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Ryan M.
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Reviews
Samuel Gawith - Perfection Mixture 8oz
Close to perfection
Thought I'd write a review that wasn't in Chinese. Perfection may be called an "English", but it's not like any other I've tried. There is a latakia note, but this is a complex and satisfying mild Virginia mixture that is difficult to classify. There is a very subtle vanilla note but I can't call this an aromatic. The first half of the bowl is consistently sweet and mild, but as you work your way down things get darker and the latakia and perique comes forward. I don't quite know what I would call it, but it's a winner - I bought a tin to try and immediately bought a pound. Needs to be dried, quite moist very soft thin ribbon cut that can pack to concrete if you aren't careful.
Arango - Balkan Supreme
Just great
More and more this is my favorite latakia based blend. Balkan, English, whatever...this is a rich, extremely well balanced, simply delicious latakia forward tobacco that like the best porridge, is "Just Right". I have pounds of it in the cellar and will continue to add regularly.
Cornell & Diehl - Virginia Gentleman
This was a surprise
I bought this on a whim, looking for an easy packing, easy lighting VA for the car (I hate dealing with flakes and multiple relights while driving.) To my surprise this is a really delicious, sparkling little blend. It's effortless to pack and light leaving you with nothing to do except savor the delicious, almost refreshing flavor all the way to the bottom. There is some typical VA bready quality with a very light spicy pepper addition. It's just a winner. I bought 4 oz and when I got home I immediately ordered a pound, and will always stay a pound ahead. This is a winner and a keeper.
Books - Pipe Smoking in Middle Earth: The Fellowship of the Smoke Ring 3rd Edition by Mark Irwin
The only one of its kind.
Yes, it's more of a thick pamphlet than a big book. But show me all the other Middle Earth pipe and tobacco books out there. Point me to the other authors that have cataloged every single mention of smoking in LOTR and The Hobbit and put them all together under one roof. I think this is an essential book for deep fans of LOTR and if you smoke a pipe AND love LOTR, this is essential. As for his feelings about the films, I could care less. The films have moments of true greatness and will be timeless. But the books are what matter, and this is about the books. I enjoyed this very much, and the illustrations are a lot of fun as well.
Newminster - No. 400 Superior Navy Flake
Really nice Virginia blend
This is super nice stuff, and every time I buy 2 ounces to smoke, I buy a pound to age. Even new it's a delight and has a really forceful sweet bread aroma that fills my "rotation" drawer, overpowering even the strong English blends there. It reminds me of the smell of a cake baking in the oven - not cloying sweetness like the frosting, but rather the sweetened bready essence typical of many Virginias. It also shows the tangy citrus sourness that I have to have in a satisfying VA. There is also a nice woodsy BBQ floor arome provided by the additional condimental tobaccos giving it a wonderful complexity. This should age wonderfully.
Cornell & Diehl - Awakened Elder 2oz
Superb English blend
This is becoming my favorite English style blend. It truly is complex - those that say it's well blended and well balanced aren't just blowing smoke - there is a lot going on here, with layers of flavor that develop as you go down the bowl. Latakia forward but never simple or one-note, not a Lat bomb for those who avoid that kind of blend. I wish it was available in bulk, this is one to horde.
