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All New Pipes
Timothy R.
Reviews
Peterson - Sherlock Holmes 50g
Easy and Pleasant Smoke
As with all Peterson blends, it comes wet. So it will need some drying time. But once dry, this blend is mechanically very well behaved. Very few relights. I’ve been into darker Virginia, vapers, and English blends for some time now. Early on, I tried Golden Sliced and did not like the bright lemony/bready quality of bright leaf at all. This blend is definitely on the brighter end of the spectrum, but it has some depth to it. It’s convinced me to give bright Virginia another chance. Plus, I’m a big Sherlock Holmes fan. I can’t allow myself to jump to a dislike of something that carries the name. Taste wise, this is a medium light, sweet, lemon zest, bready smoke with some deeper fruit notes, likely from some dark Virginia. There’s rumor burly is present but it was hard for me to tell. Thought I picked up some nuttiness here and there. Over all very pleasant smoke.
Peterson - 3 P's Peterson's Perfect Plug 50g
Didn't Like it at First, but Now…
I bought a tin of this over a year ago. I liked the taste but didn’t like all the fuss of messing with a plug cut (I was new to pipe smoking). But I revisited it today, and man is it good! Deep fruity notes come through beautifully, accented by the deep and rich burly flavor. It’s incredibly cool and smooth as well. A very comfortable smoke.
Samuel Gawith - Squadron Leader 50g
I just don’t like it!
I tried to like it. I really did. Many people sing its praises. I am an English guy. But I like my englishes latakia forward. This one is very oriental forward. Some varietals of orientals are fantastic and really add some complimentary piquancy to an English blend. But this oriental has a weird buttery twang to it that is a real put off for me! Apparently many people like that taste. But it’s not for me. Sorry brother pipe smokers. I respect your taste if like this one, but you can keep it.
Peter Stokkebye - PS52 Proper English
Oh YES! I’ll take it!
Some time ago, I started a hunt for a go-to bulk English blend and found it in Arango Balkan Supreme. Lately, I’ve sought to expand my bulk collection. And this stuff definitely makes the list. Some English blends go too heavy on one or two components to the point that they over shadow the others. Not this one! The balance of latakia, Virginia, and orientals is such that you can taste all three, blending together to create a unified profile that is simply delicious. In my opinion, that’s what any good blend should do. What I like in an English is a base of tangy, woodsy Latakia, with that piquant (slightly sour) quality of the orientals, with just a little sweetness evenly intermingled from the Virginia. And that is exactly what this blend provides.
Cornell & Diehl - Byzantium
First Impressions are Over All Good
I love latakia and perique. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with English blends made of non-traditional component combinations, so this one was on my “try” list. First of all, Cornell and Diehl had me with the name. I’m a history buff, and devout Catholic, so anything named Byzantium gets my attention. Over all a really good and satisfying blend. I don’t always like perique in my English blends. But once in a while, I want something with a little spice to it. So I expect this to become a go to for such occasions. That said, it wasn’t as full bodied as I expected. The best I can describe it is this. It’s like there’s a lot of Latakia on one side and a lot of perique on the other, with not much in the middle. Lots of cool stuff on the perimeter but sort of empty in the middle. It just seemed like it needed something else. That said, what is there is great! When I want something with some spice and incense without any sweetness, which does happen regularly, I’ll definitely pick it up again. Update: I mostly take back the part about it seeming to miss something. If you make sure it’s dry enough, though it doesn’t come that wet, and smoke it gentle and slow, boy the interplay of Latakia and perique really shines! To me, orientals are way in the background supporting; they come through more in big puffs and retrohales. This food for me because I do not like oriental forward blends. Flavor is woodsy, incense, musty, slightly peppery, piquant, tangy notes all melding together. Good stuff! Upgrade to 4.5. The only reason I don’t give it a 5 is that I don’t always want perique in my englishes. But when I do, this one satisfies!
Cornell & Diehl - Smooth English
Oooo! I like!
After pipe smoking for about a year, I’ve learned that I’m an English guy. Now I’m experimenting with different combinations of components. I wanted to try one without orientals; Some oriental varietals are fantastic while others I can’t stand (still figuring out which is which). That brings me to this blend. Love the Latakia and burley interplay. Tangy, incense quality with deep nuttiness is a very complimentary combo. And as the name states, it is smooth. Get some and enjoy!
Peterson - My Mixture 965 50g
Different but Fantastic!
I've looked forward to trying this blend for some time, hearing how highly regarded it is. And yesterday, I picked up my first tin. I've gotten used to the flavor profiles of other English blends such as Arango Balkan Supreme and Maltese Falcon, so I was a little nervous about how 965 would compare. The tin note was sadly a slight put off at first. Not sure why, it just struck me as odd. But I let it air out a bit, and the scent mellowed. When I smoked it, I liked it instantly! Very good! It must be the brown cavendish, but it has a sweetness that differs from the other blends I'm used to, but every bit as pleasant. Over all, it's just as full as other blends I like but smoother. The flavors seemed to meld together into one coherent sensation rather than individual flavors that meld, then separate, and dance around each other. I enjoy both experiences though. Very pleased with this blend! I expect I'll buy more.
G. L. Pease - Maltese Falcon 2oz
OH MY!
My English blend journey started with falling in love with Esoterica's Margate gifted to me by a friend, a rare blessing I later learned. After running out, I searched for a cheaper bulk alternative and discovered Arango Balkan Supreme; not an exact match by any means but close, having all the qualities I loved in Margate. So far, that has been my favorite. But yesterday, I picked up a tin of this, Maltese Falcon, and OH MY! It is extremely good and strikingly close to Balkan Supreme in flavor profile! In fact, during the first third of the bowl, I could have sworn it was the same thing. Later, a unique sweetness came through that set it apart, a very enjoyable sweetness. This blend has all the depth, tartness, and spice I like from Balkan Supreme with a little added sweetness to round it out. I'll definitely be getting more in the future!
Cornell & Diehl - Pirate Kake 2oz
Comfortable
I felt sure I would like this blend, but I expected it to be very harsh and overbearing. Not at all!! A very pleasant surprise! It's very smooth, cool, and easy on the palate! The Latakia (75% of the blend) is very full and creamy. The orientals are noticeable in the background providing some sour notes (which compliment the Latakia very well). The burley brings up the rear, only intermittently detectable but it provides some nuttiness as always, which adds some body and complexity. The foremost adjective that comes to mind is comfortable. You know it's a good blend when, here and there, you forget you're even smoking.
Cornell & Diehl - From Beyond 2oz
Different but very interesting!
Man! This stuff is strong and complex. Very interesting! The Latakia is different. There's no leathery quality. Almost all "woodsy" to my palate. The orientals are sour with slight sweetness from the Virginias (I assume). The whole interplay is woods/sour/spice/sweet, in that order to me. This one will take me some time to get used to. But it's intriguing. To anyone curious, well worth a try. Update: I don’t always like perique in my Englishes. But when I do, I really enjoy this blend. My advice to smoking anything this complex and with perique, smoke it slow and cool. Go as slow as you can without it going out, and it will reward you.
Arango - Balkan Supreme
YES!!
I've been on the hunt for an alternative to Esoterica's Margate since it's so rarely in stock. And Balkan Supreme fits that bill for me. Of course, it's not exact. But it has all the qualities I like in Margate and similar balance. Smooth, cool, creamy, sour/sweet, savory, smokey, consistent burn to the bottom of the bowl. Very pleasant! Update 1/10/25: Still my favorite! I have tried several english blends. While I like many of them, I have spoiled myself to Balkan Supreme. It was one of the first I liked. Therefore, it's my basis of comparison for all other englishes.
Cornell & Diehl - Autumn Evening 2oz
Pretty Good!
Disclaimer: I'm not an aeromatic guy. They're my least favorite. I'm a big English guy. However, this is a good one. The maple flavor is very enjoyable and the room note is fantastic. The flavor does sort of fade in and out as happens with aromatics. But it's good. Burns well too with very few relights, which is always a plus.
Sutliff - Balkan S 957 Match
I May Have Found What I'm Looking For
I have fallen in love with English blends over the past several months, and I've tried 4 or 5 before this one. My favorite by far has been Esoterica's Margate; a sample was gifted to me by a friend. Since it is hardly ever available, I've been on the hunt for a good bulk alternative. And this very well may be it. I'm less than certain only because I've had only one bowl of this stuff so far, but it was fantastic! To my palate, it has everything (taste wise) I love in Margate, just as satisfying! It does not have the aged quality of Margate, which I knew not to expect. But the balance is just about the same. Component wise, this one has some Burley (reportedly) where Margate does not. But it's way in the background. If the next bowl satisfies the same, I'll definitely be buying more!
G. L. Pease - Chelsea Morning 2oz
Not what I expected
First, I give this 4 stars because it is a really good blend. However, I hold back a star because it's not at all what I expected. To me, it tastes like a Va/Per with a little Latakia added, not quite an English to my taste, for some reason. That said, it tastes like a good Va/Per. Once I got that in my head, I enjoyed it. Also, the bright Virginia's are very forward to me, much less red Virgina; I tend to prefer red Virginia. I guess I refer the darker, after dinner style Englishes over lighter morning blends. Over all though, very enjoyable blend.
Esoterica - Margate 2oz
I think I'm an English Guy
I steered away from Englishes for a long time because tasting "leather" didn't sound appealing. I understand that description but it is very misleading. I have loved Englishes since the first time I tried one. This one wasn't my first but is one of my favorites! Just a great smoky savoriness with sour/sweet in the background that comes to the foreground here and there, with a floral spice from the oritentals. Esoterica's own description is correct! "Imminently satisfying"
Missouri Meerschaum - Ozark Mountain Bent (6mm)
Simple, Solid, Effective
Fantastic budget hardwood pipe! I replaced the standard stem with a Danish bit replacement. I like the sleaker profile with a more subtle curve, as opposed to the acute angle of the stem it comes with. As far as performance, this thing smokes great! One thing I love about the general design of cobs (which is the case with this pipe, though not a cob) is the room at the bottom of the bowl and a larger bore shank compared to a traditional briar. This combo seems to promote a dryer, cooler smoke with room for moisture collection without it drifting into the draft hole, as well as more space in the shank to diffuse heat. Though it's not at all high end in terms of prestige or quality of wood (it's a $9 pipe after all), it is quite solid and functions well. If you are looking for a great smoker as well as affordability and durability for the price, this a great bang for your buck!
Solani - Aged Burley Flake - 656 50g
I Love Burley!
Solani Aged Burley Flake is a big YES from me! Deep, smoot, nuttiness with a salted caramel quality, occasional hints of stewed fruit. And it is probably the most well behaved tobacco I've smoked. Consistent, full burn all the way down. Cool burning. Hardly any mouth irritation. And I only had to relight it once! Very pleasant smoke!
Cornell & Diehl - Bayou Morning 2oz
My First Love
This was the first blend from a mainstream brand I ever smoked. Probably the over all third blend I smoked after trying a couple of codger blends. A VaPer with such high perique content is not usually recommended to first-timers. But it was my first and I have loved it from the start! The balance of sweet and spice hits me just right. It never disappoints. I'm cellaring some now and looking forward to what age does to it. Update: After almost a year of pipe smoking, I've settled into 4 blends that are my favorites, and this is one of them. I'm primarily an English guy, but VapErs are a close second. And this is my favorite! I've tried others that people rave about. And they're pretty good. But this one just does it for me. It's probably a bias toward my first exposure to VapErs. So it's my basis of comparison to all others. For whatever reason, this is my favorite VaPer, hands down.
Esoterica - Margate 2oz
It's a good one!
Cool, smooth, creamy-sweet, with a mild spice in the background. Just lovely!
Drucquer & Sons - King's Fool 100g
Wow!
I'm smoking it for the first time right now and this is positively delicious!!! All the rich sweet Virginia flavor with noticeable burly and the smoky/savoriness of the Latakia, with hints of peppery perique.
Orlik - Golden Sliced 50g
Not for Me
As a new pipe smoker, I heard many experienced pipe smokers rave about Orlik Golden Sliced. I tried it three times and just don't like it. I've learned over time that I like darker tobaccos. I like deep fruity, chocolatey, savory notes. When I hear people say "hay" or "grassy" or "citrus", I know they are describing bright virginia leaf of which this blend is a prime example. But, everyone's palate is different. If you like bright, grassy, and citrus notes, you'll probably love Orlik Golden Sliced. But it's not for me. That said, I have cellared what I have left with plans to put a few years of age on it. I look forward to retrying it down the road.
Cornell & Diehl - Daylight: Or L'yom 2oz
Fascinating!
I'm still fairly new to pipe smoking and this is my first blend with Oriental leaf, so bare that in mind. But it's a fascinating blend! Complex. Constant shifting interplay of sweetness, nuttiness, savory quality especially toward the end, and this clean, subtle, and mellow spice. It's taken me time to dissect it. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but I keep coming back to it. Update: Some of the most entrancing pipe smoking experiences I've had have been with this blend. It's just wonderful! This has become one of my top blends in my rotation. I’m primarily an English guy, but when I want a break from Latakia, this is my go-to. It’s just great! The sweetness of the Virginia is well complimented by the sour/spice/piquancy of the perique with some body from the burley. The orientals add some zest and extra dimension of flavor, adding to the complexity. The various flavors are all always present, but my attention shifts between them. This is a tasty, multidimensional blend. Mechanically, it packs and burns well. And it is so satisfying!
Starter Kits - Highway Nine Rusticated Starter Kit Straight
Exactly as expected! Very satisfied!
This kit came exactly as shown in the photo. Quality of the pipe is as good as it seems! Beautiful pipe! Very comfortable in the hand. Tobacco pouch is very nice quality for the price. The only issue I have is that I wish the internal diameter of the stem was a bit bigger. This pipe seems a bit prone to moisture collection, but nothing too bad, and nothing a quick slip of a pipe cleaner cannot eliminate. Highly recommend for others new to pipe smoking! Update: After months of use, I still love it! As I've learned how to better pace myself when smoking, the moisture build up previously mentioned is no longer an issue.
