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Low Country - Natural Virginia & Oriental
Low Country Bulks are like a C&D Cheat Code
Let me say from the start that, while some of my favorite blends are from C&D (Dreams of Kadath, Haunted Bookshop), I have been burned by their virginias enough times that I sort of made a rule for myself that I wasn't going to try any of their primarily virginia-based blends (for anyone who might not know, and someone correct me if i'm wrong here—Low Country pipe tobaccos are made by Cornell & Diehl. Low Country, Smokingpipes.com, Laudisi, and C&D are, for all intents and purposes, the same thing). Previous C&D virginias for me have lacked all sweetness, tasted harsh and young, and often so rough on my throat I could hardly smoke a bowl. However, I love me some orientals, and I love C&D's orientals, and they are really one of the few producer/manufacturers that really pay much attention at all to oriental-lovers. So it was with a high degree of skepticism and a tiny bit of hope that I ordered an ounce of this one to try—and I figured at less than 2 bucks it wouldn't be a big deal if it was another C&D virginia bust Uniform ribbon cut, quite dry, but not crispy or over-dried. A pleasing medium reddish-brown I'm guessing are the Red Vas, with some lighter browns that might be the orientals, or some of it bright leaf if there is any (it does not mention bright leaf in the description, even though Low Country Natural Virginia, sans ori, is said to contain it). Pleasant sour, malty, tangy fragrance in the jar. Good signs, but then again, I have been fooled before. because of the dryness of the ribbon, I packed it tighter than I normally do. Almost too tight, but it didn't turn out to be too much of a problem, just had to be careful about tamping as I smoked it. Incense, butter, woody comes through from prevalent Orientals—good news. And while I don't taste the virginias much, that's not a bad thing. Virginia is there, but SO mild. More of a spine to the blend that supports the orientals—a spine that holds everything up and that you don't notice because it isn't hurting you, is really what a good spine should do (I was in physical therapy most of last year for back problems so I know). If I had got this primarily for the Virginia flavor I think I would be disappointed. But with my expectation for C&D virginia being what it is, these virginias, being even quietly sweet and only a small bit of mild rough edges, are such an improvement from my usual experience that I'm delighted. And the point, of course, was the orientals, which come through well. The description says that it's mostly Red Vas with a bit of Orientals. As others have commented in the reviews, the taste almost seems flipped from that description. But I believe that is because we're dealing with C&D red virginia… I'm not going to keep bashing that dead horse, my feelings on that are clear enough at this point. Creamy, rich white smoke. Excellent in that regard. I like seeing and feeling and smelling big clouds of smoke around me. The blend can smoke very hot, though. My pipe got pretty uncomfortable to touch a few times and I had to slow down and let it rest a bit. I do not think it translated so much into the flavor, though perhaps the cause of some of its rough edges (again, remarkably mild compared to my past C&D rodeos). Medium-low to medium nicotine. More than I expected, in fact. The bottom line: I liked it. I might buy more, seeing as there aren't a whole lot of inexpensive and easy to find oriental blends out there without latakia. Then again, I have a pretty good VaPerOr home blend made with C&D izmir and sutliff everything else. The flavor of my home blend is more rich, but it's more expensive. But with the Low Country blend, we're talking about a really great value bulk blend here—I repeat, this is less than 2 dollars an ounce! Of course my home blend is more expensive than that, even if it's also pretty dang cheap. If you, like me, want to try a cheap Va/Ori blend but are suspicious of C&D virginias, give this one a shot. It might surprise you. If you are already a fan of C&D and have no qualms with their other virginia-based blends, then these cheap Low Country bulks are like a C&D cheat code Based on this experience I am interested in trying more, even might pay more than the bulk prices to try their tinned VaPerOr offering, Atalaya
Peter Stokkebye - PS201 Black Cavendish
Converted me
I'm not a black cavendish guy. Or at least I didn't think I was. But this stuff is great. Instead of Captain Black Dark, which makes me sick just smelling it in the pouch, and instead of stuliff's aromatic blends, which are overly greasy yet somehow taste little better than steam, this stuff smells good both in the bag and in your pipe and tastes much more complex than it should. I'm not saying it's my new favorite tobacco—i'll still reach for a Vaper or straight Va flake or some kind of unflavored burley blend nine times out of ten. But if I'm looking for something sweet, this is great stuff.
Stands & Pouches - Smokingpipes Leather 2 Pipe Case with Pouch Tan
Fits two medium bent pipes
I was a bit nervous ordering this because of the "Not adequate" review, as I smoke almost exclusively bent pipes. Upon arrival I immediately tested it by filling it with two of my most bent stemmed pipes and the usual accoutrements: czech tool, lighter, pipe cleaners, etc. Everything fit fine. I did not put any tobacco in it as I didn't want to go through the hassle and get ribbon everywhere but it seemed that there was plenty of room for anything I would need traveling. I can't imagine needing to put a full ounce of ribbon in here and being able to smoke it before it dried out, but I could certainly get whatever I would need for a short term trip. Perhaps the other reviewer has bigger pipes than mine, but I wasn't putting nosewarmers in there, they were medium sized. I wouldn't want to fit two house pipes in there, or an Oom Paul, but average-sized pipes should work fine. The leather finish had more of a mottled, oil-cloth, rustic look to it than what I see in the picture but I actually like it better that way. I'm very satisfied so far and excited to use this on future trips. A great value. Only taking off half a star because I felt the materials on the interior part where the pipes go seemed a bit cheap compared to the rest of the pouch. Also a slight rubbery smell from the tobacco pouch section, which is I'm sure from the liner...Hopefully it doesn't get into any tobacco I put in there. It's not strong but it's there, at least so far.
Newminster - No.400 Superior Navy Flake
The Poor Man's Capstan
Smells straight up exactly like raisin bran before smoking. Once you get going it is not in-your-face but there is a sweetness with a good subtle graham cracker flavor that reminds me a lot of Capstan Blue. And that's fresh, not even aged yet. In fact after smoking one bowl of this I decided at this price I really have no need of paying 17 bucks for a tin of Capstan ever again.
Peter Stokkebye - PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake
My most heavily cellared tobacco
Try a bit fresh if you like but don’t judge it until it has been in a Mason jar for a year. This isn’t better than escudo but with the age is satisfies that craving pretty well and for the price I will buy more of this over escudo most of the time. Be patient with the aging and you will be well rewarded for it
Sutliff - 515 RC-1
New favorite bulk
Just a few months in a jar does wonders. I have much fancier tinned tobaccos but I keep craving this instead. Wish it burned slower so it lasted longer. Vinegar taste comes in strong in the beginning but it burns away after a while to just sweet tangy red va . Something this cheap has no business being this good
