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Eric B.

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Cornell & Diehl - Carolina Red Flake with Perique 2oz
The Kind of Tobacco Songs are Written About
Best VA/Per on the market at this time, IMO. Fresh out of the tin, it’s excellent. After a few years aging, it is transcendental. Every pipe smoker should try this at least once. Worth every penny.

Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Twilight Mixture
A Blend to Wind Down With
I love the name, but what caught my attention is the components. Some of my favorite, and I feel underrated, as you usually see these components with Latakia. It seems the Virginia/Oriental mixtures are having a Renaissance at the moment. Mechanically, it does the job. Packs easy, burns slow and fairly cool. Good moisture content…right in the sweet spot of dry/moist so you can load it right away, unless you like your tobacco bone dry or sopping wet. Flavor…what a treat! Virginias provide some sweetness and there is more than a bit of perique in the mix, but they set the stage for the orientals to really shine. I wouldn’t say any single component dominates, however. All in perfect balance. The closest tobacco I can compare this to is Regent’s Flake by GL Please, but this is a bit more bold, with an assertive perique note that is vastly more subtle in Regents Flake. If you’re a fan of VA/Orientals, this is one to try…and with the budget-friendly bulk options, why not?

G. L. Pease - Géométrie 2oz
Bavarian Rye Bread
A shining example of an overlooked type of blend...Virginias and Orientals. The virginias have a dry bread quality, and the orientals provide just the right amount of intrigue. It really reminded me of Bavarian rye bread. Regent's Flake has been a favorite for a long time, and it has a richer, more oriental-forward flavor. geometrie is a bit more subtle, with the taste of bread at the front, supported by the zaftig quality of the orientals. Regent's Flake is an incense-filled bohemian cafe, while geometrie is a cheerful pub in the Bavarian countryside. Yet another masterpiece in the Zeitgeist series!

Low Country - Edisto 2oz
Finest Everyday Virginia
If you like the stewed fruit, slightly spicy, rich taste of a red Virginia, this is among the best available. Packs easy, lights easy, burns easy. Rub it out or stuff and puff, it performs well either way. Capstan Blue has been my favorite Virginia but this might unseat the mighty Capstan. Reminiscent of the original Carolina Red Flake, but smoother with less spice. A classic in the making.

Dan Tobacco - Hamborger Veermaster 50g
10 year old tin
Virginias are known for aging well, so I opened a 10 year old tin as my first experience with this tobacco. Even with 10 years, the taste was VERY mild and did not taste aged. It was a darn good, well behaved smoke. The flavor was very subtle. Not a bad thing, but if you’re expecting it to get vastly better with age, you might be disappointed. I have a few more fresh tins and will enjoy them sooner instead of waiting. This is a great, reliable tobacco, but subtlety is the keyword. Not for lovers of big, bold taste…but an unobtrusive companion when you want to puff on something nice.

Hearth & Home - Smoky Mountain 1.75oz
For Lovers of Kentucky Leaf
Absolutely smooth, with a savory, rich barbecue taste. Slightly dry crumble cake that breaks up easily and smokes slow, just the way a good Kentucky tobacco should. Sweetness and tang from the virginias in perfect proportion with the American and African Kentucky leaf for a perfect mix of floral notes and mesquite. Nicotine isn’t a sledge hammer but absolutely satisfies.

McConnell - Scottish Cake 50g
Slow Starter
The first several times I smoked this, I was not crazy about it. But it has grown on me and now I quite enjoy it. Burns cool, no bite, and stays lit even though it comes a bit wet in the tin. Good, flavorful anytime tobacco with just enough nuance to be interesting. Burns clean down to the bottom of the bowl and a decent kick of nicotine but not overpowering. More of a slow crescendo. Closer to a ribbon cut than a broken flake and it burns a little faster than I would like, but that’s personal preference; I prefer flakes for the slower burn. Similar to Royal Yacht and C&D’s Five o’clock Shadow. If you like either of those, you will probably like this.

Cornell & Diehl - Derringer 2oz
Fully Loaded Virginia
Savory and sweet as only C&D can pull off. This isn’t a subtle Virginia, but it is still a Virginia with excellent nuance. Reminds me of a toned-down, less spicy Carolina Red Flake...but that’s not to say it is inferior in any way. No chance of bite, and cool burning for a Virginia. Enough nicotine to satisfy but it won’t clobber you over the head as a kentucky might, and absolutely smooth on the palate.

Cornell & Diehl - Five O'Clock Shadow 2oz
One of C&D’s Finest
C&D has lots of great offerings, but this really stands out as a tobacco done right. Easy to break apart, easy to light, and stays lit till the end. It starts with a slightly bitter note but that calms down into a smooth, enjoyable smoke. It packs a punch in the nicotine department and is perfect for a work day or night when you want an easy, no fuss, tasty tobacco.

Peterson - University Flake 50g
Like Peanut Butter and Jelly
Perfectly balanced burley flake with a berry topping. The berry topping is more apparent in the tin than in the smoke, but it is there and plays perfectly with the nutty cocoa of the burley. This one is a winner in my book. No tongue bite at all and enough nicotine to satisfy, but if you are sensitive to nicotine, use a small bowl and go slow.

Dan Tobacco - Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 50g
A Mixture Done Right
Wonderful oriental flavors with unique notes from the Kentucky tobacco. All components are in perfect balance, even the Latakia. This does not come across as a heavy Latakia mixture. Just a wonderful oriental forward with an added smokiness from the Kentucky.

Prince Albert - Prince Albert 1.5oz
Cocoa and Hazelnuts
A simpler version of something like Aged Burley Flake. Great in the morning with coffee or any time of day. I’m pretty sensitive to casings and toppings, but I don’t notice any real “chemical” taste as some have noted. Just good honest burley cocoa taste with a bit of nuttiness. A faithful companion when you don’t need something complex or challenging, but still want an easy going pipe.

Mac Baren - HH Bold Kentucky 1.75oz
Sweet and Savory
Freshly tinned it is good. A few sharp notes here and there. The flavor has sweetness and I think the “bold” has more to do with the kick of nicotine than flavor, but there is plenty of Kentucky and Virginia flavor. Recently opened a 5 year old tin and aging makes this tobacco brilliant. All sharp notes have faded, leaving behind a really sublime smoke.

Cornell & Diehl - Burley Flake #4 2oz
Meat and Potatoes
The tin aroma is nothing short of delicious. As a burley fan, I had high hopes but my first bowl was very disappointing. Any tobacco with such a delicious tin note must be great, in the right pipe. So the second time I opted for a larger, wider bowl. And boy did it sing! I found Morley’s Best to be a little more forgiving, but once #4 is matched to the right pipe, you are in for a real treat.

Cornell & Diehl - Morley's Best
Hearty, Savory
A wonderful meat and potato’s kind of blend. That wisp of Latakia adds just the right amount of complexity. The burley are truly delicious. In a wide pipe, it loses subtlety and smokes more like a savory, simple burley. In a narrow bowl, the complexity from the Latakia comes out, but only just. This is one magnificent blend.

Seattle Pipe Club - Wild Man 2oz
Simple, delicious
Really great everyday blend. A bit more rough than some other SPC blends, but I think with some age it will be truly sublime. The orientals are present, and perfectly balanced with the Virginia’s and Latakia. The Latakia is there, but all of the components are perfectly balanced and no individual component runs away with the show. If you're a fan of SPC blends, this is a GREAT one to try.

Cornell & Diehl - Visions of Celephaïs 2oz
Top Shelf
This is a great blend, even if you’re not a fan of aromatics. There’s enough complexity in the component tobaccos to keep it interesting throughout the entire bowl, unlike many aromatics that fall flat once the flavoring burns off. The overall flavor profile fits perfectly with the Old Ones series and if you like the other offerings, this is absolutely worth a try. Not a sugary sweet aromatic. Smokes dry, no tongue bite. A great aromatic for the non-aromatic smoker...I liked it so much that upon finishing the first bowl, I immediately reloaded and smoked a second bowl.