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I've been pondering this a bit lately. And the "must haves" thread, particularly @nachos answer, got me thinking more.
First off I'm not suggesting variety isn't the spice of life, or that widely exploring blends isn't a big part of what I enjoy about pipe smoking.
But I do wonder if it can lead to being a jack of all blends, so to speak. I think I'd personally do well to master a few more instead of always trying new stuff.
I see a fair number of reviews on here that are later edited to say after smoking the blend for an extended period it's become one of their favorites. I suspect that's, at least in some part, owing to practice smoking it.
So I wonder. Do I need a dozen different "English" blends? Or would I do well to have one Latakia blend I like and spend more time with it?
I'd love to hear y'alls thoughts.
I've been pondering this a bit lately. And the "must haves" thread, particularly @nachos answer, got me thinking more.
First off I'm not suggesting variety isn't the spice of life, or that widely exploring blends isn't a big part of what I enjoy about pipe smoking.
But I do wonder if it can lead to being a jack of all blends, so to speak. I think I'd personally do well to master a few more instead of always trying new stuff.
I see a fair number of reviews on here that are later edited to say after smoking the blend for an extended period it's become one of their favorites. I suspect that's, at least in some part, owing to practice smoking it.
So I wonder. Do I need a dozen different "English" blends? Or would I do well to have one Latakia blend I like and spend more time with it?
I'd love to hear y'alls thoughts.
I have been thinking very similar things. I'm just looking for three or four blends to make regulars and then have the rest in the cellar or for a change every now and then.
I'm thinking one English, one VA/VAper, one Aro and one whatever else that is different to the other three.
Excellent question! For myself, I can’t say I develop true favorites, there are certainly ones I like to return to more often, but unless I hated a blend or found it completely boring, I will enjoy it when I come back around to it. The variety actually makes all blends better to me. In many cases, I’ve learned to enjoy some more because I’ve tried a lot of others.
I enjoy trying new blends and making new blends and I don’t believe there is a “right” or “perfect” blend to smoke, so I don’t limit myself.
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom...You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough.
Either way it will be interesting to see the replies. I'm too new to be of any help I think.
I think the technique of becoming overly familiar with a blend would work on pretty much everyone if they gave it a try. It might just come down to personality types. Some people favour variety in general while others like to become familiar with things.
Either way it will be interesting to see the replies. I'm too new to be of any help I think.
I think you’re on point with that. Some people don’t like change and variety is the most common opportunity for it we run into. I’ve known people who smoked the same blend for thirty or more years with no desire to even try anything else. If that made them happy, and it clearly did, then good for them. No right answer, just preferences.
It also occurs to me that the frequency of changing/trying new tobaccos could be an issue as well. If one had ten different English blends and smoked a different one for each smoke in rotation and added more, that person would likely miss the whole picture of each one. I don’t jump around as frequently as that by any means myself. Nor do I often smoke very similar blends back to back.
I agree, Ted.
I think too it might matter what your experience level is. When I first started smoking a pipe I just couldn't wait to try everything. So I had a lot of variables going to confuse issues. Was that a wet smoke because of the blend, the pipe or something in my technique?
The answer was probably almost always technique. But it can get muddied with a variety of blends and pipes in the mix.
That’s an excellent point. Also a good explanation for the common occurrence of people newer to smoking buying blends and disliking them, only to return much later and finding they really like them.
I feel like I just left the spot where i was since the very beginning 'wanting to try everything'. I really need repeat some blends to get familiar with instead keep going to new ones. But all of it comes from inside, at the beginning i believe is totally natural going crazy in all sort of new stuffs. So I´m now in the spot that I´ll prefer stick to few and go deep on them.
Hmmm...an interesting question.
Okay - here's a stab at answering, based on my experience:
--
Music streaming is awesome, BUT - it is the same challenge as that of uber-choice (variety available) for tobacco... I can listen to so many genres & albums, artists & shared playlists online, vs collection of CDs or vinyl (that costs more short-term). I have so much fun churning through eclectic sounds & different styles. That steals opportunity hours to really digest the truly great stuff though, - to listen to quality arrangements enough times to truly appreciate the nuance, the mix, the lyrics (if applicable), etc...
The same thing with blends. I believe that's necessary though (to churn a playlist approach, like a buffet), - a means to an end - to find out what you really LOVE. Then, from there, you can put on the scuba-mask & deep-dive the "genres" or tobacco blends you love. Example - I LOVE Radiohead, but I had to go through a lot of other alternative pop-rock to figure that out. Now, I've reduced the "library" and I know what I want to spend more time investigating. From there, I know I'll love solo albums from the individual band-mates too...Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien...etc...good god I hope this tracks...odd analogy, perhaps.
...my 2 cents, anyway. 🤓
Tracks perfectly.
It's a good analogy. There's an element of acquired taste too. I love Drive By Truckers. But they're certainly not a band that had me tapping my toe the first time I heard them. They're not easily accessible. In fact there's a lot to immediately turn someone off. But the more I listened the better I understood and appreciated what they're doing.
But that doesn't mean I want to only listen to Drive By Truckers.
I like to keep things simple: I smoke scottish blend mostly (roughly half my smokes) there are a few blends I always have in stock(musthave list) I get one or two new blends everytime I go to the tobacco store just to try something else for a change.
Once the all over the place and try everything in sight phase slows down I see my setup being more like Rene12. Maybe 5 to 10 regulars and try something new when I feel like it.
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