- Balkan Sobranie 759
Puffing
on a big bowl of this is one of the finer things in life. It provides full flavour from the
moment it receives the gentle stroke of a match. This dark brown tobacco is quite rich and heavy,
as is its aroma, owing to its high oriental (including latakia) content. Still, it contains
enough Virginia to have a lively flavour. The receptionist at work, who is generally anti-smoke,
enjoys its smell, as it reminds her of being out in the woods with a campfire. It burns well,
smokes smooth, produces a fine grey ash, and doesn't burn the tongue. Its slight bitterness
is perfectly balanced by its slight sweetness. Not only is this excellent in a briar, it is
great in a clay or in a corncob. '95
- Bengal Slices
This
is a wonderful blend for latakia lovers. Heavy, smoky, and rich-tasting, this smokes incredibly
smooth. A great solution to any pipe that tends to smoke a bit hot. Its flavour is unified,
to the point that it may come off as a bit flat at times, lacking a sufficient amount of the
perky Virginias that many heavy latakia blends contain. Although the room aroma is similar to
what one would expect given its flavour (smoky and earthy), the former is relatively mild in
comparison with the latter. The less the dark-brown slices are crumbled before smoking, the
more concentrated the flavour becomes. Burns slow, but well. '95
- Capstan Medium Navy Cut
- These long strips of English-made, Virginia-burley flake tobacco contain a variety of brown
tones, from light to dark. A rich, sweetish, slightly fermented aroma greets you when you open
the tin. This is one of those scents that has a distinctly plant-like aspect to it, and it is
topped off with notes of something richer and almost chocolate-like. It is moist and sticks
together well, but is not difficult to crumble up. Once the pipe is packed, a puff on the unlit
tobacco provides the taste equivalent of the scent in the tin. Not only does the aroma in the
tin remind me of Orlik Golden Sliced, but the smoke's taste also
reminds me of it, although this is a little richer and less "green" in flavour. The
smoke is thick and cool, rich-tasting, but not with a very heavy flavour. It possesses a certain
neutrality in that it is neither sweet nor bitter; if one had to choose between the two, one
would have to say that it is barely sweet. It has a stimulating sidestream smoke that tickles
the nostrils quite nicely. This might suggest that this is a tangy, biting tobacco, but it doesn't
bite the tongue at all. In terms of strength, this is a nice, satisfying smoke, a definite medium.
Its subtle balance of Virginia and burley, smoothness and medium strength make it ideal for
frequent smoking. I think this would be a great alternative for someone who is tired of aromatics,
doesn't care for the latakia-based English blends and has found some Virginia blends to be too
spicy. It leaves a light, natural tobacco aroma in the room that shouldn't disturb too many
people. '96
- Craven Mixture
- This is reputed to be the famed Arcadia Mix around which the late 1800s' book My
Lady Nicotine revolves. It's an interesting blend to say the least because there have been
moments where I haven't thought it was that good and then others where it seemed excellent.
While going through my 50-gram sample, it became mainly a morning or early-day smoke for me,
in my 3/4-bent Genod pipe. It looks like a typical medium-to-full
English blend: medium-cut, various shades and tones of dark brown punctuated by some lighter
and yellower flecks. It's a fairly strong smoke, stronger than it is rich. Although it seems
to contain a fair amount of latakia, it's not as soft as I might expect. On the other hand,
it's not quite harsh either, although an unexperienced smoker could possibly find it harsh.
It's this strength that isn't tempered by a heavy smoothness that I found slightly offputting
at first. The flavour is quite unified and the smoke has a constant and consistent taste and
body from start to end. I have a great deal of difficulty identifying the individual elements
in this mixture. It might be the presence of a certain quantity of perique or burleys, or the
lack or soft Orientals, or even the usage of a particular Virginia in the blend that gives this
blend a strong, yet lively taste that grew on me. There isn't any of the natural sweetness in
this blend that charaterizes many English blends, just straight, pure, strong tobacco flavour,
and at times I have even found the taste to have a vaguely sourish note—which suggests
perique to me. However, the more I smoke it, the more I like it. The smoke is of medium body,
even though its flavour is full. When I try to think why someone would like this blend, it would
inevitably be because it provides straight up-front tobacco taste in the English style, but
without a heavy, creamy latakia or oriental character underneath. This means that it is somewhat
sharper than many heavy English blends, though I still wouldn't characterize it as a sharp tobacco.
Although I don't find to be a tongue-biter, I can imagine that constant smoking of this mixture
would be pretty strong on the tongue in the long run. Leaves a strong English-style aroma in
the room that, like its flavour, is full and bears no sweetness. If I try to compare it to other
tobaccos I've had, I can't say that one comes to mind, but I could fathom it being a bit like
Balkan Sobranie 759 in strength, but with all the rich, sweet Orientals subtracted.
From what I understand, this is the same tobacco that used to come in a pink tin and is now
only made occasionally. It was being sold in bulk by Blatter and Blatter,
Montreal, but I've heard that it has become unavailable again. '96
- Danske Club Black Luxury
This
is an all-black, medium-cut cavendish blend from Denmark with a pronounced sweet, perfumy aroma.
As usual, I have difficulty identifying the components of the aroma, but in addition to vanilla
there might be a nut-like (almond?) flavour as well. Unlike many American black cavendishes,
which are often moist and a bit sticky, this is a fairly dry tobacco that does not tend to clump
together despite its casing. It follows that this is a dry smoke as well, as many Danish aromatics
seem to be. It is mild on the tongue, but still a degree or two less than I expected. This blend
actually has a little bit of punch for a black cavendish, probably due to the burley it contains.
A slightly earthy flavour lurks beneath its sweet top flavour, which makes it remind me of Edward's
Buccaneer and many of Cornell & Diehl's aromatic blends. It's
fresh-tasting, not syrupy-tasting. As one gets further down a bowl of this stuff, this earthy
flavour becomes a little more apparent as some of the aromatic flavour seems to fade and, especially,
lose its sweetness. It's quite a nice smoke if you like aromatics at all—medium-bodied
and cool-smoking by nature, although its mildness makes it easy for you to smoke it a little
hot inadvertently. It burns down to a fine whitish-grey ash and leaves a notable vanilla-tobacco
aroma in the room. Thanks Ken for the generous sample. '96
- Edgeworth Sliced
- Made in the U.K. "under licence from the successors to House of Edgeworth, Richmond,
Virginia, USA," these long slices of light and dark swirls are moist, pliable, and break
up easily. The aroma in the tin is mellow and slightly leafy. This is a simple, American-style
burley blend that is subjected to pressing and aging in a way usually reserved for higher-end
tobaccos. The processing seems to bring out the best that burleys have to offer. It tastes pleasantly
nut-like and earthy, almost toasted, not really smoky, and even a little bit green. What it
offers most is a concentrate of traditional burley flavour, with little of the bitterness sometimes
associated with burleys. It starts out giving an impression of mildness. Then it slowly builds
strength and, although the flavor doesn't really change, more of that traditional burley spiciness
develops during the second half of the bowl. As well, a shade of that hollow flavor common in
less-refined burley mixtures appears as one smokes onward. It burns slowly and produces a good
quantity of cool smoke with a moist, almost creamy, feeling to it. This degree of body—roughly
that of a medium English mixture—is rare in a burley blend. I don't detect any appreciable
bite from this, even though the smoke is strong. Any smoke exhaled through the nose produces
a tingle that perique fans would enjoy. Be aware that this is a very satisfying blend nicotine-wise
that some might wish to smoke in a smaller pipe at first. It smokes dry to a fine, light-grey
ash and leaves a rather neutral, but prominent, tobacco scent in the room. '97
- Erinmore Flake
There's
so much flavour in this Irish-style cavendish that it's way too much for many smokers. Some
have compared the taste to Juicy Fruit gum, which is not too far off, although this is much
richer than the gum. My guess is that there's liquorice essence in here as well. The added flavour
seems to be in the form of essences and not a syrupy casing, so they blend in with the naturally
sweet Virginia base. Unlike many American aromatics, the tobacco plays an important role in
this blend. Further, the room aroma is not at all what one might expect: it is somewhat sweet
and rich, but not fruity like its taste when smoked or its aroma in the tin. This is quite a
satisfying tobacco and might be enjoyed by aromatic smokers who would like something stronger
without going into latakia-based Englishes. On the negative side, I find it rather aggressive
on the tongue, so I smoke it slow and not too frequently. Not crumbling the flakes too finely
seems to help keep the smoke cooler, but makes the flavour more intense. '95
- Erinmore Mixture
The
first thing I notice about this blend is that its pouch aroma, and then its flavour, don't seem
nearly as concentrated as I recall in Erinmore Flake. This is the ready-rubbed version, mainly
yellowish medium-cut with frequent flecks of darker-coloured tobacco, likely black cavendish.
As much as enjoy the intensity of the taste in Erinmore Flake, I find the lighter flavour of
this version equally appealing and certainly more refreshing. The expected flavour is there—something
that resembles a unified blend of pineapple and liquorice—but the taste of the sweet Virginia
tobacco comes through quite well too, more so than in the flake version if I remember correctly.
The body of the smoke is medium, perhaps even a little on the light side of medium. Still, it's
not a weak smoke by any means—I find it quite satisfying and relaxing—but neither
is it full like Condor or Saint Bruno. One of its better qualities is that the flavour is quite
consistent from the beginning to the end of a smoke, without significant degradation of taste,
the way many non-flavoured tobaccos smoke. Only as you get quite close to the end of a smoke
does its flavour wane, and you then become quite conscious that you are indeed smoking Virginia.
Because it is predominately a light and not-fully matured Virginia blend, it may have a tendency
to bite your tongue a bit if you smoke it too fast (I wouldn't recommend it for outdoor smoking—the
flake version would likely be a better alternative) or too frequently, depending ultimately
on the sensitivity of your tongue. For me, this blend rides that line of being neither a smooth
nor biting tobacco. Make no mistake about it, Erinmore IS an aromatic tobacco, but its
distinctive qualities (it's a high-quality Virginia blend, not just an aromatic) seems to make
it acceptable to some smokers of English blends and unacceptable to some who usually smoke aromatics.
Some have rightfully pointed out that this blend, like many distinctive tobaccos, imparts a
strong flavour to the pipe in which it is smoked and have suggested that a pipe should be dedicated
to Erinmore only. I have found that Condor's even stronger flavour will cover up Erinmore's
in no time at all. Erinmore Mixture burns dry to the bottom of the pipe and leaves me with a
small, dry dottle. I found its room aroma to be pleasant: fairly mild and slightly sweet; I
can't imagine anyone ever complaining about it. '95
- Fox's Banker's Mixture
This
is a ribbon-cut English latakia blend for those who like their tobacco with a rich and dark
flavor. Upon opening the tin, one smells that intense and smoky, slightly sweet, slightly fermented
aroma that characterizes many quality English blends. Its mottled appearance spans a range of
browns from light to very dark. This heavy, smooth-smoking blend contains Virginias, Orientals
and latakia in a very good balance. From its full taste, one might at first think that it contains
more latakia than it actually does. The Virginias in the mixture lend a nice background sweetness
to the smoky-spicy taste of the darker tobaccos in the mixture. The flavours are fairly complex,
but well integrated with each other. The fact that it reminds me of Esoterica's
Pembroke makes me wonder if maybe it has an alcohol topping like Pembroke (I doubt I would
be able to identify it as such). Mild on the tongue, deliciously rich and burns dry. Unfortunately,
it's difficult to obtain in North America; if you run across it, pick up a tin or two for later.
You can order it from Dan
Pipe in Germany though. '97
- G. Smith & Son's Old London Mixture
An
overall darkish brown, medium-cut mixture, composed of about 40% darker tobacco. In the tin,
this medium-strength mixture has a rather sweet, nutty aroma that suggests the inclusion of
a good quantity of high-quality Oriental and Virginia tobaccos. It is a rich-tasting English
that bears some traits in common with McConnell's Oriental
Mixture, but it's much less intense and invigourating, and it provides a much smoother smoke.
It is perhaps akin to Rattray's Accountant's Mixture, although
lighter in flavour and body, in that it is not as dark-tasting as it may first appear and in
that it succeeds in giving a rich English flavour without being heavy or cloying in terms of
latakia taste. Although I generally find this to be not more than a medium-strength mixture,
depending on my mood or the time of day, I have sometimes found it to be a bit fuller, especially
at the outset of a smoke. Being a smooth, medium-bodied smoke that is not overly strong, this
would make an excellent all-day smoke for latakia and Oriental fans. Its flavour is not extremely
contrasting, but one does pick up on the simultaneous variety of dark and light flavours, as
well as the mixture of sweet, nutty and smoky aspects in the bouquet. I like smoking this in
an Oom Paul-style pipe so that my nose gets to smell some of the smoke that rolls off the top
of the pipe. It leaves a fragrant, distinctively English, aroma in the room that most people
would find quite agreeable. From start to finish, it's a very consistent smoke, with little
flavour variation, other than perhaps getting a little bit hot toward the bottom of the pipe,
thereby causing some diluting of taste. It does burn quite well though and I find it easy to
overheat it if I advertently begin to puff on it overzealously. Due to its pleasant flavour
and good smoking qualities, I would definitely recommend this to someone wishing to experiment
with English blends for the first time. At the bottom of your pipe, you are left with a fine,
grey ash. From G. Smith & Sons, 74 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0BG. Many thanks to Ron
Blackner, who has a web
page that you must visit, for the tin of this; it's rather difficult to come by here
in North America. '96
- Gawith's Best Brown Flake
-
GAWITH'S BEST BROWN FLAKE
Body: 6/10
Nicotine Strength: 5/10
Flavour Depth: 6/10
Flavour—sweetness: 4/10
Flavour—fruitiness: 0/10
Flavour—floweriness: 0/10
Flavour—smokiness: 2/10
Flavour—mustiness: 7/10
Flavour—nuttiness: 6/10
Bite: 5/10
Room Aroma: Sweet-musty
This comes in long, wide slices, dark in colour with light speckles. It doesn't break up easily
at all; it tends to crumble rather than flake apart. Lighting up is a slow process, perhaps
I don't crumble it finely enough. My very first impression is that this is hot and not all that
flavourful. I persevere. A mellow, earthy, almost burley-like taste is what I am receiving,
with a pale sweetness blended in. I make a point of puffing as gently as possible. It's still
a little hot, but I'm noticing it less now. The flavour seems infinitesimally richer with each
small puff. Better yet, I'm picking up a little of its subtle, unique aroma, which reminds me
of fresh whole-wheat toast with honey on it. I suddenly realize that the musty aroma has more
sweetness than what I am actually tasting and that the heat of the smoke has just transformed
into a slightly spicy seasoning. Out of the blue, the smoke has developed a nice body to it
and I can tell that it's still slowly increasinging its flavour density. I'm feeling nicely
relaxed too... this is proving to be medium-strength, though I was expecting less. This reminds
me of a strong brew of orange pekoe tea (without cream or sugar)... somehow rich, yet always
a bit watery and light at the same time—never as full-bodied as a cup of coffee. It even
leaves a dryness on the palate that mimics the effect of several cups of black tea. The flavour
doesn't evolve much in the lower half of the bowl, but the occasional puff is now suggesting
more sweetness than ever. Also, the sidestream smoke, when I catch a whiff of it, seems far
stronger than it was earlier. I haven't had a tobacco quite like this one before, where the
earthiness is so pronounced (and one-dimensional, really) and yet so delicate at the same time.
The puffs at the bottom of the bowl are quite tasty and its finish leaves me feeling that I
just smoked a big, rich tobacco. Puffing on the pipe is still sweet even after all the tobacco
has burned. The room aroma is nice and sweet in an earthy, leafy way, like autumn foliage. I'd
never call this an exciting smoke, but it sure is an interesting and contemplative one. It took
several bowls of this before I really started to appreciate it at all. Burns with no moisture
build-up whatsoever. '01
- Georgetown's Cube Cut
- Perhaps typical for a cube-cut, medium-dark burley mix. Strong and unequivocally non-aromatic,
with a distinctive heavy and tangy nutty flavour that I can find most enjoyable under certain
circumstances, yet rather harsh under others. It doesn't even have the slightest hint of sweetness
and it rides the line between being smooth and biting, probably depending on the smoker's individual
palate. I find this to be a somewhat smoother and cooler smoke than the Edward's
Colonial sample that I recently finished; they are very similar mixtures in terms of flavour.
I smoked them in the same pipe, my Genod 1/2 bent curved-bore.
The difference I perceived may be as simple as the fact that I've had this Georgetown
Tobacco sample for probably about a year, so maybe it's mellowed out a bit. Or maybe my
sample of Colonial was a little too dry. In either case, it's a tobacco with a strong natural
aroma and contains a good helping of nicotine. It burns well due to its short cut-style, so
take care if you're a fast smoker because it can become bitter-tasting in no time. Slow smoking
guarantees full appreciation of the full nutty taste. I like its uncomplicated room aroma quite
a bit, it reminds me somehow of my grandfather's old house. This is a pretty good tobacco, but
I have a penchant for more complex aromas and flavours after a while. Burns down to a dusty
grey ash. Thanks to Dr. Ray for the sample! '95
- Georgetown's Night Owl
- This is a smooth-smoking black-cavendish based blend with a distinct vanilla flavour and
probably with chocolate as well. I always find chocolate flavouring difficult to identify—so
I may be out of line here—but there is a flavour in this that reminds me of something
I tasted in Finck's Imperial Chocolate. It also has a discreet
tanginess that develops mainly during the second half of the bowl (could it be a touch of an
alcohol flavouring?). Unlike many black-cavendish blends, this one is dry on the fingers and
it smokes dry as well, reminding me of Russell's Quintessence #1. Medium-cut
and consisting of about 80% black tobaccos and occasional light-yellowish speckles, this provides
a rich-bodied, creamy, bite-free smoke that you could easily smoke all day. It is very mild
in nicotine content, yet a satisfying smoke due to its fairly full body. Something I like about
this blend is that I do seem to taste its aroma as I smoke, which although fairly sweet, still
has a little bit (a very little bit) of a slightly musty tobacco aroma underneath that
I find appealing. Then again, I have been smoking this in a short, stubby Royal Danish whose
bowl sits close to my nose while smoking. I guess I have a bit of a weakness for black cavendish
blends as far as aromatics go, but this is defintitely amongst the better ones I've tried, with
its rich, full, and yet very soft, taste. In fact, it's soft enough that it's still a good smoke
if you've been unfortunate enough to get tongue bite. It's one of the coolest smokes I've had
in a long time. Very pleasant blown out the nose and it's even mild if inhaled. I suspect that
the small quantity of lighter tobaccos in the mixture liven it up a bit, making it not as flat
in character as some black-cavendish blends are. It burns down to a fine, pale-grey ash, mixed
with a bit of dry dottle. Thanks Spiffyng for the generous sample. '95
- Grand Cut
- A British Virginia-based tobacco of the old style. This comes in flake form in an attractive
medium-to-dark brown colour that has a distinct orangish cast. There are also some lighter yellowish
flecks from the inclusion of some stem material. Where the slices appear darkest, the tobacco
has the appearance of having been melted together; the lighter portions come apart more easily
while rubbing out. Its pouch aroma is a little bit perfumy, a little bit spicy, and a little
bit sweet, but not fruity. Based on these observations, I was expecting something with at least
a slight bite to it and of a strength that leans on the mild side of medium. However, I find
it more satisfying than that, as I find numerous British blends of this style to be. Although
it does have a slight, but not irritating, bite, this is a smooth-smoking blend that is on the
fuller side of medium as far as strength is concerned and makes for a nice, slow, relaxing smoke.
The flavour mimics the pouch aroma, with its subtle spiciness dominating overall and providing
a lively flavour, which makes me guess that the mixture contains some perique. In fact, its
flavour is somewhat like a heavier, richer, more mature version of Cornell
& Diehl's #502 Stanhope. The smoke is quite rich and medium-full in body, almost buttery
in texture. Although I generally smoke my tobacco fairly dry, I noticed that this one seemed
to smoke a bit smoother and had less tendency to heat up at first, while my sample was a bit
moister. It begins creating a fine, white ash right from the beginning and it burns cleanly
and slowly all the way to the bottom of the pipe. While not excessively strong, it is strong
enough to perhaps surprise a new pipe smoker, especially given its outwardly mild character.
Thanks to Mark Shelor, I have learned that there is a copy of an old advert for Grand Cut in
the Winter/Spring 1994 edition of The Pipe Smoker's Ephemeris, which was supplied by Mr. Robert
Hahn of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. At the time the advert was published, this tobacco was "issued
by Godfrey Phillips Limited." I don't know who manufactures it today, but Ron Blackner
(check out his Pipe
and Pouch web page) has informed me that Grand Cut is available at Josiah Brown Tobacconist,
Nottingham, England, in loose form and that he once spotted it in tinned form somewhere. Unfortunately,
Josiah Brown does not have a tobacco-export licence. It has a pleasant room aroma that is a
bit sweet and quite mild and unobtrusive. Thanks much to Tony Curley for introducing me to this
delicious blend. '96
- Indian Summer
This
wide-cut aromatic tobacco, made in the United Kingdom, is "Indian-cut" and "refined
with tobacco cultivated by Amish people," according to the pouch. Its distinct reddish,
golden-brown colour reminds me visually of some bulk burley mixtures I've seen in jars in tobacconists'
shelves. The occasional fleck of dark tobacco appears just frequently enough for you to assume
that it occurs naturally in the mixture. The A.I.T.S. index says that Indian Summer includes
"flue cured Virginias, Burleys, Oriental, and a mixture of fired and air cured leaf."
What the added flavourings are, I really can't tell—probably a mixture of fruit and flower
essences. The result is very strong, perfumy and potpourri-like, but neither syrupy nor intensely
sweet on the palate. It's not nearly as fragrant on the taste buds as it in the pouch. Something
in here has an almost lemony-fresh, air-freshener-like quality to it, which I find unusual in
a nice way. As for actual tobacco flavour, forget it—this one is purely for aromatic lovers.
It smokes quite mild strength-wise, without bite, and with just the slightest "zing"
to it (mild enough to smoke on an empty stomach!). It produces a smoke of reasonably rich body
considering its mildness. Still, it's easy to smoke this one fast and a little hot since it's
so light. It smokes fairly dry for an aromatic, moreso than American aromatics like Captain
Black, but a little moister than Cornell & Diehl aromatics.
Toward the very bottom of the bowl, it does get moister in the pipe and the essences become
slightly bitter, but not to the point of becoming unpleasant. Slower smoking does help to prevent
this. Although not as aggressively aromatic as a tobacco such as Erinmore, its scent will remain
in the pipe for a few bowls. I had this pouch for about a year, during which time it did become
fairly dry once. After re-humidification, it tended to remain moist for a long time, even when
there wasn't much left in the pouch, which suggests that it contains additives of some sort.
It leaves a rich, slightly sweet scent in the room after smoking that is not nearly as perfumy
as might be expected. I've never seen this tobacco for sale in North America; my pouch came
from Germany (thanks Ken). '96
- Japan Tobacco's Asuka Smoking Mixture
This
is reputed to be the heaviest latakia blend offered by the Japan
Tobacco Company. It's a medium-cut mixture of medium-to-dark brown tobaccos that contains
Virginias, Orientals and latakia, in a proportion that reminds me quite a bit of Dunhill's Early
Morning Pipe. Like Early Morning Pipe, it's full and natural tasting with just a touch of a
bittersweet nuttiness, but medium rather than full-bodied and with a slight tang to its flavour.
However, Asuka is more aromatic and a bit darker in flavour. I think that there is some kind
of topping being used here to sweeten the flavour and aroma a bit, but it's nothing that is
sugary or clearly identifiable to me, and it's not enough to make this blend be anything other
than a decent, medium English blend. I suspect the possible addition of an alcoholic spirit,
such as cognac, for this extra flavour. I offer this "wild guess" because there is
a similar fragrance and flavour that comes through in Esoterica's Pembroke, which is a cognac-flavoured
English blend. The only way I can really describe this flavour overlay is by saying that it
resembles tasting that fermented aroma that you often smell upon opening a tin
of tobacco—except that in many cases, this fermented aroma doesn't penetrate the actual
taste of the smoke in any obvious way. I suspect the presence of a small quantity of burley
in the mixture due to the slight tang it leaves at the back of the tongue. This provides a nice,
smooth, satisfying smoke without being at all heavy. To me, it's a lot like Early Morning Pipe,
but a bit more vibrant in flavour and simply a bit better overall for my tastes. It burns easily,
but not fast, and reduces to a light grey ash. I am not aware of any store where this can be
purchased outside of Japan. However, Monoyama is available in the USA.
'95
- Japan Tobacco's Momoyama
Welcome
to Japan
Tobacco's oldest pipe tobacco, produced since April 1934. This ribbon-cut, medium-to-dark
brown mixture has a subtle, fermented sweetness in its aroma that I can't quite place. Suffice
it to say that it (possibly a rum and fruit combination according to Shigeho-san) tends toward
the sweet and not toward the sour. This sounds sweet and heavy, but it's not. It's a clean taste
and, as a smoking experience, it's somewhat reminiscent of Amphora Red, but much less perfumy
and less sweet. I would call this "semi-aromatic." The smoke is lively without being
harsh, and a decent, simple tobacco flavour comes. This blend does have a kick and a medium-light
body, which makes me aware that I am smoking a mixture containing a lot of burleys. Shigeho-san's
translation of Momoyama's description says that it's "Mainly of Brights, with Burley, Oriental,
Perique etc. and some casing added." It is a very well-balanced mixture in that no one
element stands out, but it's not as complex as the description might suggest. Those most likely
to enjoy this would probably like the Dutch cavendish blends and natural, non-latakia mixtures—some
smokers might find it bland. It's definitely worth trying though. It smokes clean to a dry,
medium-grey ash and leaves a genuine, slightly sweet, tobacco aroma in the room where it was
smoked. In the USA, Momoyama is available at S & R Pipes and Pleasures, 4244 E. Main St.,
Columbus, Ohio 43213. (800) 828-2535 or (614) 235-6422. Thanks Shigeho-san for the sample! '96
- John B. Hayes' Tom's Red and Black
- I like this one because it provides matured red Virginia flavour and with a good amount
of sweetness with less bite and more body than some similar mixtures. Still, it is by no means
mild on the tongue. In this satisfying tan-through-dark-brown blend, fruity red Virginia is
mixed with a good helping of darker, richer Virginia similar in flavour to Dunhill's Royal Yacht.
This is another one that I seem to prefer as a morning smoke. I also like it when I think a
bowl of Royal Yacht would be appropriate, but when I would like a little less kick. Burns well,
best smoked not too fast. From John B. Hayes Tobacconist, Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033.
(703) 385-3033. '94
- Josiah Brown's Nutty Mix
- Upon opening the packet, I immediately loved this blend's pungent leathery aroma, which
reminded me a bit of McConnell's Oriental Mixture or some other highly fragrant English blend.
Prepared to relish a latakia-laden evening pipe, I was stunned by the taste that was produced
when the tobacco succumbed to the flame of the match. The first hit of flavour was not Oriental
in its inspiration, but rather came from the blend's fully matured Virginia base, whose creaminess
recalls varieties such as Condor, Digger or Bosun Cut Plug. The smooth-smoking, aromatic quality
of this base is omnipresent throughout the smoke, and it times it seems to dominate the overall
flavour, however, the darker oriental tobaccos are equally assertive. The result is an unparallelled
full, nutty taste that has got to the richest taste sensation I've yet to experience in an English
latakia blend. This is also quite a heady tobacco and not the best thing to smoke on an empty
stomach. While smoking this at a bar one evening, two people commented that its compelling aroma—which
is simultaneously woodsy and "Condoresque"—smelled like incense. Medium-cut,
with the occasional piece of flake tobacco still partially intact, this blackish-coloured blend
with reddish brown flecks burns slowly to a perfectly dry, fine white ash. From Josiah Brown
Tobacconist, 7 Market St., Nottingham, England NG1 6HY. Tel: (0602) 417308. '96
- Josiah Brown's #10 Mix
- A very smooth smoking English blend with latakia, but not a big quantity of it. This is
medium-flavoured, leaning toward light, but doesn't have the sharpness of many lightweight blends.
The predominant flavour is a velvety Virginia with a slightly creamy and grassy taste that reminds
me somewhat of Rattray's Old Gowrie. Perique is present
in good measure to give the mixture some life, but does not torch the tongue, due to the mild
base. The overall impression is one of unity and moderation without the slightest compromise
in its savoury, not sweet, flavour. For a medium-strength, perique-spiked mixture, this reddish-brown,
flecked with black tobacco is quite impressive in the way it incorporates smoothness and subtlety
of flavour. It reminds me quite a bit of Sullivan's Gentleman's Mixture. From Josiah Brown Tobacconist,
7 Market St., Nottingham, England NG1 6HY. Tel: (0602) 417308. '96
- London Castle Aromatic
Although
it says aromatic on the tin, it certainly is difficult to detect; any added essences are very
well assimilated into this light English mixture. I don't know if this is the same thing as
the London Castle Mixture that is listed in the A.I.T.S.
index or an aromatic version of it. This is a fairly coarse, crumbly cut of contrasting
colours that range from very light browns to medium reddish-brown and to dark brown. The aroma
in the tin reminds me a great deal of Early Morning Pipe, slightly
fermented and rich-smelling. The two blends certainly share some of the same ingredients, but
this one has a much drier, lighter taste that has a distinct toasted, nutty character and is
less rich and less bitter. The flavour is delicate, but not bland. It has practically no sweetness,
and although it's a light-bodied blend, it doesn't bite at all and has a clean, refreshing taste
whether inhaled or blown out through the nose. It contains some latakia as a spice, but just
enough to complement the other orientals. It does get a little richer-tasting further down during
a pipe full as the oriental and latakia flavours develop and concentrate somewhat. In fact,
its body seems to transform from light to medium during the course of a smoke. I find this to
be a very pleasant smoke that isn't compromised by its mildness. It burns very well to a grey
ash and leaves a pronounced, but light, toasted aroma in the room. '96
- MacBaren's Plumcake
A medium-cut,
golden Virginia-based blend with a bit of darker tobacco mixed in. It has a nice, naturally
sweet pouch aroma that is almost fruity. It seems that a very light casing has been added to
this blend to compliment the natural Virginia sweetness. The tobacco's flavour is rather plain
and light, but fresh, and you do taste some of that subtle fruitiness that you smell in the
pouch. It starts out a little bit sharp, but appears to get smoother as it is smoked. I think
that this illusion of smoothness IS an illusion as this is overall a rather sharp blend on my
palate. As you smoke a pipe full of this, the flavour becomes more concentrated and, at times,
more tangy and almost citrus-like. This more concentrated taste is what produces the illusion
of smoothness. Quite delicious actually and appropriately named "Plumcake." It's a
light-to-medium bodied smoke that you will want to savour slowly so as not to scorch your tongue
(and even then...). '97
- Mick McQuaid Square Cut
Dark
brown with orange and reddish tones, but with some lighter flecks, this tobacco comes in short
flakes, about 1" long (about half the length of the typical flake). It rubs out quite easily
and has the heavy, rather aromatic, fermented pouch aroma of many old-style British blends.
The flavour is that of well matured Virginia through and through. It is less aromatic however
than many other of the more popular heavy Virginias that come to mind—Condor, Saint
Bruno and Erinmore. This is very strong (lots of nicotine) with a straightforward, uncomplicated
matured Virginia flavour that attains a kind of neutrality in that it is neither harsh nor sweet.
The smoke's body could be described as somewhere between medium and heavy. Although it's reasonably
smooth on the tongue, the smoke rising from the pipe itself is quite sharp as it hits the nostrils.
I've been smoking this in a bent Peterson with a bowl that is fairly close to my nose and I
think it might have been a better choice to smoke it in a pipe with a bowl further from nose's
reach. I find its strength and simplicity make it the perfect end-of-the-night smoke when I'm
not craving any particular aromatic or latakia flavour but desire a very relaxing smoke. This
means that it's ideal for anyone who enjoys well-matured Virginias, but sometimes finds them
too sweet or heavily flavoured. It burns very well, so it could be easy to smoke this a little
hot, but it's generally a fairly cool smoke. At the end of a smoke, which I find very pleasant,
you are left with a small quantity of dry greyish ash and an old-fashioned room aroma. However,
it leaves a strong burnt taste in the pipe that is quite difficult to get rid of. A rare find
in North America; I found this at Grant's, 562 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94104, (415) 981-1000.
'98
- Ogden's BK (Bulwark) Flake
- Blackish brown and reddish brown, thin slices of old-fashioned, English-style Virginia tobacco
that rub out quite nicely. This is one of the stronger English flakes I've had so far. When
I first received my sample in the mail, its pouch aroma was very strong with that perfumy or
soapy aroma that English Virginias often have. Something about this one's aroma struck me as
fruity, almost as if it contained some kind of concentrated orange essence. I found it overwhelming
to the point of being almost sickening. Now, a couple of months later, some of the top aroma
has dissipated and I find it most pleasant. I smoked my first bowl of this in a small pipe the
day I received it, but it was too early in the day for me to be smoking such a strong tobacco.
This mistake combined with its strong aroma while very fresh, left me with a bad impression.
I came back a month later only to find that I actually like this blend a lot. First of all,
you have to really like nicotine to like this blend—it will relax you. Its flavour reminds
me a bit of Saint Bruno, somewhat tart, fruity and wine-like, and with a very subtle nutty character
underneath. In terms of body, its smoke is a bit lighter than Condor, and a bit sharper. However,
its sharpness is refreshing in the way it tickles the tongue—and the nose as stray smoke
drifts around. At first, its strength of flavour while in the mouth makes it seems like it might
bite, but it doesn't. Its refreshing taste might be due to some perique in the mixture, which
wouldn't surprise me because there is a peppery taste mixed in here as well, but I would expect
a perique blend to have more bite. This burns very well, but slowly, to a pale grey powder,
and it's a joy to sit down with and smoke slowly. It leaves a heavy, nut-like aroma something
like that which Saint Bruno leaves behind, although a little bit sweeter to my recollection.
'96
- Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky
-
ORLIK DARK STRONG KENTUCKY
Body: 6/10
Nicotine Strength: 5/10
Flavour Depth: 6/10
Flavour—sweetness: 6/10
Flavour—fruitiness: 0/10
Flavour—floweriness: 0/10
Flavour—smokiness: 5/10
Flavour—mustiness: 7/10
Flavour—nuttiness: 7/10
Bite: 4/10
Room Aroma: Musty-sweet
The name might be intimidating, but it's nothing to be afraid of unless you only smoke very
mild tobaccos. This is a designer tobacco if there ever was one: it comes in blackish-brown
slices, each of which bears a wide medium-brown stripe running down the middle. A strong caramelized-sugar
aroma exudes from the tin and you wonder which pipe to smoke this in, thinking that perhaps
this is a highly flavored tobacco. Any confusion is resolved when you light up and are greeted
with a pure, semi-sweet tobacco taste. That burnt caramel scent does translate into flavour
and it never completely disappears, but it lingers discreetly in the background. The smoke is
spicy and creamy, with a quiet richness that recalls a gutsy cavendish, or perhaps a light Virginia.
It's not a really complex smoke, but interesting nuances of dark chocolate and roasted nuts
do develop while smoking. Of course, the flavour becomes more concentrated deeper in the bowl,
but it also takes on a fullness—and sometimes a mellowness—that was absent at light-up.
This blend contains no latakia, but its satisfying depth of flavour reminds me more of a light-to-medium
English mixture than anything else. It tastes rather dark and a little spicy overall, and it
can pick up a stout, bitter quality if I smoke it in a large pipe. Best of all, there's not
much bite in this medium-strength blend, just a pleasant tanginess. If you find your favorite
cavendish blend a little bland or unsatisfying at times, this is worth a try. I also suspect
that many Virginia and English-blend smokers might enjoy this. It leaves a light-grey ash in
the pipe, an irresistible, sweet taste on the moustache, and a pleasantly musty, classic-pipe-aroma
scent in the room. '02
- Orlik Golden Sliced
In the
50g tin, this comes in wide, rectangular slices that peel off from the pile like Post-It®
notes. In the tin, this smells sweet and musty, with a slightly plant-like aroma. It combines
medium- and dark-brown tobaccos and light-coloured, birdseye cross-cuts. It flakes apart easily
and has a soft texture. My tin had been open for a couple of months and the tobacco still didn't
dry out very much, to my surprise. It has a bland, earthy taste while in the pipe awaiting the
charring light. Upon lighting up, one notices its plain, natural tobacco flavour. I detect a
certain greenish flavour, that I seem to remember in Rattray's Old Gowrie and guess that this
is a Virginia blend that might contain some burley. The smoke is fairly thick and rich in texture,
though light, simple and slightly sweet in flavour. Now this is a tobacco that really "just
tastes like smoke," as I've heard exclaimed before with regards to certain blends. Although
understated, it's not boring. This smokes like the Danish tobacco that it is, in that it has
a certain vibrancy and produces a tingly sensation when sidestream smoke first makes it way
into the nostrils. I expected it to bite after a few puffs. Nope... in fact, it's really quite
a smooth smoke. And an enjoyable one too, in terms of its rich body, despite its absence of
flavour. My only criticism, and a minor one at that, is that on occasion I have found it to
smoke a little wetter than I would like. This is medium strength at most and not for the aromatic
smoker. The room aroma reminds me almost of cigarettes, but without the acrid quality of cigarette
smoke. '97
- Peterson's University Flake
-
PETERSON'S UNIVERSITY FLAKE
Body: 8/10
Nicotine Strength: 7/10
Flavour Depth: 9/10
Flavour—sweetness: 6/10
Flavour—fruitiness: 7/10
Flavour—floweriness: 3/10
Flavour—smokiness: 5/10
Flavour—mustiness: 7/10
Flavour—nuttiness: 8/10
Bite: 5/10
Room Aroma: Musty-sweet
The tin opens to reveal dark, reddish-brown slices of a dry, easy-to-crumble texture. A peaty
tobacco aroma reminds me instantly of Edgeworth Sliced and a
distinctive, fruity top note triggers confused memories of Amphora
Red, Saint Bruno and Erinmore Flake.
Raspberry? Orange? Pineapple? Could this be a candy-like smoke? It sure smells like it, but
I hope not—that's not what I was anticipating. Well... The first few puffs and their sidestream
smoke can deceive with their sweetness. However, the experience of a high-quality burley smoke
kicks in rapidly and takes over. As is traditional with many fuller British flakes, the aromatic
flavouring here is ever-present, but the gutsy tobacco taste is even more important as it deepens
and mellows out while smoking. The strength and gentle spiciness that accumulate make this another
tobacco-lover's tobacco. This is one of the few flakes that I've tried that is built on the
dense, nutty flavor of matured burley and the result is quite successful. Slow- and dry-burning
with lots of body, I especially enjoy this as a relaxing late-night smoke. The room aroma that
it produces is as pronounced and pleasant as its flavor. '02
- Player's Digger
This
dark-brown flake tobacco packs a nice punch and is naturally sweet. If you look closely, you
might even see small sugar crystals on the aged Virginia-burley slices. Upon opening the package,
(I like the little 25g box), one immediately smells its fermented, almost flowery or soapy aroma,
which transfers quite accurately to the smoke. The flavour is not as rich and fruity as I had
expected from an aged Virginia, and after the first bowl, I really wasn't sure. However, it
is not the tongue-stinger that I had expected, and after a couple more bowls, I'm quite sold
on it. It does get a bit acidic toward the bottom of the bowl, which for some reason affects
the back of the mouth more than the tongue. I have been complemented on its slightly sweet,
but not overly heavy, room aroma several times. The strangest thing is that a co-worker has
became quite fond of mixing it half-and-half with his Drum tobacco for hand-rolled cigarettes.
It burns well and should be smoked slowly to preserve its pleasant taste. '95
- Roberts' JB Blend
- This is a predominantly ribbon-cut English-style blend that is about 40% lighter tobaccos
and 60% dark red and brown. Although it's a latakia mixture, it's immediately noticeable in
the pouch that it gives off a sweetish scent. Upon further sniffing, one perceives an almond-like
aroma that is stronger than anything else. In fact, I suspect that this might not be categorized
as an English blend if it were given to someone with no description of what it is. Once it's
lit, it's apparent that it's fairly mild and smooth. Since it's supposed to be an English blend,
you will smoke it in a pipe reserved for latakia mixtures, which will add more latakia taste
to it than it actually has. "Almond-like" is my interpretation of how the cavendish
base smells to my nose. It also tastes almond-like to me (fresh almonds that is), a very pleasant,
ever-so-slightly sweet flavour that harbours no bitterness whatsoever. My guess is that this
nutty character means there is a lot of mild burley in the cavendish base. A nice helping of
latakia and maybe some other Turkish tobacco adds fullness and a rich flavour to the smoke.
It is also a bit tangy, probably from some added (red?) Virginias. I enjoy this a lot because,
even though it is quite mild, the smoke has a creamy body that is much fuller than the smoke
is strong. This would be a great choice for someone experimenting with English mixtures or someone
who generally likes the taste of latakia but finds many English blends to be bitter. It leaves
a slightly sweet, slightly smoky, tobacco aroma in the room and burns to a dry, light grey ash
and a small dottle. Roberts' tobaccos are available from Edwards' at Village Court, San Antonio
and El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA 94022. '97
- Russell's Quintessence No. 1 (Red)
This
Danish-made mixture—"a super mild aromatic Black Cavendish bulk cured for several
weeks," as the tin says—is the kind of tobacco I think a new smoker should start
out with if s/he plans to start with aromatics rather than natural or English blends. And because
it's all good-quality tobacco, it would make an excellent all-day smoke for an experienced smoker
too, provided of course that s/he is inclined to smoke aromatics. It's a rich, fairly cool-smoking
blend due to its black cavendish base, perhaps 60% black, maybe more, mixed with some light
Virginias to liven up the flavour a bit. Of course it contains a fairly heavy vanilla flavour
like most black-cavendish blends, but it's not a cheap taste. It is a sweet smoke, (how could
anything with a black cavendish base be otherwise?), but not excessively so and not at all syrupy.
It smokes quite dry, surprisingly so for a black cavendish blend, and burns very well to a practically
non-existant grey ash. The dryness, sweetness, and medium body of this blend make for a very
good balance. It's one of the few aromatic blends I've tried so far that I could imagine smoking
in a big pipe over a long period of time. The smoke has a nice body, that typical black-cavendish
smoothness, but I suspect that the light Virginia in the mixture would be fairly sharp on its
own. When I blow the smoke out my nose, it's just a bit more perky than I expect from a smoke
in which black cavendish dominates. Unlike a number of black cavendish blends I've tried, this
one is quite satisfying, and I suspect it is the light Virginia component that makes it so.
Here, I'm referring to a mellow kind of satisfied feeling, sort of like a much lighter version
of the effect that latakia blends can have—not the kind of nicotine rush that some burley
blends produce. And, unlike some aromatics that just come off as too light for my palate, I
don't get the urge to smoke this one really fast or to inadvertently and automatically inhale
it. I would never have tried this mixture had it not been for a most enthusiastic gentleman
whom I chatted with during a visit to The Smoker, in Albany, NY (one
place where this tobacco is available). This is his favourite tobacco (or one of his favourites)
and he insisted that I try it. So, before leaving the shop, he left me with his half-smoked
tin of the stuff. A big thank-you to him for the kind gesture and good tobacco! '96
- S & R Pipes and Pleasures' Old English
- Rich and full and oh-so-smooth, this is the way a heavy latakia blend is supposed to be.
It comes in quite a broad, thick cut that may take several matches to get lit, but it's well
worth the effort. Wide strips of black and yellowish tobacco makes this a hearty-looking blend
as well. Its rich latakia-laden pouch aroma translates perfectly into the smoke's flavour and
room aroma. It is very dark and has not even a trace of harshness, probably due to a good selection
of Turkish tobaccos added to the mixture; it inhales easily. Once lit, it burns well, but doesn't
overheat, nor does it become unduly harsh or bitter toward the end of the bowl. I've been savouring
this in a big bowled Blatter pipe. The intense latakia taste, which is smokier than it is tarry,
dominates the other flavours but remains gentle without becoming rich and creamy the way Ashton
Celebrated Sovereign or Bengal Slices sometimes come off. It's a dry
mixture on the fingers and on the palate and leaves a rich long-lasting latakia flavour in the
mouth after smoking. If you love heavy latakia blends that are especially smoky in character,
then this one is for you. Its room aroma unequivocally says latakia, but it has a slight sweetness
to it. What a beautiful smoke! I easily can see why it's Jack Tompkins' smoke of choice. Reminds
me a bit of Rattray's Accountant's Blend, but much more
lively in flavour. From S & R Pipes and Pleasures, 4244 E. Main St., Columbus, Ohio 43213.
(800) 828-2535 or (614) 235-6422. '97
- Sail Black Cavendish
-
SAIL BLACK CAVENDISH
Body: 6/10
Nicotine Strength: 5/10
Flavour Depth: 6/10
Flavour—sweetness: 6/10
Flavour—fruitiness: 7/10
Flavour—floweriness: 7/10
Flavour—smokiness: 2/10
Flavour—mustiness: 4/10
Flavour—nuttiness: 3/10
Bite: 4/10
Room Aroma: Sweet-musty
This
smells like a pastry shop in a pouch. Yum! In the back of my mind though, I'm wondering if this
is the kind of sticky pipe tobacco that I'd rather smell than smoke. It's fairly moist and cut
wide, but unlike many black cavendishes, it looks more dark brown than black. It also includes
up to 20% lighter leaf, so it's not just straight-up black cavendish. To my nose, there's at
least vanilla, almond, and chocolate, as well as something a little alcoholic (brandy?) in this
concoction... probably a hint of cherry too. A mellow, fluffy smoke is launched thanks to my
Zippo. This smells nice and is very easy to smoke. I taste some of the flavouring too, at least
for a while. As the tobacco burns downward, a nutty, burley taste begins to shine through and
it becomes a notch or two zestier than what I was expecting. A little of that pleasant burley
buzz sets in too. Near the bottom, the flavour is uniformly full and dark and just a little
hot-smoking. Overall, a pretty nice experience and the room smells great. '01
- Sail Regular
SAIL REGULAR
Body: 5/10
Nicotine Strength: 6/10
Flavour Depth: 5/10
Flavour—sweetness: 4/10
Flavour—fruitiness: 1/10
Flavour—floweriness: 0/10
Flavour—smokiness: 3/10
Flavour—mustiness: 6/10
Flavour—nuttiness: 6/10
Bite: 5/10
Room Aroma: Musty-sweet
An intense anise aroma wafts out of the little yellow pouch. There's got to be some chocolate
in there too! This brown cavendish has a few shreds that aren't completely rubbed out and it
sure smells like it's going to taste sweet... Once fire hits it though, it gives a clean, dry
tobacco taste right away, with a just a nice hint of sweetness in the background. The simplicity
of this is mellow and charming at first, but it soon becomes apparent that the burley in the
blend provides a good kick that isn't going to let up. I find that I forget about that hint
of sweetness after a third of a bowl or so. A denser, more peppery sensation starts to dominate.
No amazing, refined flavour comes out of this, you just get more. Sometimes I find it develops
a little sweetness near the bottom of the pipe, but more often than not, I mostly notice the
strength it has amassed. I really like a plain and refreshing smoke like this from time to time.
This burns quite well, so I pay special attention to not allow it to overheat—if my tongue
is sensitive, I find it can bite a little. I love the musty old-time pipe aroma that this leaves
in the room as it smoulders away to a fine, grey ash. '01
- Saint Bruno
Dark-brown
slices with reddish streaks and yellowish flecks that crumble up nicely into thin strands of
an overall deep red colour. In the tin is that strong, fermented, wine-like aroma that characterizes
many matured Virginias, yet this one is a just little less sweet, rich, and heavy than Condor.
I feel it needs to be compared to Condor since many smokers who are partial to one of these
blends seem to like the other, from my limited experience. Saint Bruno has a slightly more sour
and nutty note to its aroma and flavour than Condor, but it is still a tobacco with a fermented-fruit
type of flavour. I particularly pick up on Saint Bruno's nutty after-character, not at first,
but toward the bottom of the bowl and especially after it has been smoked in the same pipe for
a while. It is medium-full in body and emits a smoke that is slightly sharp on the nose, but
mild, yet full-tasting, on the tongue. It has a tangy, natural sweetness that is quite appealing,
but which might surprize those who are used to smoking more heavily sweetened aromatics a l'Américaine.
It also contains quite a bit of nicotine and would be best enjoyed in a smaller pipe if you
are used to weaker blends. The main complexity in its flavour is the play between its rich and
almost juicy top flavour and its underlying tanginess. Although this doesn't sound like a lot,
it's an intensely pleasant and satisfying smoke when smoked without haste. Its room aroma when
smoked is surprisingly different, not fruity at all; here the nutty aspect comes through again.
I personally find its aroma quite pleasant, sort of reminiscent of an old house, but a non-smoking
friend who usually enjoys the smell of my pipe says that the smoke from Saint Bruno reminds
her of a wet dog. Take your pick! As well, it burns dry to a grey ash. A grateful thank-you
to Mark Shelor for the tin of this stuff! '96
- Schürch's Pirite
- Here's an English-aromatic hybrid that is mild as well as flavorful. The combination of
light, medium and dark tobaccos in various cuts and its dry appearance make it look like a typical
English mixture. It gives off a somewhat sweet, but not especially distinct, scent that obliges
the nose to question whether or not this is an aromatic. No pungent latakia aroma wafts out
to definitively identify the blend as an English. Once in the pipe and lit, it produces a creamy,
tangy smoke, revealing its Virginia base. A well-balanced spice mix of latakia, black cavendish
and perique provides a continuous and satisfying flavor boost throughout the duration of the
smoke. Most notable (and pleasant) is the faint, coconut-like taste of the black cavendish that
peers through every now and then. This sweet touch also makes the room aroma quite sweet for
an otherwise savory, natural smoke. Available from Synjeco.
'00
- Schürch's Sangstone
- This creamy-tasting, medium English blend tends toward full flavor. It's spicy, but not
harsh, and satisfying, though not knock-you-out strong. Serious fans of complex latakia mixtures
could really enjoy this. Its uniqueness lies in the way that the full-bodied, smoky taste is
complemented by a distinct natural Virginia sweetness that just doesn't go away. These qualities
alternately draw my attention while I smoke. The flavors intensify greatly in the bottom half
of the bowl. It's rich enough to be a most relaxing smoke, yet zesty enough to be somewhat refreshing
at the same time. Burns easily owing to its medium-fine cut. Available from Synjeco.
'00
- Skandinavik Mildly Aromatic
Surprisingly
similar to Skandinavik Natural, but not a "light" version
of the "Natural" blend. That delicious raisin-like pouch aroma is still there, but
a touch sweeter and fruitier this time. The tobacco appears to be the same cut and dark, golden
colour. Even though the pouch does say mildly aromatic, I was still expecting something
more heavily flavoured and sugary. Immediately upon lighting up, one does notice a distinct
difference from the Natural variety. Puffs of smoke with a marked fruity aroma waft past the
nose, yet the flavour of these essences is barely discernable to the taste buds, as if someone
else had lit just up a pipe full of aromatic tobacco in the room. As one smokes onward, the
fruity aroma seems to dissipate for the smoker, perhaps because its non-aromatic flavour overrides
it. I've been told this smells like cherries, which is odd to me since I can't quite envision
myself walking around puffing on a cherry blend (I've never had one that I enjoyed all that
much). Like Skandinavik Natural, this is a satisfying, somewhat spicy smoke with good body (for
a non-latakia blend) and a relatively neutral tobacco taste. It gets a little richer and fuller
as it is smoked. I first tried this after smoking a few pouches of Skandinavik Natural and found
the difference between the two to be subtle. So after a few pouches of Mildly Aromatic, I decided
to go back and try the Natural again. The difference still wasn't enormous, but the Natural
seemed decidedly blander and less seasoned than the Mildly Aromatic, but not really less sweet.
I'm smoking quite a bit of this these days; maybe it's a summer thing... Perhaps the most unusual
characteristic of this semi-fragrant blend is that it leaves no "aromatic tobacco"
scent in the pipe—this quality appeals to me immensely. Have you ever wanted to smoke
a non-aromatic tobacco which folks around you would think is aromatic? This might be it. And
it burns dry to a fine, salt-and-pepper ash. '97
- Skandinavik Natural
What a
nice, natural raisin-like aroma in the pouch! This is a moderately dry, ribbon-cut tobacco of
a darkish-medium brown colour, somewhat contrasty due to the presence of dark and light tobaccos.
Although the length and width of the tobacco are consistent, many fragments of broken flake
create an uneven texture. Upon lighting up, some of that sweet fermented aroma is passed on
to the smoke's flavour. Subtle, but delicious to my palate. My first impression of this blend
was that it had a somewhat spiky, peppery quality and I began to think that this might be yet
another rather sharp Danish tobacco. However, its vibrant taste stops there, remains vibrant,
and doesn't really bite. Actually, I find it to be on the threshold of biting and non-biting...
I believe this is a Virginia-burley mixture (in very good balance I might add) with its fairly
mild taste and stimulating sidestream smoke. As one smokes a bowl of this, the slight fruitiness
melds into a more dominant, simpler, light smoky flavour. It also becomes smoother as one progresses
through a pipe full. The smoke has an enjoyable texture, not as thick as a latakia mixture,
but not as thin as some lighter mixtures. It's a tobacco you can absent-mindedly puff on steadily
without it becoming significantly harsher, unless you overheat it of course. It might have a
slight casing and/or sweetening agent added, but it doesn't have any distinct flavour that suggests
additives. The aroma it leaves in the pipe is a neutral, slightly burnt smell and this pretty
much sums up how the tobacco tastes when one reaches the bottom of the pipe. I don't know how
an audience would receive this blend's non-sweet, all-tobacco aroma. It's another of those mixtures
whose room aroma reminds me of non-acrid cigarette smoke. I'm surprised by how much I enjoy
this non-latakia blend. I like it enough to have purchased it several times now and I'm not
the slightest bit tired of it yet. '97
- Sherlock's Haven's Bohemian Scandal
- From Sherlock's
Haven, San Francisco. This is a hearty, full-English style blend that includes burleys in
addition to the more typical English recipe of Orientals + Virginias + latakia. It's a medium-cut,
mostly dark mixture. Due to the liberal quantity of burley that it contains, this blend is not
quite as rich in body as many English blends of a similarly dark color and full latakia content.
Some might therefore prefer to call this an "American" mixture. At the outset of a
bowl of this, an intense nutty taste resulting mainly from the burleys and Orientals is dominant.
It proceeds to become a bit more stout and slightly bitter further down a bowl full. The high
latakia content ensures that it be a reasonably smooth smoke, but the burley keeps it strong
and perky tasting. This is a very strong-tasting tobacco that would be best enjoyed by those
who like the taste of both dark burleys and full-English blends. '96
- Sherlock's Haven's Mycroft's
- From Sherlock's
Haven, San Francisco. The flecks of this medium-cut blend span the full range of light brown
to nearly black, with a concentration of reddish medium-brown tones. This satisfying, first-class
oriental mixture contains a reasonable amount of latakia and provides a smooth, ever-so-slightly
sweet smoke with just a bit of bite at the end of a smoke. Its strength is somewhere between
medium and full, leaning toward full—regular smokers of English blends would probably
class it as medium, smokers of lighter blends would find it full. Its rich taste is nuttier,
cleaner and not quite as vibrant or as heavy on the palate as blends like Sobranie's 759 or
McConnell's Oriental Mixture. As someone who really enjoys orientals, I find this blend's heavy
room aroma, which is as nutty as it is smoky, to be especially pleasing. '96
- Sinclair Flake
- Now discontinued. An Irish-style cavendish along the lines of Erinmore Flake, but more subdued.
No latakia here—medium reddish-brown flakes—but a very satisfying blend nonetheless.
I have enjoyed this often as a morning pick-me-up with tea. It manages to be sweet and a bit
fruity without being at all candy-like, in the way that many herbal teas do. The sweetness is
more manifest in the aroma and aftertaste than as a sensation of something sugary hitting the
taste buds. The light fruitiness is balanced by a slight sharpness, which I find quite complementary,
whereas in some blends, sharpness is a purely negative quality. Burns easily and, because of
this, it is best smoked slow and savoured. Leaves a fine white ash and a fragrant, fairly heavy
aroma in the room. '95
- Smoker's Haven's America's Best Blend
- With such a pompous name, this stuff had better be good. Well, it is. This is a medium-full
English blend that is ribbon-cut for the most part and with a distinct, mottled appearance due
to the mix of blond, medium-brown and black tobaccos. It has quite a spicy, woodsy taste, a
nice balance between high-quality, smoky latakia and complementary Virginia sweetness, as well
as some Turkish I believe and perhaps even a smattering of perique. The lively flavour of this
blend is very similar to The Smoker's Smoker II, but is perhaps
a little sharper and not quite as full. Although I like the blacker, more mellow English blends
a lot as well, if not more, I like how the pronounced latakia flavour in this one becomes so
zingy tasting. In this respect, I am reminded of such vibrant, but richer, blends as McConnell's
Oriental and Balkan Sobranie 759, or perhaps what C&D's
#416 Plantation Evening would be like if it contained more latakia. I suppose this really
is a full English, at least in flavour, but the body of the smoke is more medium than full,
reflecting the lighter Virginias in the mixture. It really is a nice, relaxing latakia-flavoured
smoke with a decent strength, but one that would probably appeal most to those who prefer a
medium-bodied smoke to a heavier, more velvety one. Burns clean and dry to a fine, grey ash.
Leaves that beautiful, smoky latakia aroma behind in the room upon smoking. It is definitely
very good. But I think I have the right to sue them for calling it America's Best, since it's
not my absolute all-time favourite. Thanks BigJack for the tasty sample! Smoker's Haven is at
1097 Bethel Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43220, (614) 538-9534 or (800) 604-5900. '96
- Smoker's Haven's Cliff's Blend
- This is a medium-cut English blend of rich-looking, contrasty colour: roughly half reddish-brown
and half blackish in colour. The distinct aroma of latakia is obvious in the pouch, but there
is also something sweeter and more subtle than latakia in there—I do remember that the
blend's description listed among its ingredients a variety of not-so-common Oriental tobaccos
such as Xanthi. Although undoubtedly dark in taste, this is extremely mild and an incredibly
smooth smoke. Still, it doesn't smoke flat. The smoke seems thick, but it also has a light,
creamy quality to it, which I believe is due to the Oriental leaf in the mixture. In this way,
it reminds me somewhat of Fox's Banker's Mixture, but a bit lighter on
the latakia. It even reminds me of Blatter Reserve, but without
the slightly aromatic component. What makes this stand out from a lot of English mixtures is
its complex, underlying roasted-nut flavour, which is quite different from the simpler, hollower
nutty taste that burley tobaccos will often lend to a blend. This is an an extremely well-balanced
blend with excellent smoking qualities. Don't let its dark colour turn you away: this is among
the smoothest of full-English mixtures you will encounter. A good choice for someone who likes
the taste of latakia and by no means too strong as a morning smoke. Burns clean and dry to a
fine salt-and-pepper ash and leaves a rich English-tobacco scent in the room after smoking.
Smoker's Haven is at 1097 Bethel Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43220, (614) 538-9534 or (800) 604-5900.
'97
- Stanwell's Rose and Crown
- A somewhat moist, dark reddish-brown, broken-up flake with lighter and darker coloured fragments
here and there. My sample of this required minimal rubbing out prior to smoking, since much
of the broken flake was of a short stubby cut already. This is a very aromatic Virginia
that reminds me in many respects of the love-them-or-hate-them Erinmore
tobaccos in its intensity. Its aromatic qualities are very rich, seemingly based on a raspberry
flavouring, but without the cheapness of taste that I expect from heavily flavoured mixtures.
This is probably in part because decent-quality, sweet Virginias are what's holding the mixture
together. Medium body and pretty smooth smoking, I'm surprised I like this one, since I generally
don't care much for heavy fruit-flavoured blends. Its distinctive taste actually reminds me
more of raspberry pie than just raspberry flavouring and there's something vaguely flowery about
its aroma that my nose detects while smoking, although I don't actually taste this floral character
at all. Its smokes like a good Virginia—relatively cool on the tongue if smoked slowly,
but will bite a bit if allowed to overheat or if the tobacco has dried out too much. The fruit
flavouring remains throughout the smoke, but slowly dissipates somewhat during the second half
of the bowl. At the end, the extreme dryness of the smoke on my mouth reminds me that, ultimately,
I'm finishing off a bowl of Virginia. Weaker than strong in terms of nicotine, this is a just
a relaxing smoke, but not overly so. It leaves its marked aroma in your moustache and in the
room, but the room aroma isn't quite as heavy or cloying as you might expect given the density
of its taste. I can't imagine anyone complaining about its aroma, but I'm sure there is someone
somewhere that would... It burns clean and dry to a very white ash that intersperses with the
blackish flecks of any unburnt tobacco. Thanks Spiffyng for this most enjoyable sample! '95
- Stokkebye's Twist Flake (PS402)
-
STOKKEBYE'S TWIST FLAKE
Body: 5/10
Nicotine Strength: 5/10
Flavour Depth: 4/10
Flavour—sweetness: 6/10
Flavour—fruitiness: 3/10
Flavour—floweriness: 5/10
Flavour—smokiness: 1/10
Flavour—mustiness: 2/10
Flavour—nuttiness: 3/10
Bite: 8/10
Room Aroma: Sweet
These medium-dark, one-inch-diameter slices have a twirly, zig-zag grain and beige birds-eye
speckles to make them attractive. Their texture is soft and they rub out easily to a coarse
cut that is perfect for slow smoking. The tobacco smells sweet and buttery, and generously offers
scents of coconut (vanilla flavouring often smells like coconut to me) and something deeper,
like chocolate. It is a fairly sweet smoke, but not as much as the scent in the pouch promises.
Much of the flavouring seems to burn off and become part of its fragrant sidestream smoke. What
really dominates is a caramelized-sugar taste, nicely balanced by some light and clean tobacco
flavour. The smoke is of a dense, medium body and has a satisfying kick that suggests the presence
of burley in the blend. It also has a bit of a bite, which adds freshness to its flavour and
makes this a nice hot-weather smoke for me. It might be too spicy for more sensitive palates,
however. The flavourings fade and almost disappear after half a pipe-full is smoked. Unlike
many flake tobaccos, this one does not develop additional richness as the bottom of the bowl
is approached; in fact, I find it becomes progressively less complex. Still, I like to smoke
this on occasion, and have been doing so for several years, usually as a mid-day or mid-evening
smoke. In many ways, this reminds me of Dan Pipe's Sweet Vanilla
Honeydew. This tobacco could be a crowd-pleaser and thus an asset to those pipe smokers
who need to flatter their entourage. Bystanders won't realize that your tobacco is much more
robust than the heavily flavoured mild cavendish that they think you are smoking. This tobacco
burns clean and dry to a salt-and-pepper ash and I enjoy the caramelized-sugar scent that it
leaves in my moustache. You might have already smoked this without knowing it... It's available
loose in the jars at many smoke shops, under whatever name the shop chooses to call it. '02
- Sullivan's Gentleman's Mixture (Original)
This
is a tobacco of contrasts that I seem to smoke most often as my first pipe of the day, especially
on weekends (who knows why?). The base flavour is a dry-tasting (bright?) Virginia base that
is neither rich nor smooth and is practically devoid of sweetness. On top of this, and in complete
contrast, is a perfumy and slightly sour component, an Oriental perhaps that I can't identify
(?), which gives the smoke an aroma that one smells more than tastes. The presence of perique
adds a distinct pepperiness and furthers the contrast between perfuminess and earthiness. My
first two pipes of this were not at all tasty, as I smoked it in pipes that had an incompatible
flavour. Overall, this medium brown, medium-cut tobacco with darker flecks (and, occasionally,
a bit of sugar crystallization) is good, although a bit on the sharp side for me. '96
- Three Star's China Black Vanilla Burley
- Dry, medium-cut, vanilla-flavoured burley tobacco in two rich reddish-brown tones, one a
bit darker than the other. This smokes dry, clean and smooth, with no bite. I wouldn't have
thought that this mixture contained Oriental tobaccos, but the pouch says it does. It's probably
a small amount, just enough to give the smoke a little extra body and smoothness. What I like
about this is that it is not a sweet and cloying blend. The vanilla acts more like an essence
than a syrupy casing. It is much more present in the aroma and perfumed aftertaste than in the
actual flavour. The end result is that it still has lots of that refreshing, nutty tobacco taste
that is particular to light burleys, so it should appeal to many folks who like real tobacco
flavour in addition to sweet aromas. When smoking, the room aroma has lots of that vanilla aroma
that almost everyone likes, but just as much of that long-lingering natural burley aroma. As
with most burleys, this burns well and contains a fair amount of nicotine. A light-bodied, energizing
smoke. Available from Iwan Ries
& Co., Chicago and elsewhere. '96
- Three Star's China Black Whiskey
- Although the pouch declares "Golden cavendish with Oriental," this medium-cut
aromatic blend is overall quite dark looking, probably through liberal addition of black cavendish
tobacco. It has a pronounced sweet-musty aroma in the pouch that is presumably that of whiskey
or some facsimile thereof. I'm not a whiskey drinker, but this doesn't smell much like whiskey
to my nose for some reason. Not only is it quite moist when the pouch is first opened, but it
remains that way for a long time afterwards. The taste is an even balance between sweet and
earthy, without highlights, and with a decidedly musty aftertaste. This smokes smooth and is
very mild, but it is a decidedly wet smoke that has little tobacco flavour. If you can't cope
with a wet smoke, you will not find this acceptable. Aside from its unfortunately high moisture
content, the flavour is an interesting one in the way that it is aromatic, yet neither flowery,
fruity, vanilla-saturated nor sugary. A distinctive savory and slightly sweet aroma lingers
in the room after smoking this. It is often sold in buy-one-get-one-free, double pouch packs
in the USA. '97
- Tinderbox's Philosopher
- This is categorized as an English blend because it contains a discernable amount of latakia,
but some might call it "American" in style due to its moist, mild base (which seems
to stay moist forever). The mixture is about half medium-brown tobaccos and half black, all
in a coarse, wide cut. Those used to heartier English blends might be surprised at the sweetness
and relatively light latakia aroma in the pouch. Although the taste is smokier than the pouch
aroma would suggest, the mildness of the Virginia and Oriental base tobaccos produce a light-to-medium,
not full, smoke. It also seems to contain black cavendish, both for sweetness and for accentuating
the dark, latakia flavour in the mixture. It's a surprisingly light smoking experience for a
latakia-flavoured blend. In fact, the soft texture of its smoke is almost reminiscent of aromatic
blends such as Lane's 1Q. It's extremely mild if blown out the nose,
and doesn't seem to contain much nicotine, but I find it has more bite than many heavier English
blends, even though it burns cool and slowly. It leaves a dry, smoky, and slightly sweet aftertaste
and its room aroma is similar. It is rare to find a mixture with so much suggestion of latakia
flavor, so much smoothness, yet so little comparative fullness. '97
- Trinity East's #326
- This is a commercial-grade aromatic blend of that all-American, Captain-Black style. A stringy,
medium-cut reddish Virginia cavendish is mixed with perhaps 25% black cavendish and heavily
cased with a vanilla (and perhaps a bit of chocolate and/or liquorice and/or who-knows-what)
casing to produce a (permanently?) moist tobacco that feels soft and silky, almost oily, on
the fingers. It produces a smooth, very mild, and fluffy smoke that you could smoke non-stop
if you didn't tire of the caramelized vanilla flavour and aroma first. Although it is a moist,
cased tobacco, it smokes fairly dry. Its flavour is predominantly that of the sweet casing.
At first the vanilla is more prominent, but the caramelized taste takes over while smoking.
Still, the vanilla essence remains in the back of the mouth as an aftertaste, both at the end
of the smoke, or between puffs when smoke is emptied from the mouth. Best of all, this blend
doesn't get wet and bizarre-tasting after your pipe is half-smoked like some heavily cased blends.
All that occurs is that the caramelized flavour intensifies, without any obnoxious bitterness,
and a little bit of actual tobacco flavour even comes through at the very end of the smoke when
all the casing is burnt off. This mixture burns quite well and leaves a blackish, dry dottle
mixed with white ash in the bottom of the pipe. The room aroma is as sweet and fragrant as you
would expect, almost incense-like. Aficionados of creamy, sweet aromatics would love this one.
Similar to Captain Black Royal in style and flavour, this
one seems to have better smoking qualities, without the compromise of character that I perceived
in Finck's Generic Captain Black clone mixture. Very similar
to the popular Lane's 1Q mixture. Thanks to Spiffyng for the sample. Trinity East Smoke Shop
is located at 215 Sunrise Hwy, Rockville Center, NY 11570, (516) 678-1822. '97
- Troost Special Cavendish
- Open a pouch of this and smell the fragrant, but not sugary, aroma. The flavoring employed
is a distinctive recipe that's rather hard to break down into its individual ingredients. To
my nose, there's a good amount of chocolate for fullness, perhaps a bit of licorice, almond
and at least one variety of fruit, maybe even cherry, This may sound like candy, but it's far
better than that—one smells fermented tobacco aroma in there as well. The texture of this
blend is that of a flake tobacco that has been unevenly crumbled up, almost as if it had been
done by hand. It was quite dry in the pouch each of the three times I tried it in 1997 and it
tended to dry out quickly once the pouch was opened. Upon lighting up, one notes that this does
not taste sweet as might have been expected. Instead, the flavorings add a flowery aspect to
the nutty taste of the base tobaccos, Interestingly, more of this aroma is experienced later
as aftertaste than while actually smoking, The smoke has a creamy fullness to it, suggesting
Virginia tobaccos, and a zestiness that suggests burleys. These two qualities coexist in good
balance with each other, such that this is neither a heavy nor biting mixture. It's a notch
or two stronger than a mild tobacco, but it doesn't smoke harsh. Overall it is reminiscent of
Amphora red in character, only smoother, richer and cooler smoking.
This one should have a lot of fans: aficionados of flavoured tobaccos would probably enjoy this
step toward a more natural-tasting mixture and smokers of natural blends who like clean-smoking
aromatics should find this appealing. It leaves a rich and slightly musty scent in the room
after smoking which, although pleasant, does indeed smell like tobacco and won't likely be mistaken
for cookies baking in the oven. '99
- Wild Geese
- A non-sticky cavendish mixture from Germany with a contrasty appearance. It contains a rather
complete spectrum of tobacco colours: from pale yellow to reddish-brown to blackish. The cut
is overall somewhat erratic: wide and chunky, sometimes short-cut, sometimes long. In the tin,
it has a sweet aroma that I can't identify. I do however recognize this fruity-flowery smell,
whatever it is, as being in the same league as that of Germain's No. 7.
Once lit, it proves to be quite smooth and without even a trace of harshness. Natural tobacco
flavour here is practically nil. The dominant taste is that of the added flavourings, but it's
very well balanced and refined in nature—not heavy or overly sweet. Sniffing the sidestream
smoke while puffing away, I find it has a pleasing, slightly musty aroma in addition to its
sweetness. Although mild, the Virginias in the mixture produce just enough piquancy to keep
it from tasting flat. It's a fairly light-bodied smoke that burns absolutely dry—and cool
due to the wide cut—to a fine light grey ash at the bottom of the pipe. This is listed
in the British A.I.T.S. index, but doesn't appear to be widely available in North America. I
purchased this at Jon's Pipe Shop in St. Louis, MO. '97
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