Public Profile

Dan Tobacco - Blue Note 50g
Coltranin’
What a pleasant smoke! Definitely smokes more like a Virginia than an aromatic. That flavor is definitely very present, but there’s also that sweet flavor. Now, upon first impression, those two things were immediately there, and the profile of this blend almost presented as a dichotomy. However, the slower you smoke it, the more this opens up. The sweetness gets layered, but it always burns like a Virginia, so it’s really easy to smoke and retains its lovely complexity throughout the entire bowl. “Yeah, cat.”

Lighters - Zippo Black Matte Pipe Lighter w/ Pipe Emblem
I hate to say it, but...
First off, I love these lighters. They’re an American classic. I have one of these that’s probably 12 years old and a customized one-off made for my grandfather in the 1950s in immaculate shape. I hate how often these need to be refilled, however, and I hate the need to keep a backup when it dies out without warning. For that reason, I haven’t used a Zippo in a while. I much prefer the “Old Boy” style lighters for dependability and longevity. I think it’s worth the extra cash for that basic design if you’re an avid pipe smoker. I really hate to write a review like this, because I love good, American classic stuff, but being a longtime guitarist and recording artist, some may understand that these things happen based on experience using alternatives and on personal preference.

Sutliff - Creme Brulee
Not Enough
This stuff smells really nice. Doesn’t make you smell like an ashtray, and it doesn’t really seem to gunk up your pipe too terribly bad for what it is (if allowed to dry out a bit of course). I went through quite a lot of it too. However, smelling nice and leaving a good room note is where the good things stop with this, in my opinion. It’s like smoking vanilla icing, and I got nothing more out of it. For some reason, I got the best results when smoking from a churchwarden pipe.

Mac Baren - Club Blend 3.5oz
Straightforward, Elegant
Fairly straightforward in profile, but very easy to like. This is dark and smooth like a Cabernet. I did get some tongue bite from this. The moisture also seems a little excessive.

Mac Baren - Mixture Scottish Blend 3.5oz
Very Nice.
This blend has some layers. I hate to use the word “cherry” but that’s what it made me think of. It’s sort of fruity, nonetheless. I’m a relatively quick-paced pipe smoker and got little to no tongue bite, myself. All day smoke. It’ll be easy to go through 3.5 oz of this.

Capstan - Flake Blue 1.75oz
Love This
For me, this is hard to beat. It has been a go-to for ten years, and for some reason, it’s an easy love or hate tobacco. I’ve had some friends try this that simply didn’t get it. Very vanilla with some subtle spice; kind of smells like raisins. I think it goes very well with amber beers.

Presbyterian - Presbyterian 50g
Great Everyday
I had smoked this stuff pretty much nonstop for six or seven years. It’s a very simple English blend with some subtle sweetness that kind of gives off a cut-hay aroma on the nose. It’s easy to like, but smoking it as much as I have, one will grow bored with it.

Lighters - IM Corona Old Boy White and Gold Plate
OK Lighter
I’ve had this lighter for several years now. Easy to fill, lasts for months, and perfect for lighting pipes. I don’t smoke a pipe as often as I used to, so I seldom carry it anymore. The matte white wears off fairly easily if you put it in and out of your pocket with frequent use. The tamper that I never use has also broken off of the bottom just by pulling it out one day to unscrew the fill plug with. Other than that, a good lighter.

Cult - Blood Red Moon 50g
The Ace of Cherries
This is my favorite cherry tobacco I've tried. One runs into many issues with the vast majority of cherry tobaccos being produced. Tasting way too sweet on the first couple lights and the rest turns to sour sap. A sulfur-y haphazard cherry engineered flavor. You name it. This is the ideal cherry tobacco. A perfectly natural flavor that persists and an excellent mixture of tobacco to complete the perfected recipe. This stuff is art. Buy.

Cornell & Diehl - Purple Cow 2oz
Dense and Dark
The maduro and Latakia are the two intermingling, prevalent elements in this tobacco dense, dark-chocolatey base with Latakia spicy overtones, if I had to put it into words. Maybe not a morning smoke, as it really packs a punch if you've not eaten. I have smoked this after dinners and it's very satisfying. Worth the shot if you love these two elements.