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Michael M.

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Cornell & Diehl - Derringer
Class A sleeper
This is a high quality and very approachable straight VA. It's very easy to pack, light and keep lit. At first , it might seem that it's too young and harsh, but I found it not to be so. Where I was expecting harshness, I found spiciness, almost as if it had perique, bit without the signature perique flavor. Very pleasing and just interesting enough to make me want more. By the end, I honestly thought I was smoking capstan blue (which is favorite VA ). I will definitely be stocking up in bulk, as it tastes so similar to, and is way more affordable than capstan. Definitely worth a go.

Mac Baren - HH Rustica Flake 3.5oz
Authentic, Rustic and Bold
If Paul Bunyan had a pipe Blend custom made for him, it would be HH Rustica. This is the most authentic, down to earth tobacco I've tried to date. The flavor profile embodies all that pipe enthusiasts enjoy about tobacco. Upon first light, a spicy, almost harsh note reminds you what you're smoking , then after a tamp and a true light, this flake begins to really shine. After the first few puffs, the smoke fills your mouth and envelopes your palate with a bold, woody, earthy and spicy color, which i attribute to the Rustica. Just as you brace yourself for the harsh edge you know is coming, a warm dark virginia bass note appears and rounds out any harshness or bite this blend might have .

Sutliff - Crumble Kake English #1 1.5oz
balanced and inviting
Sutliff has done a great job with this kake, and has brought me back into the English fold. The name of the game with this blend is balance. Each ingredient melds together to create a medium flavored , medium strength engliah that is fun to prepare and rewarding to smoke. . My favorite part of the bowl is the final third, when the virginia has had time to caramelize and give a dark, sweet, almost caramel like flavor to the creamy blend.

Drucquer & Sons - Blairgowrie 100g
Pinnacle of pipe Tobacco
very rarely does a tobacco hit my palate in such a way that I have to do a double tale just to make sure its real. Blairgowrie is one of the few that accomplishes just that. The Orientals are in the drivers seat, with the VA as the navigator. The interplay of buttery, earthy goodness from the orientals, and the breadiness from the VA is just amazing. The Latakia is in the back seat, giving some body, and creamy, smoky flavor. The Perique gives a mild spice on the retrohale, and adds a mild plummy flavor that tops off the VA and orientals. Out of the tin this broken flake/ ready rubbed is at a perfect moisture to just load and go, with few , if any relighting needed through the bowl. Thank you Mr Pease for keeping this awesome blend alive!

Peterson - Royal Yacht 50g
Another youngster that grows up quick.
when I smoked this fresh out of the tin, it was a disaster. It was ashy, harsh and had no detectable VA flavor. So I did what I do with most VA blends before I smoke them. I let it sit out on my bar for a few months and age. Now, this blend has grown some legs and is a nice example of Dark VA flavors. The light topping enhances and draws your palate to the nuances of the Darl VAs. There's still a few rough edges, and if pushed too hard, the ashy , harshness will return. A few more years in the cellar will ad another star for sure

Daughters & Ryan - Rimboché A.B. 3.5oz
Underrated
I've never had a blend with such a unique take on the modern VaPer. The perique processed DFK is dark, fruity and DELICIOUS. there's nothing else like this that I've seen , and its definitely worth a try.

Cornell & Diehl - Night Train 2oz
A great kake with time
This kake is a perfect example of how things improve over time. When I first smoked this fresh out the tin, the burley was fierce and at the fore, the perique was very peppery( which is not a bad thing) and the VA's were harsh. Fast forward a year, and now this is a VaPer lover's delight. The balance between the elements is the best part of this blend. Now that the rough edges are gone, the sweet, hay and citrus of the VA takes center stage and forms the base, while the burley has learned its place, and provides depth and boldness , without biting or getting harsh. The perique has adopted the plummy , figgy characteristic, and provides great charachter to the balance. From my experience, lots of Vaper blends tend to over do the sweetness to balance out the perique, or to just mellow out the smoke. Night train has no detectable casings or toppings. To my palate, this is one has a very natural tobacco flavor. So finally for the stars, I give it 3.5 stars fresh, and 5 stars after about 6months to a year of aging.

Sutliff - Match Victorian
The perfect all day VA/Per
This blend is what Elizabethan dreams to be when it grows up. It's an easy smoker, flavorful, but doesnt require a sit down with contemplation. Through the bowl, I get the great Virginia's, with the plummy perique, and they play together very well. Towards the bottom, the Virginia's deepen in flavor , and the perique gets a bit more peppery. This is a blend o can just stuff, light , and go without issue, and still have an enjoyable experience.

Peterson - Elizabethan Mixture 50g
Will get better with age
I've never had the dunhill branded stuff, but this re release is a pretty solid VaPer. I would consider this an all day smoke. It's something you can just pack, light , puff and enjoy as you go about your day. Its fuller in flavor compared to GLP Stratford, and the VA's are more breast than sharp. The first 1/3 of the bowl is a bit harsh ( which I think has to do with the lack of age), but the rest of the bowl is balanced and tasty. It's not complex, but it's not boring.

Cornell & Diehl - Visions of Celephaïs 2oz
Can you say grape?
When I popped the tin I started gagging on the thick, overpowering grape topping. 3 weeks of sitting on the far end of my bar, I can still smell it when I draw near. I cant bring myself to taint a pipe with this. It will probably end up in the trash.

Drucquer & Sons - Inns of Court 200g
Great hybrid for the non-latakia smokers
This blend is one of the 3 blends with Latakia that I am stocking up on. I normally hold anything with Latakia in disdain, but Mr. Pease has done a great job with the Latakia, where it rounds out any rough edges , instead of bombarding you with a bonfire or smoky leather. The small amount of Latakia also adds a nice creamy texture to the smoke, which would make this a nice evening or cold winter's day smoke. I get creamy, nutty notes and just a hint of hay from the Virginia. Due to the low percentage of Latakia, this blend won't cost your mouth for hours like others will (MM965 I'm looking at you) so it is repeatable. Great blend!