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Steve M.

About Me:

Pipe smoking, bonfire loving midwestern family man!

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Reviews

Sutliff - Ready Rubbed Match
Pretty close
Very close to the original. There is something missing on the flavor, but the basic components are all here. Very tasty, great aroma, and makes a solid daily smoke with a decent nicotine content. A pipe smoker’s burley, for sure.

Lane Limited - Ready Rubbed 1.5oz
Burley Lovers MUST Try This Classic OTC
This is an American Classic. Lane Limited must have retained the recipe, because it tastes and smells just like the Edgeworth RR I smoked in college. Very mild hints of cocoa or coffee bean, but the burley is the star of this show. The aroma is one you'll never forget. This is not your typical "aro", but rather, a tobacco lover's blend. So good. If you like a nice, smooth, no bite, no muss or fuss all day smoke - this may be the one.

Cleaners & Cleaning Supplies - Dunhill Pipe Wipe
Never leave home w/o it
This cloth works great. Always shines my pipes up to a beautiful, lusterous sheen, and seems to really last a long time (I had my first cloth for probably 5 years or better). If you care about your briar pipes, this is a must-add to your cleaning regiment.

Cleaners & Cleaning Supplies - Brebbia Stem Polish (7.5 ml)
Does it's job well
I have a number of vulcanite stems (I smoke mostly pre-1980 pipes), and I use this stem polish to help restore them to a shiney, "like new" luster. It does take some elbow grease to work it into really badly oxidized stems, but the results are always well worth it. Note: I usually soak the vulcanite stems in Oxyclean for 24 hours before using this polish. I've done this dozens of times, and again - this stuff yields great results.

Arango - Balkan Supreme
It's superb
Truly, one of the best Balkans at any price, but for $40/lb, it's a steal. Delicious, Latakia driven blend with just the right amount of each component in the background. The aroma is fantastic, and the tin note is like a brisket over a campfire. This is excellent, and hopefully they make it for the rest of my life, as it's likely become a permanent addition to my weekly rotation.

Sutliff - Crumble Kake Red Virginia 1.5oz
Sutliff does it well
As a lover of Virginias (reds are my favorite), I can say this was a worth-while purchase. The tobacco seems to be of great quality, and the tin aroma is a cacophony of aromas like plum, hay and cherry (though I detected no topping/flavoring at all). The flavor is definitely pure VA, and while I enjoyed it very much, I could see this mixture benefiting from 6-8 months in a mason jar, which I will be doing with some. The aroma (dare I say it) is somewhat reminiscent of my beloved #5100 Red Cake, which I smoked every single day for 8 years before the tragedy. lol...The only real criticism I have is concerning the moisture content out of the tin; it was quite moist. I would suggest letting it dry for 30 mins+ before packing it. All in all - if you love a solid, all-day VA, this may be a good option for you.

Cornell & Diehl - Morley's Best
BOOM
19 year pipe smoker here. Love English, Burley and Virginias. Trust me when I say ~ this is an amazing blend. The flavor is of medium-body, the aroma is delectable, and the burn quality is perfect. Bob Runowski knew exactly what he was doing with this blend. 5 stars earned, and as long as they're making it...I'll keep smoking it. Get some, folks.

Edward G. Robinson - Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend 12oz
The only "aro" I love
I don't enjoy aromatics, but this stuff is really enjoyable. Lightly topped, and containing just enough Latakia to know it's there, this is a very good blend. I couldn't smoke this all day, but 2 bowls here and there is definitely advisable. Very tasty old blend from a classic actor.

G. L. Pease - Westminster 16oz
Got English?
OK. This stuff is the epitome of an all-day, straight up English blend. The aroma reminds me of the mixture my Great Grandpa (who was a fisherman from Looe, Cornwall, England) used to smoke. He always brought a massive bag of his blend back from when he'd be working in the UK during the high seasons. The flavor is excellent, with a proper blend of the right components. I bought a small tin first, then immediately ordered this 1lb canister to keep in my cellar. This is in my top 5 Balkan-Englishes of all time, folks. Give it a shot - I think if you enjoy traditional English mixtures, your tastebuds will thank you gleefully!

Peterson - University Flake 50g
Great Flake, Great Memories
University Flake was the first flake I ever tried nearly 20 years ago. It has the grassy, malty notes associated with these tobaccos, and always satisfies. Great flavor, and I love the aroma about half way down the bowl. Soooo good.

Dunhill - Nightcap 50g
A Classic
If you enjoy a good English, Dunhill's Nightcap is a tried-and-true classic. A smooth, mellow flavor with a strong Latakia push, it helps bring the night to a close appropriately - and is excellent after a heavy meal. Great stuff.

Lane Limited - BCA
Good Blending Bacci
I'm not a fan of aro's, but I have been blending with BCA for about 17 years. It adds just a little "something" in smaller proportions, namely a sweetness, and can help mellow out a Latakia-rich blend like a charm. Very tasty, mellow flavored black Cavendish.

Peter Stokkebye - PS400 Luxury Navy Flake
May I have some more, sir?
This stuff is like a dream come true. Bulk prices on a high-quality Va-Per flake. It provides lots of flavor, a nice aroma w/o being an aro, and the aging potential is great. I aged 8oz for 1 year, and the flavors were so good, I now find myself buying up the 24oz boxes any chance I can. If you enjoy the "Navy" profile, it really doesn't get any better than this.

Seattle Pipe Club - Plum Pudding 8oz
Mouth Watering and Dangerously good...
Folks, if you crave a tasty, rich, complex Balkan blend - your search has concluded. Absolutely delicious - the best English this pipe smoker of 19 years has ever smoked.

A&C Petersen - Escudo Navy Deluxe 50g
Can I Afford 100 Tins?
...this is my "stranded on an island" tobacco. Rather than trying to describe the amalgamation of flavors in this stuff, I'll just say that if you love Virginia-Perique blends, this is ambrosia.

A&C Petersen - Escudo Navy Deluxe 50g
"Scrumdiddlyumptious"
My title says it all; this VaPer is by far my favorite of all time. I've smoked a pipe nearly 20 years now (4th generation pipe smoker), and my family and I have yet to find a blend of the same components that tastes, smokes and smells as good. Deep, rich flavors straight out of the tin ~ but 1-2 years of age makes this tobacco sublime. Do yourself a favor: buy 2. Guard your heart, because if you enjoy Virginia-Perique blends, you're gonna fall in love with this one. She's one in a million.

McClelland - 2010 - Classic Virginia
Classic Flavors
Some of these reviews are waaayyyy off the mark, I think. McClelland's virginias are really good, and this flake is no exception. This flake starts out very mild, almost bland upon the charring light; and then about 1/3 of the way into the bowl, these earthy, citrus-like undertones kick in and steal the show. The aroma really comes through at this point, as well, and transforms from very light into a distinctly zesty room note, all while remaining quite mild and cool burning when rubbed out. I haven't tried the "fold and stuff" method yet because I prefer a fully-rubbed flake, myself. Absolutely delicious; classically McClelland. Hopefully this stuff never vanishes on us.

Cornell & Diehl - Red Virginia Ribbon
Delicious Reds
I was looking for a "replacement" for 5100 (as a lot of us have had to do), and I do believe I've found my new daily puff. It has a very good flavor, with many of the old belt attributes ~ especially about half way down the bowl. A mellow, earthy flavor and aroma, with a decent nicotine content. This is a solid red virginia blend; so let's hope this isn't going to go "up in smoke" like so many other red virginias right now. Very tasty stuff.

Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop
Bold, flavorful tobacco
This is about as close as you can get to the perfect "night on the town" smoke. Best suited for after a good meal (or with drinks), this stuff satisfies with lots of deep flavors, and a peppery note that sets it apart from anything else on yoir palate at the time. Really good stuff; for the experienced pipe smoker. DO NOT make this your first bowl if you're new to pipes. You'll rue the day!