I'll use blue K's for a lot of things, but the off taste on a slow burn can be noticeable.....
For smoking, lomg burn I like Stubb's, but can't fimd it anywhere in town since Lowe's quit carrying it.....
Tried Trader Joe's brand &* it burns somewhat faster & I've found plastic / nylon / fiberous string moulded right into the briquettes....I really don't like to have to stop & check......
it does work fairly well, despite the above ^^^
Lump is a strange animal......the Naked Whiz .com rates all different kinds, so you're sure to find something reasonable that's carried in your area.....all lump will end up with some small pieces, I just save them & scatter on top of briquettes to guarantee a good burn, higher heat or smoking.......
The two I use most are Groveland Orange Tree lump, which smells & tastes in the food, really nice...burns a little quick, but not too bad.....
The other is Wicked Good, which is WICKED GOOD.....it's also over a dollar a pound, but I say worth it....the pieces are usually of reasonable size & whatever wood they're using (Brazilian / Argentine non-endangered) Burns hot & VERY long......you can put a delicate smokey flavor on say, fish, with no wood at all.....these fuckers know HOW to make charcoal......
The Kingsford sale that just happened was @ 27cents a pound ....I would aim to not go over 50 cents on briquettes & over 75 cents on lump, if you can & unless you go Wicked high dollar....
these ones that Miller listed,
Humphrey's
Ozark
Frontier
I have tried at various times & are pretty good, esp. Humphrey's