Public Profile

MICHAELSPOTTS

About Me:

I received my first pipe from the best man at my wedding before setting off on a two month cycling trip. He told me, "smoke it at victories." I enjoyed a bowl every 500 miles, and upon cresting mountains over 5000' high. Since then, smoking my pipe is a commemorative act, a celebratory event that reminds me of the best times.

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Presbyterian - Reformation 50g
Buy it for the tin or don’t bother
Presentation: well-formed flakes measuring approximately 1.5 x 2.75“ and very thin. Pliable but not especially moist. Good. Tinned scent: mellow, sweet without being cloying, cocoa followed by fruit, perhaps cherry, but not citrus or banana. Preparation: I chose to smoke an entire flake (approx. 4g). I rubbed it out thoroughly but did not give it any additional time to dry. My first time trying a blend, I usually prefer to take it as they give it (though I usually end up preferring it somewhat drier). It was not difficult to light and only required occasional rights. With more focus, it might have only needed two or three over the course of the bowl. First third: flavor wise, this bears absolutely no relation to standard Presbyterian mixture, any more than the lesbian Reverend at the nearest mainline Presbyterian Church bears to old Scottish firebrands like John Knox. That being said, I will judge it on its own merits. Little or no bite. Mild burley with hints of toasted oats mildly sweetened with chocolate syrup. Mid-way: fairly similar to cube cut burly, except for less tobacco and more generic “aromatic chocolate”. However, it has less sharpness than cube cut burley, which is an okay trade off. There is more flavor than, say, Lane 1Q, but less than 7 Seas. The room note is decidedly pleasant. I doubt this would offend anyone. Finish: just a little acrid toward the end. Nothing gross. Reflections: I confess that I bought this primarily for the tin art, and had very low expectations. As such, my expectations were entirely met. It is a mediocre aromatic and a poor blend for those whose preference is towards full flavored tobacco. Throughout my bowl, I kept forgetting I was even smoking. Positively, that means it was not offensive but neither was it interesting. For the person who smokes all day, perhaps that is appealing. But similar (and better) blends can be had for much better prices. Score: 5/10 - buy it for the tin, or don’t bother. 1 - abomination (Billy Budd) 2 - gross (Bayou Morning) 3 - poor or very boring (Lane 1Q) 4 - some notable flaws 5 - utterly mediocre. But at least not offensive. 6 - enjoyable but forgettable (London Mixture) 7 - very good - Presbyterian Mixture, Embarcadero, Night Cap 8 - “hey, this is great!” - Escudo, five-year aged OGS, Capstan Blue, Solani Burley 9 - RDF, Saint James Flake, Blairgowrie 10 - never had it