Reviews
Missouri Meerschaum - Stubby
Love this thing
Durable, portable, quality, stylish, smokes great. Solid! I wish it came in different colored stems I'd buy them all!
Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop Cake 2oz
Hash out the 1lb bricks already
Upgrade. Noticeably better than the OG. I finished my tin all too quickly.
Mac Baren - HH Old Dark Fired 16oz
I like a lot of blends
But if it comes down to it, there's only one that you need. This is the one.
G. L. Pease - JackKnife Plug 8oz
Grew on me...
Like literally, it grew hair on my chest and made my beard thicker. At first I didn't get this blend, I bought it merely for the gimmick because slicing a brick of tobacco in front of my friends sounded so...cool. I admittedly had a terrible time doing it and the blend was way too robust for me to enjoy at the time. So, it sat in a jar for a while. I'll admit, the bar dried out quite a bit from me fandangling it so much that every time I attempted to slice it up, the thing just fell apart into what would appear to be a pile of dried up autumn leaves. I thought, surely it's unsmokable now. And it sat in a jar for even longer. Well, this winter I thought, what the hell, I'll take another cracking at it. After all, my tastes had developed and I have been enjoying many Kentucky based blends as of late. So I stuffed my cob with a wad of the crushed up baccy leaves and lo-and-behold, the star spangled banner began to play and an array of fireworks and fighter jets raced across the blue sky, uncle sam appeared as a snow-man and there I sat, at last, a new man. But not just any man. A proud veteran of the pipe at last.
Tobacco Jars - Smokingpipes Tobacco Jar
Unreliable
I quit storing even my daily blends as these jars don't seal up at all so the tobacco dries up quickly. You're better off just using Mason jars.
Dan Tobacco - Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 250g
Savory billows of smoke
This is buttery, oily, salty, savory, incency, smoky, florally, nutty and full flavored. Definitely good with a cup of coffee or late at night. Not an all day smoke though, in my opinion. If this were a little lighter then maybe. Beautiful tobacco, although it's course cut which isn't my favorite but it's not too hard to handle. This reminds me of something I haven't had in a while and I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's good. It's one of the better Balkans I've tried and definitely better than Balkan Supreme in my opinion, although much pricier...
Peterson - Sherlock Holmes 50g
Underrated
This stuff flew under my radar for some time. First of all, I didn't like the name, it just seemed cheesy to me and screamed gimmick. Secondly, this is listed as an aromatic which is red flag territory for me. And thirdly, the reviews are average a 2.7 on tobacco reviews. Little to be said, I wouldn't have tried this lest a buddy of mine gifted it to me, which is exactly what happened. This stuff exceeded my expectations completely. I smoked nearly the entire tin in 2 weeks, which is not common for me. I'm learning to form my own opinions on pipe tobacco and am unashamed to say, this is my favorite Virginia based mixture and would be happy to have this as a top 5 in my yearly rotation.
G. L. Pease - Westminster 8oz
The perfect English
Salty, savory, oily, musty, tangy, smoky, aromatic, slightly sweet ans sour, deep, delicious, balanced, medium-all day, anytime smoke. I couldn't wait to smoke this when I got it but only had a cob on me. I wasn't blown away at first. However, as soon as I got home and packed a bowl in a briar, thus blend came to life. This stuff is mouth watering and definitely draws you into wanting bowl after bowl. The balance is just right where it's not too overwhelming but enough to satisfy many aspects that I look for as a pipe smoker. It smells great, tastes great, smokes great, pairs great with morning coffee, mid-day drive or evening dram. My tin was 3-4 years old and already crystallizing so I wonder how much age has influenced this particular batch. My favorite english has been Father Dempsey but this stuff may be my new number 1. London Mixture used to be my favorite till I ran out. This is better than that. I could smoke this alone if need be, but definitely a top 3 for my English rotation.
Newminster - No.400 Superior Navy Flake
Aromatic Non-Aromatic
This stuff smells amazing, I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is a deep tangy, sweet, fruitiness. Raisen bread, honey, wet grass, maple syrup, fermented maple leaves...whatever it is there is an aromatic topping. There is a very slight note that reminds me of molto dulce or a light OTC cavindish which is really the only thing unpleasant about this blend but it's easy to over-look as the richness of the virginia deepens. This definitely benefits with some age, it keeps me coming back almost daily trying to figure out what it is that keeps me coming back! I think I like this stuff. It's not like Luxury Navy Flake at all, I may need both in the rotation.
Peter Stokkebye - PS400 Luxury Navy Flake
Escudo'nt
I had Escudo for the first time in a while tonight and it made me realize LNF is really not far off in quality and flavor. I'll gladly buy a LB of this stuff over 2-3 tins of Escudo. Premium and hype can sometimes be overrated. Citrus zest, bready goodness, grassy, subtle rum not over flavored, quality leaf. Not as much perique as Escudo and a bit brighter. I might even like it better.
Cornell & Diehl - Burley Flake #4 2oz
K-O
This stuff will knock your socks off. It's especially good after a little rest time in the cellar. Heavy hitter though, do not operate a vehicle or heavy machinery while taking this mixture. The latakia is just slight enough to make it different and the tartness of the virginia is light and fluffy, Kentucky is the extra delicious kind. Highly recommend. The cut is broken flake but super dence and not hard like most broken flake. Packs easy and you almost wanna eat it. One of my all time favorites but at times I had to slow down because of the Nic hit.
Sutliff - Match Victorian
Smells like dirty socks
Tastes amazing. I keep coming back to this one. If it weren't for the rancid smell from the jar I'd give it 5 stars. But damn is it good when it is smoked. Sweet Virginia's and a fruity perique. Not like Elizabethan but good in its own right. I'll order a pound next time.
Sutliff - Match Victorian
First Impression
I was completely blown away by this blend. I will have to do a back to back comparison, although it didn't seem to be Elizabethan, I may end up liking it better. Absolutely delicious and higher quality than I was expecting. I'll come back with better review after a bit. But I immediately want to by this by the pound.
Tobacco Jars - Smokingpipes Tobacco Jar
Good for every day blends
I would not use these to store anything to cellar. I've had them for a couple months and the tobacco I've put in has dried out quite a bit but they're my every day smokes so by the time the tobacco is dried out, the jar is nearly empty and ready for a refill. The seal is not super tight though. Good for the what they are, nicer looking than Mason jars but not as effective.
Arango - Balkan Supreme
Better after cellar
I wasn't blown away by this blend at first but after about 3 months of aging I had another bowl and its magically come to life and absolutely delicious. Interesting how that works. Been smoking it all week. I will order more to cellar for the future.
Arango - Balkan Supreme
Great bulk option
There are a few tinned English mixtures I'd probably pick before this but I'm more of a best bang for your buck kinda guy, and this stuff hits the mark and is extraordinary in its own right. I'd be perfectly happy on an island with this, although I'd take Father Dempsey along for the trip if I had the choice. Both in my top rotation.
Newminster - No.400 Superior Navy Flake
Needs aging
Not bad fresh by any means, but I'll probably try and stick some in a jar for a while. Seems like the flavor needs to marry and improve a bit, as I'm sure it will. The subtleties really start to come out half way through the bowl. I'm enjoying it. Scurvy Dog has a pretty accurate review.
Cornell & Diehl - Pegasus
Exactly what I hoped for
I was looking for a no nonsense burley that was codger-esque but that had a little more quality, no obvious casing, up a notch in strength but not too strong and in the form of ribbon cut. This one checks all the boxes. Its nothing mind blowing but enough to aid a contemplative morning with a cup-o-joe or any time of the day. I will be buying this by the pound next go around.
Cornell & Diehl - Burley Flake #4 2oz
Delicious, Clean & Strong
Something about this blend just seemed super clean tasting, definitely a higher quality than the C&D Burley's i'm used to. Most burley's I've tried have a ashy undertone, not this one. Very nutty and the subtle latakia makes it super unique. I have a high nic tolerance but this stuff I can't smoke on an empty stomach. Mine sat in a jar for about a year and is definitely a fine treat.
Mac Baren - HH Acadian Perique 3.5oz
If you find it, buy it.
I found this stuff in bulk at a B&M while on vacation and bought an ounce to try. Now I wish I could go back and buy what's left because apparently it's been discontinued and sold out everywhere. I am hoping to pip back in that B&M while visiting this month and fingers crossed there's some left. This blend is perfect and unlike anything I've had. It somehow checks every box. Rich Virginia's, poignant Perique, smoky DFK, and Orientals to tie together the cocktail of my dreams. I smoke mainly English and Va/pers but also love DFK. This and a solid English would keep me happy for some time.