D&R Oriental Blends - Ramback, Ramback Gold/Balkan

[dz]

Discussion topic for D&R's Oriental Blends - Exceptional Quality, Out of the Ordinary Tobaccos.

• Ramback
  A blend of superior quality Turkish tobaccos, expertly selected from the finest regions, cured and blended by craftsmen to provide a sensory delight. Enjoy a fantastic combination of exotic natural flavors and a smooth tobacco taste. No chemical flavorings or casings added. Tastes great alone or blended.
  
  
• Ramback Gold
  A superior blend of the finest quality flue-cured and Turkish tobaccos. This fantastic combination of exotic flavors and smooth tobacco taste has been crafted to provide a sensory delight. No chemical flavorings added.
  
  
• Ramback Balkan
  A light bodied and smooth tasting blend with a flavorful and characteristic oriental finish. An exquisite combination of premium Balkan Oriental and Balkan Virginia sun-cured tobaccos, exceptional Yenice (Yenidje) and Basma tobaccos, and the finest Virginia flue-cured tobaccos. Enjoy a perfect balance of exotic and familiar smoking sensations. No flavorings added.

<topic Ramback renamed, Blend introduction added above - original post below>

I know Im not alone here. Im using this stuff w/ everything! It makes everything better. Straight its too mild, but as a blender, 20-30% for me, it makes everything better. I always wondered what the big deal was all about (camels etc), cause I didnt really taste the the turkish in them. The PS is good but its already a blend, so I think the Ramback is perfect. Some people are saying the old Ramback, which I never had, was even better.

[kl61]

people are saying the old Ramback, which I never had, was even better.

This I don't agree with. I've had them both and I always wondered what they were talking about. it has always been, as it is, to me.
But it does seem to be shipped much dryer than I remember it being. Mark R said it is becouse it is prone to mold OR they had some returned for a mold problem a long time ago so they solved the problem by keeping it a bit dryer, I like that idea cause I get more for my dallor if it's sold dryer.
I always wondered if other people found the Ramback Gold to be not as light of a smoke as the othert 2 Ramback offerings, I know I did, I find myself using the Gold version more for blends than the other 2 Rambacks cause it wont lighten up the blends as much as the other 2 do. One awesome ramback blend is the "Camel blend"
1 part Venguer Platinum and 1 part Ramback Gold. I have smoked a camel light and this blend side by side many times and it is a perfect replacement for Camel Lights (it's better than Camel Lights, tastes like a much fresher pack of camel Lt)

[dz]

I m anxiously awaiting my RB order, I cant wait to try that one. Like Ramback, its catching its share of flack too. I ll agree that R is really mild, and I rarely smoke it straight, and I m hearing the RB is also very mild, while some are even saying its D&R's best yet. In any case I m not too worried as I ve yet to be disappointed in any of their offerings. Also eagerly awaiting the Acadian Black's release as that sounds right up my alley, fire cured w/ perique, sounds tasty.

[Alist]

Ramback is to ryo as salt is to food. It goes with everything.

[dz]

Well put, and in far fewer words than I used.

['B']

I just discovered Ramback a couple of months ago on a trip to Portland. Googling for a place to buy it I also found MYO articles and forums that I didn't know existed. Whoda thunk people would post and blog about making your own smokes?
I like it straight (similar to Turkish Specials) or mixed with about anything (there are some nasty tobaccos that I'm afraid to mix, in fear that it would ruin my rapidly shrinking stash of Rbk).
The posters here have given me great tips, Thanks.

B

[dz]

KL wrote:

I always wondered if other people found the Ramback Gold to be not as light of a smoke as the othert 2 Ramback offerings, I know I did,

I ve never bought RG because I thought it was just WP and R mixed. Isnt that what it is?

[kl61]

I'm not really sure but I do know I can't recreate it for the life of me. It is my most used blending component by far. If you want the strongest Turkish taste in any given blend you must try Ramback Gold, it seems counter intuitive since it is a blend with Virginia of some kind or blend, but once you have a bag, you will see what I mean. It is as if the Turkish part is different than the other Rambacks.
I don't think Mark Ryan has a blend that is just simply his other tobaccos mixed. But I did think the same thing and didn't order it for a while. Now I wouldn't be caught dead without it

[Kerry]

When you say you've had them both, what do you mean, exactly? Not picking a fight here, but the original Ramback was a different tobacco from a different supplier. It had a quality that, although the current blend is exceptional, the current blend simply does not have. If you never experienced the exquisite warmth on exhale which filled your mouth and senses with a sensation that wasn't at all apparent on the inhale, then you haven't experienced the original Ramback.

As I said, I am not picking a fight and I love D&R tobacco. However, the original Ramback was a different entity than the current blend. I believe Mark came as close as he could with the current blend, but it simply isn't the original. Mark told me it might have been that the original blend was made from "younger leaf", but neither of us are sure.

The one thing I am sure of is the current Ramback (not talking about RB) is a similar, but different blend. I still use it and recommend it, but miss the original I fell in love with.

people are saying the old Ramback, which I never had, was even better.

This I don't agree with. I've had them both and I always wondered what they were talking about. it has always been, as it is, to me.
But it does seem to be shipped much dryer than I remember it being. Mark R said it is becouse it is prone to mold OR they had some returned for a mold problem a long time ago so they solved the problem by keeping it a bit dryer, I like that idea cause I get more for my dallor if it's sold dryer.
I always wondered if other people found the Ramback Gold to be not as light of a smoke as the othert 2 Ramback offerings, I know I did, I find myself using the Gold version more for blends than the other 2 Rambacks cause it wont lighten up the blends as much as the other 2 do. One awesome ramback blend is the "Camel blend"
1 part Venguer Platinum and 1 part Ramback Gold. I have smoked a camel light and this blend side by side many times and it is a perfect replacement for Camel Lights (it's better than Camel Lights, tastes like a much fresher pack of camel Lt)

[kl61]

Dave Z brought to my attention that the Ramback in question was from a time farther back than I thought, which would explain why I didn't see the diff. I should Have posted a retraction but forgot. Glad you brought it up though. Now that you and others post this info I feel like I really missed something with the old Ramback.

PS I know your not starting a conflict, Please feel free to post what you feel is true. Your opinions are valued.