Pure Tobacco Pipe Blends You Can Make

[ChinaVoodoo]

Is that stacked Basma going to become available on WLT?

 

[Levi Gross]

Is that stacked Basma going to become available on WLT?

I sure hope so! I’m patiently lurking and waiting for it!!

 

[GreenDragon]

1. A cold weather bird, but, good year-round.
2. Not nearly as heavy as they look.
3. Furry feet.

Those first two I can work with, but number 3 has me stumped.

Bob

This blend should be smoked first thing in the morning with a piping hot cup of coffee. You should burn your tongue on the first sip, providing you with the hairy/furry tongue sensation for the duration of the smoke.

 

[deluxestogie]

The stacked Basma is indeed lovely. I think most light-colored Basma-type Orientals would be a good substitute. That would include Prilep, Xanthi, Yenidje, Djebel, Düzce, etc. The darker ones offer a stronger "presence" in a blend, and are often not as floral.

I've pretty much gotten in the habit of just listing "Oriental" in a blend recipe, or at least considering any named Oriental in a recipe to be wide open for substitution. The availability of specific varieties of Oriental leaf is so unpredictable that you just have to work with what's at hand.

Flue Cured 40%
Harrow velvet 15%
White Angel Leaf 15%
Stacked Basma 25%
Dark Air 5%

I appreciate the suggestion, Levi. I will wait for the voting to end on the images, then consider that blend, as well as any others proposed.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Since most future smokers of Ptarmigan Blend may not have access to nit-picky varietals anyway, let's simplify the blend suggestions based on:

• flue-cured Virginia (or VA Cavendish)
• Burley (air-cured or Cavendish)
• Oriental
• Dark-Air

Of course, the result is highly dependent on which specific varietals are selected, and whether or not a component has been cooked as Cavendish. But that's just the nature of home blending (or home cooking). Since there is no related marketing campaign, each and every batch can (,should) and likely will be different, depending on your personal tweaks.

[One of my kitchen cabinets has an accumulation of highly specific Edinburgh blend recipes taped onto it. I've numbered the batches, and every one uses different varietal ingredients. Lots of fun. Four different ones so far. The top of my container for Edinburgh has a pretty, color label, whereas a detailed, hand-written ingredient list is taped to the bottom.]

One other Ptarmigan ptwist is that I'm thinking that there could be an argument two blends of this bird: Summer Ptarmigan and Winter Ptarmigan. They would both have an identical ingredient list, but the proportions would be different. If you feel inspired, propose separate summer and winter blend recipes that are variants of identical ingredient lists.

An unresolved question is which is fuller in body: summer blend or winter blend?

Bob

 

[GreenDragon]

I would argue for the fuller blend to be the winter varietal. This is based on a highly scientific study which found that I prefer lighter Ptilsners and Ptale Ales in the summer, and heavy Ptouts in the winter when eating ptoultry. OR, you could argue that many birds are pfatter in the winter due to their pfall eating pfrenzy.

 

[deluxestogie]

A ptarmigan alliteration grouse: The initial phoneme of a ptarmigan-mutilated word should be 't'. Valid examples would be pturkey, ptumultuous, ptobacco, ptedious, ptired, in order to exhibit ptarmigan ptalent.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Flue Cured 40%
Harrow velvet 15%
White Angel Leaf 15%
Stacked Basma 25%
Dark Air 5%

Summer Ptarmigan
35% Flue cured Cavendish
35% Burley
25% Oriental
5% Dark Air

Winter Ptarmigan
35% Flue Cured
35% Burley Cavendish
25% Oriental
5% Dark Air

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

A ptarmigan alliteration grouse: The initial phoneme of a ptarmigan-mutilated word should be 't'. Valid examples would be pturkey, ptumultuous, ptobacco, ptedious, ptired, in order to exhibit ptarmigan ptalent.

Bob

Ptumulptuous?

 

[deluxestogie]

Suoutplumutp!

 

[Charly]

Summer Ptarmigan
35% Flue cured Cavendish
35% Burley
25% Oriental
5% Dark Air

Winter Ptarmigan
35% Flue Cured
35% Burley Cavendish
25% Oriental
5% Dark Air

I propose a few adjustments to ChinaVoodoo's proposition :

Summer Ptarmigan
20% Flue cured
20% Flue cured Cavendish
30% Burley
25% Oriental
5% Dark Air

Winter Ptarmigan
40% Flue Cured
30% Burley Cavendish
25% Oriental
5% Dark Air

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

That will work too. The essential part is that there should be more un-cavendished flue cured in winter, thus making it lighter in colour and more difficult to spot in the snow.

 

[Traveling Piper]

@deluxestogie
In keeping with the Ornithological theme, I'd like to put in a request for a Nightjar Collection. *Disclaimer: I am not an expert in Ornithology (in fact, a couple words herein were obtained via a Google Search, including the spelling of said study.)
Having said that, my favourite birdsong is that of the evening-time Chuck-Widow's-Will. It's often mistaken for the Whip-Poor-Will (round' here).
The Chuck-Poor-Will's (what I've always heard it called) song is distinct and beautiful. Listen to a recording--but it won't do it justice.

I don't intend to highjack this thread and take it off course (it's rather amusing as is). Just want to give you something to ponder for future blends.

Clark

 

[deluxestogie]

Dolomiti di Brenta

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... [Pipe blending is my winter sport.]

Here is a pipe blend exclusively for those very few home growers who have grown that unique landrace of tobacco, Nostrano del Brenta. I suppose that a distant facsimile can be made using Pennsylvania Seedleaf (like the binder sold by WLT). Several other substitutes for Nostrano might be PA Red, Long Red, Little Dutch, Dutch Ohio, though you might have to reduce the proportion of cigar leaf if those are used. As for the two other ingredients, play with any variants of flue-cured and Oriental that you have.

The burn is excellent. The aroma is not a cigar aroma. It is full, with moderate to robust nicotine. The Nostrano adds a slight sweetness, as well as a "round" and interesting flavor profile. (Nostrano alone in a pipe seems harsh to me, even though Nostrano puro cigars are smooth and mild.)

The beautiful image is from @ciennepi's August 2018 hike.

Dolomiti di Brenta

• Nostrano del Brenta 37.5% (6 parts per 16)
• Flue-cured Virginia 37.5% (6 parts per 16)
• Oriental 25% (4 parts per 16)

Download 3.5" pdf of the blend label.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Chuck-Poor-Will

Chuck-Poor-Bob needs a hint as to possible characteristics of the blend you have in mind.

Bob

 

[GreenDragon]

These are night birds, and you hear them mostly in the summer here in the south, so in my opinion, the blend should be dark and sultry, but the smoke soft with bright notes like the song.

Please jump in here Piper with your interpretation if different!

 

[Traveling Piper]

These are night birds, and you hear them mostly in the summer here in the south, so in my opinion, the blend should be dark and sultry, but the smoke soft with bright notes like the song.

Please jump in here Piper with your interpretation if different!

@GreenDragon I was thinking something very much along those same lines.

@deluxestogie
I was thinking something that is an evening smoke, but will not bog you down during the afternoon—when it’s hot and humid as hell. I am thinking of something that you’d enjoy in a cob with a sweet tea on the porch about sundown—round about the time these guys begin to sing.
I’d think a prominent floral bouquet would be a nice starting point. Of course Latakia is a requirement.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Dolomiti di Brenta

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... [Pipe blending is my winter sport.]

Here is a pipe blend exclusively for those very few home growers who have grown that unique landrace of tobacco, Nostrano del Brenta. I suppose that a distant facsimile can be made using Pennsylvania Seedleaf (like the binder sold by WLT). Several other substitutes for Nostrano might be PA Red, Long Red, Little Dutch, Dutch Ohio, though you might have to reduce the proportion of cigar leaf if those are used. As for the two other ingredients, play with any variants of flue-cured and Oriental that you have.

The burn is excellent. The aroma is not a cigar aroma. It is full, with moderate to robust nicotine. The Nostrano adds a slight sweetness, as well as a "round" and interesting flavor profile. (Nostrano alone in a pipe seems harsh to me, even though Nostrano puro cigars are smooth and mild.)

The beautiful image is from @ciennepi's August 2018 hike.

Dolomiti di Brenta

• Nostrano del Brenta 37.5% (6 parts per 16)
• Flue-cured Virginia 37.5% (6 parts per 16)
• Oriental 25% (4 parts per 16)

Download 3.5" pdf of the blend label.

Bob

I can do that one!

 

[deluxestogie]

prominent floral bouquet would be a nice starting point. Of course Latakia is a requirement.

Now we're talking blending!

I can do that one!

Yay! I've already smoked several bowls of it just today. It's meaty.

Bob

 

[ciennepi]

I'm honored that Bob used my photo for the official stick of the Dolomiti di Brenta blending.
Sadly I cannot replicate it because I miss the oriental part. This year I would have thought to add an oriental strain to my grow.
In the meanwhile I will try to replace the oriental portion with some Perique.