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All New Pipes
Monte S.
Reviews
Cornell & Diehl - Mocha
No flavor
Slightly liqueur-ey at first. No coffee or chocolate taste at all until after pipe was done, then I tasted a little cocoa in my mouth. Burns well for a pure cavendish but nothing special.
Cult - Blood Red Moon 50g
People are either lying to themselves
Or they honestly have no clue. I tried this because my very first tobacco was Captain Black Cherry and I wanted to see if cherry could be done right after suffering that traumatizing experience. After smoking this I have come to the conclusion that cherry is a flavor that does not belong in tobacco. No matter what it will always taste like cough syrup. Not only that, you will be tasting it in your mouth hours afterwards and the poor pipe you choose to sacrifice to it will be forever tainted. The tobaccos in this are clearly better than CBC, but that flavor is so sickly and overpowering there's really no point. Also, anyone who says it doesn't bite is full of it. It's not a bad bite, but it will getcha. I'm talking to a lawyer right now to see if I can sue people for lying in the reviews.
Peterson - Nightcap 50g
The only English I can still smoke
After going on an English splurge when I first started, I can no longer smoke them without the impending horror of knowing what is to come: the feeling of my tongue being hit with a creosote-covered rasp. Somehow, despite how strongly smoky Nightcap is, it does not have this effect. It's a miracle. Maybe it's the perique? It's incredibly smooth. I don't often reach for an English (a pure English, not one of my heavily diluted homeblends), but when I do, it's this one.
Dan Tobacco - Treasures of Ireland: Galway 50g
Exactly what I was hoping for
Something light and fruity (no homo) yet not a goopy aromatic that hides the tobacco. The blackberry is constantly present yet not overwhelming. The virginias are very high quality and go well with the flavor. There is no sugary lingering aftertaste, no bite whatsoever. I tried the Newminster Blackberry Brandy and wasn't impressed, this one is far better. Good all the way to the bottom of the bowl.
Peter Stokkebye - PS303 Peaches & Creme
Peachy
The good is that you can taste some burley and a hint of the virginias under the peach, so it's a little more interesting than a straight peach flavor like the Sutliff. The bad is that it leaves quite the sugary aftertaste in the mouth, (almost to the point of it being bitter; the cough syrup effect). Packed straight from the bag, no problems keeping it lit. No bite.
Sutliff - SPS-2011 Peach Cobbler
Very much peach
The good is that it tastes of peach very much. It also leaves absolutely zero sugary afterstaste in the mouth (which surprised me for an aromatic). It's also impossible to pull a bite from this unless you're at the dottle, puffing like a madman (in which case you deserve it). There's not really anything I'd call bad, but all I taste is peach, no tobacco. Reminds me of hookah smoking. But it is what it says it is, so I can't complain. Packed right out of the bag, no drying. Burns fine. Can puff like a steamboat without it getting hot. Much better than Peter Stokkebye's Peach.
Cornell & Diehl - Stovepipe 2oz
Very good
Deliciously sweet virginias take the forefront, burley keeps it going, perique ties up the end, toppings seem a mere afterthought. Very mellow and enjoyable yet still far from bland. Taste mostly virginia at first, slightly vanilla. Buttery is how I'd describe it. Towards the end the perique and burley create an almost bacon-ey taste with the char of the smoldering virginias. I too wish this came in bulk. Update: This is going into my exclusive 5-star club. The virginias are top quality and the blend is perfect.
Low Country - Natural Virginia
Bread and butter
I stoved some and could swear I was smoking Orlik. Of course I was lying to myself, but it really is good. Like Adam said, better after age. A bit green/astringent at first. This is my blender base to dilute all the English/Balkan blends I bought when I first started. 50/50 and a small helping of burley (maybe a pinch of cavendish and perique, if feeling spicy) and now you have an English you can smoke all day without feeling like you were sucking on a chimney. Sorry for the rambling, umm what else... no bite, all day smoke, umm... hay sweet grass, yada yada yada. It's good, the price is even better and that's why it gets the high marks. Will try the Three Daughters Sailing or whatever just for comparison. I'll be back shortly. Update: After reading the other reviews, decided to stick with this and not try the Daughters of Ryan, I haven't picked stems since I was a teenager buying dirt weed and I'm not about to start now.
Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Evening Flake
The son has surpassed the father
This is like Orlik but you can taste the perique, yet it's still not too spicy. It is perfect. Just to let you know, I'm not like all these other rubes who give everything 5 stars even if it's lacking. It really has to earn that last star for me. This is truly the best bulk va/per. PS400 would take the top spot if you didn't have to age it a year to get rid of the bitterness. What makes a va/per great for me is not only the sweetness, but the smoothness. This? Like butter, baby. And to think it will get even better with age? I think I'm aroused.
Rivertown Tobacco Works - Maple Cask
A title for your review
Maple flavor seems to fade quickly no matter the blend. Rum in this isn't as heavy as in Sutliff's version (a good thing, in my opinion) and the burley is stronger. Halfway through it's all burley. Tastes mildly of cigar. Good if you want a burley that's interesting at first.
Cornell & Diehl - Winchester
Boring
It's not bad, but it doesn't stand out either. It is what it says it is; virginia and cavendish. Judging by the other reviews, you'd think it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. They must not get out much.
Captain Black - Cherry 1.5oz
First pipe tobacco I ever smoked
Boy am I glad I found this site. It's a wonder I wasn't turned away from pipe smoking forever. I bought this and a corncob at a liquor store to dip my toes in and see if pipe smoking was for me. Luckily I got impatient and dove in headfirst anyway; having already placed an order for a Peterson and some Quiet Nights, Nightcap and Lane 1-Q. Had it been just for this alone I would have walked away for good. It is the fakest most artificial cherry flavor I've ever tasted. It's like gargling with Robitussin, as it leaves that saccharine/aspartamey taste in your throat long after you've finished your pipe. My desire to take up this new endeavor was so great it enabled me to tolerate smoking through half the bag until my order arrived with nothing but hope driving me forward. I was so relieved to find that it got better. So much better; and the rest of the bag went in the trash. It did give me PTSD though and it scared me away from aromatics for over a year and a half. I will never ever try a cherry-flavored tobacco again thanks to this. The flashbacks would be too terrifying.
Sutliff - B30 Chocolate Mousse
Chocolatey
Very very much so. Didn't even dry it, just packed and puffed no probs. Super sweet, tastes exactly like it smells. Halfway through (maybe 2/3rds) it loses sweetness but retains the cocoa taste. Not bad. This is, however, my first chocolate. I have a fleet of various others on order. Will compare and update. Will ghost a pipe, so beware (not necessarily a bad thing if you pick subsequent blends that you'd like a hint of chocolate added to). Udapte: tried all the other ones (except the garwith) and this is still the best. Most others you can taste the liqueur, or barely taste the chocolate. Update: Screw you all for buying all of this up. I should have left a bad review. All I bought was an ounce and now that's all that's left in the world. I hate you.
Rivertown Tobacco Works - Sunrise Select
Great taste, a little dry
I was looking for something to replace Low Country Virginia as my blender as it tends to taste a little green (even after stoving) and I don't have time to wait years. This tastes pretty good, a lot lighter, delicate almost. Good hay sweetness. No bite or green (astringent) taste to it. Bone dry in the bag though. I could have lit it afire with a magnifying glass. Shredded paper. If you don't pack it extremely tight it all goes up at once on the first puff. I'll try to moisturize.
Cornell & Diehl - Irish Blessing
Weird
It's funny, I dislike the Irish Mist in Nutty Irishman... but on its own I like it. It's a unique flavor that I find myself craving at times. Doesn't bite but does leave a slight aftertaste. Comfortable smoke all the way to the bottom. Without having to battle the hazelnut in Nutty, the cocoa is allowed more stage presence. VERY NICE!
Rivertown Tobacco Works - Hazelnut Hollow
Nice creamy hazelnut
If you're in the mood for hazelnut without all the liqueur toppings that come with Nutty Irishman. I haven't tried the Lane Limited, but it is better than the Low Country Hazelnut, which tends to bite a little. Not so in this, the burley makes it smooth and creamy. It's a little simple, straightforward. Very bread and butter. Would buy again though.
Sutliff - Z88 Maple Walnut
Better than the rum one
I was trying out all the maple tobaccos. I still haven't found a match for Autumn Evening (not match as in a copy; match as in a contender). This one isn't bad, I like the idea of walnuts and maple, but it's a little astringent. I thought it was my imagination, associating the taste of walnuts with the mouthfeel I get after eating them, but there's definitely some squeakiness in my teeth. The maple is more subtle than AE, which one may be in the mood for. Not to mention the lack of bite in this. Burley is a nice touch. I'm still on the fence. Update: After trying out more maple blends, I seem to prefer this one. It has something interesting going after the maple flavor fades, unlike the others (even AE). The walnut flavor sticks around and seems to be carried by the burley.
Sutliff - Rum & Maple
Too much rum, not enough maple
Maybe Autumn Evening has ruined it for me, but it just beats the pants off anything maple. Maybe you don't want a maple blast and are in the mood for something more subtle, which is why I thought I'd give this a try. Unfortunately the rum doesn't do it for me. Not really a fan of rum, so that might be one reason. I thought it might be different in tobacco. I am glad I tried it in this first before buying a tin of Blockade Runner, ha. Oh, it also bites quite a bit. (and no, the maple doesn't last all the way to the bottom)
Cornell & Diehl - Nutty Irishman
Whoops
I take everything back. I tried the Irish Mist separately in Irish Blessing and now I get it. The liqueurs kind of threw me off. At first I didn't care for, now I crave the strange tang they deliver.
BriarWorks - Back Down South 2oz
Orlik killer?
This is only the third tobacco that has earned the honors of 5 full stars from me. It's like a fruitier Orlik. Tin note is of apples and plums. First light is sweet grassy hay but by the third puff the aromas are awakened. Tart without being overbearing, blends nicely with the sweetgrass of the virginia. Very smooth. Halfway down, the sweet hay of the virginias turn richer, almost baconey. Fruit taste still present (not a sickly aro-type fruit taste, not artificial tasting at all). Perique does it job, adding depth. Starts to get a little spicy. The tongue tingles. Can smoke all the way to the bottom with ease. Not a trace of bite. A small amount of teeth squeakiness that I assume will go away with age, but nothing that detracts. Very nice indeed.
Missouri Meerschaum - Party Line 2oz
Pure Excellence
I rarely give out 5 stars, this one deserves it. I'll admit, first whiff threw me off. Reminded me of the unfortunate after-effects of a night out drinking heavily. Triggered my PTSD, lol. After the initial blast of scotch dissipates, it smells really good. Like tart green apples. Same with first light. Surprised there's no virginias in it, it's got that citrusy tart nasal sting I usually attribute to a good VA. First few pipes I didn't notice the cocoa, third time I did. Very subtle. Reminds me of that fictional Wonka candy that has a 5 course meal in it. Like I'm being taken on a ride. It gets richer further on, deeper and more hearty but the "virginia tang" is still there (is it the cavendish?), burley adds a creaminess. Good all the way down to the bottom. No ashy taste (even smoking through the dottle), no bite.
G. L. Pease - Quiet Nights 8oz
Rich Mahogany
This is probably the best English/Balkan known to man. It's very smoky, but the smokiness reminds me of bacon. The tin note makes me want to eat it. That being said, it's very smoky (yes I being said it twice). It's very smooth though, for an English. As it says on the tin, it's best enjoyed with a dram o' scotch, because that will numb your tongue for the inevitable latakia BBQ. I can't do Englishes anymore, because I don't like my mouth turned into a Traeger, but if I were to, on occasion, partake, it would be this one.
Peter Stokkebye - PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake
It's time for old man Peter to retire
I've yet to be impressed by a Peter Stokkebye blend. There's always something off. In this one it's crazy astringent. After a bowl of this it feels like I've been chewing on raw tea leaves, my teeth are all squeaky (fresh or even after 8 months age, I compared both). I think it's that cavendish middle, I tried some without it and it seemed a little better. I guess that's the price you pay for a gimmick. Hard to stay lit, bowl crusts over... it's a lot of work to smoke this. The virginias are nice, deep, mildly sweet. There are better va/pers though. His son knows what's up, I haven't been let down by one of his blends yet. Time to put the old man out to pasture. Also, just a note after reading some of the other reviews: if you have to fix the tobacco yourself by aging, stoving or blending then it's not a 5-star tobacco. I don't think you understand how this website works. This isn't Allrecipes.
Cornell & Diehl - Autumn Evening
Maple Delight
I bought an ounce on a whim and boy was I ever glad I did. I'm not usually a fan of aromatics but I'm dipping my toes back in. This has got to be [one of] the best [bulk] aro [flavors] I've ever smoked. No weird artificial taste, no lingering sugar-mouth aftertaste (not much, at least). And the taste... I find myself actually craving this flavor, it's almost addictive. It just pops in my head throughout the day, "Hey, you should smoke another pipe of that Autumn stuff". I've since tried other maple blends and none can even touch this. Flavor kind of fades halfway to the bottom. A little bite, mixed with some stoved virginia tempers this. I don't know what that weirdo, Dave, is talking about, it doesn't taste like bagels. I wish people would stick to the point when reviewing tobaccos. You aren't Hemingway and this isn't your personal blog.
Sutliff - 507C Virginia Slices
Poor Man's Orlik
It's as close as you're going to get as far as bulks go. Not quite there. Will I miss it? My wallet will. Oh well, "There can be only one," I suppose. Bag note: pears and hay. Flavor: nice and sweet a hint of spice. Doesn't last though, flavor is gone about half-way through and starts to taste of ash. No bite though. Update: Actually, ES Evening Flake is closer to Orlik... if you could get it.
Peter Stokkebye - PS402 Luxury Twist Flake
Decent tobacco
Bag note of earthy plums or sweet leather, I can't quite place it. It's hard to believe there's no perique in here with how rich it is and the tongue-tingle it leaves. Some slight spiciness, subtle sweetness but mostly a woody taste. Not quite my cup of tea (OGS is king) but I respect it nonetheless. Glad I got a quarter-pound when it was on sale. No ragrets. Update: The more I smoke this, the less I like it. It's kind of bland, one dimensional and not very sweet. Shoe leather was apt. Looks like this is going in the back of the cellar, will check back in a year. Update: You know what it tastes like? Like someone took some good virginias and stoved them for way too long. That explains the deep woodiness with the lack of tarty sweetness.
Orlik - Golden Sliced 100g
Perfect
I keep forgetting how good this tobacco is as I save it as my "special occasion" tobacco as not to spoil myself (yet I seem to find I have a "special occasion" a few times a week). I get so used to making sacrifices when smoking other tobaccos that I forget how perfect this one is. Whether it's a hint of a bite, a slight bitterness, a sugary aftertaste, an off balance; I've learned to make do and ignore it just for the sake of buying in bulk. None of that with Orlik. No, it's not the spiciest va/per, in fact one might even ask where the perique even is. I think it's just there to add balance to the virginia, which you will notice, retains it's smooth (very smooth) flavor all the way to the bottom of the bowl unlike straight virginias which turn into charcoal halfway through (ahem *507C*). Tin note of the sweetest pears and hay makes me want to eat the flakes straight out of the can. A nice virginia tang on retrohale that will make your eyes water. Even a subtle floral-ness (not quite soap, but "clean" tasting). I would smoke this all day every day but then I don't think I would appreciate it as much.
Newminster - No. 400 Superior Navy Flake
Pleasant smoke indeed
Tin note of mildly smoky apricots and/or tamarind. Not sweet on initial pull but on retrohale definitely (is that a real word? "retrohale"?). Very good all the way down. Rich and subdued sweetness, hint of smokiness (much better than Hal O' The Wynd). Update: Ok, I'll give it a 5. It's smooth like Orlikcs but spicier. Note of recognition (a "shout out" as the kids say) to NMPiper for turning me on to this in his review of PS Luxury Twist. Even though he's horribly wrong about PSLT and OGS, he's right about this one. Update: Took a star away because it's just a touch too spicy to be considered perfect. I gave it 5 when I was drinking scotch which numbed my tongue.
Low Country - Natural Virginia & Oriental
This is the only LC blend
That really stands on its own. I find all the others, even the straight virginia, in some way lacking here or there. While good as blenders, on their own I find them just missing a little something. The virginia and burley comes close to being complete, but as I'm not a frequent burley enjoyer I don't mind spending the little extra on the Haunted. This one however is completely smokeable on it's own. Zero bite. All day. Spicy and clean. The virginias in LC I find not to be quite as sweet, but it works in this blend. If the VA/Burley reminded me of oak, this reminds me of polished mahogany. I will definitely be buying more.
Low Country - Natural Virginia & Burley
Nice
Still relatively new to burleys. Was introduced by Haunted Bookshop, while at first I threw it in the trash, I later dug it back out and have now come to thoroughly enjoy it. This is very similar, minus the perique obviously. So it does lack the depth and spiciness, and has ever the slightest bite (easily mitigated, however, with proper pacing), but still retains the creaminess of the burley and subtle sweetness of the virginia. For this price one could just as easily add a pinch of perique on your own and call it a day. Haven't tried that yet but I will right right now. As it is, still a pleasant smoke. Will definitely buy more. Update: I actually prefer the Haunted over this, as the virginias are a little sweeter and the perique is blended better than I could manage it. Since I infrequently prefer burleys I'll dish out the extra bucks. If I were a regular enjoyer I'd definitely be buying this one.
Low Country - Hazelnut
Not bad indeed
I usually make it a rule to try two different brands or blends of a certain flavor in order to better contrast and compare before I come to an opinion. I'm just throwing this one out there even though it's the first hazelnut flavor I've tried (I believe that is what is known as an "uninformed opinion", so take it with a grain of salt). It's not bad, tastes quite like a hazelnut coffee creamer (slightly artificial but nothing offensive). Also a little creamy. It does bite, but unlike the LC Vanilla you can reduce it by taking it slowly. I do find myself craving the flavor every once in a while, which is definitely a good sign. Well, maybe not "craving" so much as "preferring" (it's no Autumn Evening). I'm going to try a few others before I come back to this, but I've definitely earmarked it. I mean, come on, look at the price. Update: After trying Nutty Irishman, I tend to prefer it over this. Same hazelnut flavor, just better balanced, more depth and no bite. Since I'm not an every day aromatic smoker, the price difference doesn't matter to me. Still not bad though.
Low Country - Vanilla
Bites like a tiger!
It's got good flavor on first light but after the third puff it starts to tell you, hey something's going on. About halfway through you start to get a little apprehensive, like, taking a shot... you know it's going to sting but you still want to finish the pipe. After you're done your tongue feels like someone took a belt sander to it. Unlike the hazelnut, which also has bite but can be mitigated by smoking it slowly, this one will bite even if you let the pipe go out between puffs. Maybe good for a blender, especially considering the price but I wouldn't recommend hitting this one raw.
Lighters - Peterson Pipe Lighter - Irish Harp
Spend the few extra dollars and get a real Old Boy
Bulky and cumbersome to ignite. Hinge for the cap is too far back to be able to flick and light in a single motion. Tolerances are off. Flint wheel was rubbing against the base of the gas tube. Cap also rubs against the flint-storage tube leaving a nice scratch every time you open it. Luckily I noticed this before I filled it and was able to return it. Got an Old Boy and haven't been happier (btw, reservoir size has not been an issue at all, in spite of the tamper).
Lighters - IM Corona Pipe Lighter - Old Boy Brass Arabesque
Great lighter!
A solid piece of furniture. This lighter is great. Excellent craftsmanship, precise tolerances (unlike some copycats). Nice solid weight in hand. Easy to flick open and light in a single motion of the thumb. This is the kind of lighter I see passing down to my children were I to have any. Don't be fooled into thinking it holds less butane due to the tamper, I've not found this to be an issue at all. I don't know where it puts it but it's surprised me by outlasting several of my other lighters of similar size. It lasted almost three weeks on the first fill and I use it daily. What I love best about this style of lighter is the consistency of the flame. On many push-button lighters the adjustment knob is on the bottom and you end up putting pressure on it as you depress the igniter. Even mere pressure is enough to alter the flame height. Not with this. The same flame all the way until it starts to go empty. I changed my mind, I want to be buried with this lighter instead. That way I can smoke pipes in style when I'm in Heaven (assuming that's where I end up).
Sutliff - Ready Rubbed Match
Meh
It's subpar in my opinion, granted I'm not a big burley fan. Yeah I get the brown sugar marshmallowy taste on first light, but there's so much topping that not only does it not stay lit (no matter how long you dry it) but the bowl crusts over requiring you to frequently break it up just to relight it. Don't taste any cocoa at all. It also leaves quite the aftertaste that coats the mouth and lingers long after smoking (I find this common in poor quality aromatics). Another thing to note: I accidentally left my entire collection in the unheated pantry over the winter where it was frequently below zero and afterwards this lost all its flavor and tasted quite literally like dirt. I'm not factoring that into the rating of this tobacco, since it was my doing, however the freezing didn't affect any of my other tobaccos at all. So take that into consideration if you will.
Lane Limited - 1-Q
Decent
Not a bad aromatic. The first time I bought it two years ago I remember I couldn't taste anything and remember it being extremely light compared to the English blends I was smoking at the time. With a more refined palette I decided to revisit it as I delve back into aromatics. It starts off with a delicious brown sugar taste that turns into almost a black licorice jellybean flavor as it heats up. Two things that keep it from being outstanding: 1) There is a very, very slight artificial taste to it. It could just be the way the tang of the virginias play with the topping, or it could be the topping itself. 2) It leaves a heavy aftertaste, what I call sugarmouth, that lingers long after finishing the pipe. Like I gargled with cough syrup. I find this common in the lower quality aromatics. For the price... eh it's not bad. I use it mostly to sweeten up my bulk Low Country virginia, which mitigates the two negative factors somewhat and turns it into a nice mildly sweet all-day smoke. For just a few bucks more, C&D's Autumn Evening is like 1-Q on steroids (tastes like delicious cake, but without the sugarmouth or chemical hint).
Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop
Hold on a second...
It does grow on you. I went from throwing it in the trash, to digging it out to give it another shot and now liking it. I don't know if I'd buy more though, I'm more of a Virginia man. I do like the Billy Budd Blonde and this is similar in concept but more reigned in (I do prefer this over BBB now, I may buy more after all). There's definitely more burley than va/per, so if you go into it expecting a va/per plus you will be disappointed, but if you think of it as a burley plus it's more interesting.
Peter Stokkebye - PS400 Luxury Navy Flake
Nice Va/Per but there are better options
First of all let's get this out of the way: I don't care what you read on the internet but this is not the same as Sutliff's 507C. You can just tell by looking at it, not to mention the tin note (bag note, if you will) and, of course, the taste. Yes, it is similar, but if you can't tell the difference you need to stop writing reviews on matters of which you have no clue. I swear, SmokingPipes needs to put a 2 year block on new accounts before they're allowed to post anything close to having an opinion. Anyway, on to the review: As stated, it is sweet and fruity like 507C but just the slightest bit less so. The perique does give it some spiciness and depth, albeit gingerly. My main complaint is there is a slight bitterness in the back of the throat. I know it's no Orlik, but for bulk it's not bad. I just can't get past the bitterness. For a similar Va/Per that's just a hair less sweet but better balanced (and no bitterness) I would recommend Erik Stokkebye's Evening Flakes. Update: I smoked a pipe of this last night with a cup of Celestial Seasoning's Mandarin Orange and noticed there was no more bitterness. I wasn't sure if it was the tea so I had another pipe for breakfast today and sure enough, it's all but gone. It only took 9 months. This upgrades the tobacco definitely. I just wish I had known before I struggled through the first 8 ounces. (Yes, don't buy a pound based solely off of people's opinions on the internet. However, had I not I wouldn't have found out about the aging). Still leaving the same stars since I have to age it myself to "fix" it.