Difficulty finding pipe tobacco I dislike

[Ropey]

Awhile back I started a thread asking people to give me names of pipe tobaccos generally recognized as being shite, so I could avoid them. People told me that, unlike many cigars, pipe tobacco generally isn't shite, no matter what kind it is.

I have found this to be true, and it's quite disconcerting to me.

With cigars, probably three out of five new lines I try I can't stand, one I think is ok, and one I like. But with pipe tobacco, I literally haven't found one that I dislike. There are some I like slightly more than others, such as Navy flake, but all are either decent or good to me.

It troubles me because it makes me think my palate is so unrefined that I can't tell the difference between good and bad.

Recently I had to buy the last pouch of ancient, dessicated Captain Black Cherry at a liquor store because I was in a situation where I had a place to smoke and a pipe but no tobacco (never again!) It turned out fine and the girl in whose house I was smoking enjoyed the aroma.

That, to me, is like picking up a Ron Mexico and enjoying it nearly as much as a Padron, which disturbs me greatly.

Is this normal, or should I expect things to change? Why would there be such a tremendous variety in the quality of cigars, but very little in pipe tobacco? I'm not even talking about cigar construction, I'm talking about the flavor and quality of the leaf.

[Nature]

Ahhh, welcome to the joys of piping.

[Emperor Zurg]

It seems the worst pipe tobaccos are usually cheap aromatics. Usually, the thing that makes them bad is lack of taste. However, even a cheap aro smells great when you smoke it, even though it has very little flavor. That can't be said for a Ron Mexico. Cheap cigars have loads of flavor - and all of it bad. I guess I'm saying that the subtlety (is that a word?) of pipe tobacco plays in its favor.

Tongue bite also plays in but some folks don't seem to get bitten by anything. If you're one of those, count yourself lucky.

There are exceptions: I tried C&D Autumn Evening and I hated it. Couldn't even finish the bowl I thought it tasted so bad. However, I've read plenty of commentary from others who would choose AE as a desert island tobacco they like it so much. So I could hardly say that AE was absolute garbage and don't try it. It's fine quality baccy, I just don't care for it. You may fall in love with it.

[Tobias Lutz]

Everyone is different in their tastes, but I've been smoking for 15+ years and I still enjoy about 85-90% of what I try- and I'm not particular when it comes to trying new blends. I enjoy a wide swath of English, Virginia, aromatic, and even Lakeland tobaccos. Different strokes for different folks, but being less "discerning" can put a hurting on the wallet

[Lostmason]

For me it's all about the price and packaging. I'm cheap, but not cheap enough to buy those 1 lb bags of Smokers Pride. I like the burley blends the most
and the aros are welcome too. I've tried a few english , viginian and others that I don't really know how to classify that I've enjoyed a lot. I wouldn't worry
that my palate is ruined or bad, I'ld worry that my wallet can take the strain.

[Cool Breeze]

I'm pretty much that way myself, with the only exception being English blends.

I'm in no sense a latakia whore like some seem to be. If a blend has latakia in it, it seems to be the predominant flavor to me. If the blend isn't sweet, I don't want it. It seems to be the one quality that makes me enjoy a lat blend.

Other than that, I'm with you.
I like naturally sweet Virginias and Vapers the best I think, but I can enjoy an aero or a burley blend like CH or PA any time as well.

I'm currently sitting on my balcony smoking a bowl of Sutliff Royal Viking in a cheapo MM Hardwood and enjoying every puff.

[JustTroItIn]

At least you are starting to understand why you got the answers you did in your "What are some "crap" pipe tobaccos to avoid?" thread that frustrated you so much. Glad you are enjoying the pipe!

[Branzig]

This kind of seems like Dejavu from another thread you had

Joking aside, I can tell the difference in leaf quality in pipe tobacco. For example, the Gawith's Virginia offerings are top top notch. They use a lot of exotic Virginia's, and the flavor profiles are excellent. Much better than your run of the mill Virginia blends. I guess I would consider Samuel Gawith and Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. to be the Davidoff and Padron of the pipe tobacco world.

Also, just like cigars, you will have to refine your palate. I doubt you could pick out much of the Orientals, Turkish, or Va notes in a heavy Balkan blend vs. a stout English yet...it is going to take time. As a matter of fact, if you smoked a highly Oriental blend right now, you may find that it is too zingy or sour.

But going back to what your older thread was all about: When it comes to pipe tobacco, you will find that there are certain profiles you don't like; but overall, the tobacco itself is all pretty good.

[Bruck]

Okay, wait, here it comes... just a minute... OK, I think I've got it.

Pipe tobaccos are all good because they have to be.

There's a wide range of quality in cigars because they have to use up all the tobacco.

What do I win

[Desertlifter]

Pipe tobaccos - rarity sometimes notwithstanding - are all pretty cheap, particularly when comparing them to cigars. Even more expensive blends are pretty damn cheap. There is really no way to make a quorum or hesitant pirate level of pipe tobacco that is THAT much cheaper than something by Samuel Gawith. The only "bad" pipe tobaccos that I can think of are RYO tobaccos masquerading as pipe tobacco.