The blends pipe smokers love to hate—and hate to love.
In the world of pipe tobacco, where personal taste reigns supreme, there are some blends that inspire fierce loyalty and equal parts disdain. These are the Marmite mixtures—the tobaccos that divide forums, ignite debates in pipe clubs, and stir up passionate reviews that read more like love letters or war crimes.
What is it about these blends that makes them so polarizing? Sometimes it’s their bold flavors, unusual toppings, or assertive room notes. Sometimes it’s their historical reputation or a cult following that drives expectations sky-high.
Whatever the reason, these are some of the most talked-about, debated, and divisive pipe tobaccos ever tinned.
1. Lakeland Blends (Gawith Hoggarth & Co., Samuel Gawith)
Common Reactions:
👍 “Heavenly floral incense, straight from the English countryside.”
👎 “Tastes like grandma’s purse.”
The soapy, floral, perfumed character of Lakeland blends like Ennerdale Flake, Kendal Flake, and Grasmere Flake comes from traditional flavoring methods used in Cumbria for over a century. These blends are loaded with what’s called “Lakeland Essence”—a mix of rose, tonka, bergamot, and more.
For some, it's a throwback to old-world elegance. For others, it's a straight-up violation of everything sacred about tobacco.
2. Captain Black Cherry
Common Reactions:
👍 “It’s dessert in a bowl! Smooth, sweet, easy to enjoy.”
👎 “Room note: heavenly. Flavor: battery acid and cough syrup.”
One of the best-selling cherry aromatics in America, Captain Black Cherry wins over beginners with its intoxicating tin note and widespread availability. But seasoned smokers often find its taste artificial and cloying, with a reputation for ghosting pipes worse than a Tinder date with commitment issues.
Still, its loyal fan base won’t hear a word against it.
3. Haunted Bookshop (Cornell & Diehl)
Common Reactions:
👍 “Pure Burley brilliance with a ghost of Perique. Honest tobacco, no frills.”
👎 “Tastes like floor sweepings from a Civil War hospital.”
Haunted Bookshop is the stuff of legend—and nightmare. A blend of Burley, Perique, and Red Virginia, it's rough, raw, and unapologetically old-school. Some say it’s the embodiment of what real tobacco should taste like. Others say it’s like smoking burnt library dust.
Either way, it’s a blend with a strong identity, and fans (like YouTuber Matches860) helped solidify its cult status.
4. Erinmore Flake
Common Reactions:
👍 “Aromatic mystery with depth—citrus, fruit, spice, and nostalgia.”
👎 “Smells like Juicy Fruit chewing gum and confusion.”
First produced in the early 20th century, Erinmore Flake is a strange aromatic with a topping no one can quite pin down—pineapple? mango? fruitcake soaked in liquor? Whatever it is, it’s not subtle. Some love the sweet-and-spicy symphony; others can’t make it through half a bowl.
Its unique flavor has made it a blend you have to try—just maybe not twice.
5. Royal Yacht (Dunhill / Peterson)
Common Reactions:
👍 “Rich, dark Virginias with a plum/brandy topping. Elegant and deep.”
👎 “A harsh nicotine grenade in a fruit-scented tuxedo.”
Royal Yacht has been around for generations and is famous for two things: its heavy topping and its equally heavy nicotine hit. Fans call it luxurious and robust. Detractors say it smells like fermented raisins and hits like a runaway ox.
Regardless of opinion, it has an undeniable mystique, even among those who can’t stomach it.
6. Mixture 79
Common Reactions:
👍 “Classic Americana. Licorice, spice, and a sweet finish.”
👎 “Smells like your uncle’s glove compartment in 1973.”
With its blend of anise, vanilla, and mysterious herbs, Mixture 79 has been around longer than many smokers have been alive. It was once a staple in every corner store, but its odd, medicinal flavor and old-school profile have made it one of the most mocked and misunderstood blends in modern times.
To love Mixture 79 is to truly love the underdog.
7. Ennerdale Flake (Gawith Hoggarth & Co.)
Yes, again. Ennerdale deserves a second mention because it’s the poster child of polarizing tobaccos. Its taste is described in polar opposites: floral, fruity, grassy, grassy-turned-floral, or simply “bath soap in briar.” It may be the only blend to show up in both favorite and least favorite lists in the same thread.
What Makes a Blend Polarizing?
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Bold toppings: Aromatics with strong, unique scents are bound to divide.
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Nicotine strength: Some love a good buzz, others find it overwhelming.
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Flavor complexity: Not everyone wants to analyze every puff.
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Reputation vs. reality: High expectations can hurt a blend’s reception.
Final Puff
Polarizing blends are important to the hobby. They keep the conversation lively, challenge our palates, and remind us that taste is personal. While you may hate a blend someone else adores, that difference is what makes pipe smoking such a rich and nuanced community.
So whether you’re a Lakeland lover or a Haunted Bookshop heretic, keep an open mind, light up something new, and savor the ride—even if it tastes like grandma’s perfume.
What blend do you think deserves to be on this list? Drop your most love-it-or-hate-it tobacco picks in the comments below. Let the great debate continue!
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