I Can't Figure Out Dark Fired Tobacco

[futureman]

DF tobacco is a puzzle to me. I've only smoked a handful of blends that contain it, but they all have wildly different flavor profiles. Old Dark Fired, for example, strikes me as having a deep, smokey molasses flavor. Solani 660 is more plummy/figgy; it smokes almost like a VaPer (to me). The dark fired in Doblone-d'Oro is somewhat reminiscent of latakia. Perhaps the only common element I detect is the spice it invariably brings to a blend. Otherwise, it strikes me as a mysterious leaf.

Perhaps my palate isn't capable of detecting whatever common flavors DF tobacco presumably has. Or, perhaps DF tobacco acclimates to other varietals and yields a flavor that is unique to each blend.

Do others experience this leaf the way I do?

 

[mso489]

I agree, its flavor profile is somewhat elusive. My main reaction is that it is a much needed expansion of the tobacco condiment shelf. Latakia and Perique have been so overused as default condiments, their special characteristics have been eclipsed. So far, I take dark fired as a base note that gives blends a rich undertone, but I don't say, ah, there's the dark fired, at least not yet.

 

[OldWill]

To me, DF is a smokier, spicier form of burley. I truly enjoy it as a break from my much smokier heavy latakia blends.
The nicotine level seems higher tome as well.
All in all, I find it very pleasant.

 

[kcghost]

Dark fired tobacco is different than other tobacco and should be appreciated for what it is. I get a full flavored hearty tobacco without any of the dubious aspects of burley. There's more of a nic hit, greater strength, and greater flavor.

 

[OldWill]

I agree, its flavor profile is somewhat elusive. My main reaction is that it is a much needed expansion of the tobacco condiment shelf. Latakia and Perique have been so overused as default condiments, their special characteristics have been eclipsed. So far, I take dark fired as a base note that gives blends a rich undertone, but I don't say, ah, there's the dark fired, at least not yet.

Sir, do I detect some academic experience in you? As a former Chemistry professor, I find your use of language impeccable.

 

[OldWill]

Sorry for the double post-my computer glitched.

 

[Andriko]

On the stronger end, like Lakeland Dark or Bold Kentucky, I find it really smokey and woody, like smoking a log cabin or a barbacue or something. On the lighter end, like Old Dark Fired or Germain's Best Brown, it's more earthy. Either way, I find it delicious.

 

[Staggerlee]

Every blender does things different. I notice differences between all the different blenders with tobaccos that have a seemingly identical content and flavor profile. Everyone’s spaghetti sauce tastes different even though they have the same basic ingredients.

 

[anotherbob]

Every blender does things different. I notice differences between all the different blenders with tobaccos that have a seemingly identical content and flavor profile. Everyone’s spaghetti sauce tastes different even though they have the same basic ingredients.

It's amazing how much the difference in the taste of one product to another can be so vast when practically the only difference is a small tweak here or there.

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

I really enjoy HH Dark fired. But of all the pipes I’ve tried it in, my MM bent cherry hardwood pipe makes it shine the best. And it’s become the only thing I smoke in it. ??‍

 

[dunnyboy]

When I read that a blend contains DFK I assume it will add a light latakia flavor. But when I think about it, that is not my experience or what I like about it. The blends I like that contain DFK, e.g. Solani 660 and St Bruno, don't have a smoky flavor at all. In those blends, it seems to bring out the sweetness of the virginia.

 

[DanWil84]

Getting latakia and dark fired mixed up isn't as strange, as they both add a smokey chewy tang to tobacco and they are both in a certain way the same processed, difference is the leaf that's processed. I to have a hard time figuring Dark Fired out: while in ODF it knocks me on my ass, in ABF I only get the smokey bit of mesquite connotation of it. I can smoke multiple bowls of ABF where 1 flake of ODF gets me satisfied for the whole day.

 

[anotherbob]

another thing is I don't think all dark fired is the same. This is speculative. There might be one type of wood used and only one type. But from my experience I swear I taste different wood smokes in different blends. And just like any type of food or epicurean product (something to be consumed in part for the sensual delight of it) little difference make all the difference. And I doubt all farms and all crops would get smoked as much
An that's another thing that all leaf is a living thing and will change from year to year or farm to farm even if genetically identical there will be differences. That's doubled by the wood used to smoke it.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

DF tobacco is a puzzle to me. I've only smoked a handful of blends that contain it, but they all have wildly different flavor profiles. Old Dark Fired, for example, strikes me as having a deep, smokey molasses flavor. Solani 660 is more plummy/figgy; it smokes almost like a VaPer (to me). The dark fired in Doblone-d'Oro is somewhat reminiscent of latakia. Perhaps the only common element I detect is the spice it invariably brings to a blend. Otherwise, it strikes me as a mysterious leaf.

Perhaps my palate isn't capable of detecting whatever common flavors DF tobacco presumably has. Or, perhaps DF tobacco acclimates to other varietals and yields a flavor that is unique to each blend.

Do others experience this leaf the way I do?

I've found dark fired leaf can be quite variable, on one hand Gawith Hoggarth Kendal Kentucky and MacBaren Old Dark Fired can almost seem as sweet as smokey, but Sutliff TS-12 is more of a subtle smoke and not much else.

 

[karam]

ODF is uncut wood, ketchup sweet, brighter than most DFK blends.
Heinrich’s dark strong Kentucky is molasses sweet, and I find it neither “dark” or very strong.
Lakeland Dark and HH Bold Kentucky are strong, spicy and more smokey BBQ than ODF.
Dark Birdseye is pure wood and smoke.
None is even in the same ballpark as Latakia for me, i find Latakia very smokey, creosote, fragrant at times but with a different angle, given it is still “oriental” leaf.
Or simply: DFK is softly smoking wood, Latakia is the smell of the fireplace after the fire.

 

[Singularis]

I have some Dark-Fired Kentucky for blending in a jar (part of a box of blending tobaccos gifted to me) and I have only just barely tried using it. Honestly, I'm a little scared to do so, because I know it tends to pack a punch in the nicotine department, which I tend to be quite sensitive to. I'll have to really burn through my current blends sitting in jars (both handmade and purchased in bulk) before I start to experiment with DFK.

But let me tell you: it probably has the most intriguing smell of ALL blending tobaccos. I need to figure out how to blend with a light enough hand to keep it from being overpowered, while still using enough to make it noticeable.

 

[anotherbob]

I have some Dark-Fired Kentucky for blending in a jar (part of a box of blending tobaccos gifted to me) and I have only just barely tried using it. Honestly, I'm a little scared to do so, because I know it tends to pack a punch in the nicotine department, which I tend to be quite sensitive to. I'll have to really burn through my current blends sitting in jars (both handmade and purchased in bulk) before I start to experiment with DFK.

But let me tell you: it probably has the most intriguing smell of ALL blending tobaccos. I need to figure out how to blend with a light enough hand to keep it from being overpowered, while still using enough to make it noticeable.

nicotine tolerance is all about exposure. Which means the best idea isn't to try and blend to avoid it but to smoke only dark fired first thing in the morning. Despite how severely hooked it will make you on nicotine it is worth it. Yes you'll do things you never thought you'd stoop too because you're going through several pounds of tobacco a day... But you won't have to worry about putting too much of any one type of leaf in your blends. Mostly kidding but tolerance is about exposure and fluxes through out the day the week the any measure of time bigger then a few hours. And also that's what little pipes are for.

 

[kola]

DF, great stuff, just try every blend. All the biggies have been listed.

 

[Streeper541]

As your palate develops you will be able to detect and appreciate the nuances of different style leaves more. DFK is good stuff, and very flavorful when integrated into a blend. Give it time. Don't overthink it, just enjoy it.

 

[mawnansmiff]

When I was able to enjoy my pipe, dark fired blends were among my favourites, particularly the blends from Kendal using dark cured tobaccos from Malawi, very smoky/nutty flavoured and rather sweet if I recall. Well worth digging out.

Regards,

Jay.