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Kevin B.
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Cornell & Diehl - The Beast 2oz
The Beast Indeed!
Firstly, I really wish Smoking Pipes would filter out reviews of blends that are NOT reviews of the actual blends… sigh… That being said, here’s my own opinion of the actual blend AND marketing of it: Firstly, I love the name, the tin art and the whole notion of this being associated with Crowley- I think it’s brilliant.. Secondly/ this blend is aptly names! WOW! That first bowl right out of the tin… yikes! It about did me in! And I’ve been smoking pipes for a long time. The tin note upon opening was very acrid and ammonia-like, which caught me off guard. After opening and letting it set for a almost a week, The Beast calms down in the tin and as a smoke. This stuff needs to be left to chill out for a bit before smoking in my humble opinion. When I fist smoked this it was more similar to a very strong, maduro cigar and my wife stated as much in no uncertain terms! Lol! I have to say that the first bowl made me despair for having committed to buying more than one tin… but I didn’t give up. The second bowl I tried after a week of letting The Beast settle its raving and rampaging the experience was COMPLETELY different and much more enjoyable! My wife immediately stated how much more she liked the smell of this “new” blend I was smoking. When I told it was the same one that tire through the air last week she was surprised- and so was I! The flavors were rich- as I’d hoped for- with deep dark notes, even a sweetness. It is a very intriguing combination of savory and sweet tobacco notes. It should be sipped rather than powering through because it is still The Beast, but if you meet it half way, you really can tame it and enjoy it. It might not be for everyone but I really do highly recommend it. It does stand out and is shorthand a try. If you didn’t enjoy it at first please do give another go after letting it rest for a bit- I don’t think you will be disappointed and may even be pleasantly surprised. Every Beast can be tamed with patience.
Tabac De La Semois - La Brumeuse 3.5oz
Easier to smoke than I was lead to believe
I was both intrigued and intimidated by the description and sone of these reviews of this blend. Thankfully my curiosity outweighed the hesitance to try it. Firstly- it really ya easier to pack and smoke than sone may lead one to believe. It smokes down faster than I’m used to from other blends I’ve tried and I’ve found that just blowing a bit of moisture back into the packed bowl before lighting actually does help a bit despite the warnings, but I wouldn’t recommend trying to rehydrate the entire block at all. It has a very unique scent in the package and in the before before lighting- dry, hay-like with a slightly acrid, ammonia-line hint. Now I don’t mean to detract from this blend with that matter adjective but it is present. It smokes wonderfully right out of the block . The room note is a combination of straw, hay, and frankly of a gentle variety of marijuana! My wife said it smelled like pot right away! You get those flavors right away on the first inhale. Then other nice summery tobacco notes come through. It’s a clean and pleasant smoke that I keep coming back to. If I work my way through this block I can see myself getting more. I’ve not had any other blends quite like this one and I’ve tried a fairly expansive number and variety of blends- both aromatic and non-aromatic- over my many years of pipe smoking. There are other very specific tasting notes to be experienced in this blend but I recommend that any one who reads this actual review of a tobacco try it for themselves. I don’t think you will be disappointed. Pack it gently, not too densely but not too lightly, give it a charing light, then ramp it slightly and it should stay lit nicely throughout your smoke. This is a very nice blend.
Peter Heinrichs - Blend #14 100g
Nostalgic goodness
First the superficial but to me significant: I love the old style tin that this lovely blend comes in. Now to the blend itself… the tin note is immediately pleasing. A warm vanilla note with the burley is present right away, but after a few hours of having opened it the bourbon is present. On the inhale the vanilla leads followed by the pleading burley and bourbon on the exhale. There is a strange nostalgia to the flavor as well as the room note to me that I find extremely pleasing. There seems to even be a vague anise like flavor as the bowl burns down further. I don’t find the top notes of the vanilla and bourbon overwhelming at all and it allows that burley and the cavendish- I’m a huge cavendish fan- to make themselves known. The aftertaste in my mouth is of whiskey most certainly. The feelings this blend evokes are so strong and enjoyable. It lights perfectly and stays lit right out of the tin. I can see why this sells out immediately. Set up your notifications for this blend. It really is worth your time.
Cornell & Diehl - Folklore 16oz
Worth the wait
I was delighted to finally be able to score some of this blend. And it was worth the wait- I’ve had no other blend quite like it. The aroma right out of the tin/bag is immediately intriguing and enticing. The combination of aromas is matched by the symphony of flavors. Just the right mix of sweetness and fine tobaccos smokiness. And the amount one gets for this offering is wonderful. It has some incense like aroma to it with deeply satisfying Virginia sweetness. And the clove like taste from the Kasturi blends harmoniously. No one element dominates- it truly is a wonderful blend. The room note is very aromatic. The inhale immediately imparts all this blends notes and it burns down to a nice white ash and produces a pleasing cloud of smoke. To my mind there are elements to this blend that shouldn’t work but they do…they do so well. I honestly hope that everyone who wanted to try this had the opportunity to do so this time around. The price seems a bit dear on the face of it but for the amount you get and the quality and character of what one gets makes it well worth it. It’s rare to find a pipe tobacco that is not just a slight variation on all others and is truly unique while still being palatable and this one is it. I give it a five star rating.
Sillem's - Linea Epoque Antique 3.5oz
Another Sillem Homerun
Every blend I’ve tried by Sillem has been amazing and this blend is another triumph. The tin note is exotic and the tasting notes and room Notes are just as delightful! The vanilla lead, closely followed by the unique mirabelle flavors. It finished with a harmonious combination of cavendish sweetness, nutty burley and lovely Virginia with a surprisingly mellow cappuccino flavored. Truly a complex flavor symphony.
Drucquer & Sons - Casbah 100g
This Casbah Was Rocked
Absolutely worth your time. Very blend I’ve sampled from Drucquer & Sons has been a great smoke and each so very unique from one another. This new one has immediately gone on my top favorites.
Warped - Scarecrow 2oz
Haunted by flavor
Many comment on this one being all hype- well the hype is well founded. The tin note is delicious and so reminiscent of the holiday and namesake. The inhale is a perfect balance of sweet aromatic and good rich tobacco. The room note is pleasant and generally well received by those who have experienced it while I smoked it. I went through the first tin pretty quickly. I’m so glad it became available again and that I purchase a few tins. Absolutely one of my top favorites. And the tin art is GORGEOUS!
Sutliff - Whimsical 50g
Can’t believe I got any!
First- I can’t believe I actually got a couple of tins! This is yet another delightful blend in this series. More fantastic tin art…and the blend itself is wonderful. I think I enjoyed it even more than the Uno. I’m now a fan of the St James Perique and it’s been blended so well with Virginia’s. Rich and spicy and that tangy note really lifts it. The tin note is warm and delightful bread like quality that immediately invites you to rub some out and smoke it. Be sure not to pack it too densely. It stays lit and the room note is very pleasing. A very pleasing and for me unique smoke.
Cornell & Diehl - Sun Bear Mountain Flower 2oz
One time alert?
Skunked again. Once more the one time alert just alerts me to it being sold out…again. I’d love to try this. Revising my review: I FINALLY scored a couple of tins of this- not from here as the one time alert feature on this site comes waaaay too late to really be any use- but from another site. This really is a wonderful blend. I can see why it’s popular and gets hoarded- I mean sells out so soon. It’s very unique and IMHO worth the hype. I can really get the honey and a floral note- the latter is more like dried summer flowers and sweet mown hey. And then the delightful tobacco notes. It did NOT disappoint!
