Although it's sure to be nerfed eventually, I've grown fond of Tradition (or Liberty) then Patronage + Aesthetics (+ Pledge) and then into Rationalism. In that approach, the more early culture the better. I'll even take a cultural pantheon to speed things along. Perhaps not the fastest path to a science victory, but a much more robust empire from the CS benefits (assured maritime food in my capital to work specialists that much earlier (and keep growing), extra happiness from mercantiles for more frequent GAs, and culture from cultural CS friendships to slam through Rationalism that much faster). Absolutely deadly as Siam.