tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58895199124665438652024-03-08T07:58:11.813-08:00Meandering Smoke<br>Random thoughts on all things pipe and cigar relatedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-8723073362651469732013-02-21T14:47:00.002-08:002013-02-21T14:47:27.693-08:004noggins -- Britt's Balkan<!-- Pipe -->
<b>Brand:</b> 4noggins<br />
<b>Blend:</b> Britt's Balkan<br />
<b>Style:</b> Balkan<br />
<b>Pipe Used:</b> Cob<br />
<b>Price:</b> Free Sample<br />
<br />
<b>Appearance: </b>8<br />
<b>Taste: </b>9<br />
<b>Room Note: </b>8<br />
<b>Value: </b>9<br />
<b>Overall: </b>9<br />
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One of the best ways in which to make new tobacco discoveries is through the swapping of samples with other pipe smokers. In one recent trade I received a handful of new to me blends including some of Rich Gottlieb's house blends available through his website at <a href="http://4noggins.com/">4noggins.com</a>. I was particularly interested in trying his Britt's Balkan as I'm always on the lookout for new interpretations of that magical mixture of Latakia and other Oriental leaves.<br />
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Defining a blend as a Balkan really doesn't tell you all that much as there are as many interpretations on what constitutes the style as there are versions available. I've always termed any blend with Latakia and a heavy presence of other Oriental tobaccos in which the Latakia doesn't dominate as a Balkan or Oriental blend.<br />
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Britt's Balkan arrives as a typical ribbon cut blend of black and brown leaf and the aroma is that of a smokey pine campfire. There's just no hiding that Latakia.<br />
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I loaded up a brand new cob and settled in to enjoy my smoke. From the very first taste I knew that I was in for a truly special and surprising treat. The initial flavor was almost effervescent it was so clean and refreshing. Latakia blends often impart a mustiness that was no where to be found in this blend. Instead the Orientals took charge and offered up hints of cinnamon and spice layered on top of the naturally sweet Virginias.<br />
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The blend is also topped with just the barest hint of vanilla which acts as an almost menthol-like (think cough drops not Kools) palate cleanser that comes and goes throughout the course of the smoke. All in all it's a complex blend that is never tasking and remains a refreshing delight from start to finish.<br />
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The room aroma is similarly complex and delightful with the vanilla and Orientals imparting a sweet incense-like character that tames the Latakia and should be inoffensive to most innocent bystanders.<br />
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The blend was also very well-behaved in the pipe and smoked clean and cool with no bite or fussiness whatsoever.<br />
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When I sat down to try Britt's Balkan I was planning to start in on the next Patrick O'Brian novel in my reading stack. Instead I found myself just sitting and enjoying one of the most relaxing and contemplative smokes in a very long time. While complex in terms of taste the blend is easy smoking and perfectly fills a niche in my smoking rotation. While I love Latakia bombs like <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/12/cornell-diehl-pirate-kake.html">Pirate Kake</a> and heavy musty Balkans like <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/07/peter-stokkebye-balkan-supreme.html">Balkan Supreme</a>, there's something to be said for a crisp, clean Oriental that leaves you refreshed at the end of a smoke.<br />
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With Britt's Balkan, Rich has created a stellar blend that showcases its constituent tobaccos in ways I've never before encountered. It comes very highly recommended and I plan to add copious amounts to my cellar.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-51474753652859960272012-11-09T14:53:00.003-08:002012-11-09T14:53:53.501-08:00Hearth & Home -- Egg Nog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qOs-7nU6f74/UJ2EMjQgGTI/AAAAAAAACp8/XUqrM9S-O5Y/s1600/CAM00122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qOs-7nU6f74/UJ2EMjQgGTI/AAAAAAAACp8/XUqrM9S-O5Y/s320/CAM00122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!-- Pipe -->
<b>Brand:</b> Hearth & Home<br />
<b>Blend: </b>Egg Nog<br />
<b>Style: </b>Aromatic<br />
<b>Pipe Used: </b>Savinelli Oscar Natural # 313<br />
<b>Price: </b>$6.59/1.5oz.<br />
<b>Appearance: </b>8<br />
<b>Taste:</b> 5<br />
<b>Room Note: </b>7<br />
<b>Value: </b>7<br />
<b>Overall:</b> 6<br />
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Unlike many pipesters who look down their noses at aromatic tobaccos I've always enjoyed and appreciated the various flavors and aromas that can only be found in this type of blend. Sometimes you just want to smoke and smell <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/05/brand-samuel-gawith-blend-celtic.html">sweet cherries</a>, <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2008/07/pipe-post-scottys-blends-appearance-8.html">butterscotch candy</a>, and perhaps some holiday egg nog.<br />
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As much as I like aromatics I'm even more smitten by seasonal, AKA Christmas, blends and look forward to each year's new offerings as well as regular favorites. While placing an order for Hearth & Home's <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2012/11/hearth-home-fusiliers-ration.html">Fusilier's Ration</a> (run, don't walk, and order some tins right now...I'll wait) I decided to give their tasty-sounding Egg Nog blend a try.<br />
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The tobacco in the tin was a nice looking ribbon cut blend of black and brown tobaccos and had a pleasant, but not overpowering, aroma of cinnamon and other holiday spices. I quickly loaded up my dedicated aromatic pipe, lit the bowl, and was off and smoking.<br />
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On the positive side the blend smoked cleanly and coolly all the way to the bottom of the bowl and never once bit or gurgled even with my usual overzealous pipe smoking. The room aroma was also nice though a bit subdued for my taste.<br />
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As for the taste it was, in a word, forgetful. Advertised as having rum, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg flavors all I got out of this blend was some very light tobacco topped with just a hint of vanilla and the barest dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg. I was expecting a real "Ho-ho-ho here comes Santa!" over-the-top aromatic experience like that found in McClelland's superb <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2008/12/pipe-post-holiday-spirit-2008.html">Holiday Spirit</a>. Instead I found myself smoking bowl after bowl of well-behaved, yet ultimately bland, tobacco.<br />
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Hearth & Home's Egg Nog features great smoking characteristics and has a nice aroma but it just doesn't pack enough flavor to break into my aromatics rotation. I didn't dislike it but there are so many more enjoyable offerings out there that I can't see myself bothering with Egg Nog in the future.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-7613506741050043822012-11-02T15:42:00.000-07:002012-11-02T15:42:07.761-07:00Hearth & Home -- Fusilier's Ration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk1CvnB8J3A/UJQ7XfgBXGI/AAAAAAAACps/Ugiy-CsFMX8/s1600/CIMG5094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk1CvnB8J3A/UJQ7XfgBXGI/AAAAAAAACps/Ugiy-CsFMX8/s320/CIMG5094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!-- Pipe -->
<b>Brand:</b> Hearth & Home<br />
<b>Blend:</b> Fusilier's Ration<br />
<b>Style:</b> English<br />
<b>Pipe Used:</b> No Name Apple<br />
<b>Price:</b> $10.50/2oz.<br />
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<b>Appearance:</b> 10<br />
<b>Taste:</b> 10<br />
<b>Room Note:</b> 8<br />
<b>Value:</b> 8<br />
<b>Overall:</b> 9<br />
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Russ Ouellette at the Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe (AKA <a href="http://pipesandcigars.com/">PipesandCigars.com</a>) has quietly been creating some of the most innovative new pipe blends over the past couple of years. And as if that weren't enough he's also been introducing blends that pay tribute to some of the long lost tobacco favorites of pipe days gone by.<br />
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When I first heard about Fusilier's Ration through the Internet grapevine I was immediately hooked for a couple of reasons. As a fan of Bernard Cornwell's Napoleonic-era <i>Sharpe</i> series the name of the blend and the excellent tin art certainly piqued my interest. But what really had me salivating was the fact that this blend was a tribute to the long-gone Bengal Slices, a blend that I never had the chance to try but sounds like it would have been an instant favorite of mine.<br />
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Upon opening the tin the first thing I noticed was the aroma of the tobacco. As a Latakia fiend I find few things as instantly reassuring as that sweet smell of campfire smoke and cedar. The blend also has a top note of some kind that reminded me of citrus and fresh berries. Mouthwatering to be sure.<br />
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The blend itself is packaged as a krumble, or broken, kake so you're likely to find whole chunks of pressed tobacco mixed in with bits of cross-cut leaf caused by, you guessed it, crumbling of the cake. The blend is an attractive mix of various tobaccos ranging from jet black to light tan and the kake is very firmly packed so you know it was in a press for quite some time.<br />
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To load my pipe I just broke off a piece of the kake, rubbed it out between my palms, and gently filled the bowl to the brim. Since the blend was very fresh I knew it would have some moisture so I wanted to give it space to expand in the pipe and still allow any steam to escape out the top rather than down the stem and into my mouth. It took a while to get the pipe lit but once it got a nice smolder going it burned fairly well for such a young blend.<br />
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In the wide and varied world of pipe tobaccos there are blends that take a while to grow on you and those that immediately grab you by the lapels and proclaim themselves your new favorite. Fusilier's Ration is very firmly positioned in the latter camp.<br />
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Until now my favorite blend has remained <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/06/altadis-count-pulaski.html">Count Pulaski</a>, a relatively unknown light English blend from Altadis. It's a blend that has everything I most like in a pipe tobacco. The stalwart Fusilier is a very similar sort of blend except that it offers up just a bit more.<br />
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The flavor profile is well-balanced and the constituent tobaccos sing together in perfect harmony. Savory, satisfying Latakia melds its leathery smokiness with the sweetly acidic Virginias while the Oriental leaf lends a bit of spicy incense to cut the richness of the Black Cavendish. And the topping adds just the slightest taste of fresh fruit that really mellows the blend. This tobacco is meant to be sipped, savored, and pondered over as the smoke slowly curls about your head.<br />
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The room aroma is just as delectable as the taste and reminds me of mesquite or cherrywood smoke mixed with sweet BBQ sauce.<br />
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Explaining why you like a certain pipe tobacco is as hard as explaining why you prefer redheads over, well, everybody else. For me, Fusilier's Ration just hits all the high points that make for the perfect smoke -- the ritual of preparing the kake tobacco, the slow smoldering burn, the richly complex yet satisfying taste, and even the sweetly scented wisps of smoke. When I picture pipe smoking in my mind's eye this is exactly the type of blend that I imagine myself smoking. No higher compliment can be paid.<br />
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I may never get a chance to try the Celebrated Bengal Slices but at this point I can't say I much care. As long as my cellar is stocked with Fusilier's Ration and Russ continues churning out one excellent blend after another then I will happily enjoy the bounty available today rather than pining after those long-lost classics. As the tin states; "Fusilier's Ration -- Pipe Tobacco" full-stop.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-58280469089409193192012-10-09T14:49:00.001-07:002012-10-09T14:49:53.706-07:00Gallaher -- Condor Ready Rubbed<!-- Pipe -->
<B>Brand:</B> Gallaher <BR>
<B>Blend:</B> Condor Ready Rubbed<BR>
<B>Style:</B> Lakeland<BR>
<B>Pipe Used:</B> Cob<BR>
<B>Price:</B> Acquired via Trade<BR>
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<B>Appearance:</B> 8<BR>
<B>Taste:</B> 6<BR>
<B>Room Note:</B> 6<BR>
<B>Value:</B> NA<BR>
<B>Overall:</B> 6<BR>
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In the U.S. the popular, old-time pipe tobaccos are affectionately referred to as drugstore or over the counter (OTC) blends because way back in the hazy past when most men smoked pipes these were the blends that were available at every newsstand and corner store. If your granddad smoked a pipe then he most likely smoked one of these classics.
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The same is true for pipe smokers across the pond except that in the UK they smoked, and continue to smoke, a completely different line-up of classic blends. Most of these are no longer sold in the US so the only way to acquire them is through a fast diminishing handful of websites or tobacco trades and swaps with fellow brothers of the leaf.
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A few years back I traded for two, 50g pouches of Condor Ready Rubbed and they somehow ended up buried deep in my tobacco stash. Last week I did a much needed inventory of my cellar and at the bottom of a box I found those two emerald green pouches and decided to jar them up and finally give the blend a try.
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To my mind a Lakeland blend is a British aromatic style that uses natural floral and botanical flavorings layered on top of strong tobacco. I have had mixed results with Lakeland style blends and know that they usually ghost a pipe almost immediately upon smoking so I decided to use one of my trusty cobs instead of a briar pipe.
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Even after a few years left in the pouch the tobacco was still at a perfect smoking moisture level. The dark, reddish brown tobacco was very finely cut and felt and packed just like a classic shag cut blend.
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The pouch aroma gave immediate notice that this was a Lakeland blend as it smelled of rich, sweet tobacco and that almost cloying mixture of floral and citrus scents that are the hallmarks of this style.
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The pipe lit right up and after the first few hard puffs I was rewarded with an itchy sensation in the back of my throat. That was my first warning that this was not a blend to be hurried through.
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The flavor was initially subdued with the sweet taste of the Virginia leaf coming through. But it didn't take long for the Lakeland essence to make its presence known and soon enough all I could taste was potpourri. I tried slowing my smoking cadence down a bit and that did help to temper it somewhat as I began to taste a faint coffee and liquor presence instead.
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As if wrestling with the gamut of flavors wasn't enough, Condor Ready Rubbed is also a strong tobacco and all the puffing and fussing soon had me feeling the effects of the nicotine. The blend is like a brute in a fancy suit with a flower in his lapel -- as you lean forward to sniff the blossom he lands a right hook to your jaw.
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The room aroma was also overpowering and the smell of potpourri and incense hung in the room for hours much to my chagrin.
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Condor Ready Rubbed is a classic UK pipe tobacco that falls firmly in the love it or hate it category. While I appreciated it on some levels I find that I just can't get around that classic Lakeland essence. I've always been sensitive to perfumes and such so this is clearly never going to be my style of tobacco. That being said, it did burn quite nicely and packed a real punch so I can see how it has stuck around for so long. I'm glad I had a chance to try the stuff but I think I'll be passing the remainder on to the next pipe smoker who wants to give it a whirl.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-80292902374153608572012-08-22T09:41:00.000-07:002012-08-22T09:41:28.001-07:00Cornell & Diehl -- Star of the East<!-- Pipe -->
<b>Brand:</b> Cornell & Diehl<br />
<b>Blend:</b> Star of the East<br />
<b>Style:</b> Balkan<br />
<b>Pipes Used:</b> Cob & Briar<br />
<b>Price:</b> $10.40/4oz.<br />
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<b>Appearance:</b> 8<br />
<b>Taste:</b> 8<br />
<b>Room Note:</b> 8<br />
V<b>alue:</b> 9<br />
<b>Overall:</b> 8<br />
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I've spent much of the past year revisiting old blends and therefore haven't opened a new tin in quite some time. As part of that process I've been smoking many English and Balkan style tobaccos and have found that I really enjoy those with a healthy amount of Oriental leaf. So in my most recent tobacco order I decided to try some of Cornell & Diehl's Star of the East as it is often cited as packing a lot of Turkish punch.<br />
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The tobacco was a ribbon-cut mixture of black, tan, and dark brown leaf. The aroma in the pouch was very much Latakia-forward and reminded me of <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/07/peter-stokkebye-balkan-supreme.html">Balkan Supreme</a>, my current favorite Balkan blend.
Upon lighting up I was immediately surrounded with a cloud of thick white smoke that remained until the final embers in the pipe died down to ash. Since the blend is advertised as containing 50% Latakia I was fully prepared for a somewhat funky smell but was surprised to find that the Orientals really took charge and brought a pleasant incense-like aroma.<br />
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The Latakia was also somewhat subdued in the flavor department and lent a creamy, piney taste rather than the expected leather and oil profile. Mixed with the Turkish leaf this lent the blend a light flavor with hints of jasmine tea. The Red Virgina came on about halfway through the bowl and brought some very welcome nutty sweetness to cut the spice a bit. The smoke finally wound down with an almost astringent aftertaste that left my palate feeling nice and refreshed -- not typical behavior for a so-called Latakia-bomb.<br />
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Everything from the aroma to the flavor and even the burn characteristics reminded me of the aforementioned Balkan Supreme but this blend was less forceful and much more subtle. If you're looking for a true Latakia-bomb stick with <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/12/cornell-diehl-pirate-kake.html">Pirate Kake</a> or <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/10/charles-fairmorn-lancers-slices.html">Lancer's Slices</a> but if you're searching for a pleasant Oriental blend then Cornell & Diehl's Star of the East fits the bill perfectly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-88933688787476316232012-03-05T01:00:00.000-08:002012-03-05T01:00:10.384-08:00Pulaski DayBeing new to Illinois I had no idea that there was an official state holiday to commemorate the great Polish cavalry hero of the American Revolution, Casimir Pulaski. Since <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/06/altadis-count-pulaski.html">Count Pulaski</a> is one of my favorite pipe tobacco blends you better believe I'll be loading up a bowl to celebrate the life and accomplishments of this truly unique hero.
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/General_Casimir_Pulaski_by_Kasimir_Chodzinski_%281910%29_%28Control_DC000039%29.jpg/220px-General_Casimir_Pulaski_by_Kasimir_Chodzinski_%281910%29_%28Control_DC000039%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="293" width="220" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/General_Casimir_Pulaski_by_Kasimir_Chodzinski_%281910%29_%28Control_DC000039%29.jpg/220px-General_Casimir_Pulaski_by_Kasimir_Chodzinski_%281910%29_%28Control_DC000039%29.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-90553900482423305272012-02-29T14:13:00.002-08:002012-02-29T14:13:30.604-08:00How the Time Does FlyI can't believe it's been 8 months since my last post/review. A very unexpected cross-country move certainly put a big dent in my time and access to my pipes and tobaccos but the real reason for my neglect of this blog is that I've been revisiting and enjoying some of my favorite blends as of late so I haven't popped open a new tin in quite some time hence there's been nothing to review. I'm thinking of posting some snuff reviews on the site as that should give me something to write about.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-74329923886640773112011-06-26T15:41:00.000-07:002011-06-26T15:41:04.345-07:00Hearth & Home -- Louisiana Red<!-- Pipe --><br />
<B>Brand:</B> Hearth & Home<br />
<B>Blend:</B> Louisiana Red<br />
<B>Style:</B> Virginia/Perique<br />
<B>Pipe Used:</B> No-Name Apple<br />
<B>Price:</B> Free Sample<br />
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<B>Appearance:</B> 8<br />
<B>Taste:</B> 8<br />
<B>Room Note:</B> 8<br />
<B>Value:</B> 9<br />
<B>Overall:</B> 8<br />
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While most tobacconists offer their own proprietary house blends, rare is the shop that develops such a wide array of quality pipe tobaccos that they're able to mix, tin, and distribute them for sale by their own competitors. Such is the case with the Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe -- better known to Internet connoisseurs by their web address <a href="http://store.pipesandcigars.com/index.html">pipesandcigars.com</a>.<br />
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I've enjoyed many of their blends over the years and since they seem to keep devising innovative pipe tobaccos I guess I'll never run out of new things to try. I've been sitting on a sample of their Louisiana Red for a while now and finally got around to giving it a whirl.<br />
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Hearth & Home's Louisiana Red is a Virginia/Perique (VAPer) blend made up of two kinds of Red Virginia leaf and a healthy dash of St. James Perique. Out of the tin/pouch it appears as a classic medium brown ribbon cut tobacco and smells sweetly of dried fruit.<br />
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I loaded up my favorite pipe, a cheap no-name apple shape, lit the tobacco and started puffing. My first response was that it tasted like McClelland's <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/04/mcclelland-5100-red-cake.html">5100 Red Cake</a> with the same mix of nutty sweetness that I love in that blend. Since both are predominantly Red Virginia blends I guess that stands to reason.<br />
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But after a few puffs the added Perique began to poke through with a rich, boozy taste of homemade fruitcake. This added some real depth to the blend but the Perique remained a sweet condiment and never added any spice or kick whatsoever. I actually enjoyed this departure from the classic VAPer flavor profile but I would certainly rank Louisiana Red as a mild blend in that genre.<br />
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Toward the bottom of the bowl a rich cigar taste and aroma briefly emerged which really brought the smoke to a stylish and satisfying end. The room aroma in general was fairly pleasant and nicely complimented the flavors.<br />
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The blend was also well behaved in the pipe and smoked cool and dry with no problems whatsoever.<br />
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Hearth & Home's Louisiana Red is a unique VAPer that provides a most enjoyable and flavorful smoke. The fact that the blend can now be purchased in tins (1.5 and 8oz.) from multiple retailers at great prices offers a nice alternative to bulk for those who don't enjoy canning up their own tobacco. LA Red is a winner from top to bottom and I certainly plan to stock some away.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-31220360826435371292011-04-14T13:12:00.000-07:002011-04-25T15:40:32.609-07:00Mac Baren -- HH Vintage Syrian<!-- Pipe --><br />
<b>Brand:</B> Mac Baren<br />
<b>Blend:</B> HH Vintage Syrian<br />
<b>Style:</B> English<br />
<b>Pipe Used:</B> No-name Apple<br />
<b>Price:</B> Free Sample<br />
<br />
<b>Appearance:</B> 8<br />
<b>Taste:</B> 9<br />
<b>Room Note:</B> 9<br />
<b>Value:</B> 9<br />
<b>Overall:</B> 9<br />
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Mac Baren is one of the world's largest producers of pipe tobacco so I was a bit surprised when I realized that I had only ever smoked three of their blends and that none had made it into my regular tobacco rotation. Perhaps that explains why I sat on this 1 oz. sample of HH Vintage Syrian for so long without ever giving it a try. While going through some loose baggies of various samples I stumbled on this one and decided on a whim to finally give it a go.<br />
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The blend was a coarse cut mixture of brown and black tobaccos and the pouch aroma was sweet and smokey like many light, or Americanized (in this case Danishized), blends. It definitely had that classic Mac Baren sweetness that many refer to as a honey-like topping.<br />
<br />
My sample had dried out a bit so I loaded the pipe bowl then gave it a few puffs of air to get the moisture level up before lighting. The pipe lit up easily and the tobacco burned at a perfect pace.<br />
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Mac Baren promotes this blend as a throw-back to simpler times when the tobacco itself was allowed to shine. Made up of the titular Syrian Latakia, Turkish Oriental, various Virginias, and a touch of Dark Kentucky this is one complex "simple" blend!<br />
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The first taste I was hit with was the high quality Latakia that was in just the right amount to offer up some smokey goodness without the skunkiness that accompanies many Latakia-heavy blends (not that I don't love that too).<br />
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The blend then gave my tongue a bit of a spicy tingle which I assume was due to the Oriental leaf. And the various Virginias provided the sweetness of dried fruit and a bit of nuttiness reminiscent of McClelland's <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/04/mcclelland-5100-red-cake.html">Red Cake</a> while the Dark Kentucky lent some cigar-like strength to the blend.<br />
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HH Vintage Syrian is one tasty and well-balanced blend and even the aftertaste was full of pleasant floral undertones.<br />
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The aroma was that classic pipe smell that we all know and love and I enjoyed smelling the stuff almost as much I did smoking it.<br />
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The blend burned down to a fine gray ash with only a few relights required and was easy on the mouth and tongue even with some slightly frenzied puffing.<br />
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Mac Baren's HH Vintage Syrian is an excellent light English blend and I can easily see myself smoking through a goodly amount of the stuff as that's one of my favorite tobacco types. Whether it truly does harken back to the blends of a century ago I have no idea but I do know that it's a perfectly balanced combination of high quality tobacco that absolutely sings in a pipe.<br />
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And if that isn't enough to recommend the stuff there's also the fact that you can acquire a 100g tin for a measly twelve bucks or an entire pound for around $37. I love great tobacco and a great bargain and this blend offers both.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-60259241003972963812011-03-25T16:12:00.000-07:002011-03-25T16:12:02.372-07:00Hearth & Home -- Lakeland Brickle<!-- Pipe --><br />
<B>Brand:</B> Hearth & Home<br />
<B>Blend:</B> Lakeland Brickle<br />
<B>Style:</B> Aromatic<br />
<B>Pipe Used:</B> Cob<br />
<B>Price:</B> Free Sample<br />
<br />
<B>Appearance:</B> 8<br />
<B>Taste:</B> 4<br />
<B>Room Note:</B> 8<br />
<B>Value:</B> 8<br />
<B>Overall:</B> 6<br />
<br />
When a tobacco is described as being a Lakeland blend it usually means that it comes from one of the famed blenders in that region of England and is imbued with that famous floral-like essence. Since the aroma and taste of this style of tobacco is so unique it tends to have a rather polarizing effect on pipe smokers.<br />
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Given the recent shortages of tobacco blends coming out of the Lakeland region, the folks at <a href="http://pipesandcigars.com/hehomalabr8b.html">Pipesandcigars.com</a> have decided to try their hand at imitating the style and the result is the brand new Hearth & Home entry, Lakeland Brickle.<br />
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Open opening my sample bag I was immediately hit with the overwhelming aroma of potpourri as I gazed upon a sticky mass of tobacco that looked to me like one of my favorite trail snacks, the inimitable Clif Bar. The medium brown tobacco was very moist so I broke off a chunk, rubbed it out, and set it aside to dry for a few hours. Fast forward a bit and the tobacco was still just as damp so I decided to just smoke it anyway.<br />
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Given the powerful aroma of the blend I decided to smoke it in one of trusty corncobs so as not to ghost a briar. The tobacco packed nicely and lit right up.<br />
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H&H describes Lakeland Brickle as a Virginia (mostly Red) and Burley blend infused with classic Lakeland essences such as rose and tonquin and I have to admit that each of these constituent parts made themselves readily known on the palate.<br />
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The Red Virginia is evident in the sweetness of the blend which I found to have a vegetal nature akin to a sun-ripened tomato or cucumber. The Burley provided a richness and hint of cinammon-like spice. And the added essences really took center stage with flavors running the gamut from vanilla (thanks to the tonquin-style flavoring) to rose and lavender.<br />
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To me the taste was overpowering and alternated between a tasty piece of hard candy and grandma's favorite floral soap. I've often read complaints that Lakeland blends are too soapy and never really understood what that meant until now. Not only did it taste like soap but it also coated my tongue and throat in a way I haven't experienced since my four-year-old self called my mom the b-word and was treated to a taste of Ivory.<br />
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I'll also admit upfront that I'm sensitive to some floral scents such as eucalyptus and while I can't confirm that that particular essence is in this blend I was hit with a big headache soon after finishing the bowl. The truth is that strong Lakeland blends just aren't my cup of tea and this Brickle is one powerful tobacco done up in that style.<br />
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The room aroma was naturally very sweet and flowery so you're not likely to receive any complaints there and the tobacco burned nicely even with its high moisture content.<br />
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While the pipe smoking world laments how hard it is to procure many classic English-blended tobaccos, Hearth & Home has stepped up to the plate and attempted to emulate the famous Lakeland blends as a service to their customers. Lakeland Brickle takes its name seriously and delivers one wallop of an essence-filled blend. There's no doubting the quality of the product and I'm sure that it'll have many fans but sadly I'm just not one of them. For me the added flavorings are just too cloying and strong and overwhelm the natural tobacco taste.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-27333159207476244362011-02-11T16:32:00.000-08:002011-02-11T16:32:00.054-08:00G.L. Pease -- JackKnife Plug<!-- Pipe --><br />
<b>Brand:</B> G.L Pease<br />
<b>Blend:</B> JackKnife Plug<br />
<b>Style:</B> VA<br />
<b>Pipe Used:</B> No-Name Apple<br />
<b>Price:</B> $10.85/2oz.<br />
<br />
<b>Appearance:</B> 10<br />
<b>Taste:</B> 9<br />
<b>Room Note:</B> 8<br />
<b>Value:</B> 8<br />
<b>Overall:</B> 9<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lGhEEMcO0c/TVXEt5385AI/AAAAAAAABlc/xpi-C_WRPxE/s1600/Cimg3972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lGhEEMcO0c/TVXEt5385AI/AAAAAAAABlc/xpi-C_WRPxE/s320/Cimg3972.jpg" /></a></div><br />
JackKnife Plug is the inaugural entry in Greg Pease's latest endeavor, the New World Collection. This new line of tobacco by the master blender will feature nothing but New World (American) leaf which is fitting given that tobacco was first grown, smoked, and enjoyed on these shores. As a big G.L. Pease fan I eagerly awaited the initial release of this blend and joined in the feeding frenzy that ensued when those lovely tins finally landed on store shelves.<br />
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When I popped open the tin I was greeted with a solid little plug, or cake, of tobacco that was dark brown in hue and smelled of rich tobacco and nothing else. The tobacco was also a bit moist which isn't surprising given how recently it was tinned.<br />
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I appreciate the rich history of tobacco and pipe smoking so I've always had a thing for traditional plugs, ropes, and twists. The added ritual involved in preparing these blends for the pipe really enhances my enjoyment and allows me to indulge in another one of my hobbies, knife collecting, because as everyone knows you must always have the proper tool for the job at hand.<br />
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To prepare the plug I turned to my Case Sway Back Gent with a razor-sharp wharncliffe blade and proceeded to shave off a few thin flakes. I then balled these up and rubbed them between my palms allowing a pile of fine shag to collect in the dish below. After a few hours of drying the pipe was loaded and the tobacco lit.<br />
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JackKnife Plug is advertised as containing dark-fired Kentucky, red Virginia, and golden flue-cured tobaccos and while I'm not sure what all that means I tend to associate Kentucky with dark, flavorful Burley and golden flue-cured tobacco with yellow Virginias. The red leaf of course speaks for itself. And far be it from me to attempt to assign flavors to any particular leaf as tobacco blending is as much alchemy and art as it is science.<br />
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My first taste of the blend featured a subtle metallic and mineral tang that I often find with maduro-wrapped cigars. This soon evolved into a savory, hearty, and slightly spicy flavor akin to roast beef on rye bread. At this point my eagerness took over and I began smoking a bit too fast which resulted in a tickle at the back of my throat to warn me to slow it down.<br />
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Halfway through the bowl the blend had mellowed in a subtly-sweet state that reminded me both of fresh-cut hay and roasted acorn squash. At this point I thought I had this blend figured out when, Bam!, a strong taste of vanilla and caramel emerged which was very similar to the flavor of <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/02/hearth-home-classic-burley-kake.html">Classic Burley Kake</a>. I was not expecting such overt sweetness but it made for a welcome counterpoint to the blend's otherwise dense flavor profile.<br />
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After a few minutes of sugary bliss the mineral taste returned and the bowl soon finished up right back where it had started. What a wild and at times unexpected ride it was!<br />
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JackKnife Plug is a rich, heavy, and sweet blend more like a traditional English holiday pudding than an extravagant dessert. It also delivered a real roundhouse kick of nicotine even though I had purposely waited to smoke it until after eating.<br />
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The room aroma followed along the same lines as the flavor profile and offered up a strong but pleasant aroma of burning leaves and smoldering grasses.<br />
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The blend also burned slow and cool and required no fiddling save for a bit of tamping and a single relight at the very end so as not to miss out on any of the fine tobacco.<br />
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G.L. Pease's JackKnife Plug is an amazing tobacco blend that's full of intense and varied flavors and even after smoking half a tin I've only just begun to uncover its mysteries. Since the plug can be prepared in a myriad of different ways (folded flake, krumble kake, shag, cube cut, etc.) it always smokes and tastes a little different each time. And I can hardly wait to see how well this blend ages as it has all the hallmarks of a cellar classic.<br />
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So pop open a tin, strop your favorite blade to a keen edge, and have at it knowing that you're following in the footsteps of the smokers and sailors of old. JackKnife Plug is a real contradiction in terms -- a brand-new vintage tobacco -- and is pure pleasure in the pipe.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-80563304683714213872011-01-13T16:06:00.000-08:002011-01-13T16:06:15.811-08:00Mac Baren -- 7 Seas Regular Blend<!-- Pipe --><br />
<B>Brand:</B> Mac Baren<br />
<B>Blend:</B> 7 Seas Regular Blend<br />
<B>Style:</B> Aromatic<br />
<B>Pipe Used:</B> Savinelli #313 Natural Prince<br />
<B>Price:</B> Free Sample<br />
<br />
<B>Appearance:</B> 7<br />
<B>Taste:</B> 6<br />
<B>Room Note:</B> 8<br />
<B>Value:</B> 8 (based on list price)<br />
<B>Overall:</B> 7<br />
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Mac Baren recently launched their new 7 Seas series of aromatic pipe tobacco and everything from the blend names (Regular, Royal and Gold) to the nautical theme and pouch aroma are reminiscent of Captain Black. While many pipe smokers look down their noses at such drugstore fare these old-school blends still make up the vast majority of pipe tobacco sold so they must have something going for them. And if Mac Baren has decided to make a none-too-subtle attempt to update such a classic then who am I to argue?<br />
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I received a few pouches of the Regular blend with some of my recent tobacco orders and decided to give the stuff a try. The tobacco was a dark, almost black, cross-cut mixture that was a bit moist and smelled of vanilla and hints of cocoa.<br />
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I loaded up my trusty aromatic pipe, gave it a light, and began happily puffing away. The tobacco lit right up and burned down about two thirds of the way before a single relight was required.<br />
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Mac Baren's 7 Seas Regular tasted very similar to Captain Black White in that the tobacco was lightly flavorful and the vanilla was quite noticeable. But whereas Captain Black has always had a nasty burnt plastic aftertaste to me this stuff was much more refined and smooth. It was still a fairly weak tasting blend but at least it was pleasant.<br />
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The room aroma was quite nice which is a feature touted right on the pouch as it aims to be as non-offensive a tobacco as possible.<br />
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The blend also burned nicely and caused no tongue bite which made for a leisurely 30 minute smoke and before I knew it all that was left in the bowl was a bit of ash and dottle and none of the goop that so often comes along with typical drugstore aromatics.<br />
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Mac Baren's 7 Seas Regular is a nice enough update to an old classic and can be had at a very reasonable price. I liked it well enough but there are just too many better aromatic blends out there to make this a regular smoke for me. But I do have to say that I'm intrigued enough that I just might sample the other two blends in the series to see what they have to offer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-28254953244869142082010-12-03T14:38:00.000-08:002010-12-04T10:21:34.134-08:00Cornell & Diehl -- Pirate Kake<!-- Pipe --><br />
<b>Brand:</B> Cornell & Diehl<br />
<b>Blend:</B> Pirate Kake<br />
<b>Style:</B> English<br />
<b>Pipe Used:</B> No-Name Apple<br />
<b>Price:</B> $27.60/16oz.<br />
<br />
<b>Appearance:</B> 9<br />
<b>Taste:</B> 9<br />
<b>Room Note:</B> 7<br />
<b>Value:</B> 10<br />
<b>Overall:</B> 9<br />
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Recently I ordered a pound of Cornell & Diehl's Pirate Kake purely on a whim. I had never so much as tried the blend before but at such a low price I decided I might as well get an entire brick of the stuff and hope for the best.<br />
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The tobacco arrived as one large pressed kake sealed in plastic and was dated just four days prior to when my order was placed so this was one young blend to be sure. The kake was soft and pliable and a tad on the moist side and was composed of jet black tobacco with a few brown flecks mixed in. The aroma reminded me of a campfire log that had burned to coals overnight and been dampened by the morning dew. To many folks that is not a pleasant smell but to me it's pure bliss which probably explains why I'm such a fan of these strong latakia blends.<br />
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To give it a try I broke off a nugget of the kake, dropped it into my pipe, and sprinkled a bit of rubbed out tobacco on top to act as tinder. The stuff lit right up and once that piece of kake got a nice ember going it refused to go out. I never had to relight the pipe and only tamped it a bit more out of habit than necessity. The pipe was even left on the workbench for minutes at a time while I changed the wiper blades on my car and still it wouldn't stop smoldering. At the end there was only ash and a wee bit of soggy tobacco leftover which isn't bad considering how damp the blend was to start with.<br />
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So it burned perfectly which counts for something but how did it taste? C&D defines Pirate Kake as a blend with lots of Latakia accompanied by Turkish and Cavendish cut Burley so the dominant flavor, not surprisingly, is the Latakia which reminded me of the leaf that's used in <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/06/altadis-count-pulaski.html">Count Pulaski</a>. Since that ranks as one of my favorite tobaccos I knew I was in for a treat.<br />
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Taste and smell go hand in hand and I can't fully describe one without the other so when I say that this blend reminded me of a well-oiled baseball glove or the seats in a vintage roadster I'm not implying that I've tasted either one but when I smoke this blend those are the images that come to my mind.<br />
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I could happily puff all day long on a pipe that offered nothing more than that but with this blend there's the addition of the Turkish and Burley tobaccos to consider. The Oriental leaf added a nice, underlying hint of spice and a bit of robust cigar flavor to the blend while the stoved Burley brought a nutty richness that kept the flavors nicely balanced.<br />
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The room aroma was about what once would expect from a heavy Latakia blend. I enjoyed it immensely but I'm not daft enough to think anyone else would so for me this is a blend best enjoyed in solitary comfort where a man can revel in the smell of burning gym socks if he so chooses.<br />
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It was a risky move buying a full pound of this stuff on a whim but in this day and age it's often best to get while the gettin's good and in this instance the bet paid off handsomely indeed. With excellent flavor and perfect burning characteristics, Pirate Kake stands as my favorite Cornell & Diehl blend to date. It's certainly not a tobacco for everybody but is highly recommended for all Latakia fans and those with fond memories of standing out in center field chewing the leather laces off their mitts. OK, I admit it, I have tasted a baseball glove before so sue me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-55025910478921559322010-09-23T14:14:00.000-07:002010-09-23T14:14:55.199-07:00Cornell & Diehl -- Bayou Morning<!-- Pipe --><br />
<B>Brand:</B> Cornell & Diehl<br />
<B>Blend:</B> Bayou Morning<br />
<B>Style:</B> Virginia/Perique<br />
<B>Pipe Used:</B> Savinelli #313 Prince<br />
<B>Price:</B> $18.59/8 oz.<br />
<br />
<B>Appearance:</B> 8<br />
<B>Taste:</B> 8<br />
<B>Room Note:</B> 7<br />
<B>Value:</B> 10<br />
<B>Overall:</B> 8<br />
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Cornell & Diehl's Bayou Morning is one of their many VA/Per offerings that can be had at a ridiculously low price in bulk form so I decided to try some out with my latest tobacco order. The blend is a ribbon-cut mixture of medium to dark brown tobacco with streaks of black Perique. The aroma is that of tangy sweet Virginia leaf with hints of cocoa and black pepper.<br />
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Once my pipe was loaded I gave it a charring light, tamped, and then gave it a relight whereupon I was immediately met with a very strong spicy taste which forcefully announced the presence of the Perique. This almost overwhelming jolt of flavor lasted until the first embers began to smolder and the flames from the initial light dampened a bit. Whew, I thought I was in trouble for a while there!<br />
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After that first smack across the face the blend then began to blossom and the sweet Virginia flavors emerged to temper the Perique a bit. But at no point did that spicy leaf ever fade into the background and any heavy-handed puffing soon brought it back to the fore with a vengeance.<br />
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The hint of bittersweet chocolate that was evident in the pouch aroma also played out upon the palate and offered up the perfect contrast to the zesty Perique. This combination of spiciness and sweetness put me in mind of such Latin fare as mole sauce or even the fresh melon sprinkled with hot chili powder found at many a roadside stand.<br />
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Bayou Morning provided that classic VA/Per flavor profile but it teetered right on the edge of being a flat-out spice-bomb. That's not a knock against the blend but it certainly does make it stand out among its peers.<br />
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The room aroma was fairly pleasant but the mustiness from the strong Perique presence provided a bit too much funk to the smoke to be truly enjoyable.<br />
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The blend was well-behaved in the pipe and only required a few relights. As mentioned, fast smoking is a no-no with this one unless you typically order your Thai food at level 5.<br />
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Cornell & Diehl's Bayou Morning is one VA/Per that isn't afraid to fly its Perique flag high and proud. It's far and away the spiciest blend I've yet had and provides more flavor in one small bowl than should be legal. At C&D's typically insane low price this is a blend well worth stocking up on and I can't wait to see what a few years will do to meld and temper the extreme flavors a bit.<br />
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If I wasn't already slavishly devoted to <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/06/gl-pease-haddos-delight.html">Haddo's Delight</a> as my morning with coffee blend then Bayou Morning would be a prime candidate to take its place. I guess the name really does fit the blend in this case.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-79806017948015708792010-09-22T10:16:00.000-07:002010-09-22T10:38:19.034-07:00Cornell & Diehl -- Three Friars<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> Cornell & Diehl<br /><B>Blend:</B> Three Friars<br /><B>Style:</B> Virginia, Burley & Perique<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> 1/8 Bent Acorn<br /><B>Price:</B> $18.59/8oz.<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 9<br /><B>Taste:</B> 9<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 8<br /><B>Value:</B> 10<br /><B>Overall:</B> 9<br /><br />Cornell & Diehl's Three Friars is advertised as a light VA/Per with Burley and I decided to add some to a recent tobacco order. The blend is a light brown ribbon-cut with sparse flecks of black Perique sprinkled throughout. The aroma is lightly sweet and sour with a hint of raisins and the tobacco arrived at the perfect moisture level for immediate smoking.<br /><br />Upon lighting my no-name acorn I immediately tasted the nutty, tart sweetness typical of quality Burley and Virginia and this was to remain the dominant taste throughout the smoke. The Perique added a nice bit of zesty spice and mustiness but was very much in the background. Three was also a very faint hint of citrus that nicely offset the spiciness. If I had to sum up Three Friars in a few words I would say it's like a top-shelf <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/07/john-middleton-carter-hall.html">Carter Hall</a> with pizazz.<br /><br />The room aroma was fairly benign even though the blend produced lots of smoke.<br /><br />The tobacco burned clean and dry right down to the bottom of the bowl with only a few relights. There was a noticeable nicotine kick but nothing too overpowering.<br /><br />C&D's Three Friars is a fine tobacco but I would classify it as a Burley blend rather than a VA/Per since the Perique was so subdued. Considered as a Burley it certainly shines and features much higher quality tobaccos than what is found in most OTC blends. And the crazy part is that it is even cheaper than those classic drugstore tubs. Three Friars might not break into my VA/Per rotation but it will certainly kick those lesser Burley blends to the curb.<br /><br />The combination of light taste, stellar burn characteristics, and low price make Three Friars one of those much sought after all-day smokes and on that front it comes very highly recommended.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-17878419458807274362010-08-10T17:05:00.000-07:002010-08-10T19:41:24.762-07:00Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. -- Sweet Rum Twist<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> Gawith, Hoggarth & Co.<br /><B>Blend:</B> Sweet Rum Twist<br /><B>Style:</B> Twist<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> No-name Apple<br /><B>Price:</B> $6.89/1oz.<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 9<br /><B>Taste:</B> 8<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 6<br /><B>Value:</B> 6<br /><B>Overall:</B> 7<br /><br />When you embark upon the hobby that is pipe smoking it's with the understanding that you're venturing into a world rich in history. And nothing harkens back to the days of old quite like classic rope or twist tobacco. This is the stuff that was chewed, snuffed, and smoked before the days of our relatively modern tobacco mixtures and flakes.<br /><br />I've always been intrigued by the gnarly looking ropes of tobacco featured on many a tobacconist's shelves -- virtual or otherwise -- but was scared off by the notoriously strong flavor and high nicotine content typically found in this style of tobacco. But in my latest order I finally worked up the courage to add in a sample of Gawith, Hoggarth & Co.'s Sweet Rum Twist.<br /><br />When the tobacco arrived I was greeted with about a seven inch long tobacco rope (thanks for the generous extra amount smokingpipes.com!) that was fairly moist and had that rich tobacco aroma I typically find in my cigar humidors -- what a great scent! I sliced off three thin coins of the stuff, rubbed it out into ribbon form, and then set it aside to dry overnight.<br /><br />When I went to load up my no-name apple-shaped pipe this afternoon the tobacco was still a bit moist but I still forged ahead. It took a few extra charring lights to get it going but soon I had a lit pipe and an insanely great volume of deep, rich tobacco smoke swirling about my head.<br /><br />Sweet Rum Twist is supposedly made up of full-leaf Virginia tobacco that's topped with a sugar and rum mixture before being twisted into ropes and cold-pressed. So what you have here is a pipe tobacco blend that is created in much the same way as a rudimentary cigar so perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that the flavors reminded me very much of a good cigar while at the same time tasting nothing like a cigar -- if that makes any sense.<br /><br />The taste was very full and strong but still pleasant with the natural Virginia sweetness combining with the added sugars to bring out a robust flavor similar to a mild cigar but without the complexity that comes with the addition of the wrapper and binder leaves. And the faint presence of rum also reminded my palate of Esoterica's <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/01/esoterica-stonehaven.html">Stonehaven</a> to some extent although the Rum Twist was much stronger.<br /><br />Make no mistake, this blend is very heavy as the lack of stoving or heat-treating of any kind makes for a very raw and powerful tobacco flavor and punch.<br /><br />As mentioned, this blend produced scads of smoke and it was pretty heady stuff as well so it isn't likely to win any prizes in the room note department.<br /><br />Since the tobacco was moist I had to relight the pipe frequently but that actually helped in a way by causing me to slow down and not smoke as fast as I usually do which is probably why I encountered no ill effects from the heavy nicotine content. Since I tend to be very sensitive to the vitamin N this is probably the smoking cadence I'll stick to with this blend.<br /><br />Gawith, Hoggarth & Co.'s Sweet Rum Twist is true tobacco classic and I'm glad I finally worked up the nerve to give it a try. What I found was a strong tobacco loaded with heavy flavors and lots of smoke that should be smoked slowly and savored while the mind harkens back to the time of tall ships and tobacco-loving sailors.<br /><br />This certainly won't become a part of my regular rotation but as an occasional treat Sweet Rum Twist fits in nicely between typical pipe blends and cigars on the tobacco strength continuum.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-60233345299289793812010-07-11T15:22:00.000-07:002010-07-11T15:42:14.082-07:00Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial<!-- Cigar --><br /><B>Brand:</B> Oliva<br /><B>Cigar:</B> Serie V Maduro Especial<br /><B>Shape:</B> Torpedo<br /><B>Size:</B> 6.5" x 52<br /><B>Wrapper:</B> Connecticut<br /><B>Filler:</B> Nicaraguan<br /><B>Binder:</B> Nicaraguan<br /><B>Price:</B> $11.99<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 8<br /><B>Construction:</B> 8<br /><B>Taste:</B> 8<br /><B>Value:</B> 7<br /><B>Overall:</B> 8<br /><br />While most of my smoking these days has focused on pipes I still have a hankering for a cigar from time to time and with a fridgador full of singles there's always something new to try. I'm a big fan of Oliva cigars and decided to fire up a limited production Serie V maduro torpedo this afternoon.<br /><br />The torpedo is 6.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 52 and features a dark brown maduro wrapper. Construction was perfect with a nice tight wrapper and well-rolled tobacco evident from examining the foot of the cigar.<br /><br />I snipped the tip off with my Palio cutter, toasted the foot, and started smoking.<br /><br />The flavor of this cigar was very complex while still remaining mild to medium on the palate. The predominant flavor was cedar-like and it took me a few minutes to realize that what I was tasting was more akin to smoldering mesquite chips on a BBQ grill. There was a bit of spice as well but the maduro wrapper tempered it with creamy unsweetened cocoa and coffee flavors. As the smoke progressed these savory elements really took hold and made for an enjoyable cigar experience.<br /><br />The Serie V torpedo burned well and required only a few touch ups to keep the burn line even. Smoke output was fairly subdued and non-obtrusive for such a large cigar and the nicotine hit was fairly strong. The cigar lasted for well over an hour until all that was left was a pile of rough gray ash.<br /><br />The Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial is a great cigar featuring the Oliva family's standard fine attention to detail. As a limited edition it is pricier than their typical offerings but is well worth the added investment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-82004500615786375262010-07-09T16:30:00.000-07:002010-07-09T17:02:13.298-07:00McClelland -- Beacon<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> McClelland<br /><B>Blend:</B> Beacon<br /><B>Style:</B> Virginia/Perique<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> Cob<br /><B>Price:</B> Free Sample<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 8<br /><B>Taste:</B> 9<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 8<br /><B>Value:</B> 8<br /><B>Overall:</B> 8<br /><br />McClelland's Beacon is a blend that was originally part of the Pipe Collectors Club of America (PCCA) line of tobaccos. Since it has always been blended and tinned by McClelland it's likely that the newer batches follow the same formula as the older incarnation. Since I've only ever smoked the newer stuff that's what this review will cover.<br /><br />Beacon is a Virginia/Perique blend made up of lemon yellow and orange Virginia leaf combined with a touch of Louisiana Perique. The tobacco arrives in a broken flake and is medium brown in color with obvious flecks of those bright Virginias peeking through. The tin aroma is slightly sweet and full of that classic McClelland tang.<br /><br />The sample I was given dates from 2007 but was obviously well cared for as the flakes were still pliable and a bit moist. To get started I grabbed a pinch of the broken flakes and stuffed them into my Missouri Pride natural cob. It took a few charring lights to really get things going but after that the blend burned nicely even with a heavy dose of ambient humidity.<br /><br />Beacon started off with a light, sugary taste that had none of the heavier molasses overtones often found in darker VA flakes. The lemon and orange Virginias lived up to their names and delivered a delightfully astringent citrus zing that reminded me a bit of kaffir lime leaves. And rounding out the flavor profile was just enough Perique to add some much-needed depth and a jolt of pepper to the mix. To my taste buds this was essentially Thai lemongrass soup in a pipe and provided a perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and spicy.<br /><br />The room aroma was fairly light as well but there was a bit of mustiness evident from the Perique and the tobacco gave off a constant wisp of smoke as it smoldered in the pipe.<br /><br />I'm a bit of a fast smoker but had no problems with tongue bite as the blend burned down to the bottom of the bowl leaving nothing but dry ash. I did have to relight the pipe regularly but that's the norm for me and flakes.<br /><br />As a big fan of VA/Pers I had been looking forward to giving this well-regarded McClelland creation a try for quite some time and all I can say is that I was not disappointed. Beacon's bright Virginias added a lighter dimension than is typical for this genre and it proved to be the perfect smoke for a hot summer night. This is a truly remarkable blend and I fully intend to add some more tins to my tobacco cellar post haste.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-18374635798929067752010-06-15T09:59:00.000-07:002010-06-15T11:05:07.174-07:00G.L. Pease -- Haddo's Delight<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> G.L. Pease<br /><B>Blend:</B> Haddo's Delight<br /><B>Style:</B> Virginia/Perique<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> Mario Grandi Poker<br /><B>Price:</B> Free Sample<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 8<br /><B>Taste:</B> 9<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 7<br /><B>Value:</B> 7<br /><B>Overall:</B> 8<br /><br />Haddo's Delight is a blend I've heard much about and which was on my "to try" list for a long while before a tobacco trade finally netted me a nice sample. There is a lengthy and ongoing online argument over whether or not this tobacco should be classified as a Virginia/Perique blend since it also contains Burley and a quite obvious topping of some sort. For me the proof is in the pudding and ancillary flavors aside this one sure tastes like a stout VA/Per to me.<br /><br />One thing I've always appreciated about Greg Pease's blends is that he takes the naming of his fine creations seriously and a cursory investigation of this particular concoction reveals some very interesting tidbits that portend what a pipeful of this weed has in store for the smoker.<br /><br />Aleister Crowley was an infamous English occultist of the early 20th century and among his many passions was a love for smoking straight Perique tobacco. Even the most ardent fans of this unique leaf would be hard-pressed to stomach such a full-on onslaught of this typically condimental tobacco.<br /><br />Oliver Haddo was a character featured in W. Somerset Maugham's novel "The Magician" and was loosely based on the occultist. Crowley was none too pleased with this skewering of his character and later adopted the Oliver Haddo nom de plume to write a scathing rebuttal in which he pointed out Maugham's plagiaristic tendencies.<br /><br />So from this bit of literary history one can assume that a tobacco named Haddo's Delight will likely be a Perique-laden blend filled with a cutting sharpness.<br /><br />The tobacco itself is a Virgina/Perique blend with some added Cavendish and Burley to flesh out the flavors. The tobacco is a mixture of ribbon and cross-cut tobaccos that span the range from almost white to jet black in color. The tin aroma is lusciously sweet and smells to me like rum raisin. And here we run into yet another controversy regarding Haddo's Delight, namely does it feature a topping of some sort or not. While many claim that the aroma is due strictly to the melange of tobaccos my nose detects alcohol, namely dark rum, so until proven wrong I'm convinced that there is in fact a liquor topping used here and I have absolutely no problem with that.<br /><br />Over the past few days I've tried this tobacco in cobs as well as my dedicated Va/Per pipe, a stubby Mario Grandi poker shape. The tobacco loaded easily, lit right up, and was a snap to smoke as it burned well and required no fussing to keep the pipe going.<br /><br />Haddo's Delight provided a wonderful flavor range as the various types of tobacco made their presences known on the palate. The dominant tastes were sweet, savory, and meaty, akin almost to the umami flavor of Japanese teriyaki. This was accompanied by a spicy tingle and rounded out with a delightful caramelized sugar aftertaste. It was a bit less sweet than most Va/Pers but certainly spicier.<br /><br />Perique is a peculiar tobacco that can be both spicy and savory depending on its use and in this blend we get the best of both attributes as it adds a background hint of Szechuan mushrooms to the mix. Some folks find even the smallest dose of Perique intolerable and while I love the stuff I can readily tell it's present in a blend as I get a tingling sensation on my lips and face while smoking. In Haddo's Delight the Perique is a force to be reckoned with as I was hit with not only that pleasant prickling sensation but also a bit of numbness as well. For those who can't abide this leaf you should stay far away from this blend!<br /><br />The pipe aroma was both sharp and sweet and the voluminous clouds of smoke made for a pungent smell in the room.<br /><br />As mentioned, the blend burned well and left nothing but a very fine gray ash in the bowl. The ash was so fine in fact that even the slightest bit of puffing back into the pipe resulted in a mini eruption of ash onto my shirt.<br /><br />Haddo's Delight is yet another masterpiece from G.L. Pease. And while its very forceful nature won't appeal to every pipe smoker I found it to be a perfect morning blend as it goes great with a cup of coffee and provides enough zest to help get my day started. Whether Aleister Crowley would approve is another matter entirely but I dare say that he wouldn't feel compelled to adopt his Oliver Haddo persona in order to take Mr. Pease to task.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-62238561948551961212010-06-10T15:49:00.000-07:002010-06-10T16:25:07.483-07:00McClelland -- Christmas Cheer 2007<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> McClelland<br /><B>Blend:</B> Christmas Cheer 2007<br /><B>Style:</B> Virginia<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> Amalfi #313<br /><B>Price:</B> Free Sample<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 8<br /><B>Taste:</B> 8<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 8<br /><B>Value:</B> 8<br /><B>Overall:</B> 8<br /><br />As winter approaches I always seek out a tin of the new Christmas Cheer to add to my cellar. Since I've been planning to age each tin for at least five years I hadn't actually had a chance to try any of this blend's various incarnations until a friendly trade landed a sample of the 2007 vintage in my lap.<br /><br />Christmas Cheer 2007 is described as a zesty Red Virginia culled from the 2001 crop and then pressed into flakes. I've always treated single-crop blends like fine wines and put them aside for further aging before smoking. I'm a sucker for holiday themed pipe tobacco and love good quality Virginia flakes so I was very eager to finally put some of this stuff to the match.<br /><br />The tobacco was a dark brown broken flake and had that funky aroma unique to McClelland's Virginia blends. Often referred to as a ketchup, or vinegar-like smell, I've always equated it with the sweet smell of fermentation and never minded its presence in other blends. But the Christmas Cheer 2007 really had it in spades and smelled more like sauerkraut mixed with ginger snaps than pipe tobacco.<br /><br />Since this is a broken flake I used the sticks method to load my pipe. First I gathered up a pinch of the tobacco in my fingers, oriented it so most of the bunch was pointing in the same direction like a bundle of sticks, pushed it down into my pipe, and then used my fingers to pinch off the excess from the top of the bowl. The trick with this method is to get a good burn going then put that tamper away lest you muck things up.<br /><br />The first few puffs gave off that sweet hay-like flavor often found in light Virginias and once I got the pipe going I slowed way down as gentle sipping typically brings out the best in VA blends. Well in this case slow smoking only seemed to bring that tangy tartness hinted at by the strong tin aroma to the fore and that is not a flavor profile I seek out while enjoying Virginias. The taste was akin to that of a soured pipe and that is just not tasty at all.<br /><br />But once I picked up the pace and started puffing like a chimney the blend went right back to being tasty and sweet with hints of citrus. Odd behavior to be sure and I'm still not sure what to make of it. And since a heavy hand was required I was glad that I was smoking a thick-walled pipe otherwise it surely would have gotten too hot.<br /><br />The aroma was fairly decent and for all the moaning about the strong fermented tin aroma and tobacco taste none of those sour notes appeared in the room note -- thankfully.<br /><br />Flakes tend to require a bit more tending than mixtures and this one was no different. As mentioned, I avoided tamping and just stuck to occasional relights to keep the tobacco going strong. And since I seldom have problems with tongue bite I had no issues with this blend.<br /><br />After all is said and done I still don't know what to make of Christmas Cheer 2007. I'm of the camp that typically finds the McClelland "aroma" to be an indicator of well-aged and actively fermenting Virginias but in this case the smell and subsequent flavor were a bit too forceful. So I'm left with more questions than answers: will these blends mellow with age or is this the flavor I can expect to find with other vintages as well?<br /><br />Now that I know how to smoke it to get the most from this blend I intend to enjoy the rest of my 2007 sample while glancing at my other Christmas Cheers and wondering what they have in store for me down the road.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-77227738602129826152010-06-04T15:46:00.000-07:002010-06-04T16:17:17.086-07:00McCranie's -- Red Ribbon (2000)<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> McCranie's<br /><B>Blend:</B> Red Ribbon (2000)<br /><B>Style:</B> Virginia<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> Amalfi #313<br /><B>Price:</B> $8.95/1.76oz.<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 9<br /><B>Taste:</B> 9<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 8<br /><B>Value:</B> 8<br /><B>Overall:</B> 8<br /><br />McCranie's Red Ribbon is a straight Red Virginia blend sourced from a single vintage of prime North Carolina leaf, harvested in this particular case in 2000. The tin opens to reveal a ribbon-cut blend of well-aged and fermented red tobacco leaf that covers the color spectrum from very dark brown through medium red and into bright yellow. The tin aroma is magnificent with a rich sweetness backed by a hint of citrus and dried cherries.<br /><br />My tin appeared to be at the perfect moisture level so I loaded up one of my dedicated Virginia pipes and gave it a light. The tobacco took a few relights to really get going as it was a bit wetter than I at first thought.<br /><br />The Red Ribbon started off with a subtle sweet taste before hints of tangy lemon and cherry liqueur began to appear. There was also that great nuttiness I usually find with Red Virginias and the tobacco finished with a bit of a spicy kick.<br /><br />The room aroma was fairly nice but did get acrid when the pipe was smoked too hastily.<br /><br />I never have issues with tongue burn so I can't report on that front but the blend did require regular relights and left behind a bit of damp dottle. Guess it wasn't nearly as ready to smoke as I at first thought.<br /><br />McCranie's Red Ribbon (2000) is a wonderful blend and its single source origin makes it possible to compare and contrast it to previous iterations if you're lucky enough to have some of the '83 and '96 crop on hand. Full of flavor, this is a Virginia that is sure to benefit from further aging.<br /><br />Now comes the big question, how does Red Ribbon compare to its kissing cousin <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/04/mcclelland-5100-red-cake.html">McClelland's 5100 Red Cake</a>? While the McCranie's version is a vintage tin, McClelland's similar offering is available only in bulk. At first glance the Red Ribbon is darker than the 5100 due to the comparative age of the tobaccos but the cut, aroma, and smoking characteristics are all very similar.<br /><br />So how about the taste? Here we find the biggest difference as the Red Ribbon offers up a deeper, more nuanced flavor than the much brighter and spicier 5100 and at no point would I ever confuse the two. Red Ribbon is the single-malt or prime vintage to 5100's blended nature. Both are excellent but they are not one and the same. For my money I actually prefer the zestier 5100.<br /><br />And while the 5100 Red Cake can indeed be had at cheaper bulk rates, the price per tin of the Red Ribbon is on par with similar offerings and not at all excessive for such a premium product.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-20984065250817088492010-05-18T16:08:00.000-07:002010-05-18T19:20:26.216-07:00Samuel Gawith -- Full Virginia Flake<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> Samuel Gawith<br /><B>Blend:</B> Full Virginia Flake<br /><B>Style:</B> Virginia<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> Savinelli Oscar #313<br /><B>Price:</B> $31.50/16oz.<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 9<br /><B>Taste:</B> 9<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 7<br /><B>Value:</B> 10<br /><B>Overall:</B> 9<br /><br />Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake certainly qualifies as a touchstone tobacco as no discussion of straight Virginia blends will go on for too long before this one is mentioned. It may not be right at the top of everyone's list but FVF somehow always manages to crack the top ten.<br /><br />I first bought a tin of Full Virginia Flake about three years ago and since I was still fairly new to pipe smoking I had a hard time enjoying it and soon gave it away to some fellow newbies over at <a href="http://www.smokersforums.co.uk/forums.php">Smokers Forums</a>.<br /><br />Fast forward a few years and I found myself enjoying straight Virginias and ranking FVF's stablemate, <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2010/02/samuel-gawith-best-brown-flake.html">Best Brown Flake</a>, as one of my top 5 tobaccos so I figured it was high time to revisit Full Virginia Flake.<br /><br />Of course deciding to reacquaint myself with FVF was only half the battle as most pipe smokers know that Samuel Gawith blends are very hard to come by these days. Fortunately I was able to score a whole pound of it in bulk form during the most recent window of opportunity. It may sound daft to buy that much of a tobacco I once had issues with but at the paltry price of $31 per pound it's really a no-brainer as I could easily trade it away if it failed to live up to my lofty expectations.<br /><br />Recent batches from Samuel Gawith have been arriving fairly moist as the pent-up demand has allowed no time for proper aging. With that in mind I set out a few flakes to dry over the course of the day before rubbing them out and loading my pipe. I often smoke flakes folded and stuffed but given the residual moisture I figured the rubbed out mixture would burn the best.<br /><br />The thick flakes were dark brown with streaks of white, sugary goodness running lengthwise and had the rich aroma of brandied fruit. There was also a slightly piquant fragrance common to under-aged tobacco which leads me to the one big caveat for this review -- Full Virginia Flake is a blend that practically begs to be aged and the fact that I'm smoking this stuff fresh off the boat means that my review would most likely be very different were the tobacco cellared for a few years beforehand.<br /><br />While some straight Virginias have a subtle flavor that must be gently coaxed from the pipe, Full Virginia Flake came out swinging with a strong, in-your-face presence. This full-bodied blend has an astringent quality that adds a fermented, sauerkraut-like element to the subtly sweet Virginias. Whereas many VAs are sweet through and through this blend is about half sweet and half savory sort of akin to a mincemeat pie.<br /><br />To my palate, FVF had many of the same qualities as a well-aged bourbon with its dark molasses element mingling with tongue-tingling tartness and backed up with grassy, oaken undertones. And just as with whiskey, gentle sipping brought forth even more flavors in the form of citrus and maple.<br /><br />The room aroma was fairly inoffensive although certainly stronger than most Virginia tobaccos and that fermented tang was detectable.<br /><br />The blend burned evenly and didn't require any fussing as it smoked down to dry, gray ash. FVF also didn't cause any tongue bite but it did deliver a roundhouse kick of nicotine when I got carried away puffing while reading so I would recommend a slow and steady smoking pace with this rascal.<br /><br />What more can I say? Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake is a top-notch tobacco that's packed with flavor and the promise of even more a few years down the road. I still give a slight edge to Best Brown Flake as I prefer something a tad lighter most of the time but I fully intend to keep my cellar well stocked with FVF and can't wait to revisit it as it ages. At a real steal of a price I say buy it and smoke if you can get it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-80803047853752844732010-05-11T12:49:00.000-07:002010-05-11T13:25:30.733-07:00Cornell & Diehl -- Gentlemen Callers<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> Cornell & Diehl<br /><B>Blend:</B> Gentlemen Callers<br /><B>Style:</B> Aromatic<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> Savinelli Natural #313<br /><B>Price:</B> Free Sample<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 7<br /><B>Taste:</B> 7<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 8<br /><B>Value:</B> NA<br /><B>Overall:</B> 7<br /><br />Since embarking on this great pipe adventure a few years ago I've been intrigued by those few blends that still utilize the herb deer tongue as it seems to hearken back to days of old. Also known as wild vanilla, deer tongue was often used to add a slight vanilla essence to tobacco and while it's been replaced by artificial flavorings in most contemporary blends there are still a few options available for those who want to give this old school taste a try.<br /><br />Cornell & Diehl's Gentlemen Callers in one such blend and I was thrilled to receive a sample with some estate pipes I bought a few weeks ago. The tobacco is a cross-cut mixture of light brown tobaccos with a few darker strands thrown in as well as obvious bits of pale green deer tongue. The aroma is light and sweet and reminded me of potpourri.<br /><br />After loading up my Savinelli Natural I gave the tobacco a quick light and away I went. The tobacco burned evenly and quickly and before I knew it the bowl contained nothing but a bit of dark gray ash. This stuff defines smokeability as all I ever had to do to keep it burning was give it a light tamp every so often.<br /><br />Gentleman Callers is advertised as a blend containing Burley, Virginia, Perique, and, of course, deer tongue. And to me it sure tasted like a lightly fragranced VA/Per. The deer tongue was immediately noticeable as it added an herbal, almost medicinal, vanilla flavor that was quite enjoyable and seemed to mesh perfectly with the Perique.<br /><br />The darker tobacco added a bit of smokiness that I usually attribute to Latakia so either there is in fact a bit of that glorious weed present or some of the Virginias are very heavily stoved so as to give off a similar taste. And while a hint of whiskey is evident in the aroma of the tobacco I didn't ever taste any such topping while smoking.<br /><br />All in all the blend was slightly sweet with a nice tangy and spicy aftertaste but I found it to be a tad overwhelming in too high a dose so I'll likely stick to smaller pipes while smoking this as an occasional treat.<br /><br />The room note was quite nice and had the same potpourri smell as the dry tobacco. And since the tobacco has such a unique and persistent aroma it's a safe bet that it'll ghost a pipe in no time so one might want to stick with cobs or briars already dedicated to aromatics while smoking this blend.<br /><br />In the end I found Cornell & Diehl's Gentlemen Callers to be a very unique pipe tobacco that's loaded with flavor and aroma and smokes like a charm. I have to say that my first experience with deer tongue has been an eye-opener and I can't wait to hunt down more blends featuring this herb. It's a bit too fragrant to become a regular smoke for me but I sure do appreciate the effort that went into crafting such a classic, old-style American blend.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-65748279452141381162010-04-29T14:34:00.000-07:002010-04-29T16:01:37.289-07:00McClelland -- 5100 Red Cake<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> McClelland<br /><B>Blend:</B> 5100 Red Cake<br /><B>Style:</B> Virginia<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> Savinelli Oscar #313<br /><B>Price:</B> $23.65/8oz.<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 9<br /><B>Taste:</B> 10<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 9<br /><B>Value:</B> 8<br /><B>Overall:</B> 9<br /><br />McClelland is one of the premier pipe tobacco companies in the world and out of their literally hundreds of distinct offerings one meager little bulk blend is consistently mentioned whenever talk turns to straight Virginias and that singular blend is 5100 Red Cake. I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to get around to trying this tobacco but better late than never.<br /><br />The blend is a fully rubbed out, ribbon-cut red cake mixture of various Virginias with the medium brown, or "red," leaf being predominant. In the pouch the aroma is that of raisins and if you blindfolded me and offered up samples of 5100 and Sun-Maid raisins to smell I would be hard pressed to differentiate between the two. And that particular smell means that the tobacco is both sweet and on its way down fermentation lane which is just the thing for a Virginia blend.<br /><br />Since my order arrived a bit moist I let a bit dry for a few hours then loaded up my Savinelli Oscar #313 and gave it a charring light. Even with the drying the tobacco was reluctant to burn and it took a few tamps and relights to get things going.<br /><br />The first few puffs delivered a delectable sweetness that was more subdued than most 100% Virginia blends. This was tempered by a nice nuttiness that reminded me more of Burley than Virginia leaf. Added to this was a faint cinnamon-like spiciness that really pulled the flavors together.<br /><br />It took a few bowls before it finally hit me and I realized that the taste of the 5100 Red Cake reminded me of the cinnamon roasted almonds we used to get at the mall when I was a kid. Not nearly as sweet of course but it had that same interplay of sugar, spice, and roasted nuts.<br /><br />The room aroma was also top-notch and reminded me of burning leaves with the occasional whiff of cinnamon-scented candles.<br /><br />The only drawback with the 5100 was that it did require frequent relights but it still managed to burn clean down to the ash with no dottle or excessive moisture left in the bowl.<br /><br />McClelland's 5100 Red Cake is a stellar Virginia blend and after spending the last few weeks with it I now understand why so many folks sing its praises so highly. While some find it to be one-dimensional in taste I found it to be quite the opposite with a wonderful mixture of complimentary flavors.<br /><br />Rumored to be a frequent component of many other blends, 5100 stands plenty tall on its own merits and I found it to be one of the tastiest tobaccos I've smoked. Available exclusively in bulk (unless you're lucky enough to stumble on one of the tins produced in 2005 for the Bufflehead Pipe Shop), this is a blend that promises to improve with age and the only question left for me is just how much of the stuff I can cram into my cellar.<br /><br />I do have one further, and rather odd, note to add. We've all heard of ghosting as it refers to lingering flavors left in a pipe but is it possible to experience olfactory ghosting I wonder? I've been smoking 5100 in various cobs and briars and all have been dedicated Virginia pipes yet hours after I've finished my smoke I find that I catch faint whiffs of Latakia -- a leaf which is, of course, absent from this blend. It's almost as if my sensory memory is adding the Latakia after the fact because the 5100 is somehow reminding me of the Virginias found in quality English blends. Wishful thinking on the part of my schnoz or perhaps 5100 is in fact a blending tobacco used in some of the Englishes I smoke. Either way it has to be one of the oddest things to happen to me so far in this hobby.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889519912466543865.post-80378349901389627792010-04-21T11:36:00.000-07:002012-01-15T18:07:52.258-08:00John Patton -- Moe's Confetti<!-- Pipe --><br /><B>Brand:</B> John Patton<br /><B>Blend:</B> Moe's Confetti<br /><B>Style:</B> Burley<br /><B>Pipe Used:</B> Cob<br /><B>Price:</B> $8.99/4oz.<br /><br /><B>Appearance:</B> 7<br /><B>Taste:</B> 8<br /><B>Room Note:</B> 8<br /><B>Value:</B> 9<br /><B>Overall:</B> 9<br /><br />John Patton, AKA "The Cobfather," is a vocal proponent off all things related to corncob pipes and is also a tobacco blender whose wares are available through <a href="http://www.4noggins.com/johnpattontiltjlp.aspx">4Noggins</a>. Mr. Patton is also a fan of the classic drugstore tobaccos and his Moe's Confetti is an homage to those old pipe-smoking standbys.<br /><br />Moe's Confetti is a coarse-cut Burley blend and the sample I received arrived at the perfect moisture level. The tobacco in the bag had a subtle smell of roasted nuts with just a hint of sweetness.<br /><br />Since it wouldn't have felt right to smoke this blend in anything but a cob I loaded up my trusty old Missouri Meerschaum Missouri Pride and gave the tobacco a light. And that was the last time I had to pick up my lighter as the blend burned evenly, coolly, and completely down to the ash with only a bit of gentle tamping being required. How can you not love a tobacco that well behaved?<br /><br />As for the taste, Moe's Confetti was full of that classic Burley nuttiness with just a touch of sugary maple/cocoa sweetness. The blend maintained this singular flavor profile throughout the smoke but I'm certainly not complaining as I enjoyed every minute of it.<br /><br />Truth be told, Moe's Confetti is merely a combination of some bulk Burley and <a href="http://meanderingsmoke.blogspot.com/2009/07/john-middleton-carter-hall.html">Carter Hall</a> but something about this thrown together blend sure hits the spot.<br /><br />The room aroma of this blend was also very pleasant and had that classic pipe smell that even many non-smokers find enjoyable.<br /><br />I'm afraid that Moe's Confetti has spoiled me on straight-up drugstore Burley blends since it can be purchased in bulk at a lower price than the tubs of those classics. As much as I do appreciate the Prince, Sir Walter, and all the rest, good old Moe has bested the lot of them. This is a top-notch effort from John Patton and is very highly recommended for fans of Burley blends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0