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All New Pipes
Nicholas T.
About Me:
Army veteran, journalist, outdoorsman, and author.
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Reviews
Sutliff - Great Outdoors 1.5oz
Simple and Unique
A very interesting and understated blend. Great textured cut. Good dryness. Not cloying with only a subtle sweetness. And a great root beer aroma. Just an all-around remarkable blend.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - American Delite
Pure Nostalgia
An outstanding burley-forward blend with plenty of black cavendish and Virginia also mixed in. There’s something so nostalgic about American Delight, reminiscent of when I first started smoking pipes all those years ago. A very smooth subtle aromatic with a hint of vanilla and dark fruit. A fabulous all-day blend!
Amphora - Burley 1.75oz
Glorious Burley
I’ve been trying to find a close match to the discontinued Stokkebye Toasted Burley, my favorite blend. I have a good stock of Toasted Burley still, but an available substitute was desirable to extend the life of my stockpile. This Amphora Burley Blend is very close to Stokkebye Toasted Burley, in appearance, texture, aroma, and taste. The only real difference is an addition of dark fired Kentucky in this Amphora which is actually rather pleasant. It’s as though Toasted Burley and Old Dark Fired have been blended together. A very delicious smoke that is a new favorite in my regular rotation.
Daughters & Ryan - Two Timer 40g
Not Too Impressed
I’m a burley smoker, through and through, and this is one of my least favorite burleys I’ve had. It was a new tin too. The aroma and appearance was truly identical to dead leaves. It lit wonderfully, but then I was greeted by a sudden blazing rush of hot air an an off-putting taste, like a bad cigarette. Disappointing.
Low Country - Hazelnut
Great Aromatic
I was very pleasantly surprised by this hazelnut aromatic, especially for its very low cost. I tend to smoke burley blends and avoid most aromatics, but when I saw this was just burley with black cavendish it piqued my interest. Outstanding room note and very good taste. It burns great and no bite whatsoever for me.
Peter Stokkebye - PS41 Cube Cut
Very Pleasant
A very good, slightly sweet, and slightly earthy blend of burley and red Virginia. Very easy to pack and light, and smokes quite smooth.
Mac Baren - Golden Extra
A Decent Burley Virginia
Mac Baren Golden Extra is another natural ready-rubbed broken flake blend that is very VERY similar to Symphony, nearly identical but for a little bit more of my beloved burley flavors. For me this one step above Symphony in flavor.
Mac Baren - Symphony
Decent
Mac Baren Symphony is a decent natural ready-rubbed burley, Virginia, cavendish blend. I don’t taste the sweetness others mention, and it certainly doesn’t remind me of Mac Baren Burley London Blend (one of favorites) which I’ve seen it compared to. Nothing special but decent.
Newminster - No. 702 Light Burley
Medicine Cabinet Aroma
Newminster Light Burley has that talc/mothball/grandmother’s medicine cabinet smell and taste that harkens to Peretti Burley blends. Not a fan at all.
Mac Baren - Burley: London Blend 3.5oz
One of the Best
This chocolatey broken flake burley is one of the best blends I’ve ever had. I fear five tins isn’t enough for my cellar. The cut harkens to my beloved Stokkebye Toasted Burley, but the aroma and flavor certainly is a sweeter echo of Solani Aged Burley Flake.
Peter Stokkebye - PS23 B & B
Great All-Day Smoke
A Grabow loaded with this sweetened burley and black cavendish is paradise. I love the cut and quality of the tobacco, as I love most of Stokkebye’s blends. This smoke is sweet and smooth and entirely without bite. A fantastic all-day smoke for a burley lover.
Sutliff - 208 Apple
Subtly Sweet Burley
I would consider Sutliff Apple a burley blend as opposed to an aromatic, as there’s just the faintest tin note of sweet apple. Just enough to make the traditional nuttiness of the burley even better. One of my favorite all-day smokes.
Peterson - Royal Yacht 50g
An Unique Virginia
I typically have issues with Virginia blends, preferring burley blends instead. The exception is Royal Yacht, but I truly suspect there’s a little burley in this Virginia blend. The casing is somewhat sweet and peculiar, hard to but my finger on.
Mac Baren - HH Acadian Perique 1.75oz
Sour and Peculiar
I’m a fan of Peterson Irish Cask and I heard this was similar. Tin note is sour orientals and earthy dark fired Kentucky. It smokes fine, and the pepperiness of the Perique is evident and enjoyable. It’s not a go-to blend for me, but it’s fine.
Cornell & Diehl - Corn Cob Pipe and A Button Nose 2oz
Pleasant
The tin note of this seasonal aromatic is outstanding, cocoa and vanilla. The granola cut is good. It reminds me of the codger burley blends I enjoy. It smokes fine, but the taste is rather bland.
Sutliff - Pumpkin Spice
An Interesting Autumnal Aromatic
It came a little wet and goopy and smelled strongly of rum to me, but it lit easily and burned well, offering sweetness and autumnal spice like a pumpkin pie. A very interesting autumnal aromatic.
Cornell & Diehl - Byzantium
A Fantastic Balkan
Heavy in smoky Latakia, fragrant orientals, and peppery perique, Byzantium was a delicious Balkan experience for a cold late autumn evening. I like to imagine this was what the Russian soldiers smoked in the snowy nighttime woods at the beginning of Tolstoy’s “Hadji Murat”.
Cornell & Diehl - Star of the East Gold
Fragrant Orientals
A very fragrant bright blend that I would term a light Balkan. The hint of Latakia takes the backseat to fragrant Turkish orientals and grassy Virginia. I purchased this in bulk, and it was very dry and there were several stems. But that did little to distract from the pleasurable smoking experience. I prefer the Gold to the original Star of the East.
Peter Stokkebye - PS312 Toasted Burley
Simple Sweet Nuttiness
“Simplify, simplify,” wrote Henry David Thoreau. To me, that describes this outstanding natural burley blend from Peter Stokkebye. I’m a lover of burley above all other tobacco, and this Toasted Burley encapsulates perfectly what I love about it. The natural sugars in this ready-rubbed/broken flake presentation oddly remind me of Virginias, but with a very bold and robust nuttiness instead of the grassy breadiness. Simply put, this is such an amazing burley that I had to buy a pound of it! It’s October right now, and the sweet bold nuttiness is especially perfect for autumn. This is my new go-to smoke.
Sutliff - Match 20
An Outstanding English
I’ve never tried the original Dunhill 965, so I’m not comparing this match blend to it. I’m smoking Sutliff Match 20 to just enjoy a different English from what I usually smoke. This blend is absolutely fantastic! Smoky notes of leather, sour, and sweet. The black cavendish is what makes this blend for me and sets it apart from other English blends. The smoky edges of this blend are smoothed by the sweet black cavendish, giving this woodsy blend a nice velvety body. This may quickly become my new favorite English.
Captain Black - Dark 1.5oz
BEST BLACK CAVENDISH
I must say...CB Dark is the best pure black cavendish I’ve ever had (and I’ve had A LOT of different black cavendish). It’s not goopy, wet, or overdosed with casing. It’s got a very subtle vanilla flavor and a bit of nuttiness and brown sugar, like a blackened sweet burley with no tongue bite at all. Right when I lit it, the first flavor and aroma was unmistakably toasted marshmallow. Burns down to a white ash with no dottle. I’ve always rolled my eyes about Captain Black, but no more. CB Dark is going to be my new all-day smoke. I just love everything about it. This is absolutely my favorite aromatic!
Lane Limited - Black Raspberry
Delicious
I was sent this blend by accident when I ordered my usual Sutliff Black Raspberry, and what a wonderful mistake it was! The bag note is sweet and subtly raspberry, not as strong as Sutliff Black Raspberry, and the flavor is exquisite with a little added complexity and nuances from the bits of burley and Virginia mixed in. A damn good blend!
Cornell & Diehl - Green River Vanilla
Sweet and Subtle
This came quite wet in the bag (I’ve noticed this with other C&D cavendish blends) and it had a subtle sweet smell. The flavor is definitively vanilla and yummy after drying out the bag for quite a while.
Lane Limited - Dark Red
Fragrant and Delicious
Amazing cherry aroma with a hint of vanilla! It came just a tad moist and took a little bit of drying time, but then it was just what the doctor ordered.
Cornell & Diehl - Sun Bear 2oz
Very Interesting
I’m not a big fan of Virginias and haven’t experimented with orientals really at all, but I bought this on a whim. It’s a broken flake, and the tin note smells delicious with honey and a faint whiff of tequila. I wish the tequila would’ve been more robust than silver, a nice reposado or añejo with more flavor. The grassy notes and the honey were pleasant to sip, and the zesty spiciness of the orientals were interesting. I’m curious to see what aging will do to the blend.
Cornell & Diehl - Canal Boat 2oz
Simple and Worthwhile
A simple blend of finely cut burley, black cavendish, and smoky Latakia. I would almost call it an English blend if not for the absence of Virginia. The missing Virginia and the cut of the burley is in this blend’s favor. Sweet, nutty, and smoky. It’s especially delicious after a year of aging.
Drew Estate - Kentucky Fire Cured Sweets Ponies (10 Pack)
Fantastic
Smells like delicious Kentucky dark fired pipe tobacco! Tastes delicious, like a good barbecue with a good sweet tip.
Solani - Aged Burley Flake - 656 50g
Cream of the Crop
This is it. Perfectly formed flakes of white and dark burley. This burns perfectly and relatively quickly to ashes, but doesn’t bite your tongue. It has that exquisite burley flavor profile I love so much and the prickles of heavy nicotine. The taste is brown sugar, cocoa, nuts, and anise, like a very refined exceptional Sir Walter Raleigh, and the tin note is cocoa. The room note is like baked goods and dark fruit like plums. I was smoking this in my garage, and when my wife came in she said it smelled like I was cooking raisin bread. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the best tobacco I’ve ever smoked, my new favorite. I’m a lover of burley above all other types of tobacco, and this is a the cream of the crop.
Lane Limited - BL/WB
Phenomenal
I’m such a massive fan of Sir Walter Raleigh. It’s my favorite tobacco blend. This offering from Lane, BL/WB, has the similar granola cut as well as that delicious brown sugar and licorice flavor. It’s a very close match to SWR but with an odd coconut aroma as well.
Lane Limited - BCA
Sweet Splendid Smoke
A pure simple black cavendish, mellow and smooth. I love it on its own and as an additive to other blends.
Cornell & Diehl - Pirate Kake 2oz
Smoky Smoking Smoke
I’ll taste Latakia for awhile after smoking this, but that’s not to say it’s an unpleasant smoke. The burley and orientals are lost in the sea of Latakia, but I suppose they temper that robust smoke to remind you that you aren’t smoking a bowl of straight Latakia. I love the campfire smokiness of English blends but Pirate Kake is nearly too heavy with it and too narrowly focused. It’s almost a single note experience. I’ll stick to Mountain Camp and Star of the East.
Cornell & Diehl - Star of the East Flake 2oz
Great
This broken flake version. A robust and complex experience of bold smoky Latakia and spicy nuanced orientals. This is a swell smoking experience. However, I tend to like the ribbon cut better.
Cornell & Diehl - Star of the East 2oz
Very Good
Such a rich deep smoking experience! Heavy with smoky Latakia and fragrant orientals, it burned wonderfully and hit all the right notes for me. Absolutely a staple in my smoking regimen when I want a break from my beloved burley.
Cornell & Diehl - Espresso
Very Oily
As it is now, the aromas and flavors are very subtle and the blend is very wet and oily. I’m hoping it’ll get better with a little aging in a mason jar.
Cornell & Diehl - Dark Chocolate
Delicious Cavendish
A great smooth black cavendish with a wonderful rich chocolate tin note. It comes quite wet, but it dries out just fine. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover the room note and the taste to be equally heavy with chocolate! I could see this getting even better with some burley thrown in for good measure!
Cornell & Diehl - Dark Cherry Cavendish
Average
On its own, this blend is pretty bland, and even the tin note is subtle. I like to combine it with C&D Dark Chocolate for a great smoke!
Cornell & Diehl - Mountain Camp 2oz
Absolutely Stunning
Mountain Camp is very Latakia-forward but not at all overwhelming. The spiciness of the Perique is barely discernible, but there’s enough to create an interesting nuance. I typically smoke American burley blends in lieu of English blends, but Mountain Camp is my favorite English and one of my new favorite blends out of all families of tobacco, likely because of the inclusion of plenty of burley! It’s complex but very smooth and silky, almost like smoking a straight black cavendish. The room note is the smell of a campfire, so much so that you can almost hear the skillet full of bacon or trout sizzling. A new favorite.
Cornell & Diehl - Americana 2oz
Outstanding Smoke
What a unique blend! Such a good surprise! The smoky Latakia is tempered by the burley, black cavendish, and Virginia. Right away I was struck with a sense of nostalgia somehow, which I know is tacky considering the name of the blend. But nonetheless, echoes of camping came to me, and the aroma and taste of chestnuts over an open fire. There was a faint sweetness and nuttiness. Americana was pleasantly mild and smooth, but there was enough going on to keep the blend active. This was a completely pleasurable smoke and is definitely one of new staples!
Cornell & Diehl - Pegasus 2oz
Expected a Bit More
Pegasus has a faint room note. It’s dry and burns well, quickly to ash, with no dottle. However, there’s not a lot of flavor to the blend, though the Virginia is somewhat evident. The black cavendish is very much in background and really has nothing to offer to the blend. I’m a fan of good American burley blends, and savor the nuttiness and caramel/cocoa notes inherent in them, but Pegasus unfortunately lacks those burley flavors. It harkens to Carter Hall or Prince Albert, so fans of those OTC blends should also be fans of Pegasus. I’ll stick with my Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic. I even prefer Half and Half over this I believe.
Sir Walter Raleigh - Aromatic 12oz
Absolute Perfect Smoke
Right off the bat, the shag cut is great for packing a pipe and it burns exquisitely. The aroma of liqueurs is evident, along with the anise-brown sugar of the traditional SWR, and the caramel nuttiness of the good American burley. The taste was full of the caramel, honey, and brown sugar initially, and then the flavors of the liqueurs came on. It was absolutely perfect, a stunningly good smoke. Also, when I’ve smoked this around others they commented on a chocolate/caramel aroma. This is one of my new favorite blends, hands down. It’s especially perfect with a couple fingers of bourbon at the ready.
Smoker's Pride - Vanilla Cavendish 12oz
Underwhelmed
I’m a big fan of Smokers Pride Cherry, so I suppose I had high hopes for the Vanilla, considering it’s their most popular of the Smokers Pride blends. The aroma of the bag wasn’t vanilla-scented at all and had an aroma more akin to animal feed. I was hoping the taste and room note would redeem the blend, but I was sorely mistaken. Completely bland. I’m shocked really. Maybe my bag was bad or something?
Carter Hall - Carter Hall 1.5oz Pouch
Carter Hall
This isn’t a bad codger blend, but it’s not among the greats. It burns cool and smokes easy but had no flavor or nuance, not even a slight nuttiness from the burley. I’ll definitely stick to my beloved Sir Walter Raleigh!
Sir Walter Raleigh - Regular 1.5oz
Simplicity in a Smoke
I gave SWR a lesser review when I first smoked, but as time progressed and I smoked more of it, I had to improve my review. And then I had to improve it even more later on. This old All-American burley codger blend is slightly sour initially with subtle hints of complexity over a very basic burley blend. The cut makes it easy to light and burn without relights. Over time I’ve realized that the complexity I detected initially is an anise note. Further smoking also brought a brown sugar taste, especially deeper in the bowl. Additionally, it’s a very smooth and silky smoke for me, almost as much as a straight black cavendish. This is a pleasing simple tobacco, and there isn’t a thing wrong with that. This is my morning smoke!
Prince Albert - Prince Albert 1.5oz
Basic Burley
I was excited to smoke Prince Albert as I’ve drifted back to an appreciation of American burley and codger blends. My great grandfather smoked Prince Albert in his pipes and he rolled it in his cigarettes. This is a very mild and basic blend, which isn’t bad at all, but I was not really a fan of its tin note and I was disappointed with the lack of burley nuttiness and caramel notes. There was a subtle nuance of chocolate which was pleasant and for that reason and the nostalgia of this blend for me personally, I place Prince Albert slightly above Carter Hall, but I place it below Half and Half and well below my favorites, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic, and Smokers Pride Cherry.
Smoker's Pride - Cherry Cavendish 12oz
Cherries and Cream
Delicious cherry/cream smell and taste! Burns great and is nice and dry for a good cheap all-day smoke when you’re lunting.
Captain Black - Grape 1.5oz
The Grape Gatsby
Wow! This was a very interesting experience. The aroma of grape was intense before lighting, very reminiscent of grape-flavored candy, gum, or pop. The taste was much less bold after lighting. I didn’t enjoy the film that coated the inside of my mouth when I started smoking.
Peterson - Irish Cask 50g
Spicy and Complex
Oddly, this was one of the first tobacco blends I ever bought and I smoked it exclusively for years. It’s a complex and unique blend with the main notes being peppery and tangy. Always an enjoyable smoke!
Half and Half - Half and Half 1.5oz
Unique Codger Blend
A simple and no-nonsense codger blend. I initially found it bland and relatively flavorless, but after developing a strong fondness for Sir Walter Raleigh, I decided to give this OTC another go. It’s very burley-forward, which is a good thing and provides the caramel nuttiness I love so much about burley. The Virginia is extremely on the back burner and serves only to make the blend burn a little too hot at times. There’s a spice flavor like fennel and coriander in the smell and taste as well that I found very pleasant and different. In closing, I still very much prefer Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic, but Half and Half is a delicious option to break up the monotony every once and a while.
Sutliff - B20 - Black Cavendish
Chill Out
One the smoothest and mellowest smokes possible. A great all-day blend on its own, but also a wonderful additive for blending.
Cornell & Diehl - Latakia
Pure Smoke
The pure scent of charcoal and smoke. This would be gnarly on its own, but it’s one of the ultimate blenders.
Mac Baren - HH Old Dark Fired Ready Rubbed
Earthy Barbecue Bliss
One of the absolute best smokes out there. Richness, smoke, barbecued meat, leather, bacon. So many strange and delicious notes! Combine this with Latakia and some plain black cavendish to mellow, and you have the ultimate blend.
Cornell & Diehl - Seersucker 2oz
Mild and Odd
I assume I’ll write a new review of this Plug in a few years. But as it stands now, I’m not too impressed. It was wet, not pressed too good, very mild and rather flavorless, and had a very strange smell. I understand the intent is to age this for several years, so I’m going to give that a shot and see if it improves.
G. L. Pease - JackKnife Plug 2oz
Smoky Deliciousness
As soon as I opened the tin with this plug to put it in a jar, I was enveloped in the delicious aromas of smoke, spice, and sweetness. It was a heavy rich scent, almost like barbecued meat. It had a smoky complex taste that I loved. Jack Knife Plug just moved up my “favorites” list. It’s a strong blend so be sure to smoke on a full belly! My only real criticism is that it doesn’t burn all that great off the plug, and takes a lot of relighting.
Solani - Tropical Flake-639 50g
Great Burn, Average Taste
I dried this flake for a couple days, and it lit and burned like a dream. No relighting needed. It had a sweet raisin aroma in the tin, but it had very little to no flavor. Still a pleasant smoke and I liked the flake cut of this.
Sutliff - Tobacco Galleria: Midnight Smoke
Simple, Mellow, and Pleasant
Great for blending, but also a thoroughly enjoyable smoke on its own! Mellow and slightly sweet, it’s a very light smoke suitable for anytime of day.
Sutliff - J4 - Burley
Earthy and Good
This pure burley is my go-to for blending, but it also stands on its own. It’s add a great flavor and dimension to every blend. I’m not a huge fan of its ribbon cut, but the aroma out of the bag is mouthwatering with hints of caramel and nuts. It has a great smell and retains its nuttiness whilst lit. A good simple smoke.
Sutliff - Black Raspberry
Sweet Subtle Berry
I bought this black cavendish for a blender, but it’s an absolutely exquisite smoke on its own too. Unlit, the smell of raspberry was bold and delicious. Once lit, it burns cool but thoroughly. Like all black cavendish, it’s a light and mellow smoke. There was a slight berry room note, and a subtle sweetness. A great morning smoke and nightcap! Easily one of my favorites!
Orlik - Golden Sliced 50g
Crisp Virginias
A pleasant affordable Virginia blend. It burns hot and has a crisp, grassy, bready flavor. This is a blend I use to break up the monotony of my usual go-to burley blends. Gets better with age.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Cherry Cream Flake
Lakeland Aromatic
This aromatic is a sweet Virginia blend. It was good, burned reasonably well. But I’ll definitely age it a bit. The cherry aroma prior to smoking was subtle but present, but after I lit up there was no hint of cherry, just some burning Virginia leaf. This was a decent (if bland) aromatic. I must say, however, I’m definitely not a fan of Lakeland essence. It unfortunately has a vomit aroma to me.
Brebbia - Allegro Mixture #24 50g
Raisin and Spice
A light aromatic with a raisin/prune scent. Allegro is a tasty easy smoke. After drying it, there’s a strong cigarette smell that somewhat diminishes the spice/fruit aroma. Enjoy it slow to avoid burning your tongue.
