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DK ACOLYTE
About Me:
Rating ⭐=No;
⭐⭐=Avoid if possible;
⭐⭐⭐=Ambivalent; ⭐⭐⭐⭐=Good, occasional repurchase;
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐=Exceptional! Main rotation, stockpile
Badges
Reviews
Sutliff - Eastfarthing 1.5oz
Frog, Not frog
@Joe_Kurr, your review is my favorite of all time. Masterfully written bit of tobacco love, illuminating the human condition. To this tobacco and my review... personally, Eastfarthing has a cloying top note that doesn't suit me at all. Sadly I'm not a fan.
Newminster - No. 702 Light Burley
Fine solo smoke
Very nice. Malty, nutty, floral, coffee. A bit of pepper and zest from the white Burley. Grows darker and richer as bowl progresses. Great flavor value here. I noticed its discontinued at SP. Too bad. Great smoke.
Low Country - Natural Virginia
Zesty and sweet
Its nice for the price but totally one dimensional. Has a natural good old tobacco flavor, notes of hay, zesty and sweet. Someone else said its almost as good as Yorktown. I strongly disagree.
Low Country - Natural Virginia & Oriental
Natural taste
First impressions- no fuss, straight tobacco flavors. Verges on rough spots but pulls away. No bite. Super price.
Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Morning Blend
No fuss
Not much to complain about. Behaves very well in the pipe. Personally I feel the flavor should be rated at two stars. Its exstreemly light bodied
Cornell & Diehl - Star of the East Flake 2oz
Smooth wall of Latakia
Flavor profile entirely dominated by the smokey leaf. Delicious, creamy, velvety meld with the virgina. Smooth as can be. Delicious retrohale. Its a killer smoke when you're craving a really big Latakia bomb but want a luxurious tobacco.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Brown Twist
Strong
Seriously strong. If you can get through a bowl of this in a Missouri Pride, I'd be impressed. Decent flavor, on the verge of soapy at times. Due to its strength I'll probably use it as a blending tobacco to add body and nicotine to some of my favorite OTC.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Dark Bird's Eye
Strong
Seriously strong. Decent flavor but nothing to write home about. Due to its strength I'll probably use it as a blending tobacco to add body and nicotine to some of my favorite OTC.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - #25 Mixture
A Dark Horse
My first bowl was epic. I smoked a dozen more to prove the first amazing smoke wasn't a fluke. Everything else is benched temporarily. The flavor profile stands head and shoulders above other favorite blends in the light English genre. The Latakia is light but still manages to bring a tangy, smoky, herbaceous, soda note that works perfectly with the sweet Virginia and dark sun cured. This would be amazing in a flake. Easily in the lofty relm of Penzance, Mac Baren Latakia Flake and Star of the East Flake. #25 is the bulk real deal.
Lighters - IM Corona Pipe Lighter - Old Boy Arabesque Silver
Arabesque
This is kind of the supermodel of lighters. The arabesque engraving is incredibly picturesque and very cool. My IM Corona lighters are more reliable then all of the other brands I own. First article inspection reveals the item is well made and solid. Design is perfect for pipe smokers with its horizontal soft flame. The soft flame is superior to the zippo pipe lighter design. The fuel doesn't evaporate like the old zippos do. That alone is worth its weight in gold. It also has a built in pick in the bottom. Brilliant!
G. L. Pease - Bankside 2oz
Gorgeous!
Dang! Awesome addition to the G.L.P tobacco line. I was expecting something similar to Sixpence but this is totally different (its a much bolder earthy smoke). For my fellow knuckleheads, it just kicks ass. For those of you looking for a little more detail; at the core of this blend you get a VaPer bready, tangy, ripe dark fruit, plummy and peppery sweetness. Interwoven with the VaPer are notes from the dark fired and Latakia... earthiness, espresso, and creamy smokey notes of bbq, incense and floralness. Immensely satisfying. By the time the nic hits, you're in tobacco heaven.
Cornell & Diehl - Redburn 2oz
Initial dislike
I was really looking forward to this blend. Unfortunately I don't get along well with the topping. Too much of a bitter chemical taste. Overwhelming. It was too spicey on the tongue and not enough smokey flavor. I didn't like this blend.
Low Country - Edisto 2oz
Nice addition
This is one of C&D's better virginia blends. C&D virginas tend to be far too young for me, generally, but this one is pretty tasty. It's not at the level of Yorktown, my personal favorite. It won't be joining my rotation though, as it didn't knock any of my regulars out, but it's a nice smoke.
Cornell & Diehl - Mad Fiddler Flake 2oz
Cigar blend addition
The first cigar blend I've tried in years. Not bad. It has a darkfruit note that goes well with the cigar leaf, smokes dry / woody. Occasional rough edge with the Perique. Giving it some time in the Cellar.
Cornell & Diehl - Dreams of Kadath 2oz
Ambivalent
Plugs. Good times! The latest tin had a gorgeous plug, super dense and tight. Cut like a dream. As for the tobacco, still figuring it out. First couple smokes were underwhelming. Everyone is talking about powerful flavors... I'm not engaged in the right pipe apparently. I find it to be a fairly light smoke ... so doing something wrong??? Update: Ive moked most of the plug at this point and don't get anything anyone has talked about. No Apple or fruity topping at all. For me this is a very smooth smoke, little bit of barnyard funk in the background, smooth retrohale. The proportions are well balanced, maybe to well balanced. I can't make most of varietals out. The Cavendish, booze and Virginia is obvious but the rest is too subtle. Very smooth and cigar like. Not going to make my rotation however.
Cornell & Diehl - Bluegrass 2oz
Espresso VaPer
Very nice flavor. Delicious, satisfying, meaty. This is a great blend for C&D. I've been exploring the dark fired leaf and find it really does well in these VaPers. It adds an additional touch of sweetness with earthy notes of espresso and faintly Connecticut cigar wrapper. I don't get any smokiness per say but the flavor is great. It plays well with the Perique and Virginias. Flavorful blend that is well seasoned with its condiment tobaccos. IMHO a bit too robust for a morning smoke, but repeatable all afternoon.
Paladin - Black Cherry 7oz
Legend OTC
The black cherry note is awesome. Personally, my favorite aromatic flavor from the old time OTC blends. Delicious Burley with nutty, creamy coffee notes enveloped in a strong dead on black cherry topping. Delicious! The flavor rings true through every bowl. This is the perfect black cherry top note. Pairs gorgeously with the Burley. Perfect for lazy summer days or anytime really. Room note is a crowd pleaser. Topping seems to weaken slightly off over time but only serves to showcase the Burley a little more. Lots of sugar here so be smart about your cadence.
Sir Walter Raleigh - Aromatic 1.5oz
Legend OTC
Gorgeous simple flavors, toasty nutty Burley, sweet bready Virginia with a light and perfectly balanced molasses like top note. Wonderful room note. Perfect for summer days.
Lighters - IM Corona Pipe Lighter - Old Boy Chrome Hairlines
Big bucks
First article inspection reveals the item is well made and solid. Design is perfect for pipe smokers with its horizontal soft flame. The fuel doesn't evaporate like Zippos. That alone is worth its weight in gold. It also has a pick. Brilliant. The price is still very high for what it is UPDATE: after much use, you get what you pay for and this lighter is solid! Worth every penny. Changing my 3 stars to 5.
Cornell & Diehl - Red Virginia Ribbon
Bulk King
As advertised! Sweet, with honey and buttery notes of hay, straw, bread and malt. There is an edge of spice, citrus and zest in the undertones. It smokes a little hot if too dry but doesn't want to bite. This unassuming bulk blend holds its own against legend blends with a flavor that reminds me of something like Capstan Blue crossed with C&D Yorktown. Great flavor and as a bulk blend, what a deal!
Cornell & Diehl - Cube Cut Burley
Bulk King
Nice smoke. Consistent, strong, nutty, with coffee notes. Taste well aged. None of that sour green immature Burley you get in some C&D blends. Fantastic on its own and a little will go a long way as a blend tobacco. For that matter, on its own a little goes a long way. I've knocked myself flat several times.
Cornell & Diehl - Burley Ribbon Cut
Bulk soldier
Good old Burley. Nutty, toasty and woodsy. Not as tasty in my opinion as C&D's bulk Cube Cut or Dark Burley. Its mild in flavor compared to those two. However it is far less of a face bunch than Cube Cut. That $#%& is strong!
Sutliff - Aged Maduro Cavendish
Surprise
Yum. Fine solo smoke. Blends well with dark burley and cigar leaf. Special treat this one. Loads of body yet maintains that delicious smooth Cavendish retrohale.
Sutliff - 1M
Aromatic boss
Upfront its the legit vanilla Cavendish from yester year, this boys has a ton of body too and holds its own. Very similar to 1-Q but with more body to the smoke and more spice in retrohale.
Paladin - Black Cherry 1.5oz
Paladin... legit
The black cherry note is awesome. Personally, my favorite aromatic flavor from the old time OTC blends. Delicious Burley with nutty, creamy coffee notes enveloped in a strong dead on black cherry topping. Delicious! The flavor rings true through every bowl. Lots of sugar here so be smart about your cadence.
Newminster - No. 23 Blackberry Brandy
Its booze
Like. Not much else to say about this aro. Behaves well in the pipe. No bite. Nice nutty creamy espresso notes mid bowl to go with the topping.
Mixture No. 79 - Mixture No. 79 1.5oz
Just misses the mark
Flavor is good. I liked it. However it doesn't behave that great in the pipe unless dried out. Burns hot, can bite, and has a bit of chemical taste on the smolder.
Lane Limited - Very Cherry
Cherry bomb
Great for blending. The cherry flavor is strong and stays pronounced throughout the bowl. Nice real cherry note. At times a little too much like a scented candle. Not good as a solo smoke.
Lane Limited - BL/WB
Not for me
There's a note in the flavor profile that is sickeningly sweet and turns my stomach. Hard pass for me.
Lane Limited - Black Raspberry
Nice Burley
Nice OTC style Burley blend. Definitely an aromatic but the flavor isn't overwhelming.
Lane Limited - BCA
Solid Cavendish
A blending blend but not a bad smoke on its own. Wonderful retrohale. Behaves very well. No bite and has its own body. Not just hot air.
Edward G. Robinson - Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend 1.5oz
Meh
Not bad but... meh. Burned well with no bite.
Cornell & Diehl - Dark Burley
Solid Comfort
A little nutty, espresso, mellow, gentle and cigar notes. Its awesome! Jump up any OTC without significantly altering the flavor profile.
Cornell & Diehl - Chopped Cigar Leaf
Smooth and sweet
Very mellow and sweet. True to the description. No more need be said. However, personally not like a mild or even medium body cigar. Its still pipe tobacco.
Cornell & Diehl - Speakeasy Navy Blend 2oz
Smoke easy
Sit down smoke. Pretty much a DF Kentucky show. The other three varietals are low level support. Nice smoke
Cornell & Diehl - Sunset Harbor Flake 2oz
Sit and smoke
Boy this one is tied up. Tasty, herbal, tea from the Izmer, with Perique and Latakia adding just a touch of their signature jazz. Love it, will grow golden as time goes on.
Cornell & Diehl - Seersucker 2oz
Tobacco review
In general, a dark brooding blend. The Burley, Cigar and DF play a prominent role, and in that order. Occasionally a pure cigar note or pure Oriental. Dark chocolate and espresso notes. Really does a number on your breath. A fine smoke for blustery winter weather
Cornell & Diehl - Pennington Gap 2oz
Tobacco
Nice and boozy, dark, rich. Burley and Perique are well represented
Peterson - Irish Flake 50g
Dark fired domination
A fine powerful smoke. Dark and earthy with the power to wallop newbies to nicotine. I recommend using a pipe with a small bowl as a precaution. A Missouri Pride works well. You can always reload if you want more. I wasn't annoyed by the topping but found it detracting at times. Purely on personal taste, I prefer Peterson's University Flake.
Lane Limited - HGL
Codger gold
Wonderful smooth Cavendish forward blend. I wouldn't call it full-bodied but it's satisfying still and has a wonderful aroma.
G. L. Pease - Key Largo 8oz
Cigar key
As its namesake hints at, Key Largo is truly lovely. It’s very much a cigar forward pipe blend, with the sweet Virginias and herbal Orientals enriching the creamy cigar wrapper. I find it full bodied enough to settle my pipe cravings for days. On opening my first tin, I was met with a blast of air that rolled out smelling faintly of manure and strongly of fermented vegetation. After the initial waft, the tin note settled into a mild vinegary red Virginia (McClelland like) riding over a Cigar note. The flakes were intact but delicate, with a perfect moisture content, easily rubbed out and ready to smoke. Key Largo lights up on the first match, produces voluminous smoke and smokes a bit dry. Pairs well with coffee, expresso, whiskeys and rum. In the pipe, the cigar is the lead of the show. Creamy, velvety, woodsy, earthy, full bodied and plenty of nicotine. The Virginia, bready, yeasty and sweet, supports, complementing the rich earthy, espresso cigar. The Oriental and Latakia work primarily in a small role, rarely coming to the forefront but enhancing the flavor profile of the leads. Key Largo is well balanced, reminding me of the smooth steady cigar note in Habana Daydream but slightly more dark and a level heavier. I’ve added this to my cellar list and bucket list. I need to get myself down to the Florida Keys if for no other reason than to enjoy the luxury of a beach and bowl at sunset. The room note and aftertaste are lingering and may dampen social interaction yet I'm absolutely positive there are many a bachelor who will be inclined to choose this absolutely superb pipe tobacco as an all-day smoke!
Mac Baren - HH Pure Virginia 1.75oz
BOOM 💥
This is the second Mac Baren HH blend that shook up my rotation. Pure Virginia is a WOW parade. The flue cured Virginia is somehow both aged and young simultaneously. It's like I'm smoking two pipes at once, a small bowl of young OGS and a large bowl of aged FVF. Its relatively cool smoking, with a capacious flavor. Rich, deep, malty and sweet, yet a bit of wood, a little tart and tangy citrus, grass and mild floralness. It leaves one satisfied with a nice nic kick, and no bite. No need to age, its amazing right out of the golden foil.
Bengal Slices - Bengal Slices 1.75oz
Tigers
Let the cakes crumble where they will but this cake is nicely balanced, nutty, smoky, sweet, creamy, herbal. It smokes cool with no bite and has a great aftertaste. The blender says Bengal Slices is finished with a subtle top note, the result is a bright, sweet, and smoky blend with a lively, yet deep flavor and a unique aroma.
Mac Baren - HH Latakia Flake 1.75oz
Latakia Supremo
Reading through all the reviews since the Latakia Flake debut, it's fair to conclude we are all shooketh. It's definitely delicious and a bit of a game changer. The HH line is exceptional. Every blend in this series blows my hair back.
Lighters - Peterson Pipe Lighter - Black
Directional Soft flame
Perfection, a wonderful directional soft flame for pipe smokers. This is a well made and sturdy lighter. I have two of these along with a collection of 40 zippos and a variety of other lighters. The directional flame makes it far superior to a bic or a normal zippo for the pipe enthusiast as one can avoid charing the rim of the pipe bowl AND avoid roasting your index finger with an awkwardly positioned lighter. It WILL NOT leak fluid and only deplete its reservoir through use. I also prefer it to the zippo pipe lighter. IT directs the flame naturally rather than you having to puff hardily to suck the flame down, making this pipe a less vigorous endeavor and compliments relaxation. It won't fight with wind but honestly neither will your pipe or most tobaccos. Smoking a pipe out in the wind isn't recommended. Find some shelter, pack your bowl and gently put this soft flame to leaf for a quiet relaxing pipe.
Amphora - Kentucky Blend 1.75oz
Tasty Burley smokiness
Kentucky has an awesome sweet, vinegary, hickory smoked bacon smell in the bag. It smokes with a similar flavor in the pipe. Well balanced with a bready Virginia, the smoke is thick with leading notes of savory smokey hickory, sweetness and spice. Supported by occasional smooth floral, woody, tart, and savory dryness. Medium to bold taste. Nice nic hit, probably best enjoyed in smaller sized pipes. It doesn't take much to enjoy the meaty BBQ smokey flavor of Kentucky. The flavor profile lands in a broadly appealing zone and should be very enjoyable for most every pipe enthusiasts. This is a winner from Amphora.
Amphora - Virginia Blend 1.75oz
Virginia simple
Nice bready bag note. Loads and lights with ease. Light, citrus grassy flavor profile. Lots of sweetness. Not much casing compared to other blends from Amphora. Occasionally I tasted a bit of that metallic, copper, chemical thing that OTC blends sometimes have.
G. L. Pease - Stratford 2oz
Reds & Perique
Yorktown meets Louisiana Perique! I was going to compare the Pease VaPers but then reading FriarAlcuin's review, he really nailed everything I was going to say. I second his conclusions. This is my favorite of the Pease VaPer blends, strong with Reds and perfectly balanced with Perique. A wonderful all day smoke.
G. L. Pease - Spark Plug 2oz
English at its best
Delicious. The Latakia is exotic. Incredible flavor and herbal, smokey richness.
Wessex - Burley Slice 50g
Contender
ABF meets BF#3. A rewarding medium/full bodied Burley blend. Consistent with prominent toasty notes of malt and coffee. Earthy nutty, walnut and cashew. Cocoa and carib. Wispy notes of cigar along with a fair amount of vitamin N.
G. L. Pease - Union Square 2oz
Virginia
If you want to compare apples to apples, this is very similar to C&D Opening Night. I like this marginally better as to my taste there's more reds and less brights, making for a better flavor profile. I tend to smoke a lot of Capstan, Yorktown and Dunhill Flake. That rotation remains king.
G. L. Pease - Stonehenge Flake 2oz
Dark fruit
Wonderful VaPer in my opinion. Delightful Virginia spiced with generous portions of Burley and plummy, peppery rich perique.
G. L. Pease - Temple Bar 2oz
Barnyard goodness
No mold. That was a good start. On a barnyard scale of 1-10, the tin note is a strong 7. My tin did not smoke to the description. It smoked like a full bodied cigar. Kick back and relax. Not an all day smoke. Strength was 3 stars, room note was 5, taste was 4.5. Flavor profile was dark nutty, tangy, cocao, leather and espresso.
G. L. Pease - Windjammer 2oz
Navy Blazer
Finally! A Navy Flake after my own heart. Navy tobacco, be it flake, cut, twist, pressed or curley, has always captured the spirit of my love for Burley tobacco. Every pipe on my veranda is a good old fashion colonial times sailor sitting down with a molasses and rum spiced Burley twist. It's just as convenient and delicious today as it was for old time sailors and outdoorsmen. Mr. Pease has made something fantastic! It has a rich, rum, figgy, and salty tin note. Its a full bodied blend of nutty, earthy burley supported by a delicious sweet, bready, zesty virginia. The plummy rich perique adds a good dose of dark fruit and pepper, kicking the flavor up. The Cavendish and dark rum tie it all together with a unique harmony. There's a subtle complexity as the bowl progresses and you slip into deep contemplation.
Mac Baren - HH Bold Kentucky 1.75oz
Out of the park
Bk knocks every category out of the park! Price, ok maybe not price. Moving on! Presentation, gold foil. Flakes, compact perfectly moisture level, tight. Tin note, awesome combo of crispy bacon and vinegary tomato. Pipe pack, tight or loose, smokes great (does require occasional relight). Room note, amazing, best room note of any blend, toasted marshmallows. Nicotine, full throttle. Flavour, dark roasted coffee, espresso, smokey salty cocoa, sweet vinegary hay. The DF is the dominant consistent note throughout every bowl. Complexity is debatable, consistency is not. Wonderful smoke, top to bottom, every bowl.
Mac Baren - HH Burley Flake 1.75oz
Nutty smooth
A fine all -day burley flake for the nicotine warriors IMO. Also, a killer blend to break-in the day! Pairs well with a cup of Columbia Supreme. Be aware though, the nic hit usually zones you right out for that last quarter bowl. Yes, Mac Baren makes a world class offering of Burley loveliness with HH BurleyFlake. The Virginia and Kentucky condiment lands the flavor profile between ABF and Wessex's Burley Slice. Predominantly, there's a tasty interplay of lightly creamy cashew and bold Walnut (ever so faintly bitter) melding in a medium bodied smoke that's well balanced between sweet and savory. Secondary notes of cocoa, earth, mineral and espresso develop throughout the bowl and are prominent in the after-taste. A winner for the Burleyphiles!
Samuel Gawith - Navy Flake 50g
Salty Sea Smoke
First Impressions: flavor is marked at 4/5 but I find it exstreemly light in body. Grassy, lemony virgin with a very light application of Latakia. The Latakia adds a consistent saltiness and occasional wee bit of floral essens but is in small enough portions that a smokey note is hard to register. The rum is very light and for me offers a constant high note. Some drying can improve smoking quality.
G. L. Pease - Caravan 2oz
Turkish show
Very nice. G. L Pease never let's you down. Another fine blend. From the wonderful smokey tin note to the complex, smokey, nutty, woodsy, herbal, floral pipe experience, this is a showcase of Oriental tobacco. Remember, Latakia is fire cured Oriental leaf. The spice from the Izmir (my guess on what type of Oriental leaf) and smokeness from the Latakia grab you and spin you off your feet almost simultaneously on light up. If I was smoking this in a blind taste I would have attribute the spice and fruitiness to Perique. Definitely a winner. Very similar to Westminster with a bit heavier mouth feel.
Cornell & Diehl - Oriental Silk
Oriental forward
Ordered a small 1oz sample. The tobacco smells delicious in the bag. Hay, nutty, sugary and honey/vanilla note. In the pipe things get a little complicated. The combo of Oriental and perique catches your attention immediately with a double whammy of spice. For me, the spice is an annoying distraction. It really hits me in the front and middle of my tongue and distracts from the flavors I'm hoping to experience. The Orientals and Virginias battle for the top note like a pair of kittens with full tummies. Its hard to find that sweet nutty bag note but it's present ever so subtly. The citrusy and sweet hay notes from the virgina sometimes build with, but other times cross cancel, the sour and herbal floral notes of the Orientals. Hard blend to nail down.
Amphora - Burley 1.75oz
Amphora Burley: First impressions
Excited to get this pouch and sample the goods. Lots of positive reviews. Out of the pouch the tobacco appears very moist and heavily cased. Not a surprise, the pouch is inexpensive and burley... it's going to be good and cased. The cut is a chunky broken flake. Smells fantastic, cocoa and nutty and absolutely delicious. Pinching a big bunch together the tobacco stays in a tight ball. Too moist? It looks like it could turn into a goopy mess... but it actually smokes just fine (like Burley does). However, drying it out for 30+ minutes does improve its smoking properties. True to its Burley base, it burnes slow and smooth with a consistent baritone woodsy boom of flavor. Not so much nutty as it is smokey dark roasted espresso, molasses, cocoa and faintly cigar like. None of the typical young walnutty sour sharpness you get with the C&D Burley blends. The virgina plays a supporting role, softening the body of the smoke with a wee bit of hay and sweetness, but stays far in the background. Required very slow and deliberate cadence to make it sing. It pipes on the hot side if pushed but won't bite. That'll do Amphora, that'll do.
Missouri Meerschaum - Missouri Pride Straight (6mm)
Smart Man's Workhorse
This little cob... what an epic workhorse! I own two dozen fancy artisan briar pipes and over 100 factory briar pipes, but I reach for this MP corncob at least 70% of the time. Cobs tend to smoke a wee bit sweeter than other pipe material and are less prone to ashy, harsh smokes. I thought of the PM as a cheap throw-away pipe for my truck when I bought it but the darn thing takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I'm still smoking it five years later and it smokes like a dream. The bowl offers a nice short 20 min smoke. If you want a longer smoke, repack the bowl. It doesn't need any rest. Its far more resistant to ghosting than a briar and typically you can smoke different blend genres back to back without any issues. Cobs travel better than any other pipe material, come apart easily and a small size lends itself to pack in a pipe roll or OTC pouch. Super easy to care for as well. When it gets a little funk (like all pipes will) swipe the bowl with alcohol or let it sit in the sun for 10 minutes. Done. No lengthy salt and spirit treatment needed. The pipe is resistant to overheating. If you break or lose it.... who cares, its cheap as hell and you can find them everywhere. Bang for the buck on any cob is HUGE!
Peter Stokkebye - PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake
First impressions
Delicious morning smoke. Can't beat the price.
Peter Stokkebye - PS400 Luxury Navy Flake
Navy wins
Fantastic Va/Per. Can't beat the price in general and for the quality and flavor you get it deserves 5 stars.
Rattray's - Black Mallory 50g
Gold
Fantastic smoke in this genre. Highly recommend this wonderful blend
Cornell & Diehl - Oak Alley 2oz
Yes Please
Beautiful smoke! Very pleasing in my after dinner slot. Leads with the Virginias, tangy, sweet, and bready. Burley is earthy, nutty and a little sour. Both brown and white burle fight to dominate. The perique brings spice and plum. The Turkish is smoky, herbal, spicy, woody and faintly sour.
Warped - Until the End 2oz
Dark Chocolate
The tin note is an extraordinary imitation of chocolate. In the bowl, very smooth cool smoke with a dry earthy Maduro aftertaste. Notes of bread, hay, coffee, cocoa, amaretto. It starts out smooth and has a red wine like dry note, but it quickly develops earthy undertones 1/4 bowl in. I wouldn't call it robust. Nic hit starts about the same time. Relaxing, easy, smoke.
G. L. Pease - Piccadilly 2oz
Pipe Dreams!
A Virginia forward English blend, similar to EMP or Presbyterian. Absolutely delicious and satisfying. Very pleased. It hits that perfect bready, smokey, spicy note. "Its is a provocative Pease blend of several Virginia tobaccos, delicately spiced with Latakia, and finished with Louisiana Perique. The alluring flavor is revealed in layers throughout the smoke. It's lighter and sweeter than the others, but still rich, with hints of cinnamon and citrus. A perfect "English Breakfast Mixture."
G. L. Pease - Cairo 2oz
Cairo in a Cob
The Perique plays very well with the Virgina and Orientals (Izmir ?). It sweetens it up and takes the edge off the zest of the brighter Virginias. There's a nice spice to the Orientals. Great flavor profile. Its bready, nutty and sweet. The "wisper" of Perique in Cairo is just right for me. It plays in every puff, easily noticeable and really adds a fantastic subtle fruit note, very enjoyable.
G. L. Pease - Kensington 2oz
Smokey & Spicey
Delicious and smokey on the light up, the Cyprian Latakia and Oriental are very prominent but the bright and red Virginia quickly join in with a bready, zesty twang. I get a lot of Oriental spice on the edge of my tongue with this blend. The Oriental and Latakia kick up quite a strong smokey, spicey, woody, espresso note but never reach the smokey blast of a lat bomb. I'd call it a medium/full blend rather than light/medium.
G. L. Pease - Embarcadero 2oz
Perfect with Coffee
Embarcadero... a bowl of this is a journey! At the charing light you set sail from port Virginia, the red's are way out front initially, taking all the attention, sweet, grassy, bready, and mildly zesty. By midbowl a full nutty, earthy flavor from the Izmir reaches parity with the Virginia's. By the end of the bowl you're coming into dock at camp Izmir. The air is musty, deeper and earthy, a burley-esque type affair that is full bodied and satisfying. Perfect on a summer evening and equally apropo on a cold winter morning. Pairs well with coffee. A few relights. No bite.
Cornell & Diehl - Izmir Turkish 2oz
Sleeper
I'll lead with the fact that I'm hugely surprised by Izmir and thoroughly enjoy it. Its a very flavorful yet manageable solo smoke in a loosely packed bowl. It has a nutty, almond sweetness and walnutty sharpness in parallel with a tea like woody, umami, savory note. Though there's sweetness, its rounded and balanced by a subtle sour tartness. A floralness in the first half of the bowl is replaced by cocoa and spice in the second half. Its cool and full. Its very consistent in the flavor profile but the number of different tasting notes provides an enjoyable complexity for me personally. Honestly it's surprising how many different notes present in each bowl from this single tobacco varietal. I find it more complex and enjoyable than my favorite Virginias. One light with No bite! Keep in mind too, Oriental has the lowest amount of problematic chemicals so in relative terms its "healthy". My hat is off!
Cornell & Diehl - Billy Budd 8oz
Something is different...
Billy Budd has been my favorite blend since 2010. I've smoked loads of it over the years and the bold delicious flavor has never wavered between tins. However, in my most recent 8 oz tin, to my great dismay, the flavor was #$@% awful. I tried it in a variety of briars and cobbs. No Bueno. The root cause is in the quality of Latakia. Obviously, Latakia has always dominate the blend. However, the Latakia in this tin had a horrible deep tar/Creosote note, as if during the manufacturing process the Turkish leaf was smoked over burning tires. The usual smokey, woody, herbal, rich and musty Latakia was entirely replaced with one note. Creosote. Where in the tins of the past, the Latakia masterfully played the star role leading the varietals in harmony, in this tin it savagely murders them and your taste buds. Hopefully this was just a bad batch and the blend hasn't changed. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 9/6/21 update: I've sampled two additional 2oz tins and per my opinion, the blend has definitely changed. Is anyone else noticing this? I've tried all my pipes, then cleaned them and tried again. I’ve tried multiple tins. No change. Its definitely the Latakia. It's not the same star from past years. It now has a much deeper harsh tar/Creosote taste. The delicious nuances of herbal smokey earthy woodiness are gone. The harmony is gone. It totally ruins the blend. Where it used to lead the other varietals masterfully, it now destroys the blend with this terrifying tar note. Possibly the cigar leaf is different too. I'm only getting a handful of puffs during a bowl that resemble the blends original flavor profile. I'll try to call C&D and see if they can provide any insight. This blend has gone from favorite, to unsmokable.
G. L. Pease - Odyssey 2oz
Good
First impressions: wow this was smokey and Full with a capital F. Calls for a big pipe to get the best flavor profile. On par with Nightcap for flavor and nic hit.
G. L. Pease - Robusto 2oz
One of the best
This is a powerhouses in the Cigar blend genre. The base flavor profile, a classic woody and smokey English, is paired with an unmistakably dark, earthy rich, cigar note. Extremely enjoyable, mildly complex and full bodied. The Virginia lays the foundation with notes of nut and wood. The smooth and smokey Cyprian Latakia teams up with the Oriental to produce overtones of smokey, nutty herbalness that combines richely with the espresso note from the Maduro. It's gorgeous! Behaves nicely on all fronts. Goes well after a big meal with a peaty scotch or coffee.
Peterson - University Flake 50g
High marks
This Va/bur gets high marks. Consistent, delicious and a nice nic hit. Its smooth but substantial and has a fullness to it from the Burley, which adds a consistent oily cocoa bean and earthy/ espresso note. The earthiness of the Burley is softened by the nutty, dark fruit note of the Virginias and a masterful top note (reportedly plum). For me the flavor profile is a trifecta of chocolate, nuts and cherry. Espresso notes develope midbowl. Fantastic smoke. Very consistent.
Cornell & Diehl - Stratfordshire
Mild Smokey Goodness
First Impressions: Well blended. I'm a fan of the classic flavors of unadulterated tobbaco leaf. I enjoy evening smokes that are Oriental forward with just a condiment level of Latakia. Stratfordshire's Latakia is in the vain of Presbyterian or Skiff Mixture, maybe sharper, but the Cavendish smoothes it out, pulls the punch a little, letting the brilliant C&D Virginia and Oriental play the citrusy, nutty, sweet notes. Just what I was looking for! A decade as a brother of the Briar has instilled appreciation for the adage "too much of a good thing" as applied to Latakia and Perique. I find this to be a brilliant all day blend. Personally I'll enjoy it as an evening smoke.
Cornell & Diehl - Yale Mixture
Bush league
Couple complaints... the cut of the Latakia is rough, kind of wierd and the leaf tastes subpar. I wanted this to be as good or better than Lancer Slices. Its not. It smokes okay. The virgina is aged and offers a terrific tobacco flavor. Better than any OTC burley product. The Latakia isn't constant, or terrific, but pops and shows here and there producing a reasonable effect.
Cornell & Diehl - Red Odessa
Take your time
First impressions: Nice Oriental forward smoke. The red virgina adds a good bit of sweetness and hay to the nutty Oriental. The Latakia is very subtle in some parts of the bowl, to the point where I can sometimes feel it more than you I can taste it. The perique adds a dark fruit note and some pepper, but as a condiment only. The blend is well balanced. It's best early in the morning. The complexity is most notable in those early smokes. However, later in the day, when busy and multi-tasking its a more subtle smoke.
Cornell & Diehl - Mountain Camp
Fire on the Mt.
Very nice full English. Love the flavor. But its a lat bomb and that's not my thing. Still appreciate it though and its a bulk!
Sutliff - 515 RC-1
Pickling time! Wait...what?
Sour bomb! What in the Heinze pickling vinegar is going on with this blend? The reds aren't that citrusy are they??? Its like the Blender spritzed Yorktown with apple vinegar. Seriously weird and STRONG vinegar odder in the tin and pipe. When the reds are this raw it will make your throat catch. Having said all that... I kind of like the after-taste. Not sure how to rate this? Its very unusual but like sour candy, enjoyable.
Tampers & Tools - Joseph Rodgers Gentleman's Smokers Knife with Greenwood Inlay
Solid Craftsmanship
Very solid pipe tool. Mechanically the tool has solid design and manufacturing. The bolster pin pivot is smooth and tight for both the reamer and pick blade. Its light and compact. The pick is long but not delicate. Huge improvement over a Czech tool. One comment, the nail mark on the reamer blade could be deeper and longer for better us. It has that old scouts pocket knife vibe and it looks good in many environments. Ascetically its not fancy but one wouldn't look out of place using this tool in a sport coat and tie, or any other business casual setting.
Sutliff - 150 Mark Twain
To put it mildly...
This would be a great starter blend for someone new to pipes. The flavoring and casing aren't over done. The tobacco quality is good. No goopyness or mess. Won't bite your tongue unless you puff like a frieght train. It does require some drying time for the best smoke. Personally this blend is too mild for my taste and has no place in my rotation. I find it far more mild than any of the classic OTC blends.
Cornell & Diehl - Orion's Arrow
Guide the way!
First impressions: A well crafted blend! It has a solid body with a wonderful taste. Exstreemly satisfying full bodied smoke. Lots of sweetness, zest, grass and hay notes from the virgina mix in perfection with the nutty, woody, earthy, and peppery notes of the Oriental and Perique. Pops of tart and sour flit by. The Perique is matched perfectly with the VA. I believe OA just knocked a blend or two out of my rotation. Love it!
Cornell & Diehl - Dark Burley
Tasty!
I'm a fan. This is delightful. It smokes a little hot but without tongue bite. Nice strong nutty woodiness, not sour or tart. Subtle Cavendish quality to it, a smoothness that is not sweet but kind if creamy. It does have some subtle sweetness, chocolate like note, in the same manner as a good cigar.
Cornell & Diehl - Good Morning 2oz
Oriental forward
This a lovely mellow blend. My smoking technique is really important to get the most out of it. I loosely pack the pipe. This is key and fundamental to enjoy the taste profile (it asks for a fairly open draw). If I can smoke slowly, avoiding any overheating of the leaf with excessive frequent hard draws, I find a lovely consistent blend. Subtly complex, switching between Oriental and Virginia forward. The natural leaf flavors, typical of Virginia and Orientals, dominate with notes of hay, earth, nuts, wood, and mild citrus. Just a kiss of latakia smokiness sits in the background. A very mellow and mild tartness will develope occasionally throughout the bowl but is infrequent. The after taste is mature Virginia with a touch of the Oriental nutty/woodsyness. I enjoy Turkish tobacco and I could smoke this as an all day blend.
Cornell & Diehl - Snug Harbor
English/Aro Gold
Another Bob Runowski subtle wonder! Snug Harbor is the first new English/Aro I've tried in years. Totally love this blend. Its light, its delicious and packs a nice punch. This is going on my all day smoke list. You can light it and forget it. The topping is mildly noticeable at the start of a bowl but dwindles off to let the natural tobacco flavors take the staring role. The Burley and Oriental seem to dominate, teaming up for a consistent nutty, mild tart/sour note. That base is spiced up a notch with smokey note of Latakia, always on stage but way in the back. The perique, which is subtle, adds dark fruit and sweetness. The classic Runowski robust earthy C&D burley flavor is obvious, the topping and blending has it singing a slightly sweeter note than usual. If you're a fan of Bob's Pegasus blend, Haunted Bookshop or OJK, you will find familiar, but much lighter and sweet notes here. Highly recommend.
Sutliff - Balkan S Original Mix Match
Smokey Goodness
First Impressions: decent quality tobacco, well blended. Latakia doesn't over power. Delicious. As good as any of the expensive lat bombs you can buy in the tin. Smokey, yet Nice and creamy
Romeo y Julieta - Reserva Real Churchill
Fantastic
Romeo y Julieta totally lives up to its reputation! God blessed! This is a fantastic cigar. Consistent flavor profile throughout. Of all the cigars I've reviewed this is my favorite. Construction is impeccable. Little maintenance is needed to get the cigar going and it retains its shape perfectly. Smooth, medium bodied and creamy, with delicious notes of leather, tea, sweet spices, fresh-cut cedar, and toasted sesame seeds dominate throughout the smoke. Supporting notes of cashews and white pepper grow in the last half. Incredibly approachable. This is a glorious morning stick and a wonderful "All Day" smoke.
Ashton - Classic Prime Minister
first impressions
Oh yeah👌! smooth, creamy mild and just awesome stick. Just nailed the perfect mild smoke for me. Everything was just right. Flavor profile was creamy leather, tea, nutty, with a hint of spice, mildly savory and peppery. No bitterness or earthiness. Great Sunday morning stick but really hits every note any time of day. Very lovely.
Solani - Virginia Flake - 633 50g
First impressions
I was really excited to try this. It was an unexpected and interesting smoke. Very mild and soft. For me it falls on the VaPer side of the line, but just barely. Regrettable I'm not much of a VaPer fan. As far as my Virginia rotation this will not be replacing anything, nor will it be added. I prefer Yorktown or my aged FVF, Dunhill Flake and Capstan Blue. From a Virginia point of view (and the flavor profile I enjoy in that varietal) this blend doesn't touch those blends. FYI - I do highly recommend Solani Aged Burley Flake. It may be one of the top 5 pipe blends ever produced.
Peterson - Elizabethan Mixture 50g
first Impressions
VaPer's are hit or miss for me as on occasion Perique taste like spoiled burley... as fermented burley will... lol. It guess I'm sensitive to it. This one didn't connect with me. The after-taste didn't sit well with me at all. I thought I'd like it due to the low percentage of Perique. Nope. Bit of a cigarette taste and the Perique had a cloying aspect for me. It was lengthy and pronounced. Like a sickly sweet port flavor deep in the lining of my mouth.Yeah I really didn't like this.
Camacho - Connecticut Toro
Morning champ
Exstreemly satisfying smoke, especially in the midmorning. Great mouth feel, mild to medium body but creamy and sweet with notes of toast, hay, pine nuts and leather. No bitterness at all. Very satisfying! It's mild in nicotine but don't make the mistake of smoking the whole thing on an early morning empty stomach! Have some toast and coffee with your smoke in the morning. It's a premium cigar! It will take you for a ride on an empty stomach.
Brick House - Double Connecticut Toro
Connected in Connecticut
Wonderful stick! I enjoyed this far more than the Gold Label Tudor I had recently. The DC is mild bodied but complex. The description notes "Boasting notes of cream, hay, espresso, peanuts, and sweet honey, Double Connecticut is a cigar for lovers of Connecticut leaf and one that exemplifies the tobacco's flavor profile for a mild smoke that doesn't disappoint." Personally I found it mildly creamy, nutty, with notes of tea, cocoa, and light sweet espresso in the 2nd third. There was a wonderful honey and vanilla note in the smoke off the foot. Very pleasing room note.
Macanudo - Gold Label Tudor
First impressions
Interesting stick, dominant coffee bean note. Notes of bitterness, mild leather, mild nuttiness and a bit of a strong unflavored soda note in the nasal. It was over the line for me in regards to the bitter note.
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Fine Art, Cartooning, and Pipe Smoking: Jim Amash
- ► This article was a nice surprise! I've literally studied so many of the JimInks reviews. To say his work plays heavy in my blend research is putting it lightly. Literally, i have several Excel files, exports from Tobaccoreviews.com, sorted for his two-cents. His work led me to Orientals, now my favorite leaf. Respectfully Sir. I tip my hat to you. Nice to put a face to JimInks. Thank you so much for each and every review and all your time! It's exstreemly appreciated and a tremendous value to the community. Five stars for you!
- ► @Martin K I was literally just thinking the exact opposite. It's all of the older guys, who've smoked a lot of varietals and blends from the various genres who recognize the genius of his 2000 reviews. Let's be real, there's a huge variety of blends but most are built to cater to the masses from the same varietals. Watch the mystery tobacco reviews. Those professionals have a hard time identifying their favorite blends. Is it his reviews or the blends that are so similar? That and all the smoking doesn't do the old tastebuds any favors.
10 Pipe Tobaccos New Smokers Should Try- ► Two Sillems in a "10 Pipe Tobaccos New Smokers Should Try" list? This is laughable. Come on Smokingpipes.com, hide your attempt to clear stock better than that.