Stockton, Royal Twist, Dark Twist - What's the Difference?
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Yes, I concur, we are all TAD enablers here.
Except two of those aren't available stateside currently.
Stockton is a great gutbuster of a smoke. Dark Twist is much more refined experience compared to Stockton, but still plenty of slap n tickle. If you want to try both, buy the Dark Twist and smoke a bowl of only the coins with DFK centers - that's essentially Stockton.
I would like to try Royal Twist, but the run was too small and it sold out too quickly.
Never tried Stockton, but maple is not listed as a flavouring on it on TR. Dark Twist on a good bowl tastes like pancakes and maple syrup. But yeah, let’s enable, try and see!
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as with all Mc Barens standard offerings,my advice is to keep slow cadence and dry 'em out prior to loading your pipe
Is gutbuster good? I haven't heard that expression before.Except two of those aren't available stateside currently.
Stockton is a great gutbuster of a smoke. Dark Twist is much more refined experience compared to Stockton, but still plenty of slap n tickle. If you want to try both, buy the Dark Twist and smoke a bowl of only the coins with DFK centers - that's essentially Stockton.
I would like to try Royal Twist, but the run was too small and it sold out too quickly.
Hahaha! Yes, it is good in this case. What I meant is that the DFK is stout, strong, and full in body, leading to those characteristics in the overall smoking experience.
I do wish I had grabbed a tin of the Royal Twist as I would love to see what Mac Baren does with Perique, but I guess I will have to wait for next year's release, else look for a trade. I am a firm believer in Stockton and Dark Twist and have started cellaring them to a slow and steady degree.
Yeah, they're all cased differently.
There's such a strong sentiment against 'aromatics' a lot of blenders stop noting the casing flavors (following Esoterica's lead?) in their descriptions.
That said, I really enjoy Dark Twist and Vanilla Roll Cake - very very similar, with one leaning towards a caramelized maple syrup and the other leaning toasted vanilla seeds.
There's such a strong sentiment against 'aromatics' a lot of blenders stop noting the casing flavors (following Esoterica's lead?) in their descriptions.
That said, I really enjoy Dark Twist and Vanilla Roll Cake - very very similar, with one leaning towards a caramelized maple syrup and the other leaning toasted vanilla seeds.
Interesting. Now that you mention it, it does seem like Stockton has little - if any - of the maple sugar character of Dark Twist. I wonder if they toned down/eliminated the maple sugar in Stockton. I had always assumed Stockton was just the dark coins, but otherwise the same, but I need to revisit both at length to see if I am the victim of the power of false assumptions.
TBF I haven't had Stockton in a while, from memory it's a natural virginia/cavendish maybe even toasted cavendish sweetness. Dark Twist is definitely a maple syrup/caramel casing, which I think works really well with its tobacco components.
Unable to get Stockton here, I've not had a chance to try it. I like Dark Twist quite a bit. The maple is pretty light, but it's there. It's a smooth semi-sweet kind of smoke. I ordered a tin of Royal Twist early enough to get a few more but didn't - I was a little underwhelmed, mostly because my cellar is thick with VaPer - Kentucky blends that I love. There's no doubt it's good, I just have so much of that venue I hesitated and it cost me the opportunity. I was wondering how Roll Cake would compare to any of the others? (like Vanilla roll cake too!)
Thank you all for your help (and, ahem, encouragement). As Stockton is available all year round here in Europe, I will order myself a tin sometime soon.
