with cigars.

Based on the excellent comments from forum members I purchased 8oz of C&D BriarFox. I didn't like it and it's not crap but I won't smoke it again. I sent the remaining 7.5oz to a deserving BOTL on this forum who loves it.

[Ropey]

And please, when people take the time to respond don't tell them how to do it. I would never tell people how to respond to my question, as long as they're actually responding to my question ;) You see?

I guess what confuses me so much is that there don't seem to be any generally recognized crap pipe tobaccos. Which, to me, is mind-blowing.

I've been, in my life, on so many hobby forums that I can't even remember them all.. from cars to guns to knives to fancy flashlights to cell phones to whiskies to coffee to watches... you name the hobby and I guarantee I've discussed it ad nauseum.

And, out of all those hobbies, there have always -- and I mean always -- been brands or lines or categories or whatever that the "community" generally recognizes as crap. "Noob bait." The stuff that noobs get suckered into buying that's actually considered sh*tty by people who have lots of experience. Such as, let's say, Gurkha cigars. Or Invicta watches. Or Smith and Wesson knives. Or Hi-Point guns. That sort of thing.

So to hear that there is no such general consensus about what sucks in the pipe world is beyond bizarre to me.

The thing about a "general consensus" is that not everyone is going to agree. Some people love their Invicta watches. That's great. Agreement is not necessary, but I wanted people to shout out their opinions in this thread so I could get an overarching view of the landscape.

And either there is truly no bad pipe tobacco (except for mixture 79), OR everyone is deathly afraid of offending anyone else. If the latter is the case, you're going to want to put me on your ignore list pronto because at the end of the day I hit the big red 'X' in the corner of the screen and this place disappears. It's all just words on a screen to me.

[mooster]

Or Hi-Point guns. That sort of thing.


Chumps! Um...just in case I happen to find some idiot who bought one, the bullet's not going to come out the wrong end or anything, is it?

[Horsefeathers]

As a newer pipe smoker on the lookout for things to avoid (and for things to try). The only blend I've seen universally panned is the aforementioned Mixture 79. Everything else seems to be fair game; go hog wild!

[Lostmason]

Ropey, the biggest problem I see to the question is that most of these guys will take a blend they don't care for and mix it to find a blend they like.They will pick out the nuance or taste of many differing tobaccos and use them to spice up or mellow others.As to newbie catchers,those big bags or burley like Smokers Pride are dry and more for the cigarette rollers than for pipes.You are going to find that it's not a risk of offending it's a respect that some people are going to like that blend you hate.Case in point,so far all the Sutliff blends I've tried I have enjoyed immensly,and the Russ's chocolate covered esspreso beans was passable but not enough for me to buy in the future.

[BryGuySC]

The worst one I've had is Borkum Riff. I don't think I could suggest it to anyone.

[Cool Breeze]

That's pretty damn fascinating I gotta say. Guess I won't worry about spending a couple hundred bucks on unsmokable crap that winds up in the trash then, which is what happened in my first month of cigar smoking.

The great thing about pipe tobaccos is that many, many of them come in bulk and you can just order a couple ounces to see how you like it. I'm sure paying $5 at a time you will find quite a bit you like way before you get to the $200 mark. ;)

Also, like has already been mentioned, make sure you try a blend in different pipes. Think of how cigars taste different in different vitolas. Same with different shaped pipe bowls.

The one tobacco that I tried that I would absolutely stay away from is the Blender's Gold from Walgreens. It was the most goopy crap I've ever seen. Impossible to keep lit even after letting it air out overnight. I did eventually mix it with some Virginia and it's decent now.

Don't write off all of the OTC blends either. If all I had was Prince Albert and Captain Black, I would still very much enjoy pipe smoking.

[izkeh]

Here's my list of tobacco I'll never buy again:
Stanwell Melange
Captain Black anything
Borkum Riff anything
Cap'n Bob's Blend
Pretty much most aromatics because wayyyy too often they smell so good but taste like nothing but hot air
Hearth and Home Stogie or any other "cigar" mixture. I'll just smoke a cigar if I want to taste cigar

[Lostmason]

The one tobacco that I tried that I would absolutely stay away from is the Blender's Gold from Walgreens. It was the most goopy crap I've ever seen. Impossible to keep lit even after letting it air out overnight. I did eventually mix it with some Virginia and it's decent now.

Don't write off all of the OTC blends either. If all I had was Prince Albert and Captain Black, I would still very much enjoy pipe smoking.

This is exactly what I'm saying,4 years ago I bought a pound bag of Smokers Pride and promptly soaked it in scotch,let it dry a bit and have been working on it since.In short I would say that any "crap" tobacco would be supplies for future mixes and blends.That is also why I agree with your other post on humidity measures,pipe smoking can be simple or you can make it a full fledged hobby and science.I would recomend reading the reviews and find flavor profiles that appeal to you and if you find you dont like one or two try to pick out what it is you don't like and try to find a mix to make it better.A little bit of chemistry is fun.

[c.ortiz108]

Fascinating thread to a pipe newb - and kind of intimidating with suggestions like trying the same blend in different pipes. This seems like a far more complicated hobby than cigars!

[Lostmason]

Fascinating thread to a pipe newb - and kind of intimidating with suggestions like trying the same blend in different pipes. This seems like a far more complicated hobby than cigars!

Only as complicated as You want to make it. Read thru the reviews,try a few.You'll find a blend you like.If your adventurous you'll try more,if not stick with what you like.Just like cigars,if you really can't stand one pass it on, someone else will, or you can always try "changing" it.

[El Whedo]

Ok.

I'm yer huckleberry.

Here are a few brands/blenders I don't like:
Sutliff and Lane. Why do I not like them? Because IMHO I think they use lower quality tobacco, and most of their blends are aeromatics, and I don't like most aeromatics.

The other brand I don't like is G.L. Pease. Most folks love his blends, but I haven't found one I like past the third bowl. He definitely uses top quality tobacco, but his tastes as a blender, and mine as a smoker are very different.

Now I'm gonna answer two questions ya didn't ask:
1) Mark, what are yer favorite blenders? Easy: anyone that makes a GREAT VA. My favorite is Homborger Veermaster by Dan Tobacco. I also like H&H Marble Kake, C&D Opening Night, and a whole slew of VA's from Astleys, F&T, and Gwaith and Hoggert.
2) Mark, how do I find out what blenders, or type of tobacco's I like? Easy: join the pipe tobacco Newb Sampler. You drop ship a tin or two to an experienced pipe smoker, and they send ya either 5-6, or 10-12 samples of a whole variety of tobaccos. This will let ya find out if ya like, or hate, VA's, VaPers, aeromatics, English blends, Balkans, etc.

[Commander Quan]

Latakia heavy blends. They literally taste and smell like burning cow pies. :bull_head:

[Cool Breeze]

Here's my list of tobacco I'll never buy again:
Captain Black anything

This is what makes this a great hobby IMO.
I like Captain Black a lot and Jason doesn't care for it at all. The cool thing is, we're both absolutely right. There is no right or wrong. There is no good or bad flavors. There is only finding the people who like a given flavor.

I never say a cigar or pipe tobacco is crap based on taste. I'll bitch and moan if the performance or construction sucks, but different people like different flavors. It's awesome. If we all liked the same thing, there would only be a handful of them to choose from.

[Tobias Lutz]

Latakia heavy blends. They literally taste and smell like burning cow pies. :bull_head:

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/sonicfanchara/images/3/37/Oh_no_you_didn't.gif/revision/latest?cb=20140309023341

[Nachman]

Since you want opinions based on personal taste, I will give a little of mine. Don't buy anything in a pouch or bag. Stick to tins and later, when you know what you like, try a few bulks. Being a cigar smoker since the fifties, I would advise any cigar smoker to avoid Aromatic blends. They are sort of like sweet meat (I know there are cultures that eat sweet meat dishes, but this is my opinion, BLEECH). There is no better tobacco than Dunhill Royal Yacht for a cigar smoker. It doesn't taste like a cigar, but it has a similar mouth feel, lots of rich smoke and plenty of punch. Latakia blends are good in cool weather and Virginias in warm. The worst tobacco I have ever smoked was a Samuel Gawith Christmas Blend, but I like most Samuel Gawith tobaccos.

[Tombstone]

Latakia heavy blends. They literally taste and smell like burning cow pies. :bull_head:

While I personally like Latakia that is just a great mental image. Thanks for sharing.:stogie:

[c.ortiz108]

Thinking about all thus, as with anything there is such a thing as quality objectively speaking, right? I mean commercial cigarettes are full of chemicals, dyed paper etc. The quality of tobacco used in Curly Head is clearly inferior to what's used in an Opus X. My local artisan brewery's amber ale is made with better quality ingredients and with more care than Coors Lite, and it shows. There must be pipe tobaccos that are just poor quality, no? Dyed, treated with chemicals, heavily aromatic to mask poor flavors, harshness and bitterness? Generally the OTC pouches?

[Nachman]

Thinking about all thus, as with anything there is such a thing as quality objectively speaking, right? I mean commercial cigarettes are full of chemicals, dyed paper etc. The quality of tobacco used in Curly Head is clearly inferior to what's used in an Opus X. My local artisan brewery's amber ale is made with better quality ingredients and with more care than Coors Lite, and it shows. There must be pipe tobaccos that are just poor quality, no? Dyed, treated with chemicals, heavily aromatic to mask poor flavors, harshness and bitterness? Generally the OTC pouches?
You. Sir are an astute man. Smoking a pipe is like living in a village because there are so few of us. Even though you think villager A is a moron, you don't express your opinion unless you want to have all his friends and relatives, and lets face it half the people in the village are related to him, attack you like rabid weasels. Yes there are bad tobaccos and I could name whole brands that are unsmokable, but I have to live in this village.

[c.ortiz108]

You. Sir are an astute man. Smoking a pipe is like living in a village because there are so few of us. Even though you think villager A is a moron, you don't express your opinion unless you want to have all his friends and relatives, and lets face it half the people in the village are related to him, attack you like rabid weasels. Yes there are bad tobaccos and I could name whole brands that are unsmokable, but I have to live in this village.

Ah, the delicate politics of pipe smoking... But wait, are you saying pipe smokers are a bunch of inbreds? ;)

[rx2man]

I have been reading this with some amusement. I have a 48 qt cooler full of Gurkhas. Did not pay over $3 for any of them. One of the best bargains out there. And with 6 mos rest as good as anything else. Sure you get a dud here n there. Same with the Black Pearls, and a couple others you mentioned, all good stick if you let em sit for a bit. Tobacco is tobacco in relation to what is used for cigars or pipes and while I am sure some companys use higher quality tobacco than others as was said earlier noobs cant tell the difference and I sure cannot. Company's that spend more time post roll aging have product that hits the market smoking better than sticks that you have to sit on for a bit to really enjoy. We get caught up with the brands and all and compare this to other areas like you mentioned. Sure a Kimber is better than a Hi Point. You could also buy 3-4 Hi Points for a Kimber. I think we pay way to much for that X on the ring. Far more than it is worth.

Pipes are a lot different than cigars and you are going to be left very confused very soon. it was suggested already for you to get in on a newbie sampler trade. I also will suggest this. I say this because 3 yrs ago I smoked my 1st pipe. One of my earliest purchases was Samuel Gawiths Full Virginia Flake. And I picked up a 250g box. I lit that stuff up and it was not very good. Like wet hay. I put it all in jars and forgot about it. A few mos ago when I wanted to try pipes again I got into it and it was REALLY good. It seemed like a light aro. But its not its a straight Virginia but time changed it into something else. Look at some of the reviews on VA's on tobacco reviews. You will read where reviewers wonder about what topping is on the VA and there is none.

If I remember correctly a previous reply said to smoke Latakia blends as it is something a cigar smoker would like. I did not like flavored cigars but I do like my Aros. This may be why I am not very interested in cigars anymore. I have 8 oz of Penzance, many on here will say it is one of the best there is. Its good stuff if you like Latakia. I am keeping it and my other English blends as tastes change over time. But I prefer Lane 1Q over Penzance. I prefer the FVF over anything else but 3 yrs ago I wondered what all the fuss was about. I have some other VA's and all I get is a burned tongue. For whatever reason the 3 yr old FVF is at the perfect humidity and is smoking great. There is nothing wrong with the other VA's, its user error. User error is going to cause you more problems than the tobacco being crap. Try to find someone local that has some experience to decrease the learning curve. I did and am enjoying pipes a lot more because of it. Also applying cigar logic to corn cob pipes will not be beneficial. They smoke dry and are a quick way to get yourself a VA pipe, Lat pipe, aro pipe etc. 3 yrs ago as soon as I stopped smoking the cobs and moved over to briars things became more complicated and my enjoyment reduced to the point I smoked a pipe only a few times in 2 yrs. Cobs are great for noobs and less complicated. I am done babbling, going to get back to Game of Thrones......

[Nachman]

After giving it some thought, I have finally come up with a good answer to the OP's question. Go to tobacco Reviews and click on search. Click the "more options" choice and for 'reviewed by' type in Jiminks, because Jim likes all types of tobacco. Then for rating choose 'not recommended'. For each tobacco find Jiminks review because it will be descriptive and balanced. If the majority don't like it and Jim pans it, you can be assured it is not good tobacco.

[mooster]

I can't argue with that. I just checked it, and see nothing I'd recommend, and one that actually made me cringe when I remembered it.

[c.ortiz108]

Seems to be stall on the newb sampler trade, and I need to clean my estate pipes first anyway (have a full rotation+).... But I will definitely be signing up over there soon!

[rx2man]

After giving it some thought, I have finally come up with a good answer to the OP's question. Go to tobacco Reviews and click on search. Click the "more options" choice and for 'reviewed by' type in Jiminks, because Jim likes all types of tobacco. Then for rating choose 'not recommended'. For each tobacco find Jiminks review because it will be descriptive and balanced. If the majority don't like it and Jim pans it, you can be assured it is not good tobacco.

This IS a great reply. I went over and pulled the reviewer up. He explains the reviews he does as to why another star was not warranted and what could be done differently to gain that other star. As in sip slowly and you go from 2/2.5 to a 3.