I love cherry and apple. Used alder one time, verdict is still out on that one, but cherry is my fav. I'm going to order some PA black cherry to see if there is a difference in regular or black. I ordered a box one time that had a variety of red oak, sugar maple, alder, cherry, apple, & hickory. I think it's a great way to try different wood without buying a big old bag and then not using it...I'm out of cherry and have to order more. Heard that a lot of pit masters like doing a mix of oak, apple, and hickory. I started to combine maple and cherry and oak and apple to see if I like the combos.