Quote Originally Posted by NeverBend View Post
Many thanks for the feedback and your dislikes are as important as your likes. If the mixtures don't perform per the list (below), please let me know.

I try to blend conceptually. Flavors are (relatively) easy but smoking characteristics are more difficult. It's a bit like the stars aligning when you get it right. Of course I want my mixtures to have delicious and interesting flavors but these are the other points that I try to address when blending:


  • Flavor - beyond the initial tastes, the flavors should be consistent throughout the bowl and evolve, not revolve.
  • Burn - should be cool, consistent and long burning. Since I don't make flakes I want the tobacco to light without much hassle.
  • Appearance - just as with a well prepared and presented plate of food, I believe that if it looks better you'll like it more.
  • Finish - if you're lamenting the end of the bowl, that's good. The flavors should come together for a good (and hopefully grand) finale that tastes like a natural conclusion, not the tossing of the couch into the swimming pool before the police arrive.
  • Lagniappe. Since I'm not making flakes it's a nice touch to have the mixture burn to the bottom with a clean ash.


For example, I don't like the appearance of Red Ronnett's Sonnett but everything else has come together. I could mess with it for another year until I've balanced some blacks and yellows but I might never get it right.

I blended a lot of mixtures last year but none passed muster (based on the list) and I doubted that I'd be able to reproduce any of the Elephant & Castle line. Things have progressed, a few of last year's efforts have merit and I've learned my stocks so it might be possible to get close.
The finish on Einstien was remarkable. Surprised the hell out of me. Did NOT see that coming.