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Reviews
Sillem's - Mayor 1814 Flake 50g
Under-the-Radar Good
Mayor 1814 Flake is quietly, unpretentiously good - one of those under-the-radar finds that is a gem, if you are inclined to like it. It is a straightforward, high-quality, balanced Virginia with subtle enhancements of orange and honey. Honey can be hard to isolate in a blend, and it reads somewhat like a light caramel to me, or at least a rounded sweetness. In any case, the casing is done with a light hand and only peeks out from behind a textbook Virginia, stopping short of aromatic in what I think of as "Virginia-plus" territory. Burns well, no bite, and consistent flavor straight through with no notable development - and, really, who needs development here. Thoroughly in-step, and now on my Virginia short list.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Coffee Caramel 50g
Still G&H
This might be aromatic, but it is still unmistakably G&H — dark, strong, and straightforward. If you know G&H Rum Flake, this is similar, but with an even more subtle aromatic hint of caramel instead of rum. Sticky out of the tin but still burns well. The smoke is consistent straight through and never goes away from the big, earthy dark flake with a wisp of caramel and slight mineral bitterness around the edges. Solidly in style for the brand, and won’t appeal to everyone.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Rum Flake
Solid Dark Flake
GH Rum Flake is a tasty, stout dark flake that has an underlying sweetness but without the Lakeland flavors. The rum is subtle; you can identify it as rum in the bag note, but in the flavor it comes through as a gentle sweetness that boosts the overall profile without being "aromatic" in the usual sense. Burns well, nice strength. A very reliable brown flake that doesn't bring you in through the usual anise and florals. (From Rum Flake, you can step toward Lakeland with 1792 Flake, which leads with tonquin, and then to GH Dark Flake Aromatic, which brings the Lakeland without apology.)
Two Friends - Valle Crucis 2oz
Aromatic Smoky Spice
Smoky, sweet, bright, peppery, and aromatic with a pronounced exotic edge. If you like Indian food, you will enjoy this. Masterful proportions with extra “degree of difficulty” points that set it apart and, for some, clearly above.
Sillem's - Linea Epoque Antique 100g
A symphony
I need to learn more about mirabelle plums, because the fruit notes here combine the sweetness of a regular plum and some of the crispness you get in a green grape or apple. Then, behind it all, meanders a quiet stream of vanilla that is creamy and mellow, and the premium leaf grounds the profile with nuttiness and subtle grain notes. Perfectly balanced, and consistent throughout the bowl. The aroma is gorgeous, and it burns beautifully without getting hot. Darn near perfect, and a benchmark in blending.
Daughters & Ryan - Rowland 16oz
Decent Value Option
The rating on this one depends on how important cost is to you. I was keen to try this because I’ve learned that I like Virginia Burley Oriental blends with an aromatic component, of which there are not many. Rowland ticks those boxes, with a light cocoa note that is obvious in the bag note but far less present in the flavor. It’s generally a mild codger style with some nice extra sourness from the Orientals, and this is its strong suit. Unfortunately, the Virginias seem to be of lower quality, which is where the compromise comes in. It also burns hot, so a slow pace is required. At this writing, Sutliff Match Troost costs 70 percent more but is clearly higher quality and with better burn characteristics. SMT has less Oriental flavor but is still the winner of this niche. Still, for the money, Rowland is a good value and a decent smoke.
Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Morning Blend
Simple Like a Sugar Cone
This is a tasty aromatic, but one that is quite simple and with little development. I concur with bourbon and vanilla, and that combination sometimes also suggests a sugar cone or Golden Grahams cereal. Burns well, can be pulled a little hot but not easily. Nice.
G. L. Pease - Triple Play 2oz
Flavorful and Strong
There are great flavors here – burley tang, nuttiness, wood, subtle earth, spice, tomato, natural sweetness. Sip and retrohale to draw out the complexity. One of the best incorporations of DFK I've found. Strong, too!
Peter Stokkebye - PS1 Classic Natural
Enigmatic
I agree on all points with ParkitoATL's review. The Virginia is forward, and the light casing is something fruity, sometimes like a peach sweet tea, sometimes like 7-Up. Probably a drop of rose water in there somewhere. Burns well, no bite.
Cornell & Diehl - John Marr
A Standby Smoke
John Marr is a medium-strength Virginia blend that leans aromatic in an easygoing way. All component tobaccos are present in the flavor, with Virginia taking the lead and the others in a well-balanced supporting role. Some thoughtful blending on display here. The casing is more vanilla than bourbon to me, but it's lightly done and is just enough to package the leaf with a sweetness not normally found in VaPers. This has become a standby blend for me, a "Virginia-plus" option that hits the spot.
Lane Limited - LL-7
Cocoa and Marshmallow
LL-7 is a tasty aromatic with cocoa and toasty marshmallow flavors and excellent burning characteristics. Upgraded to 4.5 because of the blend's exceptional consistency and the immediacy of the flavor on the draw. LL-7 joins RLP-6 and Stokkebye Optimum in my bulk aro rotation, with 1-Q and BCA falling below the cut.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Kendal Gold Vintage Cut
Simple Quality
Update: With a little age on it, the cereal notes have receded, leaving a wonderful naturally sweet, golden toasted hay. Still excellent and getting better. --- A very nice tobacco with hay notes bracketed by touches of grain and tanginess. Not as bright and citrus as Orlik, but has a bit more spring in its step than some other pure Virginias. (This liveliness is likely to mellow with age.) For my taste, it compares favorably with C&D Bright Virginia and Mac Baren No. 1 Virginia. Although a ribbon cut, it packs in a spongy way, probably due to the moisture level, which is consistent with a recently produced blend. Burns well, no bite if smoked sensibly. It's a simple, high-quality Virginia that offers a welcome alternative to the flake format. Plenty to enjoy here.
Cornell & Diehl - Briar Fox 2oz
Natural and Balanced
Briar Fox delivers stout, well-balanced natural flavor. The Virginia tang and burley nuttiness are in perfect proportion, and it is pleasantly strong without overdoing it. The burn is excellent and requires little attention. Plenty smooth, too. As others have said, it's great with coffee. A quality, no-fuss staple for those seeking a sturdy, natural smoke.
Holger Danske - Black and Bourbon 50g
Updated - A Deft Take
April 2024 revising to 1 star. The smoky, savory aspects are gone, and the bourbon flavoring is cloying and phony, with a bitter edge like aspartame. They wrecked this one but good. Original: A full-flavored take on bourbon that keeps the topping and the leaf in balance. Burns well, with good smoke production. Mildly sweet, with a savory, smoky edge on the draw that is a distinguishing feature. It maintains a harmonious whole throughout. Well done.
Mac Baren - 7 Seas Regular
Good, Not Great
There's nothing wrong with this blend. It's pleasant and well-behaved. A nice burn and absence of tongue bite make it a strong contender for the beginner. But it is very mild, and I can't reconcile that both 7 Seas and RLP-6 have three-star taste ratings when 7 Seas is clearly milder. If I were looking for an all-day smoke, that might give Seas an advantage, but when I want a flavor experience, there are several other blends I'd smoke before this one. My conclusion is that it's good but arguably overrated.
Ashton - Rainy Day 50g
Virginia Forward
Rainy Day has a nice flavor that lands somewhere in the middle of mango, peach and orange, but ultimately it is a touch too bright and Virginia forward for me. Unlike others, I find that it wants to run a bit hot. Some will like it, especially as a warm-weather aro, but not a must-have for me. Would love to see this topping in a blend with more Cavendish. Edit: One excellent use of this blend is to add tang to straight Virginias (e.g., Mac Baren No. 1). The bright fruit flavors naturally complement the Virginia profile, and you can add as much or as little as you like.
Peter Stokkebye - PS31 Optimum
Light and Easy
A light and easy aromatic, well balanced, burns well. A reserved Chambord vibe. Virginias are nicely present - or at least not buried - which you don't always find in an aromatic. A straightforward, quality blend that is effortlessly pleasant.
Davidoff - Danish Mixture 50g
Nutty and Elegant
A tasty, elegant blend with a flavor that is quite dry and toasty for an aro. It leans to nutty burley flavors, black walnut in particular. It lacks the fruity notes that I expect in a Danish, but I don't count that a fault considering what it does deliver. Minimal development throughout the bowl – starts good, stays good. Mechanics are good.
Peter Stokkebye - PS9 Vanilla Creme
Vanilla? (also)
Like the reviewer Dean M., I get no vanilla here. It's a basic Virginia-burley flavor. Burns ok, not unpleasant, but hardly as advertised.
Dan Tobacco - Da Vinci 50g
Outstanding
Dan Da Vinci is so well done. It's flavorful, complex, and aromatic in a natural way. I don't taste wine itself as much as an elegantly sweet woodiness that somehow does evoke an old-world spirit. The flavor is constant and the burn very good. Will buy the large bag.
Tabac de la Semois - Le Petit Robin 100g
A Class of One (Revised)
Update Oct. '22: Sadly, I've come back to reduce the rating from 5.0 to 3.0 based on my second purchase of LPR. This run lacks the subtle complexity of the previous brick and instead is one-dimensional, even somewhat harsh and bitter starting one-third of the way in. It is fair to recognize that a smaller-scale artisanal product is subject to variance, so I hope to have a future batch that measures up to the wonderful first brick I purchased last year. The sun shines; the rain falls. (Original review) This is just to concur with all the praise of this rich and nuanced tobacco. I agree in particular with Mart V's writeup, especially his observation of "malty bread" at the core. Earthy, floral, subtly sweet. Really like nothing else, an elegant tour de force.
Oliva - Connecticut Reserve Petit Corona
Good Short Smoke
As with many things, one's opinion here will come down to needs and expectations. For a mild smoke in a smaller format, the Oliva Connecticut Petit Corona is a winner. Unlike another reviewer, I found the flavor to be perfectly fine, with a solid basic tobacco body accentuated by a mild nuttiness and a bit of pepper to complete the profile. It's not a large cigar, nor a maduro flavor bomb, but it is a satisfying smoke in a smaller format that will not require a big time commitment. Construction and burn are good, though the draw leans toward tight. (Don't try to punch it; guillotine all the way.) Four stars for being a good smoke overall, and for occupying its niche in fine form. No hesitation to buy again, especially for those times when I want a ~20-minute cigar experience with no fuss. (PS: As a small cigar, this one seems especially susceptible to changes in humidity.)
CAO - Eileen's Dream 50g
Pleasing Aromatic
Eileen's Dream is a tasty blend. Imagine the classic Lane RLP-6, but sweetened with Irish cream and chocolate. It maintains this flavor throughout the smoke, but it can run hot if you're not careful. But if you keep a good cadence, there is plenty here to enjoy.
Mac Baren - HH Balkan Blend 3.5oz
A Gentle English
HH Balkan is a beautifully blended, smooth English, but the overall intensity of the Latakia is less than in other English blends. In my book, this is a good thing, giving an English option that is both top-quality and easygoing. It's a bit like the difference between Scotch neat and Scotch-and-soda: Both are good, and you might prefer one over the other depending on circumstances. Between HH Balkan, Kramer's Father Dempsey, and Bengal Slices, my English needs are more than met. (Update: I like this so much that I ordered a pound to cellar.)
Cornell & Diehl - Three Friars
One to Grow On?
Update: This wasn't coming into its own, so I blended it 50/50 with C&D Bright Virginia for a nice Va with a bit of burley body and pleasant trace of sweetness from the subtle casing. ----------- I'll come back to this, because 3F seems like a blend that could grow on you. The perique and burley are in wonderful balance with each other, though overall I might like more Virginia. Still, this is nice as a straightforward, naturally presented burley blend, and is something I will go to before, say, Haunted Bookshop (I'm not that much of a burley fanatic.) Variety is a good thing, and while I'm not ready to rave about it, Three Friars deserves a few revisits before final judgement.
Peter Stokkebye - PS400 Luxury Navy Flake
Benchmark Flake
There's not much I can add here. It's a textbook, perfectly constructed navy that is delicious and smokes well. An incredible value. Can't go wrong.
Mac Baren - Royal Twist 3.5oz
The Virginia We Need
A delicious blend with wonderful flavor development. The casing is simple and subtle, like a wisp of sweet cream. This flavor marries with pastry-like Virginia on the draw, making for a smooth, elegant entry. From there, an excellent body unfolds, with toasty Virginias and flavors of nuttiness and grain. The DFK is clearly boosting the flavor here but is not forward - a mark of a well-considered blend. Perique steps up in the finish to put an exclamation point on the smoke, with a perfect level of peppery snap on the retrohale. The burn is good but, not surprisingly, requires some care to keep temps within bounds. In short, this is not your ordinary VaPer; it is a deft blend that showcases the Mac Baren sense of proportion. I would love to see this one move into regular production. PS: I've tried a few Mac Baren blends, including Mixture Scottish, Mixture Modern Danish, Original Choice, HH Old Dark Fired, and the MB-produced Newminster Danish Gold. For me, the Royal Twist is a close #2 behind Scottish and would certainly be a regular in my cellar.
Cornell & Diehl - Speakeasy Navy Blend 2oz
A Solid Option
A very good Navy flake, stout and nicely constructed. It tastes good, burns well, and delivers a good shot of nicotine. There are many navy flakes to try, but Speakeasy is a perennial good bet.
Newminster - No. 48 Danish Gold
Balanced Flavor, Nice Burn
A great blend. The tobaccos are balanced and complementary, and the casing is tasty and reserved. Subtle raisin, plum, and vanilla caramel at the top of the bowl, with cocoa and burley edging forward later on. Excellent even burn, stays lit and is reasonably forgiving on cadence. I put this in the same general category as Mac Baren Danish and Peterson's Connoisseur's Choice, and I give it the edge on burn characteristics, overall steadiness of flavor, and bulk buy value.
Holger Danske - Mango and Vanilla 50g
As Advertised
I will give this tobacco two plaudits up front. First, it is exactly as advertised. Second, it is some of the best-burning tobacco I've encountered, with the caveat that, with a hefty proportion of Virginia, you can easily over-draw it into burning hot. But once it was lit, it kept going with no trouble. It almost smokes itself. I bought this to mix a little more flavor into Orlik Golden Sliced, and the experiment was a success. Instead of diluting the Danske, a 50/50 blend brought out the flavor in a way that was more than the sum of its parts. Just be aware that this concoction wants to run away from you, so you need to maintain a careful cadence. If you think you'd like this tobacco, you most probably will. It's a blend that manages to be exactly what it sets out to be.
Mac Baren - Danish Mixture Modern 3.5oz
Easy Going
As noted, Danish Mixture is lighter, brighter, and a bit sweeter than Scottish Blend. Danish features notably less of the burley body, which shifts the blend to the Virginia end of the spectrum. There is a hint of spice in the retrohale. By comparison, Newminster No. 48 Danish Gold is at least as flavorful, doesn't run quite as hot, and is available with bulk pricing. I went back and forth between the two for a month before giving the edge to Newminster.
Orlik - Golden Sliced 100g
Bingo
OGS is a pristine rendition of Virginia. It's exceedingly clean and approachable, with naturally sweet hay, raisin and tea flavors with lemony brightness at the edges. A wonderful smoke.
Mac Baren - Mixture Scottish Blend 3.5oz
A Stately Aromatic
Mac Baren Scottish is a stately aromatic that uses quality leaf and a light hand on the casing. The solid body is of bread, oats, and anchoring earthiness from the burley. The sweetness is present but restrained, with toasty honey flavors. A small measure of dark-fired adds hints of smokiness and vinegar often found with DFK. It can smoke hot and in my experience is very responsive to tamping. Before relighting, give it a puff or two and it might well spring back to life.
Cornell & Diehl - Visions of Celephaïs 2oz
Bold and Idiosyncratic
Yes, grape. But also woody earthiness and a wonderful body of cracked wheat and pumpernickel. No bite, burns very well. Certainly weird, but unabashedly flavorful and creative. (Smoked in a cob.)
Cornell & Diehl - Granby Station
Burley-Forward Light Aro
(Revised) Granby Station is a burley-forward light aromatic that showcases the natural tobacco flavor. The burley is clearly present and is earthy rather than nutty. In fact, after getting some must on the retrohale, I assumed there was a pinch of Oriental here. It must be the Perique. I could not pick out vanilla and applejack, only a light sweetness that lifts the overall flavor and without which, the earthy notes would sit a bit heavy. It burns well and produces nice smoke. If you're a burley fan, this one might appeal to you; others looking for a traditional fully topped aromatic might be less impressed.
Peterson - Connoisseur's Choice 50g
Refined and Fruity
An enjoyable blend that balances fruity flavors, custard notes and natural tobacco toastiness. It has a bright tang up front that moves gracefully into the rest of the palate. Room note includes toasted marshmallow. Smokes well, smooth, well behaved. Update: After some time with this one, I conclude that it is not as consistently enjoyable as several other aromatics. There's some kind of variable mojo at work that will produce a satisfying smoke one time and something slightly lacking the next.
Lane Limited - RLP-6
Great Burn, Good Flavor
RLP-6 tastes good, smells great, and burns exceptionally well. With a bit more smoking experience, I've notched it back from 4.5 to 4 stars on flavor, which is nice but fairly simple overall. To me, it's straightforward burley and cocoa. The burn characteristics remain excellent.
G. L. Pease - Windjammer 2oz
Full-Flavored Navy
A skillful and imaginative take on navy flake. On a freshly opened tin, I get stewed prunes and funky Roquefort cheese up front, with that tangy note later settling into rye bread, sour cherry, and even creamed spinach. With age, the blend settles in well, but I think I prefer the sassy presentation when it's fresh. This is a must for Virginia smokers, and a strong do-try for everyone else.
Favorite Products
Blog's Commented on
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2024 In Review
- ► Sutliff and MacBaren are essentially gone. Online, I'm seeing what looks like an STG memo that lists only 14 SKUs that will continue from the entire MB/Sutliff catalog. Old Professor is not among the survivors. This is why you're seeing a buying frenzy as people stock up on their favorites. I did a quick check this morning, and the website here is out of stock on 57% of MacBaren SKUs and 74% of Sutliff SKUs. Production halts in February, so it's anyone's guess whether there will be a final restock. I got in under the wire and got two pounds of MB HH Old Dark Fired flake before it went out. Really just awful news for smokers. But the STG shareholders will be happy, I guess. It's C&D, Pease, and Gawith for me now.
- ► I briefly had the thought that it's unfortunate, in a way, that Laudisi has had major capital outlays recently, because typically we'd assume that puts the company in less of a spot to acquire STG selloffs. But, no, it's good that Laudisi is developing its own track. Find your thing, commit to it, and succeed. Certainly the company's customer experience, policies, and overall "vibe" are positive and honest, and show some actual heart. This blog here is a great example. Congratulations on the expansion and on 25 years, and best wishes for many more. Please do keep us informed on industry perspective, to the extent that you can; aside from being remarkably disruptive, ongoing developments are fascinating from a business standpoint. (I can say that because I'm not responsible for a company. Otherwise, I'd be pouring over spreadsheets, railroading dark flake, and pacing a groove in the pine.)
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A Dedication to Tradition: Peterson Deluxe Classics
- ► @Dan: Thanks, and I agree with your preference for acrylic stems. Slightly less than half of my collection are cob pipes, and each of those features an acrylic Forever Stem. About half of my briars are acrylic, too. I think I prefer a fishtail to the P-lip, but it's not a deal breaker for me. Both the 150 and B10 are available in Peterson's Irish Harp line with acrylic, but I don't think a vulcanite P-lip would stop me from purchasing the 408 smooth out of this Deluxe Classic line (which would likely be the most I've paid for a pipe).
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Aleister Crowley: The Beast That Inspired The Beast
- ► My offense at the Beast branding… is a terrible point… because someone (checks notes)… puts convicts on wine labels.
- ► The point has been made, but some of us take this about the same as we would take a Jeffery Dahmer blend.
- ► Exactly. I am a tick or two below "fart in an elevator" offended by this, and it's about 60% Crowley himself and 40% the lousy marketing. I would not be as offended if this weren't also my first serious, sustained observance of Lent, and somehow, this also is unfortunate at a moment when C&D could be banking goodwill following the STG debacle. It's just, "Why would you be this electively dumb about a release?"
- ► Let's put energy, also, into the hope of better understanding going forward. Christian judgment should point others to grace and restoration; we all need it, and it's a limited-time release of the best thing ever. "Do better" should be an encouragement, because -- well, doing better is entirely possible with God's patient help. (Again, one of the lessons of Lent.)My experience tells me these are square-dealing people who made a blunder; one person's "edgy" is another's "over the line." But yes, I do hope the parties understand this part of their tradition-leaning market a little better now and switch up their presentation of what sounds like a distinctive blend. I would buy some next year simply to salute a rebrand.
- ► I have no knowledge of the actual case here, but I allow for the possibility of a repurposed paper that had been researched beyond trade blog requirements. Again, not even speculation, really, just an allowance.
- ► Not everyone is an anything. That’s not an argument. Piss on my shoe, I’ll be the one talking.
- ► May it bring you a scrap of originality.
- ► For a little day-two perspective, some are wondering "Why are these wiggy people losing it over one small-batch tobacco release?" It's a good question, and some of the answer comes from the larger religious context.Christians generally see the world in big-picture, long-timeline context, as an ongoing contest between God's Kingdom and the Kingdom of Satan (though I often prefer the descriptive term "Kingdom of Darkness"). That contest plays out across all aspects of daily life -- from federal policy, to the stinky guy asking you for a couple of bucks, right down to the barrage of web ads and billboards. All of it together is trying to *align our consciousness with one kingdom or the other* -- either by stirring our desires or by desensitizing us to greed, vengeance, debauchery, etc. If you can be swayed on one small point, that's one more loop of Velcro that they have secured. Not big by itself, but aligned with a larger purpose that has everything to do with the final shape of our being.When the general state of the world gets heightened and confused, it is an indication that a big shift in the battle is happening, and Christians take note. This sharpens our attention across the board -- and, in my case, it has just returned me to the faith itself. (God will have your back for 30 wandering years if He chooses to, which is why I'm being so outspoken now; I've lost some time and have received unreal grace.) It is something like the body's immune response; when a pathogen is on the move, it's all hands on deck.So in one sense, yes, this is just one small-batch tobacco release. But to a Christian on alert, it can look more like one small rivet on a locomotive that is steaming nowhere good. A sign of the times.
- ► I am totally down for a "Happy Accident" blend. We dip the leaves into a maple wash and then "slap the devil out of them" on the leg of the easel, papabapbap.
- ► It will be okay. We just want folks to be on the joyful side of the reckoning. (Got the old-school going today and need to find a foot-pump prairie organ. "On a hill... far away...")
- ► We do understand that not everyone is aligned with us, but the default mode of Christianity is testimony, not silence. And it's not so surprising that the traditionalist appeal of piping would sometimes overlap with traditional attitudes about religion. I'm not looking to be catered to as much as I am looking not to be tagged by a wild pitch. Sometimes you choose to speak up; sometimes you need to.
- ► We do understand that not everyone is aligned with us, but the default mode of Christianity is testimony, not silence. And it's not so surprising that the traditionalist appeal of piping would sometimes overlap with traditional attitudes about religion. I'm not looking to be catered to as much as I am looking not to be tagged by a wild pitch. Sometimes you choose to speak up; sometimes you need to.
- ► It is a very strong piece of writing -- well researched, professionally written at the paragraph level, advances the profile with depth while maintaining forward movement, and with helpful thematic organization. Rose has talent for sure, and I hope this episode isn't too discouraging, but rather one of those uncomfortably good learning moments for someone who is going to be reaching audiences for years to come.
- ► @Strangelove I don't see the reply link on your post, so I'll have to reply to myself here, and this response won't be in order.The hypocrisy you spot is inarguable, and it is the Church's big failing. The end of a ladle is exactly where we should be. People even know to look for us there, for literal Christ's sake.I've only recently come back to the faith after a 30-year spiritual walkabout, so I'm relearning this myself, with emphasis on the authentic, even mystical, experience of Christ, not the facile, mis-institutionalized version that has become busybody, strident, and alienating. But I do know that out there beyond the circus is a place of peace and clarity. The Church I have found (Episcopal) shows every sign of orienting to that ground, so I am praying for a late harvest of good, honest work.Our testimony should be that of Christ's love, not man's judgment. That often gets tangled at the point of application, especially on points of culture that are always somewhat abstract and prone to oversimplification."Leave the rest of us alone" is a common sentiment, but some of us who want to register an alternate point of view are not trying to vex others as much as we are trying to explain the significance that we see in the issue. A great many do, however, weaponize their "-ianity" in ways that are deeply harmful all around. It's in the papers and at school board meetings every day. (And I live in Oklahoma, which is a hot zone for this.)To the extent that Laudisi is a private business, they will know that I spent $1,958.42 with them over the past year. If I need to pay a cover charge to express a viewpoint, that should suffice. I'm not going to shake my fist and stomp off, but I will add a loyal customer vote for less Crowley. (While I'm at it, maybe they also could acquire the rights to War Horse, which is my nomination for the Official Smoke of the End Times.)Peace also to you -- which is a universally good parting word and always welcome.
- ► I have been active in these comments, and I have mostly tried to be plainly old-school Christian while avoiding strident outrage. I always knew that the product release was coming, but now that it is out, I feel the need to observe a 90-day blackout on SP purchases. So no second-quarter revenue from me. Laudisi had significant capital expenditure last year and is most likely servicing debt; a disciplined blackout 4/1 to 6/30 could make the point stick in a language they understand. Don’t provoke customers who are at the height of their Lenten discipline; we can just extend the abstinence. Now through June 30, I’m ghost — not a shrill reaction, but a measured response. (Tech note: Not all Christians observe Lent, so no one needs to argue that ancillary point.)
- ► The "not everyone" argument is valid, as far as it goes, but I hold that separate from what these things mean to me. If we depended on prevalence to qualify our views, we would all be in trouble in one way or another -- as I am sure you know! But yes, we should always maintain the community perspective -- which shouldn't necessarily limit what we have to say, but should inform how we say it.
- ► That's 34 cans of Crowley.
- ► @Randal W. Please don't go there. It's not a valid basis for critique, and it's inherently disrespectful* to both of you. Rose is loved by God and a dedicated writer. Gender identity doesn't matter and makes a poor throwing tomato, both because it's mean-spirited and because it's unoriginal.* Disrespectful: I have gotten good mileage out of framing my responses in terms of "becoming the person who said/did that." When I come out the other side of an experience, I want to be reasonably proud of that person and on good terms with others, even when we disagree. Anything less is letting myself down, too. All of social media is pushing us in the other direction, so it's easy to fall into it. Please excuse me for the sermon, but this framing has helped me this year and might be worth a thought. We are constantly making ourselves, even with the small stuff. (This framing also helps me put unfairness from others in a better perspective: "Well, apparently that's who they chose to become.")
- ► Well, I am sitting out for the next 90 days. Based on my past 12 months of purchases, this will be about $630 in absent second-quarter revenue.
- ► A lot depends on whether you roll this situation up into the general abstract idea of "the culture war" or whether you try to imagine the stunned disappointment of #### real customers. The hostility in your comment suggests that you are attaching this to a pre-existing narrative. (We all do this, which is the source of much of our aggravation.)
- ► The art could be done in the C&D watercolor illustration style, which would take it down a notch and make it more reflective instead of disruptive.
- ► Thank you. I had no intention to pull my business, but when I saw the banner promo this morning, I understood that my response needed a material component. Blog comments can be ignored, but revenue speaks. I am encouraged that this does not feel like petulance to me, but like fair play on a field that comes down to business. Thanks again for your good word.
- ► Is our voice limited to the "Pay Now" button? Does a segment of loyal customers have any claim on what the vendor shows them in the first place? In the sense that coming to the site is an experience and part of the customer relationship, I see room for that argument. Of course, the argument also should recognize the importance of consumer choice for all users, and this is where the friction happens. Now, is the choice value centered on what's in the can, or is the marketing part of the value? Would some tactful, valid rebranding be a net positive for SP customers as a whole, or does it have to be win/lose on the whole package as-is?I am not interested in notching a Christian-soldier "win," but in having a less rudely tone-deaf SP experience. It looks like there are enough of us to raise the point, especially since we can make ourselves a declining customer segment if we need to.
- ► You have to be willing to step outside your standard-issue bubble of scorn and imagine how others try to live their values. Even if you think they have it wrong, you can recognize their desire to get it right. This is why, even though I'm a firm Christian, I am not a religious bigot, and I salute the instinct for righteousness wherever it appears.
- ► @Randal W. Please don't go there. It's not a valid basis for critique, and it's inherently disrespectful* to both of you. Rose is loved by God and a dedicated writer. Gender identity doesn't matter and makes a poor throwing tomato, both because it's mean-spirited and because it's unoriginal.* Disrespectful: I have gotten good mileage out of framing my responses in terms of "becoming the person who said/did that." When I come out the other side of an experience, I want to be reasonably proud of that person and on good terms with others, even when we disagree. Anything less is letting myself down, too. All of social media is pushing us in the other direction, so it's easy to fall into it. Please excuse me for the sermon, but this framing has helped me this year and might be worth a thought. We are constantly making ourselves, even with the small stuff. (This framing also helps me put unfairness from others in a better perspective: "Well, apparently that's who they chose to become.")
- ► That's 34 cans of Crowley.
- ► Rebrand: C&D "After Dark." It's still creepy, and it's a clever nod to the label's controversial history. The title can be interpreted either way, that you are out after dark in the dark (exploring), or you are moving past the dark into light (heading home). You just rebrand on the controversy itself and let customers take it as they prefer. Cool art possibilities, too.
- ► @Lucas S. You asked a question that is not just fair and legitimate, but really essential. I've been late in replying but want to give it a shot here.Part of your question is easy to answer, and part isn't. The plain part is that even the best, most cheerful, industrious and solid people we know do not deserve to spend eternity with God, a.k.a. "the Most High." Human virtue, even at its best, doesn't meet that standard, which is of an entirely different class.What that standard is, and how it works in God's mind, is always a bit of a mystery, which is part of the faith that is required. We have a strong, natural human opposition to the idea of being judged from on high (Christopher Hitchens was eloquent here), and that is the big hurdle. Some clear it, and some don't. I am beginning to think that even the ability to clear that hurdle might be negotiated somehow, in that if we take one step toward God, He might then grant us a little more understanding to take the next. ("He rewards those who seek Him.") But this is getting into nuanced theology and is beyond my confidence to state as advice. But if you want to test the theory, you could always just take a step and see if anything develops. My recent return to the faith has brought strong affirmation from little effort. That's because "little effort" is the most I've managed in 30 years, so it counts. God wants us to succeed, which is the part that gets missed and shouted over. He has literal skin in the game. Which brings me to...God's justice is where we find the need for Christ and the perfect sacrifice that He made by taking on the collective guilt of humanity after coming to Earth and managing to live a life that was perfect in the eyes of God. That last part is important, because if Christ had also come up short, then the punishment would have been individually deserved instead of being a divine credit that Jesus could then give to us. This forgiveness does work as an actual transferrable credit, because God the Father (one of the Trinity) does not forgive sin without punishment. This, again, is a mysterious requirement to us, which I frame abstractly as "Divine metaphysics" as I back away from the question. At any rate, God's is THE top-level cosmic justice, and I don't even set the rules down here.A quick note here that although we (understandably) talk a lot about punishment and Hell, there also is a strong affirmative argument for Christian faith having to do with a sense of peace, clarity of purpose, the joy of community (if you find a good one), and the satisfaction of earthly work that gets good things done. A good church supports all this. Not all churches are good, and the bad ones get all the coverage, so it can be hard to spot until you get out there and start checking them out for yourself. Even then, it's trial and error. But they are out there, feeding people and building stuff and knitting sweaters, visiting people in the hospital, helping with filings, etc.The positive shift that I just made speaks to the second part of your question, which is how Christians could be joyful when others have been lost. We certainly should not be joyful here on earth; it's a profound tragedy that any should miss the grace afforded by Christ, especially since He also made it so ridiculously simple to cash in: You admit to God that you need it, you accept it, and you ask Him to show you the path forward. Then you are in a whole new time zone, and the Holy Spirit starts showing up to feed your conscience and help you avoid pitfalls. (The arrival of the Holy Spirit is celebrated on the Christian day of Pentecost, which follows Easter. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples to empower them for the first mission field work -- gave them languages and such.)But again: There is no schadenfreude at the foot of the Cross. Anyone sneaking it in will answer for it; it is blasphemy.But what will be our perspective on the lost once we are with Him? Friends and family, people we loved and admired in our human lives? Will we mourn? Will we cheer? Will we shrug? I have no idea, but part of my faith is that the right perspective will be given to me when it is needed. (I'm also hoping there is not social status in Heaven, because wouldn't that just be fun. Unless I'm also given that correct perspective, I mean. Either way, it's Heaven, so I won't complain too much. But yeah, I might be in the back washing dishes. Joyfully, though.)Much of it comes down to the simple clash between our own sense of fairness and God's unassailable sense of justice. His creation, His rules. Fortunately, that justice comes with the most powerful sentence commutation of all time, found in the real-deal, bled-for-it sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf, and in the bank of forgiveness that He has been authorized to distribute. The only catch is that we need to expressly choose that grace, which is why the spirit of darkness tries to make that radically simple choice so impossibly difficult. That camp also is recruiting, and heavily.This, finally, goes back to the thought that we don't need Crowley flitting about to muddy the water with Thelema and "do what you will" and whatnot. There's noise everywhere, as I know from having just spent 30 years on a spiritual walkabout that, by God's grace, has led me right back home. (Yes, it is cheesy. But it's joyful cheese.)
- ► First, those of us who were offended did not dredge up anything, but were presented with Crowley when we came to the site. Even if our offense can be criticized, it would not need to be, had it not been caused first. (The self-inflictedness here is part of the error.) Consider, also, that our offense could be grounded in the actual substance of faith. Some comments here shed light on this. This matters to some of us because of the viewpoint and behavior showcased by the release. It's not so odd when you remember that some people religiously avoid ham. (You can decide whether that also is pearl-clutching. I recognize it as answering a particular call to righteousness. I also happen to be avoiding pork and beef right now during Lent. That restriction has little to do with what's on the fork, but much to do with how I experience my own desires and impatience during a time of reflection.)Second, the marketing angle that qualifies Crowley as an inspiration for a blend also qualifies for customer comment. Our sensibilities as buyers of tobacco pertain directly to the choices of sellers of tobacco. We can't reduce this to a paper transaction just to avoid the controversy; it's knowingly built into the marketing here.Third, standing by one's viewpoint is not the same as claiming it is the only valid option. (This argument is fallacious and common.) It is a sly move to conjure fault from the other side's commitment to its own position. But all of that aside: If someone takes offense at our offense, it only underscores the point that this was a divisive release and a messy way to promote the blend.
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Codger Country: Borkum Riff Bourbon Whiskey
- ► Thanks for the writeup. I did the codger journey last summer. Prince Albert and Velvet ended up tops for me, but there are a few good ones, including Sir Walter Raleigh Original, Half and Half, and Borkum Riff Original. Don't forget Paladin, which sometimes gets a bad rap but is both a good codger and a good cherry. Within the codger family, you'll notice slight differences in the burn, which can sometimes be the go-ahead feature over a similar blend. Enjoy the series!
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Italy, July, 2021: A Pipe Travelogue
- ► A fantastic behind-the-scenes. Thank you for taking the time to write this up. It's great to see the relationships behind the business. (Bravo to Castello for doing everything they could under tough circumstances.)I'm interested to hear about a "shape revival" with the Savinelli models. You mention the 404, which I recently bought from you in the Oscar Lucite finish. That's a great smoker, and being somewhat on the trim side, is an excellent pouch pipe. A perfect candidate for a refresh.Continued safe travels.
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Obsidian Oil: The Solution to Stem Oxidation
- ► I bought some Obsidian Oil earlier this year, and so far so good. I really try to buy acrylic stems, but exceptions for me are most Peterson pipes and the Savinelli Roma series. So far, I've used it only as a preventative treatment; I haven't had to bring anything back. It's one of those things like pipe sweetener that's nice to have around to get the most out of the hobby.
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Top 15 Budget-Friendly Pipes
- ► Between small chambers and bent stems, several of the examples here are not ideal for beginners. For a straightforward experience, I recommend a straight billiard for the beginner; e.g., the Rossi Notte 101 is a great choice.
10 Sleeper Blends From Cornell & Diehl- ► Granby Station is another one. It has grown on me over time -- a well balanced light aromatic that has both elegance and a rustic edge, like a shiny locomotive. I've put some of these entries on my wishlist; I think my next round of exploration will focus on blends with Perique. Thanks for the post.