D&R Specialty Blends - Athey, Cockstrong, WinterGold

[dz]

Yup, I can't say the secret ingredient (but it's a type of Scotch, along with some florals) so your senses are very astute. A very unique tobacco that Mark Ryan claims to be a very old recipe dating back a couple centuries, using what was available to them at the time.

I enjoy this one a lot too on occasion and hope it's not another specialty blend without enough demand to produce in the upcoming closure of much of RYO, much thanks to Uncle Sam. I stocked up with enough to last for awhile. This ones great for blending too going particularly well with Ramback and even better with some Two Timer, ymmv.

[Bill Ross]

dave z,

Thanks for the info on Athey.

I do have both Ramback & Two Timer and will try blending them with Athey. In what proportions are you blending Athey with the other two, 10%-20%? I know that taste is highly subjective and what suits one will not appeal to another but it will give me a starting point.

[dz]

I don't think you can go wrong with any combo of these blends but what I do is blend about 50/50 with Two Timer and quite a bit less with Ramback at about 80/20. Another great blend is to use all three with Athey/2X/Ramback at 40/40/20. I find that a small amount of Ramback adds a little something to just about any blend, this is one whose demise I would seriously bemoan.

[MisterMxyzptlk]

Cockstrong
A full bodied traditional U.S. Blend, with a robust taste reminiscent of blends from the mid-20th century. This flavorful and satisfying blend contains exotic air-cured Burley, flue-cured Gold Leaf and Oriental tobaccos from around the world. No chemical flavorings or casings added.

I've been smoking this blend at a rate of 2-3 sticks per day for the past few weeks. "Full-bodied" and "robust" are certainly good terms to describe it!This is definitely the most "stout" American blend I've had (excluding Picayune), but yet it's not "harsh" as I think of it**. It's "stout" in the same way as a Guiness Stout - strong and flavorful but not unpleasant - and not for everyone. It's my favorite of the D&R "American blends", and I think of it as the "halfzware" of American tobaccos because of its full-bodied richness.

Initially, I found it to be a bit too much for me, but I've come to appreciate it more and more. In fact, I'm going to order a 14 oz. bag of it with my next (BIG!) D&R order (probably a year's supply).

-TJ

** There is some ongoing confusion as to the meaning of the word "harsh", so let me tell you how I define it. In my taste tests, I take a puff into my mouth using my cheeks and then give the smoke an open-throated full inhale. I gauge the "harshness" by how it hits the back of my throat and lungs - and by whether it makes me cough (or want to). Examples of what blends nail the back of my throat in this way are Bali Red and NAS tobacco (others disagree - of course).

[MisterMxyzptlk]

I guess I mentioned this in a different thread, but the sample of WinterGold I received had no detectable wintergreen flavor. Being assured that this was not typical, I ordered a 10/2. Sadly, like my sample, the tobacco in the tub also had no wintergreen flavor - just a slight "coolness" to it.

I stuffed a stick and cut off the filter for my friend who smokes a very mild, unfiltered menthol blend, and he couldn't detect a wintergreen flavor either. Combined with D&R sending me a case of the wrong tubes (the CTC Windsails as opposed to the St. Vincent Windsail Prestiges), I'm a bit irked with them right now, but I'll call them tomorrow and see what we can get resolved.

-TJ

[elgiacomo]

I REALLY like the Cockstrong tobacco. It's gonna go into regular rotation and will probably end up as my go-to smoke in the morning to have along with some strong coffee, but could smoke it throughout the day as well. Very robust, rich, and satisfying, but not harsh in the slightest. Smoked in 15-17mm FF tubes. This is one of my favorite D&R blends that I've tried so far.

[Guest awaiting activation]

Sorry to revive a very old thread but I'm still waiting for activation so can't start a new one & wasn't sure where else to post this.

I'm really new to RYO & getting ready to place my first D&R order & I'm going to try some Cockstrong. If it's too "robust" what would be the best to blend it with? Would Ramback work?

This blend doesn't seem to be talked about as much as the others so I'm not real sure what I'm getting into but it sounds interesting & just have to try it.

I appreciate everyone's opinions regarding the different D&R blends ... it's helped me a lot as a newbie.

[Roscoe]

Hardly any posts recently on D&R blending. C'mon, there's got to be some new blending going on our there!

I got some Wintergold earlier this year and I agree with the posts here that the wintergreen flavor is somewhat subtle. I did not really enjoy this tobacco by itself. Recently I went at it again and came up with a blend that I really like. It is 70% Wintergold, 15% Ramback and 15% Wingate Gold. The menthol seems to bring out the wintergreen flavor. Ramback gives body and flavor to the blend, sort of like a little salt that makes a sweet so much better. I really enjoy this concoction, it is sweet, flavorful and smooth and a nice occasional change of pace for me.

I only have a cup of Wingate Gold but am not a regular menthol smoker so this will last me for awhile. When I do run out I'll have to find another tobacco to give that 'touch of menthol'. D&R, if you are listening, consider making a menthol pipe tobacco!

[packrat]

Elgiacomo......I too used to smoke Cockstrong-it was my daily smoke...if you like the Cockstrong for it's full flavor, etc, give the Criss Cross (original) a try..To me, it's even better than the CS...smells great, packs good and is even stronger than the CS, but no harshness whatsoever!! I have quit buying the Cockstrong altogether, as I do like the CC so much better...smoking a pound every 10-12 days. P&C has a 6 oz. bag you can buy for like $ 7.74.....pound bags are just $18.65 And FWIW Four Aces is somewhere between the CS and the CC...not quite as strong as the Cross Country, but still a very good smoke. YMMV, naturally.

[Flasherly]

I REALLY like the Cockstrong tobacco. It's gonna go into regular rotation and will probably end up as my go-to smoke in the morning to have along with some strong coffee, but could smoke it throughout the day as well. Very robust, rich, and satisfying, but not harsh in the slightest. Smoked in 15-17mm FF tubes. This is one of my favorite D&R blends that I've tried so far.

Nope, not harsh but subtle. Though I'm mixing it and in mini, 6mm tubes. My "driving" smoke -- for not having to screw around behind the wheel with a filter holder I use for regular King tubes. Nice for "quickies", too, and not a bad taste to pull on someone asking for a cigarette. Cockstrong is the most distinctive blend in there, and quickly stands out. Doing single-basket pulls off an Italian lever espresso machine lately. Enjoy them at least as much at night, after being away during the day, than the morning. A mouth coated with emulsified coffee extractions, for following with a flavorful cigarette, indeed. ...Maybe not a mile, but definitely worth the walk the kitchen to the coffee table, to set the espresso down and light a smoke.