Reviews
Ashton - Artisan's Blend 50g
Top shelf
Let me start by saying over 90 percent of my cellar is English tobbaco, with 75 percent of the balkan variety, my favorite by far. This blend shares both flavors, and nuances of my favorite balkan, and English crossovers that all others can't do at the same time. Its smokey, and peppery on my tounge while being a touch sweet and sour all together. This is great with Cyprian latakia, can only imagine what it was like with Syrian. This is a stellar blend! All English fans must try it
G. L. Pease - Gaslight 8oz
Preperation is key
Try smoking this from the tin and you'll be meet with a mottled mess. Rubb this out and let it air dry for 30 min up to a couple hours and you are greeted with a strong flavor of smokie, cocoa dusted latakia the blends in harmony with the Virginia's, and Orientals. Slow on the burn and quick to delight.
Hearth & Home - Black House 1.75oz
Does everything right
Not many blends will hold my attention to the very end of a bowl, Blackhouse does. On the Charing light to the last third it makes my mouth water. All the tobaccos mary together to give a complex and pleasurable smoke. Sweet, nutty, creamy, tangy, smokie bliss! Not a power house but the flavor is full and this very well could be starting to make its way to the top of my rotation. Moisture is good from the tin.
Brebbia - Balkan 50g
Smokie, sour, spicey bliss
This is a treasure. Of all the Balkan blends I love, this is at the top. I don't consider my palate very refined but I can taste the difference between, and prefer Syrian Latakia over Cyprian. The two most enjoyable blends that contain Syrian Latakia that are still available are Brebbia, and HH Vintage, so get them well you can. The two most stocked in my cellar are these two blends.
Bengal Slices - Bengal Slices 1.75oz
Top notch
One of the first tobaccos I recall from days of old was the original Bengal slices. My first trip into a non aromatic was the original BS, the most prevalent was the memory of the latakia and, top note of what I reffered to was black licorice. I recall this lead me astray into English blends. The subtleties may be lost in time but this is what I recall Bengal slices to be. Top baccy in my rotation. Compliments a honey bourbon like no other, pure bliss!
Dan Tobacco - Old Ironsides 50g
Balanced
So far I've only smoked this baccy in one size bowl, this is one fine balanced blend. I can savor all the different tobaccos with the exception of the burly. First time I was expecting a strong latakia punch as many of the other reviews stated, instead what I get is the beautiful Virginia's leading the way with the orientals and latakia supporting the whole way through. At times these three trade off in the front seat. I really like that as it keeps the smoke entertaining till the bottom of the bowl. For me this is medium in body and can be a all day smoke. I really like this and was happy I bought 6 tins. Will be buying more.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Bob's Chocolate Flake 50g
Real nice
For me a oriental forward English is pure heaven. To give my taste buds a break I find myself reaching for this more often than not. The chocolate is more like a feeling on your tongue more than a taste. Like a dark cocoa powder, that mixed in with a quality tobacco taste is real nice. I think this is a super satisfying smoke to both English, and aromatic smokers. Good enough to start cellaring.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Ennerdale Flake 50g
Nice break
Recieved my first tin today and just finished my second bowl. I feel excited to share my opinion on this baccy, my go to is a good English, or Vapor however every so often I turn to some type of aromatic I really like for a break from the norm. Not long ago I decided to try GH Bobs chocolate flake and that one blew my hair back. So looking at other tobacco from this company I came across the reviews for Ennerdale and figured why not. Char light was off putting at first, then 5 min in to my smoke I was feeling not to bad but not great, then all of a sudden that real flower scent, soapy taste everyone talks about settled down and a explosion of flavors opened up and remained to the dottle. Second bowl went the same way but settled in right after the char light. Yes I love this stuff but it couldn't ever be a all day smoke. Try it you might just like and love it at the same time as I do.
Sutliff - Molto Dolce 1.5oz
Only so far
Ok, after playing with this blend for awhile meaning smoking fresh from the tin, and trying to dry the tobacco some, I've come to the conclusion that, I do indeed like the taste and flavor however, I can't smoke it past mid bowl in any pipe I own. This baccy is a wet sloppy mess, I'm a fairly slow steady dry smoker and once I get 15 to 20 minutes in pipe is gurgling like crazy. Tried running a pipe cleaner through the stem, that is only a temporary fix. This really is a bummer because, as I perfer a English or vaper most of the time, I occasionally look forward to a strong sweet aromatic but this just doesn't work unless you want to load a bowl and only smoke a third of it. Ooh and in my bent pipes forget about it, only a short while before it sounds like I'm gurgling mouth wash. Sorry Sutlif! It can be done buy the way. Cult Blood red moon has a sweet strong flavor that burns clean all the way to the bottom.
Cult - Blood Red Moon 50g
Delicious Cherry
My first year with a pipe I tried a handful of cherry blends. All of them either bit my tongue bad or just tasted like a chemical. For a good time now I've all but wrote of cherry blends, more so now since I'm smoking more English, and vapor blends. After reading their reviews and smoking a tin of conspiracy, which I enjoyed a great deal as well, I gave in and ordered a tin of blood red moon. Just finished my first bowl and I'm blown away. Smooth the whole way, along with the flavor. Nice taste of real cherries, hint of chocolate. Aromatics have taken a back seat to English, Virginia's, however this is soo good its going into my weekly rotation. Placing another order for a few more tins.
Mac Baren - 7 Seas Regular 3.5oz
Poor quality control
First let me start by saying for many years now this blend has become my favorite aromatic by far, I have been through more tins than I can count. After placing my first order with Smokingpipes I ordered another tin of 7 Seas regular along with a few other blends I've not tried. Upon opening the 7 Seas I was faced with what seemed to be a tin 2/3rds full, and the usual neatly folded paper liner not looking so neat. I placed the tobacco on my food scale and what I got was 2.2oz instead of the 3.5oz. I thought no biggie anything made by man is subject to flaw, however when I called the company to see if maybe there was a error on the packing line that they were aware of, or possibly they would offer some kind of explanation, or compensation, I could not reach a live person to talk to just a customer service reps answering machine. No return phone call. I did contact Smoking pipes and got right through to a gentleman and asked him if they had any reports of something like this that has happened and he kindly explained that he hasn't heard of anything, which was good. Now if the paper lining in the tin didn't looked worked over I might have just smoked the tobacco and moved on. But I discarded the whole tin. Don't get me wrong I love this blend and many others from this manufacturer I just wish their customer care was a little more on point. Had a pipe in my teeth since my late teens and lets say that was over 20 yrs ago. Also like to add that after discovering Smokeing pipes I won't buy elsewhere now unless I happen in to a brick motor. Love my new Savinelli's and Petersons and at a fraction of the cost I've been a custom to paying in the past and the customer care here is great!