tobacco v.s wine

Ed

dear sirs,

first of all i would like to apologise for having to writing to you all in english.

i have had the pleasure of smoking the dunhill night cap tobacco on various occasions, however, it tends to taste different each time i smoke it.  i mean the basic character is there but there is just a dash of something missing.  i dont quite know exactly how to describe that night cap taste is words and one thing that i am certain of is that depending on the tins, a difference has certainly been noted.

my take on this is that maybe fine tobacco  is like fine wine, depending on the year produced, each and everything single production has a slight hint of its own characteristics.

am i correct in putting it like that?  or can any one help me on this matter and i sure will be very greatful.  after all, it might just be my palate that is doing the misjudging.....thanks to you all...and happy smoking!

regards,
eric

LeslieNg

小弟认为烟草口味的些微差异，可能来自烟斗和烟草，以及品尝时的味觉嗅觉状态等等因素有关。这种合理的差异是可以理解的而且很正常的。这也是品尝烟草的乐趣之一。

来自烟斗的原因：
－斗型、斗钵大小高矮、此斗此前是否抽过其他 blends，烟斗休息是否充足 (状态是否佳) 等等，似乎都会对烟草口味有所影响；

来自烟草的原因：
－成分烟草受种植时的气候、土壤等原因的影响。就各种单一成分而言，这里可能是一个 vintage 的概念。blender 的工作，就是根据他/她的味觉和经验判断，根据实际情况去平衡一些东西。
－包装的原因、装斗的原因：假设 Nightcap 理想化的标准成分是：15% Tobacco A, 25 % Tobacco B, 5 % Tobacco C, 55% Tobacco D, 那么，我们是否能够保证调出来的一罐罐 Mixture 都是均质化的烟草？In other words, Tin A, Tin B, Tin C 的成分配比都完全和上列理想化成分配比完全相当？而我们的某一批某一罐的中的 Bowl A, Bowl B, Bowl C 呢？

来自品尝时味觉嗅觉的状态的原因：
－打个比喻：我们从黑暗的环境突然转换到一个明亮的环境，会感觉特别耀眼；我们喝过酸柑汁后再喝同一杯苹果汁，会觉得苹果汁特别甜 …… 当然，和心情也是有很大关系的，在下想。

突然想到一个概念：我们都知道圆形的定义是什么，但是，我们判断看到的东东是圆形，却是凭我们内化了的，见过无数个大小不一的圆形而直接判定这是圆形而非菱形。

不成熟的一些看法，还望各位指正为盼。

$.02

Ed

dear leslie,

thank you for the insight, i have not actually thought of the others factors that might have contributed to the different tastes.

nevertheless, the tobacco has always been smoked through the same pipe which has served as a pipe for the english blends such as night cap and other dunhill blends.  also, for interest sake, are danish pipes shaped in a way that they serve to bring out the most in aromatic blends?  i really doubt it since, well, at least in my mind, that pipes with a smaller girth size tend to be better when smoked with aromatic blends and vice versa.  what is your take on this?  or is it simply a personal preference?

thank you and happy puffing!
eric[em22]

upshall

Ed,

What a nice description, I myself consider fine tobacco as similar as fine wine, both have "better years", both taste better as it ages. Smoking the dunhill night cap with a lousy pipe is like drinking a fine wine with disposable cup, while smoking drughouse tobacco in a highgrade pipe is like drinking homemade wine in a crystal glass.

Ed

dear upshall,

i couldnt have put it better myself!  so what pipe are you currently smoking for your english blends?  im a good old dunhill fan when it comes to tobacco and pipes, however, the danish school of thought has appealled to me quite a bit recently.

happy puffing my friend...

regards,

eric

upshall

I'm using James Upshall & Ferndown for the english blend.
Other Italian pipe I've collected like Don Carlos, Radice & Ser Jacopo appeal to my eyes, but rather heavy in weight. Dunhill pipe is too pricy for me, I did have a bruyere & felt that it does'nt really smoke better than JU.

Cheers

Ed

dear upshall,

so how would you personally rate both the upshall and ferndown?  i know that the silverwork on the ferndown is appreantly outstanding, however, on the smkokability side, i dont not have the pleasure of owning yet.  as for the upshall, i have heard a great many stories about the pipe, too, however, they are very scarce to come across on the market.

do you have any advice for me, as to the characteristics of both houses?

thanks in advance!

eric

upshall

There's nothing great about ferndown grain, but the finish is wounderful for smooth finish. Its almost piano finish. It smoke just as well as a dunhill.

All the james upshall I used so far are "" graded . The grain is much much better compare to dunhill root, is lighweight,  smoke sweet & dry. Is overall a plain looking pipe compare to my others italian, but its he bes I've smoke so far.
  
http://www.pipevillage.com/newforum/dispbbs.asp?boardID=5&RootID=8885&ID=8885

My next pipe I would like to try probably be a Le Nuvole.