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G. L. Pease - Géométrie 2oz
Candy Sweet
Up front, I was unimpressed. Cut it into cubes to keep with the theme, lit the bowl and found plain Virginia. But as it settled, I realized, this is the sweetest non-aromatic I've ever tasted. There's a sugary aftertaste that I'd almost compare to cotton candy or bubble gum. Very pleasant, mild smoke, but not as complex as I'd expected.
G. L. Pease - Quiet Nights 2oz
Chelsea Morning's Lat-Forward Twin
While the ingredients in this blend are similar to Chelsea Morning, the balance is a whole world apart. Lat-forward, but not overwhelmingly so. As the tongue acclimates, more complex notes like semisweet chocolate reveal themselves. Fix yourself a hot toddy and cozy up with this one.
G. L. Pease - Ellipsis Flake 2oz
Tangy!
I've heard bright Virginia described as "lemonade" before, but the delicious Izmir leaf in this blend really brings it out in a way I've never tasted before. Packs a good bit of nicotine and spice with the inclusion of Perique. Greg Pease just can't go wrong it seems!
G. L. Pease - Chelsea Morning 2oz
Truly Condimental Latakia
I like Latakia, I love the rich smokiness of an English. But it seemed like every new blend I tried would be some variation of "Latakia with subtle undertones". Finally, I find an English that melds all the components into a greater whole! If your palate is fatigued from big punches of Lat, give this one a try.
G. L. Pease - Union Square 2oz
An approachable VA
I'll preface by saying I have yet to fully embrace full Virginia. Those which I've tried have been too tart, too hay-like, too harsh for the steady Burley-smoking pace I prefer. This blend represents a shift in that opinion, because despite being something approaching "pure" VA composition, there is an earthy warmth in the bowl that feels nice and comfortable. It's still a VA, and you're still going to have to sip at it for best results, but the expected results seem nicer here than I've found elsewhere. Would recommend to the burgeoning Virginia explorer.
Cornell & Diehl - Briar Fox 2oz
Beautiful simplicity
Do you like cigarettes but want to try pipe smoking? This is perfect for you. Do you like the smell of a pack but hate the taste of paper and chemicals? This is still for you, too. Not a fan of cigarettes but want to see what the "basic" equivalent is on the pipe side? This is the one to try. A little harsh on the retrohale, and there's nothing deep or mind-expanding to be found in the experience, but it's straightforward and tasty and popular for a reason.
Cornell & Diehl - The Beast 2oz
Mr. Crowley, You Madman
Wow, if Crowley was taking this with 49% more perique, that explains why people were spooked by him. This stuff is soft yet spicy in the mouth, but the retrohale is like shooting 151 Rum out your nose. Don't let people scare you with talk of "I had to let it breathe for a week, I had to age it for 16 years", this is perfectly smokable tobacco if you like it strong. Just beware its power, the enjoyably punchy smoke is hiding a beastly nic hit. One toke over the line and you'll find you've entered a portal to the underworld.
Peter Stokkebye - PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake
Neat little coins
Very tightly pressed coins, makes for an attractive slice. The smoke is Virginia forward, tending toward acridity if not smoked slowly. The cavendish is very much present and adds needed softness, while the perique is somewhat elusive and needs diligence to be noticed. Will be cellaring half an ounce to see how it matures.
Prince Albert - Prince Albert 14oz
Simple classic Burley+
It's definitely not a pure Burley, and yet... It's Burley! This is not a blend for adventurous new sensations. The charring light delivers nutty tobacco with a touch of molasses sweetness, and the aroma brings the same through most of the bowl. The flavor is what you'd expect from Burley and Cavendish: light. Maybe nonexistent if you're used to bold blends, but it's there. As is typical with burleys you get more flavor halfway down, but nothing that will give you an epiphany. Aftertaste is classic and enjoyable. It's an all day codger that you can always come back to for a quick light-me-up.
Davidoff - Winston Churchill The Late Hour Series Petit Panetela
Like an old friend
I first started on tobacco with cigars, but moved on to pipe smoking out of preference. These little cigars have me thinking I need to mix it back up, because I never knew they could be this good. I used to love Short Stories, and these are similar in size but so different in character. Dark and nutty with virtually no bite, and you can smoke the whole thing without it getting foul. Will absolutely be sampling more Davidoff products, and cigars in general.
Rattray's - Exotic Passion 100g
It's a fruit aromatic
I'll admit I came in with high expectations. On the suggestion of a fellow smoker, I put this one on my wishlist and snagged it up as soon as it was in stock. He spoke of the intense fruit flavor packed into the leaf. He wasn't wrong, exactly, but it just isn't the kind of fruit flavor I was anticipating from the notes on the tin. The tin aroma is most definitely passion fruit and mango, but when it comes to smoking, the bowl has a soft, fruity crème flavor that plays well with the Virginia, but doesn't lend any particular complexity or brightness of its own. The aftertaste is pleasant, for a time, but turns stale in the mouth after a while. I can't disassociate it from the kind of generic fruit flavor a cheap cigarillo carries - no offense to Rattray's, that could very well be a personal hang-up like people who can't stand cherry flavor for its use in medicine. Maybe I'm just not a fan of fruit aromatics, but if you are, this one is worth trying out at least. EDIT: Dry it well, take a deep, round-shaped bowl like an egg or apple (meer if you have it, to avoid ghosting), and smoke it slowly over 2-3 sessions separated by an hour or so. A bit of labor but it makes for a nice experience.
Mac Baren - HH Old Dark Fired 16oz
The Crown Prince of DFK
The charring light might underwhelm you. This is the dark richness I've heard so much about? Then the flavors settle into your taste buds and you think "wow, maybe there is something to it." You keep puffing and things start to get spicy. The smoke may very well threaten to overwhelm, but you can't put it down. You're halfway through the bowl. You start to notice flavors that seem to come out of nowhere - dark fruit, wood smoke, fatty brisket falling apart at the touch. You look down and, without knowing it, you've smoked to the bottom of the bowl. Time to pack another one.
Warped - Until the End 2oz
A cavendish blend that won't coddle
What a delightful idea they had, preparing cavendish with cigar leaf! As a lifelong CB Royal fan, I'm always a sucker for BC, though I find it often pops up in aromatics that wind up being weak in body and complexity. This blend makes perfect use of it to soften, sweeten, and spread the flavors of the Ecuadorian cigar leaf and subtle DFK without diminishing their rustic charm. A strong smell of unsweetened cocoa emanates from tin, while the smoke itself has a flavor of dark, dark chocolate with a subtle nutty sweetness. The mouthfeel is luscious and the room note is nothing to turn your nose up at. My only issue is the moisture, as it needs to breathe but can over-dry quickly. Get that timing right, though, and you're in for a satisfying bowl.
Warped - Cloud Hopper 2oz
A familiar tingle
The addition of cigar leaf adds a bold flavor, and gives my mouth the same tingly itch I'd be feeling from a good stogie. Will definitely try more Warped blends.
Missouri Meerschaum - Diplomat Apple Bent (6mm)
Solid construction, excellent smoke
My first quality cob, after burning through a dirt cheap one years and years ago. I was pleasantly surprised at how solid the bowl is - not sure what kind of finishing process they use but it's hard like wood. The shape of the bowl and stem lend to a very pleasant smoking experience. The only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars is the price - considering it's a corn cob. I'm sure they put plenty of labor into it, but ultimately that final half-star is for good briar or meer, or maybe a budget cob with this same level of craftsmanship. Edit: As I explored other pipes, this one became less and less appealing. But, it's a budget pipe. It's a piece of corn with a shank jammed in it. It's a great workhorse for a drive or a long walk but I don't find myself reaching for it when another option is suitable.
Filters & Adaptors - Falcon 6mm Filters (10 Pack)
Breathable and absorbent
These things will soak up a good deal of tar over two or three smokes. The channeled design lets a reasonable amount of air through. Very useful filters.
Mac Baren - HH Rustica Ready Rubbed
Tastes Like A Cozy Campfire
There's a distinct sweet mesquite or hickory sort of smell to this tobacco, almost like barbecue. It's great when mixed in to enhance the depth of burley and/or cavendish. Tastes great on its own too, if you take it slow and respect the heavy nicotine hit of Nicotiana Rustica.
Sutliff - Per G. Jensen Bold & Strong
Hits Like It Means It
I tried this after sampling and thoroughly enjoying the similar HH Rustica blend from Mac Baren. Like Rustica, it has a dark, spicy flavor and will knock you on your ass. I found it lacking the sweeter hickory notes that HH Rustica offered, though. This is a good tobacco for blending in small amounts, as others have said, but it doesn't hit the same spot in a tasting pipe as the competition.
Sutliff - 500 African Queen
Disregard Haters and Enjoy
Surprised to see the hate for this blend! I think the term "English" in the description is perhaps misleading. I will admit, I did not expect what I got out of this blend, but it's a delightful aromatic that delivers flavor right from the charring light. Just enough Virginia tang and sweet topping to get you through to the deeper flavors down the bowl. Will be bulking up as this is a great "everyday aromatic".
Mac Baren - Plumcake 3.5oz
Spicy but not too sweet
With a name like Plumcake, I was hoping for a touch more sweetness from the rum, but the smoky Latakia mixture is tasty nonetheless.
Cornell & Diehl - Golden Days of Yore 2oz
Good, but less than promised
For the advertised complexity of the base tobaccos, it mainly comes across as Virginia. It's pleasant, but for a blend that boasted an array of aromatic spices, there's little to detect besides a hint of nutmeg and a suggestion of ginger. It isn't a bad blend, and I can see myself finishing the tin easily, but it under-delivered on its claims. EDIT: In the course of burning through the whole tin, I must say the spice in this blend was being coy. The more you smoke of this blend, the more the ginger and cinnamon come out to play. They actually complement the basic Virginia flavor very well, and I took to adding in an extra pinch of DFK which really brought the blend to full fruition. I may very well pick up more if they put out a new batch in 2025.
Mac Baren - HH Old Dark Fired Ready Rubbed
Bold and dark
Similarly to their HH Rustica, this dark fired flake rubs out well, dries readily, and delivers a full bodied punch of flavor - in this case without as heavy a nic hit that Rustica carries. This will be as good for blending as it is for smoking by itself.
Mac Baren - Stockton 100g
Home Run
This is absolutely heavenly tobacco. It will be familiar to cigarette smokers, but just as enjoyable to those who don't prefer them. The sweetness of the Virginia goes on and on long after you've enjoyed the rich, satisfying smoke.
Filters & Adaptors - White Elephant 6mm Filters - Charcoal (45 Pack)
Unusable
I'm appalled at the quality of these filters for the price point. They are so dense they make the pipe draw tighter than an overstuffed bowl before anything is even packed. What is "Superflow" supposed to mean? Entirely unusable.
Lane Limited - Black Raspberry
Raspberry that lingers
A very mild and light smoke delivers soft raspberry crème flavor. Deeper flavors develop midway through the bowl and stay enjoyable throughout. The raspberry aftertaste will hang on your tongue long after.
Cornell & Diehl - Engine #99 2oz
More than enough
I got this to push the Latakia limit after enjoying Lane HGL. Oh boy did I get what I asked for. The tin smell is, frankly, awful and the room note is tolerable. The flavor is absolutely unique, to my limited experience, and seems like it would pair well with scotch... But as an everyday smoke, you'd have to really love the pungency. Personally it's not for me at all, but I have to rate it moderately well for effectively delivering exactly what it promises.
Captain Black - Royal 1.5oz
The Classic
My grandad smoked it, my dad smoked it, and of course I do. The more I explore tobacco the more I realize it's not my ideal blend, but the room note is pure nostalgia. Deliciously warm and smooth with a hint of leathery spice.
Sutliff - 707 Sweet Virginia
Tough ribbons
At the time I ordered, this was listed as ribbon cut, but it was more of a rubbed flake. The initial acidity was pleasant and citric, with a slow draw, but the flavor became acrid halfway through my bowls. Required drying, but I found it had a thin threshold between "ready" and "too dry". Will be trying something else for a plain Virginia in the future.
Sutliff - J4 - Burley
Tasty but damp
Straightforward chocolatey Burley, pleasant to smoke once it's dry but wow does it ever need a lot of drying.
Mac Baren - Vanilla Roll Cake 3.5oz
Deep as vanilla itself
The tin aroma is very plummy, and that flavor lingers on after a smoke. Room note is strong in vanilla and Virginia brightness. The coins require very brief drying, if any, and smoke well broken apart or folded and stuffed into the pipe. A personal favorite.
Lane Limited - HGL
A Novice Pipe Smoker's New Favorite
I've always been a Captain Black Royal guy and recently decided to broaden my palate - I tried a few new blends, including aromatics, but this one knocks my socks off. All the sweetness and complexity and aroma, but with a stronger tobacco smokiness. It's everything I wanted in a tobacco and I can't wait to explore more English and Latakia-forward blends.
Missouri Meerschaum - Ozark Mountain Straight (6mm)
Can't beat the value
For a little guy I picked up just to expand my rotation, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality.
Cornell & Diehl - Black Gold Maple
Subtly sweet
Tolerable, but the maple really takes a back seat to what seems more like a mild liqueur note. Overall, too sugary without enough real flavor.
Cornell & Diehl - Crooner
Surprisingly Mediocre
From the ratings on taste and room note I was expecting something very bold, so this is decent but comes off as bland. Maybe I'm discovering a distaste for deertongue but this one just isn't for me.
