Favorite Morning Smoke?

[TheatyHannington]

I purchased the C&D Haunted Bookshop, H&H Anniversary Kake, Dunhill Early Morning Pipe, and Seattle Pipe Club Seattle Evening. Here are my first impressions:

The Seattle Evening is fantastic! It is a Latakia/Oriental, and I generally like those blends, with strong similarities to Butera's Royal English Latakia #2. What is it about almost all Latakia/Oriental blends that I do not like the smell of the tobacco, but once it is lit the divinity of the blend is overwhelming? This was no exception. I liked it better than Butera's, but have no hope of being able to tell you why. Maybe just because I didn't smoke any Butera's last night so the Seattle Evening is fresh in my mind.

The Dunhill Early Morning Pipe was phenomenal - my favorite of the bunch. I don't even know what to say about it, I was just so intrigued by the pleasure the pipe imbued me with that I forgot to note any of the flavors or changes throughout the bowl. Go smoke some yourself if you want to figure out what it is like.

The Anniversary Kake has so much written about it and I am glad to have 4 oz kicking around in one of my 3 humidors. I would compare it to sludge metal: there is an overarching heaviness, a sort of consistent, rich, full flavor, but listening closer will reveal some of the subtleties happening around the edges. Despite this overpowering heaviness, richness, deliciousness, around the edges of my flavor palette there was an interplay of flavors that was difficult to pin down but extremely alluring, insanely seductive. I love this stuff and am already thinking like an addict: I only have less than 4 ounces left, I need more. I NEED MORE.

Haunted bookshop does the exact opposite in terms of flavor, but still manages to be incredibly enticing. Instead of the heavy, richness being the center and the light flavors playing around the edges, Haunted Bookshop features the light, spicy flavors as the central scent, with the rich, heavy flavors sort of marginalized. It's a blend that I absolutely loved, but out of the four people who tried it last night, I was the only one who was smitten. However, out of these four tobacco blends, this was probably my least favorite, but I also had the smallest bowl of this.

My Wyf's Opinions:
She liked the smell of the Haunted Bookshop best, but couldn't even finish a bowl she hated it so much. The other three she loved fully. Dunhill and H&H probably tied for second in her opinion though she seemed to enjoy the Dunhill a bit more. The Seattle Evening was far and away her favorite though. She does love her Latakia/Orientals. She thought the Seattle evening had more of a cedary flavor than the Butera's, while another in the room thought it was pine.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions.


My next purchase will include some Esoterica blends, Dunhill Nightcap and 965, and Carter Hall.

[MarkinAZ]

Originally Posted by TheatyHannington

I purchased the C&D Haunted Bookshop, H&H Anniversary Kake, Dunhill Early Morning Pipe, and Seattle Pipe Club Seattle Evening. Here are my first impressions:

Nice reviews TH...

[TheatyHannington]

Originally Posted by MarkinCA

Nice reviews TH...

Thank you sir!

Here are my Third Impressions:

Dunhill Early Morning Pipe: If smoked too quickly will get VERY hot quickly. This makes it smell and taste faintly of wood smoke. However, if enjoyed slowly and reasonably, it is an incredible blend, with emphasis on the edible portion of that word. Tasty tasty. Still my favorite.

H&H Anniversary Kake: Tried this while walking the other day. Did not taste good at all. I assume I was smoking it too quickly. Later that day I tried a bowl in my buddy's living room and it tasted amazing again. This stuff is phenomenal.

Seattle Pipe Club Seattle Evening: Still so good. It is stronger than the Butera's, more spice and flavor. The smoke in the room smells a little weird to me and others, but it tastes really good in the mouth. Still my Wyf's favorite, by far.

C&D Haunted Bookshop: The disparity I sensed between this blend and the others has disappeared. I don't know if it was a few days in my humidor or what, but this blend has come on strong, vying for a higher rating against the other blends. I would now say it is tied with Seattle Evening for third out of these. Like Seattle Evening, this has a solid, flavorful, spicy core with surrounding hints or dark, mellow, full-bodied flavors. This one is actually still quite good when smoked quickly or while walking. That may be one thing that helped the rating here. But I also smoked some indoors again and still really enjoyed it. I think a couple of days in the humidor really helped this out and I may slip my wyf a bowl of this to try again.

The true beauty of pipe tobacco is the social aspect of smoking. It allows one to relax while in a social situation without it being awkward or boring. The worst pipe-smoking friend is the one who is always talking, who doesn't appreciate the inspiration inherent in silence. To that end I have been sharing these blends extensively with friends. The general consensus is that Anniversary Kake is almost perfect, Dunhill is okay, Haunted Bookshop is too one-sided, and Seattle Evening is also almost perfect, except that weird note in the smoke's scent.

My Next Purchases:
Esoterica Stonehaven (God Willing)
Dunhill 965 & Nightcap
McClelland Frog Morton
McConnell Scottish Cake
Carter Hall

[MarkinAZ]

Originally Posted by TheatyHannington

Thank you sir!

Seattle Pipe Club Seattle Evening: Still so good. It is stronger than the Butera's, more spice and flavor. The smoke in the room smells a little weird to me and others, but it tastes really good in the mouth. Still my Wyf's favorite, by far...

As long as its the Wyf's favorite, your way ahead of the game TH When "my accountant" allows me to purchase again, the Seattle Evening and possibly the Mississippi River will be my next tobacco' to purchase. Like the reviews of both tins. Not sure why the Seattle Evening is packaged in a 50g tin and not a 2oz tin. I think for $9.49 the 2oz tin would sell well at P&C...

[TheatyHannington]

Originally Posted by MarkinCA

As long as its the Wyf's favorite, your way ahead of the game TH When "my accountant" allows me to purchase again, the Seattle Evening and possibly the Mississippi River will be my next tobacco' to purchase. Like the reviews of both tins. Not sure why the Seattle Evening is packaged in a 50g tin and not a 2oz tin. I think for $9.49 the 2oz tin would sell well at P&C...

I was eying that Mississippi River tin too, wondering if the wyf would let me add 1 more tin onto the next order, knowing that she will not, unless it is more Seattle Evening for her.

Not too keen myself on the sound of their Plum stuff.