[UPDATE: Looking back at my notes for this recipe I found that it is based on a recipe by boomerdude on ECF. My apologies for filching without giving credit. His original recipe can be found here. ]
Here’s a recipe I’ve been working on for a while now. I’m slightly obsessed with the idea of flavors disappearing into an overall mix and creating something more than the sum of the individual components.
Friends have commented that this tastes like everything from “grand-pop’s cedar pipe box” to “warm lotus leaves”. To me this tastes like unflavored pipe tobacco and I enjoy it a lot at 25 W in a single-coil dripper or on the go (somewhat muted) from an eGrip at 15W or so.
[cross posted to Monthly recipe thread]
Verisimilitude (pipe tobacco)
Flue Cured (FLV) 2.7%
Latakia (FA) 1.35%
Perique Black (FA) 1.35%
Absinthe (TFA) 0.7%
Horehound (TFA) 0.3%
Tangerine (CAP) 1 drop per 10 ml
Dirty Neutral Base (INW) 1 drop per 10 ml
Smooth (TFA) 1 drop per 10 ml
The FLV Flue Cured is a terrific anchor for this blend. I’ve tried eight other tobacco flavors in this slot and the Flue Cured has been my overwhelming favorite — plus it doesn’t require steep time.
The Latakia and Perique do require steep time — about a month. I pre-steep mine for a at 10% in 50/50 PG/VG. As a result, I actually use 13.5% of each dilution to achieve the desired flavor. These are dark, fire cured, condiment tobaccos and lend depth, spiciness and smokiness to the finished blend.
Have no fear, Horehound and Absinthe disappear into the overall flavor. Without these flavors this blend is hollow. They prop up the Latakia flavor. Use them.
Though in a tiny amount, the Tangerine lends brightness and sharpness and accentuates the funkiness of Perique. I have it in mind to try other fruit flavors in place of Tangerine — maybe with a bit of cider vinegar, to make flavored pipe tobacco. As it is, you don’t actually taste this flavor in the final mix. Vanilla might work too (watch out for anisyl alcohol though as it will pop the Absinthe/Horehound flavors out of the mix). And FLV’s coffee is nice but for me, requires at least 50% dilution. Even at one drop per 30 ml it is too much.
The DNB is interesting. On it’s own it tastes like slightly ashy paper. In the mix it adds the stale but distinctive flavor of a well-used pipe. I miss it when it’s not there. Feel free to use or omit according to taste.
Smooth is there more out of habit. I may just drop this from future mixes to see what happens. But it ain’t broke, so why fix it?
So, how much and what cherry would you recommend I try to add to this? That's my husband's pipe favorite, and I'd love to find something to get him away from it.
Guess now I have to start diy.
This looks like a really well balanced 'bacco flavor. Ijust got the FLV full set, and intend on following your tasting notes with my own, but I may give this mix a shot. That is, of course, after my wallet self-repairs.
If your wallet doesn't repair itself, let me know. I have some good ramen recipes.
So I'm curious, how much does this actually taste like pipe tobacco? Every tobacco flavor I've ever tried just tastes like cigarettes to me. I do love me the taste of good rich smoke, not chemicals.
I saw your recipe and I HAD to try it. Been mixed for a day, but could not wait for the steep. Gave it a quick bath in the ultrasonic, and loaded it up. I feel like the flavor is pretty good, though the absinthe does come through in the form of black licorice I feel like. Does the steep time take that out, or does that stay? I know you said that the absinthe doesn't come through, but maybe you're just not as sensitive to it as I am?
It may be that you are more sensitive to it or it may simply be a matter of time in bottle. Mine is nearly a month in bottle and absinthe does fade over time.
I'd let it rest for a few weeks and give it another go. If the absinthe is still too prominent for you, then you'll need to drop the percentage for yours.