New favorite mix
Posted by DonD on Friday, 18-Jan-2008
I've been en enormous Jester fan for quite a while now, but on the suggestion of one of the forum members, I tried Bali Red. I like the Bali too, but found it to leave me wanting a little more spice and earthiness, which Jester has in spades.
The answer?
I dumped a tin of Bali in my Ultra-techno-tactical storage facility (ziplock freezer bag), mixed it up and PRESTISSIMO! This 50/50 mix has literally not only brought out, but enhanced the best, most subtle characteristics of both of these fine tobaccos. It brings a slightly elevated burn temp to the Jester, which really seems to aid in flavor release. Since the Bali is noticably drier out of the can, than is Jester, there is less drying time and therefore loss of essential oils is minimized.
Many have remarked that while being a great smoke, Jester can tend to be a little too complex to smoke regularly and is often relegated to quiet evening, "contemplative" smoking time. With this mix, you don't find yourself seeking out flavors as with straight Jester, rather, they are all right there for sheer pleasure of a great smoke... everytime, anytime.
I cannot recommend giving this a try more highly.
Enjoy!!
Comments [ new ]
- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by KL on Friday, 18-Jan-2008
Have you ever tried Bali Blue ? It's a dark dutch Halfzware like Jester and is totally killer. Rich,smooth with a little sweetness. Not as heavy as jester but still very much a full flavor halfzware.
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And Peter Stokkebye's "Stockholm Blend", according to RYOmagazine it's maybe the finniest Dutch Halfzware on the market today.
It's my favorite halfzware btw :)
What you blended sounds like D&R's Ryback Gold, they had the same idea, mix a Dutch Halfzware with a high quality gold leaf Virginia tobacco. works for me. I love it that way
- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by KL on Friday, 18-Jan-2008
DonD :
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Do you think this should be in the Blending category? If you think so, you can move it there, if you want to.
I would move my reply with it or you can if you want to :)
That way people looking for blend ideas will see your blend idea and be inspired.
just my opinion mind you, I might not be right.
kl
- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by Dave Lers on Saturday, 19-Jan-2008
Did you mean Amsterdam Shag? While the Stockholm does have a bit of dark-fired, it isn't a halfzware. The Stockholm is great if you find halfzwares to be too strong. Its milder than Bali's so-called Light Halfzware.
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Saturday, 19-Jan-2008
I enjoy both Bali and Stockholm blends, while Im no expert, I would be hard pressed to say Stockholm is milder. Ryback is milder to me. Stockholm, to my palate, is nuttier and sweeter than Bali reg hzwr, but is also fairly stout. Out of curiosity, what "box" would you classify Stockholm in. Again, just mho, I like all these in the AM w/ a nice cup o joe, or five.
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by Dave Lers on Saturday, 19-Jan-2008
No box, just a rich flavorful blend on level with London Export. Halfzwares are too much for me, Stockholm and London aren't. To say Stockholm is as rich as Bali Blue surprises me as much as Doug (RYOM) saying the Stockholm (and Turkish Export) are lighter the Danish Export. Are variations in moisture the cause of such a wide range of perception?
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Sunday, 20-Jan-2008
I wonder if many people find the components in hzwr's to be acrid or unpleasant, thereby denoting it as "too strong", while others find it sharp and pleasant. As many say; you either love hzrwr's or hate them. I guess I find it to be pleasant and not really an indication of strength, as both the above-mentioned have an abundance of nicotine. Most of my friends wont even "bum a smoke" after giving them a Stockholm or a Bali, Samson etc., (another plus). As far as humidification, all these blends mentioned are very moist and need a little drying, unless handrolling. I appreciate the input, and btw I also find the London export to be an ideal "daily smoke", smooth and sweet.
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Saturday, 19-Jan-2008
My bad, I see you said Bali "light" hzwr, I havent tried that yet.
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by KL on Sunday, 20-Jan-2008
I meant stockholm. I would agree with Dave Z on this one. To me Stockholm is the most stout of all the stokkebye offerings. And much stronger than bali Light (I'll smoke a few quick ones of the three to double check that i'm not mixed up)
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I totally agree with your statement about the danish Export.
- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by Dave Lers on Sunday, 20-Jan-2008[ reply | link ] to this. Go to [ parent | OP | topic | top ]
- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Sunday, 20-Jan-2008
Alright, I dug up some LE, which I find to be a neutral type smoke, quite tasty in its own right though, and am gonna use that as a palate cleanser. I also have Bali blue, Stockholm, Samson, Ryback reg, and Amsterdam shag. Now I ll smoke all these and report back (if Im still able to type afterwards). I think Ill stuff some TE too to help cleanse my palate along w/ the LE. What the hell, its Sunday and this and football is all I have to do!
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Sunday, 20-Jan-2008
After comparison amongst Bali blue, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Ryback, and Samson, I found some Drum and lastly Bali light hzwr. All I can say is that I wouldnt recommend smoking all these back to back. That is w/ out having a WP in between to judge them from. The LE proved too tasty and I think might have led to palate fatigue. That being said, these are all fairly strong tobaccos. Man PS blends are tasty! The strongest in taste, to me are Samson Amsterdam, Stockholm, Drum and Bali. D&R, to my knowledge doesnt market Ryback as an halfzware, and to me, its not. Dave L says Stockholm isnt either, my tastebuds disagree. Their is a noticeable difference in taste to the Stockholm though in comparison to Samson, Amsterdam and Bali, thats in the intensity of the halfzware flavor. That to me is obvious when smoked in direct comparison. So I guess I agree on that point. Regardless I think the Stockholm and the Bali have a depth that includes sweetness and nuttiness to a greater extent, not just the searing "note" of the others. Im glad though I dont have to chose, as I really like them all. As a sidenote, the Norwegian, although milder to me than the LE, has a sweetness I must have missed before, really good smoke too, hence the WP as a "control" smoke. And to Dave L, I guess what I meant was nicotine, and all these seem to have quite a bit, read: satisfaction. Bali light is just that, and Drum is ok, but not next to the rest. To me the strongest of the bunch is Samson.
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by Dave Lers on Sunday, 20-Jan-2008
I posted the picture to show why the Stockholm isn't a halfzware. If you look at the full-size image you'll see how little dark-fired it contains. There is nowhere near 50% dark-fired in the Stockholm and that is why its not a halfzware and why "the intensity of the halfzware flavor" is less in the Stockholm.
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Sunday, 20-Jan-2008
Yes I see, strangely though the strongest halfzware, to me was the Samson which also had the most birdseyes, w/ Stockholm coming in a close second as to birdseyes. I wonder how much flavor these contibute? In any case, Ive never smoked that much halfzware in a single afternoon before, the taste differences are much more obvious that way. Again as to the Norwegian, I had almost dismissed that one as too bland, after smoking the heavier zwares that was really a nice blend.
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Monday, 21-Jan-2008
Im thinking, considering my new view on halfzwares, that half-fired(dark) means halfzware, that Ryback actually is a true halfzware. So Id like to amend my post stating it wasnt. Technically it is. Or at least looks looks to my naked eye that way. In any case I think its a great tobacco and smoke it often, I just meant its not as heavy as some others. Upon rereading my post, some may interpret that I meant it as a knock, which it wasnt. Its just a milder variety. Would you agree Dave L? Not to keep flogging a dead horse. Happy smoking!
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by Dave Lers on Monday, 21-Jan-2008
A halfzware is typically a fine-cut dark blend with a unique flavor that comes from a lot of dark-fired tobacco. I haven't smoked Ryback, but it sounds like a halfzware to me. On the other hand, Canoe Dark Halfzware is neither (the name is tautologous/redundant).
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- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Thursday, 14-Feb-2008
As per RYO mag:The TurkishPeter Stokkebye's NEW Turkish Export and Stockholm Blend Export has a definite Turkish/Oriental component and is an exceptionally mild and American tasting long cut shag. The Stockholm is a bit milder (both are even milder than Stokkebye's Danish Export which remains one of the most beloved non-European tasting shags anywhere) with a touch that we find incredible
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DL, I wasnt sure what you were referring to when you referred to this article! In rereading RYO mag I came across this, WTF? He must have mixes up samples somehow!
sidenote: asked a local tobacconist for his strongest baccy, he pointed to Stockholm, sitting right next to Amshag. :)
- Re: New favorite mix
- Posted by dave z on Friday, 15-Feb-2008
I wonder if Ryomag had a proprietary Stockholm Blend EXPORT, because its not currently marketed that way, and he did write Export, which are all mild blends. I cant think of any other way to explain that statement. My 12 yr old is no connoisseur, and even he says theirs no comparison! jk
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I guess I'll have to revisit the Amsterdam, its the only PS blend I don't keep in stock. Both of you have compared the, not a halfzware, Stockholm to halfzwares but haven't said how it compares to the Amsterdam halfzware (Doug/RYOM favorite). Stout/strong as in flavor or nicotine? I'm lousy at nicotine content, my PS flavor rating is: