I think I have ruined my taste buds by smoking aged 5100 for almost two months now. It has been my morning smoke five days a week and a lot of times my second smoke. I have neglected my favorite super-secret Russ blend for a long time and finally smoked a bowl yesterday because I ran out of my 2010 jar of 5100 and decided to revisit my old standby. The difference was astounding. At first I was smoking 5100 in the morning, then Russ’ secret blend was my afternoon smoke and they were both fantastic. I enjoyed the contrast between the two tobaccos. The 5100 was really sweet, almost like a candy sweet and it got sweeter with every bowl I smoked. Russ’ blend is a Virginia Perique blend and I loved the spicy element, but it was never too spicy. I think I got used to the sweetness of 5100 and my tastes changed dramatically towards the sweeter side of the spectrum. I packed a bowl yesterday and the spice hit my tongue from the first puff and almost made my eyes water. I enjoyed it but the spice was almost overwhelming.
Since I ran out of my 5100 I am going to smoke Russ’ blend and other Virginia Perique blends and see how long it takes for my taste to go back to enjoying the spice of Perique. I guess the moral of this story is not to get stuck on one blend for too long, if so, you might come back to an old favorite and it might not taste the same.
Has your taste ever changed like this? If so, leave a comment and let me know.
This happened to me not long ago as well i got some of Scotty’s HPCS Trout Stream and loved smoking it. But then decided that i would of back to my favorite which is my H&H Frenchy Sunzabitches (which it has its own pipe) and i tell you it was like my tongue was being insulted by this smoke so i got my H&H LA Red and same thing happened so I went to Ole Shenandoah Barrel No. 76 which is a great smoke and my tongue seemed content so i have to say you right not get comfortable with just one smoke. Your tongue (at least mine anyway) seems to get lazy
Thank you for your comment Wayland. I agree 100%. I am going to try a bowl of the Russ’ blend this morning and see how it goes. I hope with each bowl I start to get the taste back for the blend.
It seems to, for me it seems to take a what ever time i was smoking a specific blend for i.e. smoke a week it takes a week to get back to normal. Hope you follow that.(same rule for pipes smoke a pipe rest for a day)
I enjoy my Virginia-perique blends and have tried others, latakia,and enjoy burly but always return to the perique. After a day of smoking the perique and then a pipe of some latakia, I thought it was a chore and it’s my personality to not mess with somethings that are good and can get caught in a routine. So, I am going to be aware of that and will attempt to mix my routine with different tobaccos and educate my palate too. I still like and enjoy the latakia tobacco too. I do not have a favorite blend yet…I am close to choosing a go to tobacco and right now it’s the Escudo but am waiting for a PS Navy Flake to arrive. And do enjoy the Frog Across the Pond. So, many delightful tobacco’s and only one pipe full at a time. Thanks, I appreciate the info!
Been smoking Dunhill 965 (English blend) and tobacco like it for over 50 years. As I write this I’m smoking Crown Achievement redux. I enjoy only this kind of tobacco, so my taste is rather narrow. I smoke four or five pipefuls a day, and I believe my tastebuds have become dull over time. I can never again taste with the same discrimination I once could, but I still enjoy what I get from these rich English blends.
46 years ago it was Cherry Blend and then Carter Hall all for a yr or so and then Plumb Cake for a period. Then came all the English blends and I do mean all, that lasted many years. Now I’m all aromatic and as much as I try latakia and periqe just don’t taste right. My taste buds are always changing and that’s the fun part.
Ed, Thank you for your comment. I am the same way, I keep going back to my favorite latakia blends and they do not taste the same. I still enjoy them but I am not getting as excited about smoking them lately. Kevin