Public Profile

Cornell & Diehl - Irish Blessing
Honey, Vanilla, Clove, Cinnamon and bit of Cocoa and Herbs
Compared to C&D Nutty Irishman, this lacks the coffee, hazelnut and more assertive cocoa notes, but still retains the heather, honey, spice and herbal notes, with just a smidgeon of cocoa. Less complex flavor that Nutty Irishman, but still really good stuff. Irish Blessing is oily, creamier, sweeter and has a better room note than Nutty. It also gives a fuller mouthfeel. It has less nicotine than Nutty Irishman; this is maybe a .5-1 out of 5, whereas Nutty is 2 to 2.5. Among the different aros to choose from, Nutty Irishman and Irish Blessing are two of the best available, if you prefer more honey, spice and herbal notes. Gets a little 'Black Cavendishy' towards the end (oilier, sticky, fermented, elevated sweetness) and loses the top notes. I don't take off for that because I expect it. A sweetened clove lingers in the finish... quite good.

Rivertown Tobacco Works - Dark 70%
Chocolate Bar Profile
I smoked C&D Dark Chocolate before this, and while Dark Chocolate is more of a rich natural tasting bitter cocoa nib, Dark 70% reflects the notes of a dark chocolate bar balanced with milk chocolate and a little artificial vanilla. Not as natural or rich tasting, but perhaps a little sweeter and creamier. It's good. This would make a good blending component, whereas C&D Dark Chocolate is more of a standalone as the richer, more natural cocoa flavor is preferred. The finish lingers with a strange tingle and artificial flavor. Very little nicotine and a sweet chocolatey room note.

Cornell & Diehl - Dark Chocolate
Rich Dutched Cocoa
I've been on an aromatic kick of late, particularly Black Cavendish Aros, and am enjoying it. What's remarkable is how so many blenders use artificial toppings... not so with many C&D products. Most of their aromatics are topped with reduced syrups and liqueurs combined with real spices and sugars. Do you know how hard it is to create a REAL product while maintaining that topping flavor, PH and preserve the qualities of the leaf? C&D aromatics are real treat. I smoked Dark Chocolate in a Becker and Musico 5 years 3, and the flavor of a rich, oily and assertive dark chocolate remained on my lips. The underlying natural sweetness of the cavendish goes well with the slightly bitter cocoa. This isn't a sweet milk chocolate like flavor (sweetness comes from the cavendish), but rather a cocoa gourmet flavor much like we encounter in a Mole sauce. Cool, silky, mouth-filling smoke contributes to a full body. Very well done. Not much nicotine, but the room note is a sweet chocolatey note and my wife enjoyed it. I enjoyed this with a dark roast black coffee... very nice pairing. The finish is sweet and clean.

Cornell & Diehl - Bailey's Front Porch
Bailey's Front Porch vs Epiphany
This is a really good, tasty, American English. Bailey's is sweet, oily and smokey, with just a touch of plummy spice. It tastes like there's a lightly applied sweet anisette topping, like Meletti. Halfway through that topped sweetness subsides and the oily burley steps forward, holding onto and occasionally dispensing a subtle anise flavor. It's lighter in body than Epiphany, though not what I would consider a 'light mixture', and it has more flavor (definitely sweeter), thanks to the use of varied VA leaf. The Latakia is moderate and in good relation to the oily, tannic and earthy Burley, though there is slightly more Latakia in this than in Epiphany. There's less perique in this too, but beautifully proportionate. The finish lingers with a creosote or flinty tingle from the latakia. This is a good late-afternoon tobacco, before or after supper. Nicotine is 2 out of 5.

Rivertown Tobacco Works - Custard Conspiracy
Far Exceeds other Vanilla Cavendish
Beautiful and well flavored, not too sweet, great moisture, and yes, that cavendish provides a gentle, cool and sweetly fragrant experience. Gobs of silky smoke fill the mouth. Most often what we encounter in most vanilla cavendish, compromises one thing for another; sweet but wrong flavor; good flavor but tongue bite; good mouthfeel but not enough flavor. Custard Conspiracy doesn’t compromise. I don’t say this lightly when I say that this is perhaps the best vanilla cavendish I’ve ever had. Amazing on all fronts. Thank you for creating this.

Cornell & Diehl - Epiphany
Finding Solitude in the Simple and Monotonous
I can see why Einstein gravitated towards a simple, undistracting and monotonous manner of living. Reaching solitude enhances all else. Epiphany isn’t too rich nor too boring. It’s well behaved and satisfying. There’s a juxtapose of leaf in this that lends to different preferences but unites and presents a harmonious mixture. This isn’t going to knock your socks off and cause you to sit and ponder the varied nuance. At times it goes just to the brink of being rich or hitting a level of greater complexity but then settles back down. There’s a comfort to that. Now some might say Epiphany is good but boring, but most times that’s just what I want. Sure, we have the hard to come by tobaccos we use sparingly, but most of what I enjoy is just good and satisfying. This is one of those that I will enjoy throughout the day and evening, after my morning burley. Quite satisfying in the nicotine department with a solid 3 out of 5. Good stuff!

Carter Hall - Carter Hall 14oz
From Good to Below Average
Lighter in color than Prince Albert; Carter Hall is interspersed with brighter rough cut Virginia leaf. There's a strong anise (black licorice) topping, and I mean chewing tobacco strong, that steers the profile, though the nutty burleys are semi-cavendished, which when accompanied by the VA, contribute a natural sweetness. There's a sourness to it, but it doesn't seem like a natural tang/sour (perhaps that's the artificial bourbon flavor). Not as dark or rich in flavor as Prince Albert, and the toppings don't seem as natural tasting as they did prior to 2021. This falls behind Granger and Prince Albert on the spectrum. Nicotine is 1 out of 5. This was once a 3 to 4 star tobacco before 2021. It burns really fast so use a larger stummel. This kind of reminds me of Cornell and Diehl's Nutty Irishman, which is a far superior product and flavor. I know people state cocoa and bourbon, though I'm only getting a smidgen of cocoa and it's fake at that. There's a hazelnut note to CH which is more prominent and more qualitative in Nutty Irishman.

Cornell & Diehl - Dark Fired Kentucky
Bold, Rich and Smooth
Aside from the well-known and descriptive adjectives surrounding Dark Fired Kentucky, there are variances in quality which influence notes and mouthfeel. This is the good stuff. There's no harsh, overly oaky/smokey, bitterness. It's a bold and rich flavor of all that you expect but balanced. That richness of notes means you don't need as much for mixtures, unless you prefer it to dominate. It has a smooth mouthfeel and is quite stout in nicotine. I like this mixed with Burley Ribbon, White Burley, Yorktown and an equal 5% proportion of Chocolate Cavendish, then topped with Meletti Anisette Liqueur and honey bourbon. This adds great depth to Burley/VA mixtures.

Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Brown Twist
Strong, Bitter, Sweet, Smokey and Peppery
A very bold flavor of caramelized sugar, dark chocolate, an earthy, oaky, peppery, smokey/fired note. There's no Lakeland present in this. This tastes of a Dark Fired. Like Mac Baren's HH Bold Kentucky; there's a bitterness that's offset by the sweetness from the VA. That Dark Fired leaf is just bold enough to resemble cigar leaf. HH Bold Kentucky and this are pretty aligned, though HH has a maple sugar casing and the VA is brighter. I'm not a big fan of high proportions of Dark Fired leaf, and so this isn't one I'll smoke a lot. For what this is, however, it's really good. The nicotine is strong (4.5 out of 5) and so make sure you have something on your stomach. Sweet tea helps as the sugar mitigates the effects of nicotine. Though this pairs really well with espresso and cream with sugar. The rich, creamy and sweet espresso goes very, very well. Oh, and the room note is foul. It really is a foul-smelling tobacco, but tastes really good.

Mac Baren - Original Choice 16oz
A delightfully mild aromatic
Original Choice was actually one of my first aromatic mixtures into the aromatic foray, back in the late 1990s, and it's still one of the finest. It's milder in toppings than the 7 Seas Line. 7 Seas are heavily topped and American focused. It's cavendish based, with a smaller proportion of a very high-quality golden VA. It's sweet and mild in body and strength. The Cavendish and VA are meatier than most aromatics and they shine in this mixture. They're complimented by lightly applied toppings. The toppings don't contribute any sweetness, but they instead offer varied nuances of fruit and spice. Those nuances vary: sometimes it's vanilla and cherry, other times it's vanilla, black currant, blackberry and cinnamon. First light is bright and fruity, but it settles down and I definitely got a strong hit of cinnamon on my last session. The room note is mild, sweet and exquisite. No bite at all - none. The finish is sweet and it lingers. Nicotine is .5 out of 5... almost nonexistent.

Mac Baren - Dark Twist 16oz
For those that like Dark Fired, but in a milder form
Smoked in a Peterson Derry 230. I like Dark Twist with my morning coffee. It has a good amount of nicotine and a balanced sweet/savory mouthfeel which pairs well with a brighter, light-roast black coffee. If you like DF flavor but want it milder and balanced with a sweetness, this is one to have. Dark Fired (DF) is astringent to me and tugs at the back of my throat. I enjoy the flavor it contributes to mixtures, but I have to be careful and prefer smaller proportions. I typically have a couple bowls of burley-based tobaccos in the morning, a couple of aromatic bowls during the afternoon, and a fuller English in the evening. That morning burley possesses the appropriate properties with which to start the day, and it doesn't assault the buds. Dark Twist fits the bill. Though it's not a burley base, the DF is assertive enough. If your routine is similar, give it a try. This is a medium to full bodied mixture on a Virginia base. The oily, woody, savory, bitter, peppery spice of the Dark Fired (DF) is tempered by the black cavendish and high proportion of VA. The sweetness is slight but layered: natural sugars from the VA ; maple sugar casing; and finally Black Cavendish (BC). It's deep and round, but slight. The BC doesn't hollow out the mixture, rather it sweetens and contributes a smoothness to counter the spicy and sharp VA and DF. This is really well constructed and balanced. Absolutely no bite whatsoever. Perfect. The nicotine is 3.5 out of 5.

Mac Baren - HH Balkan Blend 16oz
A Smooth, Soft, Gentle Balkan
Quite a departure from the assertively sour, buttery, herbal, effervescent Balkans I'm accustomed to. Dusty, tart, dry... these are adjectives that come to mind when describing the taste of sun-cured Orientals. These are still prominent in this mixture, though they're just toned down and they ride front seat with the Burley. Most Balkans slap you in the face with Latakia and sun-cured... this doesn't, and I like it. There's a softness to which the component notes present themselves, indicating a great deal of effort went into its design. Someone noted it's akin to scotch neat vs scotch and soda... great analogy that sums this up. Balkans are inherently rich and flavorful in their design, and this is too, but in a gentle way. I like the subtle maple sugar sweetness in this and love that the latakia isn't so dominating. While some have attempted to create something similar, there's an aged, mellow and unified quality to this mixture as often found in steamed and pressed flakes. Other mixtures come close but their components are distinctly assertive. The gentle lightness of this Balkan makes it a wonderfully fitting summer English. Like all of HH tobaccos, the finish is clean. There's no lingering aftertaste. Sadly, this and all other HH tobaccos will soon be discontinued and become extinct due to the utterly contemptable mediocrity of STG. I didn't get much nicotine from this as I just finished a large bowl of my wife's beef stew, a helping of homemade sour dough bread and marble cake. I smoked it in one of my many Scott's burners (a favorite traditional small French billiard stummel).

Samuel Gawith - Grousemoor 50g
Oh my... Sweet and Floral
Version distributed by Kretek, dated 01280 (2018?)... A 7 year old tin? I just purchased another tin presumably from 2024. The tin note had me smelling floral anise, but the flavor of the bright Virginia is sharp, sweet and citrusy. The topping seems to be orange blossom essence and not a hint of the geranium oil as in most Lakelands I've encountered. Contrary to the name of the topping, this doesn't contribute a citrus 'orange flavor', but rather a jasmine/orange floral note, which is really quite remarkable. Tease it at low temperature and you'll be amazed when that orange blossom reveals itself. First light is gonna be floral, sweet and the VA is going to nip you. Don't drink soda with it during the first half as it'll make your eyes water. Stay with it because that sharpness goes away after the first 1/4. There will be sparks in a 'taste of smell' throughout the first half, and each moment will be gone in a flash. I know it's orange blossom because my wife had an orange/jasmine blossom tree years ago and when it bloomed fully, the home was saturated in the sweet perfuming floral aroma. Approximately midway it turns to a richly sweet orange pastry note and the sharpness subsides. I'm not a fan of the geranium oil (grandma perfume) used on many of SG's flakes, but I really like the flavor and uniqueness of this. The end is really sweet as the sugars are concentrating, and the mouthfeel has mellowed to a creaminess. It has a dry finish. For what it is, an aromatic of English influence, this is sublime. American aromatics pretty much center on food or spices, but to have a floral aromatic which is really agreeable is quite something. Nicotine is 2 out of 5. I'm an upland hunter and having this while out with my dog on a sunny and warm autumn afternoon, pheasant hunting, would be heaven on earth. Thank you Chris!

Samuel Gawith - Cabbie's Roll Cut 50g
Review of 2021 Version
I acquired a few tins from my local tobacconist back in 2021, so this may differ from the newer version. Not sure when it was made, but the sticker says 15284 (2018?) and distributed by Kretek. My tins have a black label, and the flag is in the upper left. The sliced twist form is thin and loose. Typical of a VAPER, the VA is sweet and tangy. The Red Viginia imparts mellowed tanginess, and the Lemons contribute a sweet citrus. The perique is both raisin-y and peppery, though I did get a big dose of black pepper at first. The first half is sharply perique - forward, but I don't get any of the crotch cheese associated with perique as I do in some mixtures with perique. I do detect the slightest of Lakeland essence here and there, but certainly not an intentionally added flavoring. Mine has sat for 7 years and so I can imagine this was much sharper in flavor when new and it may have mellowed just a bit, though the flavor profiles are still sharply contrasting. I prefer the fermented, melded, mellow, rich, deep sweetness of St. James Flake to Cabbies, though it's worth a try as that's the fun of this hobby. Halfway is when the tangy sweetness of the VA begins to take over and the flavors meld... it's tangy, sweet and fruity (raisins). The bottom is getting stronger and fuller, tarry, and sweeter. This is good - a bit better than Escudo, though I've had better. GL Pease Fillmore has a good dose of perique like Cabbies, though Stratford, in its ribbon form, is more VA forward and is a lighter alternative, which I've enjoyed. The finish is clean and leaves a slight tingle from the perique. The nicotine is 3 out of 5. Sam Gawith uses machinery from 1792... amazing! I'm sure they've upgraded equipment but Chris Gawith cares about the brand and it's a scary notion to think it could've gone the Mac Baren way like when Mr. Halberg passed away. Don't sell out Chris, please! Work with Sykes Wilford to keep this treasured brand protected.

Newminster - No.23 Blackberry Brandy
Among the Very Best of Aromatics
Smoked in one of my Scott's Burner billiards with an old small French stummel. Base notes of currents and blackberry; middle notes of vanilla and a bit of citrus peel & honey; top notes of allspice, cinnamon and something herbal... can't place it. I think Chambord was infused in this tobacco. It's a smooth, creamy, sweet and spiced current without any tart or overwhelming artificial sweetness. The room note is softly sweet and pleasant. Silky mouthfeel with absolutely no bite and the finish is clean with a lingering sweetness. Stays lit throughout and provides soft flavor from beginning to end. This really is a quality aromatic that deserves higher ratings. I don't normally like fruit in my pipe, but this has such a complex nuance that I don't consider this 'fruity', just as a don't consider a cordial of Chambord to be a fruit juice. I've been delving into aromatics more and more as I enjoy the simplicity of a light, mono-profile enjoyed while upland hunting or fishing. As I enjoyed No. 23 whilst upland hunting, and again at home in my office, I certainly don't consider this 'simple' or of a mono-profile. This is much more than that. Nicotine is light at around 1 out of 5.

Cornell & Diehl - Espresso
A Good Coffee-Flavored Cavendish
Smooth, silky, semi-sweet and mild, but with a light coffee flavor. My pipe becomes a lollipop when smoking flavored cavendish. Good PH and naturally topped. Wish all flavored cavendish could be this good. Nicotine is 0 out of 5.

Cornell & Diehl - Granby Station
Earthy, Plummy and Odiferous
Opens with the tart Applejack and woody VA, but that soon fades to reveal an earthy, grain like nuance of burley. The perique comes in slowly and adds a plumminess, and a bit of spice to the burley. The room note is developing the crotch cheese thing - not good. You really have to appreciate the flavor of perique (and tolerate its odor) to like Granby Station. While it adds a dimension to mixtures which can make or break a profile, it can be intolerable due to its inherent odor. Granby Station is more of a dry, earthy, plummy profile with virtually no sweetness. The Applejack linger to the end and marches alongside the other components. Nicotine is 2.5 out of 5.

Cornell & Diehl - Gillingham Mixture
Don't Puff Chasing Flavor Just Let it Come to You
It opens with honey-sweet and bright notes and settles into a smooth, subtle smoke. I suspect the base is more Virginia Cavendish and Dark Burley, which leans towards a predominant smooth, cool, earthy and herbal flavor. The sun cured, brights and perique contribute some complexity. Without the perique, this one would be uneventful. There's more flavor on the first half, but the last half has a fairly monotone dark burley note with sparks of flavor from other leaf. This is a solid and satisfying mixture. Nicotine is 2.5 out of 5.

Cornell & Diehl - Winchester
Sweet Grassiness of a Virginia with the Mouthfeel and Body of Burley
A good, simple mixture. Winchester is an all-day, every-day mixture with its consistent, easy to manage and simple flavor profile. The burley cavendish combined with the VA makes for a wonderfully naturally sweet, woody, grassy, smooth and mouth-filling experience. This produces gobs of smoke. There's nothing contemplative here, it's just good, clean and tasty. It's a little boring, but sometimes that's what I want. This won't blow your hair back on flavor complexity or nicotine as I don't think it wasn't designed to do that. What it will do is provide a level of comfort and confidence in your experience. Nicotine is 1 out of 5.

Cornell & Diehl - Strathspey 2oz
A Very Richly Flavored Scotch Blend
Smoked in a 2006 Comoy's Christmas billiard. I think it was too large a chamber for such a rich blend. When they say, "a wee dram", they mean a small chamber because this stuff is loaded with scotch whiskey. The tin note is a boozy, briny, smoky latakia. Moisture is perfect. The beginning is predominately a peaty - bready character and is supported by all else. Love this! The scotch is assertive and tasty as its peaty, flinty, tanginess compliments the sweetness from the cavendish. Cornell and Diehl has mastered the art of marrying tobacco with liquor and there is no equal among the tobacco houses today. Well done, VERY well done! Halfway through and it's getting stronger. The tangy scotch is still very present and the latakia and oriental are coming through full-bore; spice and buttery herbal notes are emerging and predominate. It changes its complexity 3/4 of the way through and has a much, much richer - smoky, briny, flinty, herbal, and caramelized sweetness. The sun cured, latakia and scotch dominate, and are stronger than ever. I wouldn't consider this an all-day blend - too rich, but a very nice one with which to wind down the day. I recommend a small chamber - don't go too big as this is VERY richly flavored. Consider the Brulor, Ropp or even a Rossi. Those are traditional French style classics with small chambers. Too fast and it'll overheat pretty easy. I got ambitious because it was so tasty and then ended up sipping the rest of the way, which coaxed out even more flavor. The finish lingers with a tongue-tingling heather and briny tanginess of scotch. Not a clean finish, but if you like scotch you'll be pleased. I wouldn't dare cellar this as I'm afraid it'll lose that wonderful scotch note. Full flavor, medium body, light in strength. This is so light on nicotine at maybe 1.5 out of 5. I don't agree with the strength level of 3.

Cornell & Diehl - Nutty Irishman
Creamy Heather Honey, Vanilla, Coffee, Cocoa, Clove, Cinnamon and Hazelnut
Flavors of toasted nuts, spices and honey pair so very well with tobacco, especially on a good burley. C&D is known for their burley. Add to that Jeremy Reeves’ bent towards the culinary arts and you have aromatics with very natural and deep profiles… some even floral such as clover, honey locust and wildflowers. A sweet and flavorful aromatic, Nutty Irishman opens with top notes of heather honey, vanilla, cocoa, coffee and cinnamon, on a base of hazelnut. Halfway through, the honey is smokier, and the hazelnut becomes more assertive. Although the spices are still present, those two dominant flavors, combined with the burley, provide for a consistent creamy, sweet, spiced, nutty and toast-like profile. The whiskey lends a slight sourness from time to time, but it isn't a tanginess or tartness, rather it fits with the burley. The flavors can be assertive at times, but more often than not, they are understated and complementary to the burley. This is exceptionally well-behaved and PH balanced, with absolutely no bite which we often experience with many aromatic offerings. The finish leaves just a lingering sweet hazelnut with residual baking spices but is mostly clean. This is one of those aromatics where the smell transfers to the taste, and in fact, the taste is stronger than the room note. The room note is a mildly sweetened, spiced and herbal. C&D aromatics are simply the best available today. Some say it is light in nicotine... nope. This is one that you'll feel and for me the nicotine level is 2 out of 5.

Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Night Slice
Good, but the PH is off
Maple sugar casing. Hmmm, this is reminiscent of the old Mac Baren and has Per Georg Jensen's fingerprints on it. It's good, but that PH nips at the tongue and cheeks. Now, Mac Baren has of late, done something very different; they've altered their casing and adjusted the PH to neutral levels. This is made their offerings rise to the pinnacle of pipe tobacco. Not sure what's going on but keep it up! Night Slice however, bites - literally. It has excellent flavor and has potential to be an excellent bulk offering with one that wants salty, creamy, nutty oak nuances, punctuated by citrus rind, but until the PH is adjusted, it's average. Nicotine is 3 out of 5.

Warped - Scarecrow 2oz
Butterscotch Liqueur
Jeremy Reeves is perhaps the best tobacco blender today, and we're very fortunate to be able to taste his creations. Masterfully composed, the composition of this screams comestible from the very opening. It's clearly a strong, boozy, butterscotch liqueur. It's in your face and lovely. That butterscotch flavor transpires to the leaf quite well and interplays with the sweetness/nuttiness of the VA/Burley throughout the entire smoke. VERY consistent for the duration and that in itself is rare. As it's allowed to breath, the perique has become evident. Yes, there's perique in this. All the nuances of the various leaf types are evident and come together marvelously. It is stout on nicotine, and I'd rate this at 3.5 out of 5. Full flavor, medium body, strong nicotine... I could smoke this and only this and be content. Highly recommend. * Going on my 3rd tin of this as of 11/27/24 and it's become a favorite. I'm detecting cinnamon in this from time to time as well, which is a very pleasant compliment to the buttery caramelized sugar. For those that claim the topping is chemical or volatizes away; nope. This was topped with a reduced/concentrated liqueur and I suspect, spices. It stays with the tobacco through to the end and tastes phenomenal. I don't get the negativity. Perhaps some expect aromatic pipe tobacco to taste like something else other than pipe tobacco... if so, then why bother?

Samuel Gawith - Full Virginia Flake Burnt Ends 8oz
Sweeter and More Full-Flavored than FVF
We often look at these pictures and are surprised when we receive the thin little 5"x7" tray. Upon opening, these literally look like smoked beef ribs. These are VERY densely pressed flakes which require rigorous prep. Note is figgy, caramelized sugar, grassy/hay, with a tiny bit of citrus rind at first. A top-shelf VA requiring a slow pace for full enjoyment. Mouth-feel is creamy, and no sharpness is detected. This is a very sweet and enjoyable product but requires numerous relights. That sweetness is comparable to the NECO wafers I had as a kid. The finish is mostly clean but coats the mouth a little, leaving a lingering sweetness. Nicotine is 3 out 5 and fairly stout.

Seattle Pipe Club - Mississippi River Rum Barrel Aged 2oz
Sweet, Tangy and Smokey
Upon opening I was smacked in the face with boozy sweet rum notes and a sour - apple cider vinegar astringency. This is a crumble cake which has been thickly sliced. The sweet rum is ever present, but the apple cider vinegar isn't. It's smooth, sweet, tangy, and smokey. It's quite assertive in flavor, but the body is kind of dank, which suggest a bit too much cavendish. This is for those who like a sweet, rum or bourbon infused, latakia supporting flavor. It's not one I want to smoke while doing chores, but rather to just sit and enjoy. *1/14/25: Jarred, this dried out and I'm perplexed. It shouldn't have dried. The sweetness and tartness are now very subdued, and all that's left is a rough, semi-tart spiciness. This would suggest an added sugar rather than natural sweetness, which also indicates a poor-quality leaf for this style mixture. Nicotine is 2 out of 5 - not too strong but satisfying.

Savinelli - 140th Anniversary 100g
2022 Edition Dated 12/29/22 1027 of 2800
JassonWB sums it up perfectly. Though bear in mind that the cigar note many allude to is very, very light and is rather delicate and loamy in character. The cigar note isn't an assertive flavor such that one may encounter with Billy Budd or any of the Toscano mixtures. The wildflower is a top note which is nothing like Gawith's Lakeland topping; it's also very delicate, nuanced and gives the elusion of sweetness yet isn't a sweet flavor. I believe it's a wildflower infused liqueur... possibly Rosolio? Smoke it slow for best flavor. 140 is well crafted. You can tell a great deal of thought, creativity and testing went into this. 140 is a culmination of knowledge, skill and creativity which pushes the boundaries of tobacco blending. This is a deliberately nuanced and contemplative mixture. There's a lot going on in this. Zero tongue-bite with a lingering tangy and floral finish.

Cornell & Diehl - Founding Fathers
Sweet and Flavorful
A nice sweet and flavorful offering. It's fruity, perhaps grape? I'm not a fan of fruit in my pipe, but this is decent. It's flavorfully sweet and very smooth - the cavendish is wonderfully proportionate. Not your typical aromatic. There is a retro thing about this. Nicotine is 1.5 out of 5.

E. Hoffman Company - Spilman Mixture 7oz
A More Flavorful Edward G. Robinson
This is really good. It's in the same vein of Edward G. Robinson, Fox and Hound or Count Pulaski. This isn't a richly flavored mixture like say Star of the East. There's no licorice/anise in this despite what some have stated as it's undoubtedly a mellow fruit/plum and spiced rum topped, light English. The Latakia is lightly applied and waaaay in the background... marvelously proportionate. There's no spice or bite as often encountered in Orientals, just a sweet, mellow and light bodied mixture. I must say that my wife calls me out every time I light up in my office - regardless of the type, but on this, she claims she can't smell it. It's really a very light, mellow, comforting and tasty mixture. I'm on my 6th bowl in a row and am really enjoying this. Nicotine is 1 out of 5, it's very light.

Peterson - Flake 50g
In the Top 5 of VA Flakes
There's some average iterations of VA flakes out there which lack the fermented malty sweetness which encompasses sugar, hay, citrus and pastries... this isn't one of those average iterations. I place it squarely among the top 5 VA flakes. It's reminiscent of Sam Gawith FVF, but lacks the topping which boosts the flavor. It has the same citrusy sharpness that can nip with a little spice now and again. While it lacks the full flavor of FVF, this is decidedly cleaner/purer, though not quite at the level of Mc Baren HH Virginia (that's in a class of its own). I've cellared quite a bit of this and can state that the sugary citrus notes become more mellow, less sharp after 5 years, but this is one I enjoy fresh as well. Just smoke it cool and enjoy. Don't expect gobs of smoke from this. The nicotine is 2.5 out of 5, and is in line with most VA flakes.

Mac Baren - Honey & Chocolate 100g
Similar in Taste to London Blend
I last smoked this in 2009, and it was very tasty. The flavor was a very, very sweet flavor of honey and chocolate. It was remarkably smooth and zero nicotine. I recently tried MB London Blend, and while the burley in LB imparts a toasted and more robust burley flavor, the honey and chocolate flavor that I remember from their discontinued Honey and Chocolate, was back! London Blend is a more robust tobacco flavored mixture, and it’s worth trying if, like me, you miss their Honey and Chocolate.

Cobblestone - Outdoors Hiking 1.75oz
This is NOT Similar to Solani Aged Burley Flake
Despite the reviews, and of course this is subjective, Hiking is NOT similar to pre-2020 Solani Aged Burley Flake. Comparable yes, but not similar. The tin note is glorious; a wonderful air-cured burley scent (those that have walked through a burley barn during curing know that scent) with a horehound top note. The flakes are moist. Smoked in a Brebbia Fat Bob 2114; There's a horehound (root beer/licorice) tangy sweetness present with a cinnamon spice top note which nips slightly. The sweet horehound stays present in the middle notes which have notes of grass, wood and a touch of black pepper, which also makes me wonder if this is Malawi burley. I believe there's some Fire-Cured Burley present in this however, it's not American Dark Fired-Cured. I'm sensitive to Dark Burley and the nicotine content can overwhelm at times. The base notes are oatmeal and a bit of earthiness, along with the horehound. Its sweetness stays to the end. This is very smooth, creamy, and leaves a tangy sweet finish with the slightest dirtiness. Unlike American burley, this has no cocoa, molasses, or brown sugar notes. Also, unlike Solani, this has no coffee flavoring added. If you're a burley connoisseur, you'll enjoy this for the exotic burley profile of horehound, cinnamon, grass, oats, pepper and wood. It's a more complex and unorthodox flavor for burley, but very good. It reminds me of Rustica, but with some added horehound, cinnamon and invert sugar. Don't approach this with the thought of substituting this for HH Burley Flake or Solani... all three are different from the other. Solani, however, changed the ABF recipe after 2020; they removed the deep cocoa flavor and added more anise (licorice). So I can see where some may see similarities on a post 2020 production of ABF. The nicotine is around 3.5- 4 out of 5 and it'll make its presence known due to the added Dark Burley.

G. L. Pease - The Virginia Cream 2oz
** UPDATED** What Happened?!
UPDATED 4/1/24: After letting this breath for a few days, the bourbon and vanilla notes are back on top and I'm enjoying this once again. I should've known better than to arrive at a conclusion prior to letting this breath, but I figured oxygen would remove those topping notes rather than amplify them. If you're on the fence after purchasing this and The Virginia Cream doesn't meet your expectations; place the lid on it and let it sit for a week. Try it again and you'll be surprised at how those bourbon and vanilla notes bloom. I think it's a testament as to how Jeremy Reeves reduces the sauce and concentrates the flavors (his background is culinary). Thank you to Mr. Reeves for his response and willingness to correct an issue. C&D once again outshines ANY blending house in both product and service. 3/25/24 Review: Oh no... this is perhaps among my top 3 favorites and so I was shocked when I opened a tin dated 2/8/24, with little to no bourbon and barely a whisper of vanilla. This lacks the explosion of flavorful toppings and is quickly fading into the generic realm of the overpopulated, run-of-the-mill, bland VA mixtures. This resembles nothing more than Yorktown with added DF, Perique and Black Cavendish. It's more spicy than creamy now as there's too much Perique... what gives? Shouldn't there be more Black Cavendish and just a touch of Perique, in order to nuance a creamy texture and ever so slightly spicy finish? The charismatic flavor and texture is gone. What happened? C&D does toppings like no other, yet it's not present in this now. Vanilla... there should be an equally strong vanilla note to this but that too is gone. Maybe a I got a bad batch, but I hope they didn't change the recipe. I absolutely love this stuff; the sweet & grassy VA, a charred oak DF Kentucky, creamy Black Cavendish, a tinge of spicy finish from the perique, and all encompassed by a strong bourbon and vanilla... it's a sweet and savory delight that presents a flavorful, all-day treat. I hope they didn't change the recipe and this is just a one-off. I'll contact them and find out what's going on and perhaps wait until the next batch to reorder.

Newminster - No.306 English Orient
Sillem's London in Bulk?
This is Samsun-forward. It doesn't dominate, but this borders on a Balkan. The burley isn't what I consider American-flavored; it's a lighter nuanced, less-earthy profile which lacks the toasted oats flavor. The Black Cavendish is unsweetened. It's tangy, and what little sweetness you can find in this mixture is attributable to the Black Cavendish. The Samsun kicks up the flavor profile by adding some dry, buttery, floral spice and it tingles the tongue. The Virginia is way in the background and is herbal and in no way grassy or sweet. Overall, this is an average mixture and in no way is it an eventful experience. It's not one I'd specifically choose to spend time with because I enjoy sweeter and more grassy (Virginia-forward) English mixtures. This would be okay while bird hunting or doing chores... that should give some perspective. The finish is very dry, sour and buttery. You want to chase it with a drink to cleanse. I will say that this also resembles Sillem's London and some of the Gawith English mixtures, without the geranium oil of course. It's not bad, but certainly not great.

Newminster - No.17 English Luxus
Sillem's Black Without the Fruit and Honey Topping
This arrived with an absolute perfect moisture content, which allows for a very pleasant experience and reveals all the nuance of individual components. The Black Cavendish and Burley dominate, and those two are remarkably foreign or unamerican in taste. The Black Cavendish is unadulterated and has a very natural tasting sweet/tangy profile. I suspect the burley is a white burley. It's grassy and less earthy; it's more of a graham cracker flavor with a touch of oak. The Virginia is perhaps a Virginia Cavendish as it lacks elements of hay, citrus or sweetness; it's more herbal and bready. The latakia is also a background player but not so elusive to act as a 'minor' component. Its usage rounds the profile to English, so it's definitely a contributor but certainly not dominant. Some, including me, consider this very well balanced while others may consider this too linear or flat. It's soft, light in body, medium in flavor, and PH balanced, this produces absolutely no tongue bite... none whatsoever. Not a particularly flavorful English, but it's different from so many we've encountered. This reminds me of Sillem's Black without the fruit and honey topping. If your preference has become that nuanced and targeted, this may be what you're looking for.

Five Brothers - Five Brothers 1.25oz
As Simple as it Gets
Quite simply, it's Burley. I don't detect any residual casing and there's certainly no toppings. The tobacco is quite dry and should be smoked that way to obtain the nuance of Burley's rich flavors of walnut, black pepper, oats, and an earthiness. It has a dry finish and leaves you wanting to quench your mouth and throat afterwards. It'll burn quickly so pack it a little more firm than usual. It's an average nicotine level and will sate any craving. The nicotine level is 2.5 out of 5.

Seattle Pipe Club - Down Yonder 2oz
Pressed 507-S???
Agree with W.W. - yep. In my opinion, that's EXACTLY what this is. I love Sutliff's 507-S stoved VA... one of the best, but to press it into a cake, tin it and charge $10/oz vs $3/oz for the bulk rough cut??? Come on... I mean the tin art is cool, but there's absolutely no difference in flavor. Does that empty tin really cost $14? My rating reflects the taste less the price and the idea/practice to sell the same item for $14 more - under the guise of something 'new'. Good product - questionable practice.

Rattray's - Bagpiper's Dream 100g
Light, Bright and Fruity
An excellent aromatic with a marked departure from American aros. The cognac is a prominent fruity flavor that I can only describe as 'tasting the smell'. It's not something you taste on the tongue but rather taste through the smell... odd, I know. It supports rather than overpowers the mixture of fine tobaccos, which are bright and sugary. A really smooth smoke with no bite. I think everyone should try this once so that they can experience what a true aromatic should be by comparison to the overly topped American aromatics. This is really well done.

Sutliff - SPS-2007 Bourbon
Sweet Bourbon
Yes, the tangy/oaky bourbon flavor is present, and so is the sweetness. This is a smooth, creamy, sweet smoke with a tangy bourbon flavor. There's not much tobacco flavor with this one, but people typically aren't after that with American aromatics. The sweetness comes through from the Black Cavendish and so does its cool creaminess. The burley and VA simply provide backbone and support the artificial bourbon flavor. I find this one agreeable and very good actually. Granted, C&D does real bourbon toppings better than ANY other manufacturer out there, with the tobacco flavor being first and REAL bourbon being supportive, but theirs has much more body and chewiness to it. Sometimes folks just want a light-bodied sweet alternative and this works. Compared to Stokkebye this has no bite and doesn't have the little needles from off PH poking at your lips and tongue. This is a good value for a light, cool, sweet and flavorful all-day mixture. There's very little nicotine in this that I noticed. Maybe 1 outta 5 in the nic meter.

Cornell & Diehl - Mocha
Snap, Crackle & Pop
This meets the expectations of Black Cavendish (BC); incredibly smooth, soft/creamy with an underlying sweetness and mouthfuls of smoke. BC is perhaps the smoothest processed leaf you'll ever smoke, and so from that perspective Mocha toes the line. However, the flavors of cocoa and coffee are subtle and natural. There's nothing artificial about this. I suspect Mr. Reeves topped this with a reduced syrup. There's no added sweetness from chocolate - just a touch of flavor of a dutched cocoa nuance... there's no added sweetness from the coffee either - just a subtle nutty/coffee flavor. It's wet. The initial light snapped and popped from all the moisture. It is what it is: a good Black Cavendish topped with real cocoa and coffee so to give subtle hints of other flavors. The room note is a mild sweetened one and the finish is clean and leaves a slightly sweet and nutty aftertaste. This is definitely an all-day tobacco with very little nicotine, if any.

Sutliff - Honey & Chocolate
Boozy Chocolate Liqueur
A boozy chocolate liqueur is the prominent flavor of this. It has a bite, but that will dissipate as it volatizes, as will the flavor. It's mild in body but assertive in sweet chocolate flavor... I like it, sort of. Good room note, but there's a bit of an almond note associated with this. As I've delved back into aromatics these past few months, this one is one of the better flavored ones. Comparing this to Mac Baren's Honey and Chocolate isn't fair. Granted, it’s been a long while since I tasted Mac Baren (MB), but it had a deep, natural flavor with much better leaf. The honey in MB was notable in flavor and the cocoa of that tasted like dutched cocoa. This is certainly more artificial by comparison, and the honey flavor is nowhere to be found. In fact, you might be better served by mixing a little Sutliff Honey in with this to achieve a true Chocolate and Honey flavored mixture. Nicotine is 0.5 outta 5... virtually-nicotine free.

Cornell & Diehl - Cordial
Aperitif???
If you miss Dunhill's Aperitif, this should suffice. Buttery, slightly tangy, semi-sweet and a light-handed application of latakia with a light body, mimic Aperitif. Three of the Dunhill/Peterson mixtures I absolutely love are Early Morning Pipe, Durbar and Aperitif. Durbar and Aperitif are not available in North America any longer, and while I still have a good supply of Durbar, my Aperitif is gone. When I heard this could be considered its replacement, I was interested. It's close. Now here's the thing with Dunhill/Peterson mixtures... they are sweetened artificially. Whatever their product is; English, VAPER, Scottish... they're all sweetened. Take a tin and open it up. Place the lid back on and seal it up. Place the tin in the drawer for a month or two. When you try it a month or two later, that sweetness will be gone. That's what Cordial tastes like... as if a tin of Aperitif had been opened and set aside for a while. I was able to reproduce a much closer likeness to Aperitif's sweetness by adding Sutliff 507-S Stoved VA. It imparts a heathered honey flavor (smoky/caramelized sweetness) which is missing from Cordial. The best I can gauge is about 20% or approximately 2 oz of 507-S per 8 oz of Cordial. But the downside to adding the sweetness of the VA mitigates the predominant buttery nuance of the Orientals. I don't want to mess with this, it's good in its own way. Essentially this is a less sweet Aperitif. The absence of the heathered honey in Aperitif will be missed. Nicotine is 2 out of 5.

Sutliff - Estate Blend
Cocoa, Honey, Anise, Bourbon and Vanilla
This is good... like really good. It's sweetened flavors are subtle on the tongue and the burley/VA fill the mouth with a spot-on medium body. It's similar to Carter Hall, but better. I appreciate the more assertive flavors in this and there's no off-gassing. The honey and anise flavors are assertive, the cocoa comes in second, followed by the tart bourbon and creamy vanilla. Further into the bowl the nutty burley nuance shows up. Sipped out of a pot, it's smooth and cool. I'm tempted to puff a little more as I like the flavor and mouth feel, but flavor is lost when I do. Don't expect the added flavors to be so assertive as to be considered a honey, chocolate, vanilla or bourbon aromatic. Rather, these are added in smaller proportions so as to support the burley/VA, and the proportions are perfect. Sip it, smoke it slow and cool and enjoy. The finish is a bit dry and leaves a buttery aftertaste. There's some bite to it. I smoked a few bowls of this throughout the day and experienced bite due to the PH. If not for the bite, this would be a 4.5 star mixture. Nicotine is 2.5 out of 5. I was feeling it by the end and starting to get that ball in the chest, or on the verge of hiccups.

Sutliff - 150 Mark Twain
Anise, Caramel, Cinnamon, Vanilla and Brown Sugar... With a Bite
The pouch note is a wonderful black licorice, caramel, vanilla sweetness, and the taste is very similar to the note, albeit there’s cinnamon in there too. I like this. To my taste this is a medium-bodied mixture but the flavor is very palpable. It’s a sweet tasting mixture comprised of brown sugar, anise, caramel, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. Comes moist and drying it out will cause some of the flavor to be lost. Smoked cool and slow brings all of the flavors to light. Don’t age this… it’ll lose it’s wonderful flavors. It leaves a clean sweet finish in the mouth, but also bites. The PH isn't agreeable due to the toppings, and while drying eliminates much of the flavor, it really doesn't tame that bite much. Nicotine is negligible; 1 out of 5. Very pleasant.

Sutliff - 707 Sweet Virginia
Where's the 'Sweetness'?
There's not much sweetness to this which one would expect from a rubbed-out VA flake. I expected a sweet, bready, grassy/hay with a honied sweetness, but what I tasted was more cellulosic/woody/pulp with just a bit of hay/bread with an occasional floral note. There's nothing memorable or astounding that would make me want to buy large quantities and age it. Smoke it cool and slow for best flavor. I didn't get any bite whatsoever.

Peter Stokkebye - PS38 Highland Whiskey
Peaty Sweetness
I like the flavor of this, but the PH is off and its sharpness can bite a little. It's hard to find a good Scotch, whiskey or Bourbon topped mixture outside of Cornell and Diehl... they do it better than most but offer very few in bulk. This has a tinge of peaty tanginess from the Scotch, but it's balanced with the sweetness of the VA and cavendish. It's not a flavor powerhouse in the sense that the topping takes center stage, so if that's what you want - look elsewhere. This one is similar to Erik Stokkebye's Morning Blend, but this has a maple sugar sweetness and sharpness which contributes to bite, whereas Erik's is more natural, smoother, lighter and has a bit more authentic Whiskey flavor. Nic is 1 out of 5.

Solani - Red Label - 131 50g
Scotch? Meh... This is More Fruity
I don't like fruit in my pipe... no cherry, peach, apple, pineapple, mango... I'm good with Scotch, Bourbon, Whiskey, Vanilla, Cocoa, but not fruit. This was simply too fruity. I compared this to Scotty's Milk and Honey over at Pipes and Cigars - a true Scotch topped mixture which has a sweet peaty tang of a marked Scotch flavor, and this just doesn't compare. I guess if you like fruit in your pipe this is okay, but if you're looking for a Scotch topped mixture, this ain't the one. The Cavendish was overdone and contributed to dank body or emptiness.

Sutliff - Balkan S 957 Match
Burley + Orientals = DRY MOUTH
First puff brings forth that typical dry, musty, earthy sourness from Orientals, of which are not of a special varietal. The trick is to balance the nuance with a sweet, bready or herbal VA via bright leaf, reds or VA cavendish... this didn't happen. The proportions simply aren't good enough to balance. Add the burley and you now have a tannic mixture that pulls out any sweetness whatsoever and adds further earthiness which combined with the Orientals, yields DRY MOUTH. This isn't a contemplative mixture. In my opinion, it's a mixture concocted to be something different. If you like chewing walnuts, sesame seeds and following up with unsweetened oolong tea... I think you'll like this. I also think there’s a little perique in this. It’s not a quality perique as the toe jam, black pepper nuance is there without any of the plummy tartness. This just isn’t good.

Sutliff - Cringle Flake 2023 1.5oz
Plum Pudding Would be a More Accurate Name
Sweet dark fruit stewed in spices... brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, lemon rind... think fruit cake. The tin note is decidedly fruit cake and the flavor is all those aforementioned nuances . This never disappoints and I look forward to it each and every year. It's a clean/pure flavor, full bodied and the finish is sweet and clean - no lingering 'ashy-mouth'. The nicotine is light - 1.5 outta 5.

Wessex - Curly Block 275g
Hype For THIS?
I see this came and went... again. I miss the days when you strolled into your tobacconist and everything under the sun was readily available and in large quantities; Penzance was sold in bulk out of a jar, Solani was stacked deep on the shelves, McClelland of every tin was stocked and available and every Sam Gawith, which we now call 'unobtainium', was easily within reach. Yes, even Mac Baren, and now STG to K&K, was well stocked and available in any quantity you wanted. The novelties like Gold Brick and Curly Block, which were once overlooked, now spark interest with their unorthodoxy, but they still fall short on the taste and mechanics. If you missed out, don't worry, you're not missing much. What bothers most isn't that these mediocre offerings are so elevated in demand, but rather that they are now so scarce due to Governments throughout the world dictating what you may or may not have. What we're seeing in this world today is such a dramatic departure from the liberties we enjoyed just 20 years ago... it's sad, really. Newcomers to pipe smoking live in a very, very different time in which waiting for years to over-pay for mediocre offerings has become normal. I have Curly Block in jars. It's not comparable to say, PS-403, which is so much better and easier to prepare and use. This has an artificial sweetness to it, which I encounter in most German tobaccos. Beyond that, it lacks cavendish to mellow and smooth the flavors. Don't expect the same creamy body you encounter in PS-403, this has quite a few harsh spots and has a 'raw' quality to it, which is why I've had a couple of these cellaring for almost two decades. It's quite potent in nicotine. I can remember cutting smaller and smaller slices and using smaller bowls to use this. It can be difficult to keep lit and the larger leaf pieces make tamping a pain.

Mac Baren - 7 Seas Regular
Brown Sugar, Butter, Vanilla, Caramel and Chocolate - Similar to RLP-6, But Softer
A little more burley in this than other 7 Seas aromatics, and so it comes across with a deeper molasses/brown sugar sweetness more so than honey. Granted, the caramel was a topping, but burley goes better with it than a Virginia Cavendish. This is sweet, creamy and flavorful. I taste brown sugar, butter, vanilla, caramel and chocolate. cool burning with a muddled finish but pleasant aftertaste. Doesn't get bitter and won't bite. There's very little nicotine in this.

Mac Baren - 7 Seas Black
Almond, Cocoa and Vanilla
This is a really good aromatic. Taste is predominately an almond cream supported by vanilla and a bit of cocoa... maybe a touch of blackberry in there too. It's sweet, fragrant and tasty. I puffed at a pretty fast pace and didn't receive any tongue bite, so the PH is good. Burns cool, creamy full body, medium/dry finish with lingering sweet aftertaste that leaves your mouth feeling a little coated.. not bad though. This is a really good cavendish done correctly. Impressive. Nicotine is nonexistent.

Mac Baren - Golden Extra
A Heather Honey Burley
If a creamy, honey-sweet burley with no bite is what you’re after, this is it. Burley, as I’ve experienced over 30 years of pipe smoking, has predominately had a brown sugar sweetness. Molasses has long been a casing agent for it and it’s little wonder that when sugar is added to burley, we get a brown sugar flavored tobacco. Cocoa powder is another usual ingredient to burley, but there’s none of that to be found in Golden Extra.. this is different. This is the first Burley I’ve had which tastes of honey… heather honey and no cocoa and/or coffee. Heather honey has a slight smoky flavored sweetness, kind of like the old method of boiling down maple sap with wood firing before the use of natural gas. Maple syrup used to have a smoky flavor to it… and I miss it. Anyways, Golden Extra is a sweet, toasted-oats burley, and it doesn’t grow bitter down the bowl. It maintains a consistent sweetness throughout and the finish is clean and bright. This is just so unusual to me… I’ve long grown accustomed to brown sugar, cocoa and coffee in a burley… and certainly not a burley so bright and sweet as this. It’s got some nicotine too… 2.5 out of 5 on the nico meter.

Mac Baren - Vanilla Cream
VERY Good Danish Aromatic
I like this A LOT. No bite, which is a first for me in Mac Baren mixtures. This is a very rich and creamy vanilla – think vanilla custard, but not so powerful as to overtake the base tobaccos. The room note is exceptionally good and so expect others to remark positively on it. Vanilla Cream has some initial sweetness; a little honey and fruit (blackberry) contribute to that sweetness alongside the tart/bready/grassy golden VA. The cavendish provides some smoothness and creaminess while the burley imparts some body. Halfway yields a more tart (blackberry/citrus) flavor with a consistent underlying smoky or stoved vanilla. This is mild and fresh, which is very different than the Vanilla Flake, which imparts more fermented tobaccos in the base. Don’t attempt to cellar this thinking you’ll age the base and improve their flavor… you’ll lose the vanilla. If aged tobacco with vanilla is what you’re after, go with the Vanilla Flake. This is very light on nicotine: 1 out of 5. I must state though that MacBaren has been VERY inconsistent in years past… many of their products, aside from the HH Flake which is topnotch, has caused much discomfort through tongue, gum and lips. Their PH adjusted through their casings has been horrendously inconsistent, which has me wondering why this one was so different. Did Jensen change their procedure or do they now have better employees which are paying closer attention? I’m going to order another 8 oz, and I hope it tastes like this.

Seattle Pipe Club - Mississippi River Special Reserve 4oz
Sweet, Tangy and a Little Spicy
The tin note is pungently vinegar... reminds me of McClelland, which is about right considering Sutliff supplied them with their tobaccos. This is sweet, tangy and the spice from the perique tingles the tongue. I absolutely LOVE the proportion of latakia: it's light, complimenting and supporting, which never overpowers the other components. This is good. The cavendish brings a creaminess that ties everything together. I'm not a big fan of the spiciness of perique, but the plummy tanginess draws me in, and so this is one I'll continue to have on hand. It leaves a sweet but heavy finish. Nicotine is 2.5 out of 5.

Cornell & Diehl - From Beyond 2oz
Well Done, Mr. Reeves... This One is Special
Tangy creamy and not an overwhelming smoke bomb, as typically found with Cyprian Latakia. The Latakia is soft and the Orientals are gentle, two flavorfully assertive leaves which are always difficult to balance and always battle in profile for center stage in modern mixtures. This is harmonious. Those Orientals are something I've not tasted in a long time; a soft, buttery, complex and herbaceous minty character harkens to the 1990's when varietal sun cured were plentiful. Cyprian Latakia has a very strong, cedar, sooty and inconsistent flavor, while this has much smoother - less assertive campfire note with an underlying sweetness. The cedar is still there, but it's balanced by other herbs and doesn't overwhelm the flavor profile. This Latakia falls somewhere between Syrian and Cyprian. There's a bit if plummy black pepper on the back end due to the Perique This is a new kind of Latakia flavor and I LIKE IT.

Mac Baren - Virginia No. 1
Sweet, Citrusy, Grassy... Will Bite
I've had newly tinned versions of this in the past and it checks all the boxes of a typical fresh VA; sweet, citrusy, grassy and a little spice. However, MacBaren introduces other - non tobacco components which alters PH and illicits major tongue bite. I recently cracked a tin from 2013 and it was incredibly candy sweet and virtually no spice and tongue bite. It had become very smooth and took on a bready/sweet flavor. Almost all citrus was gone. Nicotine on both aged/unaged is 2 out of 5.

Samuel Gawith - Squadron Leader 50g
Very Light English
Just cracked another tin of this and realized I haven't rated it. Honestly, it's not worth the price. There are SO MANY light english blends available at a MUCH lower price. The quality is good, but so Cornell and Diehl. The latakia is used lightly in this and so it's very complimenting of the VA and Orientals, which lead the way in a sweet/sour/wood/verdant way. It's a three star blend and so perhaps a smidgeon above average due to quality, but the price drops it a star. Nicotine is 2 out of 5.

Samuel Gawith - Full Virginia Plug 8oz
What the Hell?
What the hell, Smoking Pipes?! No email, no notification of this drop, of any kind??? People have spent literally thousands of dollars with you and they don't even get an inkling or polite heads up so they can plan??? At least some provide notification and a time when a new product is dropping. This has me seriously contemplating my loyalty and patronage. You know, tobacco pipes has been good to me... I need to share and spread the love anyways, so I think I'll spend with them going forward. Yes, those thousands of dollars spent that catapulted me to VIP whatever... is it gold or silver now? No matter, tobbaco pipes needs some business and they actually notify customers when something new is dropping. You're a multi-million dollar company, you can afford to lose $5-10k/year of my business, right? Merry Christmas! Oh, and for those Purple-haired Marys that wanna comment on this below... that wanna get knee-deep in drama that doesn't concern them... your slip is showing.

Samuel Gawith - St. James Flake 50g
The Best Virginia/Perique EVER
Sweet... grass, pastry, a sweet yeasty/malted raisin nuance, a slight tanginess akin to plums, caramelized sugar, coffee, even a few floral notes here and there. I don't get much black pepper from the Perique, but rather stewed fruit. The finish is clean and sweet and it leaves a decent room note, unlike many other perique mixtures. This is 'Top Shelf' pipe tobacco. Not much to add from what's already been stated; This is the pinnacle of a Virginia/Perique (VAPER). Hard to find, but worth the effort. Nicotine is 3.5 out of 5. *Update 2/20/25* Just cracked a jar cellared in 2017 (8 years). This has mellowed a lot and lost sweetness. The flavors have melded and each distinct leaf is now less pronounced. It's incredibly smooth. The Perique isn't as spicy but now exhibits a soft dark-fruit aspect; the VA is softer too but is still grassy. It has a citrusy edge, but it's minor now as compared to an unaged fresher version. I also notice the room note is softer too; more bread-like. I prefer the fresher version. If ya got it, enjoy it now. It'll mellow with age, but it'll also lose its sweetness when that sugar is fermented.

G. L. Pease - Union Square 2oz
A Bit of a Let Down, But Still Very Good
Not bad, but not great either. It has a great room note and the finish is clean, but I guess I expected more from a Greg Pease blend. It has the same nuance as Cornell and Diehl Red VA Ribbon and Yorktown... perhaps even a little less than Yorktown. I'd advise those two in bulk and cellaring rather than spending more $$ on this one. There's an added sweetness to this - perhaps invert sugar or honey? The bready, sweet, smooth and slight tanginess is there but not to any astounding degree. It's a more natural, albeit sweetened, nuance. There's a balsa wood flavor here and there which equates to a cellulosic, sterile kinda thing. If you want something special and memorable... Sam Gawith Full VA Flake and Mac Baren HH Virginia are the two which hold the crown. You know you've got something with those at first light. This is good, but don't expect that sweet-feed thing that makes your mouth water and say WOW... this just isn't it. It's solid/consistent, better than average and comforting, but so is Yorktown, at half the price. Nic is 2 out of 5.

Seattle Pipe Club - Hogshead 4oz
Worth $9/oz... Nope
I admit that I took the bait... a solid plug of old Virginia evokes fermentation and all the nuance that accompanies it; sweetness, bread, slightly earthy, grassiness and smoothness... a sweet feed like flavor... that's what we expect and desire and that's what drew me in. This, in my opinion, has these but not to a great degree than other - far less expensive flakes. I would expect, at this price, a top of the line VA, like no other, that far exceeds expectations and all other flakes/plugs on the market. It doesn't. A few that come to mind that are much, much better: HH Pure Va, Sam Gawith VA Flake, Gawith and Hoggarth Kendal Dark (not a plug/flake), GL Pease Union Square, Cornell and Diehl Opening Night... all of these exceed in nuance and value, that of Hogshead. This has more citrus than I would expect in an aged, pressed VA. That contributes to sweetness but also a spice that only exists in younger brighter leaf. It's not bad, but it's certainly not worth $9/oz when judging the flavor against other, less expensive VA that provide smoother, sweeter and greater depth. Based on taste and quality, this is a $16 tin priced at $40... outrageous. Nicotine is 3 outta 5.

Orlik - Golden Sliced 50g
Nothing Natural About This
Sweet honey. apricots, a touch of mango and a pinch of grass. If ever there was a ranking of light flavored candied Virginia, smothered in sugar and fruit, this ranks king among them. All traces of a natural tasting Virginia pipe tobacco have been driven out of Orlik through heavy case and topping. It's a decidedly artificial flavor through and through. Light, no nicotine, sugary on the tongue, burns hot... it's good for those that don't like the taste of tobacco. In all seriousness however, it's bad, like really bad. This is about as vanilla as a VA can get. Classic??? oh no, this is far from the classic Orlik of old. If you don't like tobacco and are looking for something that will keep the tobacco flavor out of your pipe, try this. But then why not just pop a sucker in your mouth and forget the whole pipe thing? Orlik is the 'tobacco' for the purple haired, skinny jeans crowd who don't know which bathroom to use and can't decide which of the 82,000 genders they belong to.

Peterson - Elizabethan Mixture 50g
Light on Perique - Woody/Earthy/Bready VA
This was light on perique, but its presence is certainly noticeable in both the plummy taste and high nicotine content. The VA is more earthy/bready/woody, and there's an added sweetness which no doubt is invert sugar. If you want something which taste just like it, has the same strength but has a more natural, albeit less pronounced, sweetness, try Sutliff's Dunhill Elizabethan Match... it's much, much less $, is sold in bulk and provides an excellent VA/Per. Nicotine on both the Match and the Peterson is 3.5-4 out of 5.

Peter Stokkebye - PS201 Black Cavendish
Smooth, Cool, Mildly-Sweet Vanilla
As Black Cavendish (BC) goes, PS201 is among the better but still far from being a top choice. It's not a pure and natural form like Gawith and Hoggarth's DVC, which I consider the pinnacle of cavendish, but this has a place in mixtures and/or straight smoking of smooth, cool, fragrant BC. I'm currently searching for a BC to add at 30% to Low Country's Natural Virginia & Burley. Low Country's VA/BUR is quite strong (a bit too strong) in body and nicotine, but it lacks sweetness. Although it would certainly elevate the nuance, the addition of G&H's DVC wouldn't subdue it much, and so I need some 'gravy' so to speak, that will sweeten. smooth and lighten it up a bit. PS201 is a contender as it will meet those needs, but its vanilla note isn't what I want. I'm, jsut not big on vanilla. C&D makes a BC that fits the bill without any added flavor, but Sutliff's B21 Black Spice actually meets everything I want with an added cinnamon, nutmeg sweetness. I think among BC, PS21 has a moderate sweetness when compared to say Lane BCA, which has a vanilla/liqueur flavor, but that singular vanilla note of PS201 is something you really have to like and want. This would be excellent in recreating Frog Morton though. Nicotine is <1 outta 5, no bite no matter how hard you push it, good moisture.

Sutliff - Cinnamon Delight
Where's the Cinnamon?
It's smooth and sweet, not too goopy, and is reminiscent of Sutliff's Stoved Virginia. It's not a bad mixture at all, just not what I expected. Sutliff puts out some REALLY BAD aromatics, but this is one of their better ones. It isn't the fake, goopy, overly-topped bland burley that we often encounter; this one has a good base of stoved VA. It's rough cut, moist and has a pleasant room note. Though I purchased this to mix with other components to smooth, sweeten and offer a cinnamon flavor and room note, which this doesn't possess. This has a bit of nicotine and I'd place it at 1 out of 5. The best cinnamon tobacco was made by Peter Stokkebye, but unfortunately it's no longer being made. The next best thing to Stokkebye is Russ Oulette's Anger's Dream. AD is actually one of my favorites and has a strong cinnamon note (along side the chocolate and honey) and smokes like Lane's aromatics: good body/strength, quality tobacco, excellent flavor and room note. Cinnamon Delight isn't one that I'll be reordering or using again. Though for some it makes a great change of pace for something like Lane BCA.

Peter Stokkebye - PS41 Cube Cut
Bright Flavor of Anisette & Citrus
Not impressed. It's a Virginia base with a side of burley. Don't approach this thinking it's a cubed burley. It's a very bright flavor of anisette and citrus. Now don't misinterpret the citrus as sweet... it's a very bright flavor that I suspect comes from casing the Virginia leaf in citric acid. The anisette is in the background but nonetheless, it and the citrus sublimate the tobacco. The PH is off a little, as most citrus/anisette topped tobacco is, and so it will nip at the tongue a little. Sipped slow this reveals a bit of nuttiness and hay, but that damn citric acid ruins it. Cornell and Diehl cube cut is where you'll find a smooth, earthy, nutty, molasses burley. If I had to equate the two to something, PS41 is a VA forward, bright, acidic, sweet lemon square, whereas Cornell & Diehl is a soft, smoothly balanced molasses/brown sugar cookie. It's not a bad mixture, and the cube cut is always a joy to load (just scoop), it's just not something I'd want to have around and hanker for. Smokes moist and hot. Sip it for best flavor and keep a pipe cleaner handy. Continuous relights are necessary. Pleasant room note. This reminds me of Mac Baren mixtures for some reason. Nic is 2 out of 5.

Arango - Balkan Supreme
More Virginia and Latakia Forward
I don't consider this a Balkan in the sense that to be Balkan is to have a profile in which Orientals are more forward than other components. The VA is considerably more forward than the Orientals and the cavendish supports and softens the sweet VA. There's less spice from the Orientals and the latakia is a little more robust in this too. If you're on the fence, consider this a sweeter, smokier and more mellow White Knight, of which emphasizes Orientals. To me this is a thinner, lighter, less dark-flavored Star of The East, albeit with a smidgen more Orientals. Considerable sweetness with this one and much less tangy, musty, buttery, spicy Orientals. Nicotine is 2 out of 5

Cornell & Diehl - Old College
Sweeter than Constellation and Less Latakia
I like this! This closely resembles Constellation, though it's more mellow, definitely sweeter and has far less latakia. The burley can get a bit bitter towards the end, but smoked cool will help alleviate that. Whereas Constellation has a bold earthy/smoky profile that can be heavy on the tongue, and which derives its sweetness from the black cavendish, Old College has more VA and less latakia. A note on that sweetness: sweetness from the cavendish is different than say a virginia... it's less sharp and isn't as deep. That difference is akin to candy (virginia) vs a pear (cavendish). Definitely an all-day smoke. Nicotine is 2 out of 5.

Sutliff - Balkan S Original Mix Match
White Knight in Bulk Form
This is essentially White Knight in bulk form. Perhaps the quality isn't as good as the tinned version as this has a few rough edges, but side by side these essentially taste the same to me. It's a comfort mixture; softly applied latakia, verdant, buttery and slightly sour/spicy Orientals, and just the slightest sweetness from the VA. Less sweet than Balkan Sasieni and slightly less spice, but just as comforting. This isn't a latakia bomb by any means. Nicotine is 1.5 out of 5,

Balkan Sasieni - Balkan Sasieni 50g
An Odd Resemblance to Peter Stokkebye
Oh, it's Balkan. Like Prince Albert, the word 'comfort' comes to mind when describing this. The first profile you encounter is decidedly and overwhelmingly oriental; buttery, musty, sour and a bit of spice... typical nuance of oriental and very pronounced. Though there's nothing special about the Orientals used, they're pretty generic. There's very little sweetness but rather a woodiness and slight citric acid from the VA. The latakia isn't real heavy in this, but it's been applied in good proportion. I've always thought of Orientals as a musty old leather-bound library book. Kinda tastes like that would smell... dusty and old. I like this and give it high marks as it's a pure tasting mixture with little additives and the proportionality with which the leaves were mixed is very good. It possesses a natural smoothness and is quite mellow, but also has just the slightest of that bright-citrusy Peter Stokkebye vibe. The room note is a smoky, verdant - cedar. It's pleasant. It's one of the better - true Balkans I've had. I'm just not a fan of oriental in large proportions, and so I don't favor a Balkan. But for those that do, you'll enjoy this. Absolutely no tongue bite with this. Cup a Joe's sells this in bulk form. Nicotine is 1.5 out of 5.

Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Dark Bird's Eye Vintage Cut
Traditional and Pure
Fed /watered the chickens - let them out, two flakes of hay and a quart of grain for the horse - let him out, milked the cow and need to filter and heat it... but first I'm going to take a break. This is strong but not too strong. It's perfect in a small billiard for a short break. The nicotine will sate your craving but won't make you sick. The KDF isn't American and so there's no spicy, charred oak-like nuance. It's an assertive type of burley that's stronger and has better mouthfeel without the tannic, walnut like flavor of burley. It has a wine and clove like thing going on. It's a smoother version than the American and pares really well with VA. It's not overbearing and it goes nicely with the natural sweetness of the VA tobaccos used. This is one I can smoke while on the go or between chores. Nicotine is 3.5 out of 5.

Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Kendal Dark Vintage Cut
Rich, Deep, Dark & Sweet
I quite enjoy this. I may need to cellar a good amount as this shines in the simplicity of the flavor and cut. First light is delicately floral, but there's no Lakeland present. There's a natural floral quality to this. The flavor is a robust, deep, caramelized, sweet, richly fermented Virginia. The VA is quite rich. It came moist, and I presume had it been dry it would've lost some of its nuance. The cut is a little larger than shag, but not so as to be the ribbon we see in newer offerings. This allows for nice loading and consistent burn in the smaller billiard I prefer. It's a very natural flavor but there is something there... that floral note that I don't find in Cornell and Diehl VA. It can be an all day tobacco, but for most it'll be too strong and assertive. It leaves a round sweet finish. Nicotine is 3 out of 5. This would make an extremely high-quality component to add depth and sweetness to a mixture. It'll certainly impart quality to any lower quality leaf in the mixture.

Low Country - Natural Virginia & Burley
Tastes like Walnuts and Bread - at $20/lb You Can't Go Wrong
I like a good VA/Burley mixture. It's a very traditional combination that when naturally done, should be soft, slightly sweet, yield gobs of smoke and possess a toasted grain nuance with a kick of N. Well, for the most part this does that. There's little sweetness and the only exception would be the dark burley; it's more of an earthy/walnut flavor that replaces that toasted oat nuance, but I like it and it goes well with the bready Red VA. Dark burley is almost fermented to compost, so expect a strong earthiness and that dry/tannic/astringent kind of walnut flavor. You won't have any molasses or anise, which so many of the older - over the counter blends had... this is a pure tasting leaf. For the price you can't go wrong... $20/lb is a great deal on an everyday/all-day traditional mixture. Nicotine is 3.5 out of 5, so expect quite a hit on a very traditional and less expensive mixture.

McConnell - Scottish Cake 50g
Smooth Sweet and a Bit Tangy with a bit of Spice.
Not bad. The invert sugar sweetens this artificially but is tolerable for me; the plummy tanginess of the perique is there but lacks the black pepper spice; the Kentucky is supportive and lends only a slight nuance of spicy, smoky oak on the back end, but make no mistake... it's there and it adds a good bit of nicotine. My guess is it's African and not American. It's smooth enough to smoke all day and the lingering artificial sweetness keeps the ashy aftertaste away. Kohlhase Kopp is known for adding sugar, and that artificial sweetness can sometimes sublimate the natural nuance we get from VA. The Dark VA used in this is on the woody side. Added sugar isn't a bad thing, but I prefer the more rustic and natural flavor of Cornell and Diehl. Nicotine is 3 out of 5.

A&C Petersen - Escudo Navy Deluxe 50g
Needs to be Aged
Tin note is fruit cake or sweet feed, but the smoke is a tad harsh and one dimensional. This one is definitely a young, grassy version of a VAPER that lacks sweetness and complexity. Age would transform the grassy VA to a sweeter, smoother and more bready VA, which I think goes so well with perique. But I'm not sure it's worth the added cost over say, Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake (LNF). Cellaring this could get expensive, and who wants to wait years for something you could enjoy now AND years later? That's why LNF is my choice over this; it's honey sweet, smooth, a bit grassy but also has a pastry-like nuance. While LNF doesn't have quite the black pepper that Escudo has, that fine for me. But the #1 VAPER is Sam Gawith St James Flake... by far the best. Add some age to this and I suppose this would be a 3 star product.

Cornell & Diehl - We Three Kings 2oz
Replaces McClelland's Holiday Spirit
Woah... this is some fine tobacco. The spices used in conjunction with the leaf is at another level. These aren't artificial flavorings... this are natural and robust spices cooked down and condensed for use in the topping. Yes, it's light on added flavorings and is tobacco forward, but the delicate use of cinnamon, allspice and vanilla is deliberate and refined. It enhances rather than sublimates the tobacco. The vanilla is most pronounced in the tin note, but isn't so prominent in the smoke. Holiday-spiced pastries is what this immediately conjures in flavor and room note. Smooth, sweet, tasty, slightly floral/herbaceous, and very, very satisfying. Like all C&D, this is a natural tasting and pure product. The nicotine is about 2 out of 5, so it will sate after a meal but won't cause a ball in your chest or turn your stomach. This replaces McClelland's infamous Holiday Spirit.

Drucquer & Sons - First Amendment 100g
Smooth and Rich
It's difficult to grade anything Greg Pease puts out at under 3 stars. Darn near everything he/C&D releases exhibits the finest in the market. The presentation was nicely stacked, loosely-pressed cut flakes of perfect moisture. Burley is decidedly American and substituting that for Orientals reduces the complexity of flavor a little, but it also introduces a smooth, earthy, toasted grain and tannic black walnut flavor which enhances the other components. There's a rustic quality to this mixture that denotes a purity with very few, if any, additives. Yet there also exists an extremely refined and deliberate effort to convey a harmonious taste experience. The Red Virginia is most pronounced and has the marked bready/pastry flavor with little sweetness, and that compliments the burley very well. The cavendish in conjunction with burley and Red VA yield a very mellow and soft effect - tempering the earthiness of the burley. The latakia is added in smaller proportions and exhibits only the slightest smoky/campfire note in the background. This room note and 'taste of the smell', reminds me of an old book. I really like mixtures with a light hand on latakia - unless it's a really sweet mixture like say, Star of the East. The perique is light too, and doesn't exhibit a prominent spicy-black pepper nuance, but rather a tanginess. The nicotine in this is actually pretty stout; 3 to 3.5 out of 5. I'm not sure why the strength was listed at 2 as you will definitely feel the nicotine.

G. L. Pease - Haddo's Delight 2oz
Bread, Fruit and Little Cocoa
The bready, smooth and semi-sweet red VA are prominent. A smidgeon of sugary sweet citrus brights appear now and again too. The burley lends dryness, a walnut nuance and a bit of a toasted oats flavor. The cherries from the spiced rum are prominent and match well with the raison like perique. I detect just a little black pepper from the perique now and again and it gets stronger halfway through the bowl, but nothing that would tingle the nose or offend the palate. The cocoa is detectable at lower temps but disappears if smoked too hot. The quality is of a smooth and somewhat mild aromatic, but the strength of flavor and nicotine is medium. I've often found that the higher quality blends/mixtures are medium in flavor and body, but lighter in nicotine. This has a decent finish, though somewhat tannic depending on your companion drink. I'd place the nicotine level at 2.0-2.5 out of 5.

Cornell & Diehl - After Hours Flake 2oz
Red VA with Spiced Rum
The VA is slightly woody with a smidgeon of sweet citrus from the brights. I appreciate a red VA with a bready/pastry-slightly sweet nuance... this one was decidedly woody. The tin note is spiced rum with a bit of caramel; initially I can detect star anise, cinnamon and cherries as the spiced rum, with the cinnamon becoming more prominent in the latter half of the smoke. The rum is not boozy like say, Sextant. The caramel adds a bit of soft caramelized butter flavor here and isn't consistent in the least. Smoke it at a low temperature to get all the flavors otherwise Virginia can get ashy. The nicotine is 2.0-3.5 out of 5. There are times when it hits me a little harder and I feel like it's 3 or 3.5, so that's why it's such a wide margin.

Daughters & Ryan - Two Timer
Pure, Fresh and Clean
Like Three Sails, this tastes incredibly fresh and pure. This is what burley tastes like when you pull it outta the barn, stuff the pipe and smoke it. Very fresh and natural. I've grown my own burley, cured it and smoked it uncased. There's no sweetness and it has a very prominent walnut flavor. This one has been cased and preserves the natural flavor, though the PH wasn't neutralized. This too can bite as the PH is off, so be cognizant. Nicotine is 2 out of 5.

Daughters & Ryan - Three Sails
Raw Tobacco
This is about as pure a flavor as you can get. Tastes like it was just removed from the oven after harvest. Sweet, grassy and very fresh tasting. No toppings, just clean and very natural tasting. Careful... it can burn hot and the PH will nip at your tongue. Nicotine is 2 out of 5.

Presbyterian - Presbyterian 50g
Major Issues with PH
This left my mouth sore for a few days and I couldn't smoke anything during that time. The PH tore up my tongue and lips worse than MacBaren. Perhaps it was a bad batch... don't know, but it was so bad I resealed the tin and it's sat in the cabinet for the past 5 years. I remember the Orientals being prominent, which was nice, but White Knight has a similar dominance and is super smooth. Wish I could remember more on flavor, but with such bad memories of this one I'm not pulling it out and going through that again.

Mac Baren - HH Pure Virginia 16oz
Perhaps the Best Virginia Flake
Mac Baren’s HH Line has achieved the halcyon of Germains and Gawith. Perhaps it’s the century old steam press they acquired to manufacture the HH line, or perhaps it’s the sourcing and blending... maybe it’s the combination of these. No matter, the entire HH line of flakes are among the most qualitative products manufactured by Mac Baren or any blending house for that matter. Unlike Germains and Gawith, HH is readily available and reasonably priced, which in my humble opinion, moves it beyond either of the former to a level not seen among Houses since the early 2000’s. Now, about HH Pure VA; A high quality VA Flake is a real treat, and this is one of them. The steam pressing removed the sharpness that accompanies brighter, fresher VA, and deepens the flavor profile while adding a bit of caramelization. This has a very clean, deep and round profile. There's the highly sought after malted/fermented VA nuance; it's delicately earthy-sweet with a slight honey flavor, a little fermented corn silage nuance, bready/pastry and has a marked grass/hay nuance with just a tiny bit of citrus. Then of course there's a slight floral note on the back end which is typical of Virginia. The finish is crisp, sweet and clean. It's incredibly smooth with absolutely no bite. The nicotine level is medium to medium-strong strength with a nice 3 out 5 nic strength. This is a great after-dinner smoke that rivals Sam Gawith FVF, and in many respects, is superior. I prefer this after a full-flavored steak dinner. The smooth and mild sweetness provides a great finish to counter the savory steak. Add to that a satisfying nicotine strength, and it pairs so damn well.

Seattle Pipe Club - Plum Pudding Special Reserve 4oz
Sweet, Tart, Charred Cedar
Fresh this is sweet, but if the plug dries out then the invert sugar used seems to volatize and it very tart. This reminds me of Bill Bailey's Balken Blend by Dan Tobacco. Actually, it's an exact match to me. The balance is good and it's a wonderfully complex smoke; each leaf carries it's own nuance and they do appear separate and well supported from first light to the heel. The Latakia is in wonderful proportion to the mixture and I love how the charred cedar plays with the cavendish, perique and other leaf. I don't know that I'd cellar a lot of this. Bill Bailey is better for bulk, but this is a tad better for a select smoke. There's just not enough qualitative difference to justify the price difference if you're looking to cellar, but hey... that's a personal choice. The nicotine is 2 out of 5... not particularly strong, but it'll sate the average.

Sutliff - Cringle Flake 2021 1.5oz
Christmas Pudding
A rich, dark, densely-flavored flake that in the tin, has the fragrance of the classic English Christmas Pudding; spiced raisins/fruit, brandy, pastry and brown sugar. Although it possesses no brandy, the deeply fermented leaf exudes it. The flavor is on par with the tin note; rich, smooth, fermented sweetness with spiced fruit. Though that spice you smell in the tin translates to a very slight black pepper on the retro, and while it can tingle the nose, it certainly isn't a sharp or stinging pepper that one may encounter in younger Perique. The VA is more bready and a bit herbal, but it's incredibly smooth. It's flavor is dark, dense and thick, but surprisingly the body isn't overly heavy. towards the heel it gets sweeter and, for lack of a better word, more 'tarry'. Some don't like that, I do. Nicotine is 2.5 out of 5

Missouri Meerschaum - Lord Morgan 1.5oz
Very Nice Tin Art
*UPDATED* The tin art is classy and very well done. I was able to acquire a couple tins through a competitor. It's soppy wet and exudes bourbon. While drying does allow it to stay lit, it loses some of the bourbon flavor. This has great flavor but little sweetness and depth. There's a very assertive cinnamon note, which is pleasant combined with the bourbon. The Orientals aren't verdant or herbal; the VA is woody and bready; the perique is hardly noticeable but possessed a little tartness. The Burley was on the lighter spectrum and lacked that molasses/brown sugar familiarity. The latakia is good - which the bourbon and cinnamon supports and compliments. It's basically a smooth, strong bourbon, cinnamon and latakia flavor. I love the heavy bourbon and cinnamon flavor, and the room note reminds me of one of the old civil war homes we visit each fall. I like this. One of the better ones that I could smoke each and every day from here on out. Perhaps even one of my favorites. Depending on what you want or expect, this may be just the ticket; a woody campfire steeped in spiced bourbon with very little sweetness. Nicotine is 2 to 2.5 out of 5.

Bengal Slices - Bengal Slices 1.75oz
Assertive Anise Topped English
Bengal Slices is slightly sweet and has an assertive anise topping. I expected the Latakia to be strong as a lot of the reviews stated as much, but it wasn't. The Latakia isn't nearly as strong a proportion in the mixture as Star of the East. The VA and Orientals are forward in this and so it has that bready/verdant character which is supported by the latakia. I like the smaller proportion of Latakia... this is really well done. The cavendish contributes to a smooth, semi-sweet creaminess. I quite like this, but I much prefer the Bengal Slices Single Barrel. The Bourbon version takes this to a completely new level, and rates 5 stars ++. The nicotine in this is light and is around a 1 out of 5 level. It's one I choose for flavor... perhaps among the very best in flavor and it's certainly not a mixture I'd choose for a nicotine fix.

Peter Stokkebye - PS402 Luxury Twist Flake
Caramel Milk Maid
The aesthetic of the flake is beautiful; the marbling of brightly colored leaf throughout a darker background is a wonderful presentation. Luxury twist has a caramel like topping that's quite sweet and reminds me of the Milk Maid candy with the caramel on the outside and cream in the center. Yes, there’s a definite caramel cream taste to this and because of that there’s an artificial flavor and sweetness to this. I also pick up a bit of pastry (bread) and brown sugar, but most of the natural flavor is sublimated by the sugar and flavor of the topping. It’s light-bodied, smooth, sweet and creamy with a light lingering sweet finish. It possesses very low nicotine, and coupled with the body and finish, this is an all-day smoke. If you want a break from the heavier, more natural tasting, and less sweet (albeit naturally sweet) VA flake such as Sam Gawith or Mac Baren HH VA, try Luxury Twist Flake (LTF). Nicotine is 1.5 out of 5. Puff lightly and smoke it cool for best flavor.

Dan Tobacco - Treasures of Ireland: Galway 50g
Very Nice Aromatic
Like many of Dan Tobacco's aromatics, it's a very natural tasting mixture with the tobacco up front and mild. Differing from an American aromatic - the flavoring in Galway compliments rather than overpowers and hides the leaf. This one in their series has a soft vanilla and slightly sweet/tart blackberry nuance in the background. These meld very well with the grassy Virginia and the black cavendish smooths everything out to yield a sweet, smooth and mellow smoke with a great room note. Right after they ceased to produce this in bulk, I went online and found a pound of it. I placed it in my cart and just as I was about to checkout, someone else got it. Well, I went up to my tobacconist a week later and wouldn't you know it... there it was. They had bought the last pound. Only they were charging 5Xs the price and selling per oz. I've not purchased from them since. What are the odds? The nicotine in this is mild and comes in at 1.5 to 2 out of 5. It's not nicotine free like the American aromatics, which is why I really value and enjoy these Europeans aromatics; flavorful in a natural way with just a touch more nicotine.

War Horse - Green 1.75oz
STRONG Nicotine... Like St Bruno in Plug Form; Oak, Geranium & Tonka Bean
I want to preface this by stating that the 2.5 rating doesn't mean that it's an average tobacco among other blends and mixtures. This rating indicates an average rating for MY TASTES. If I absolutely loved and preferred the flavor of St Bruno for instance, this would be a 5 start rating. Based on it's form, proportions and flavoring, this is also a 5 star tobacco. It reflects Oulett's expertise and creativity. I just prefer English. Now the description: Tonquin like flavor in a very dense plug form. The tonquin is like a vanilla/geranium/anise//fruit flavor... either love it or hate it. Like all of Sutliff offerings, it also has that almond naunce. The plug is very dense and requires a knife to shave pieces off. The Kentucky Dark Fired lends a strong bitter oak flavor and given that it's a plug, that Dark Fired kicks the nicotine up to a 4.5 out of 5 level. Just don't smoke this in an empty stomach. This is effectively St Bruno if it were in plug form... perhaps a bit sweeter. This is officially an aromatic, and appropriately so, but don't think of this as an aromatic in the American sense like a Creme Brulee. This is nothing like the weak, bland American aromatics doused with artificial flavoring and propylene glycol to cover inferior-grade cavendished tobacco. It's a traditional aromatic in the sense that another non-tobacco component (flavoring) has been added. Russ Oulette if among the great blenders, and we're fortunate to have him among us. Unlike Greg Pease, he's very much open to direct discussion each week. He's very approachable, informative and transparent in his thoughts on leaf. He doesn't get the notoriety or praise that Greg Pease, Jeremey Reeves or Per George Jensen gets... but he is in my opinion, perhaps in the top 4 of all time. If you like St Bruno, give this a go, but just remember the nicotine strength. I think if devotees of St Bruno knew of this one, it would be on perpetual backorder. Oh, and this one doesn't age any better. A 5 year old tin tasted just like a fresh one. Nicotine is 5 out of 5... you were warned.

Granger - Granger 7oz
Like an Older Prince Albert or Inferior Mac Baren London Burley
*2/20/25 Update* After letting Granger breath for some time, the anise has settled down but the cocoa is still very assertive; a sweet, brownie-like cocoa which tastes much like London Burley from Mac Baren. The bite isn't near as sharp, but it's still there a little on the back end and tingles the lips and tongue. If I were to rank Prince Albert, Granger and Carter Hall, in would be in that order with PA being #1. Though Granger has considerably more cocoa and is slightly sweeter than PA, that bite/sharpness is still there. I like the mouthfeel of PA and the slightly less flavor doesn't bother me in the least. On the other hand, Carter Hall just doesn't have what I want; it's slightly sour, too much anise and has a little bite like Granger. If I'm gonna tolerate bite, I want flavor to compensate. I'm smoking from a 12oz tub. Not sure when that changed to 7oz (2021?), but that's what I have. There's A LOT of cocoa flavor in Granger and it reminds me of the old Prince Albert (1930's version). I recently popped a 1936 tin of Prince Albert. It was strong anise, cocoa and a touch of bourbon... nothing like the PA today. The cocoa in the old PA was a very pure flavor - similar to tasting the ground cocoa powder used in baking. Well, Granger tastes very similar to the old PA; anise and a strong, pure cocoa. Like the 1936 PA, the PH of Granger is a little on the alkaline side, so it does bite the tongue. I suspect it’s an alcohol, preservative or maple sugar thing… that damn maple sugar is what MB uses on their standards and it’s one of the reasons I don't smoke much of it. A decent all-day tobacco with a touch of nicotine. Not as smooth as PA, but it has more cocoa. The nic level is 1.5 - 2 out of 5, so it won't make you nauseous yet will gently sate any cravings.

Cornell & Diehl - Star of the East Flake 2oz
MERCY... Better than Penzance
The best of all time, period. I could smoke only this for the remainder of my of my life and be perfectly content. The flavor exhibits a dark, rich and sweet profile with a velvety mouthfeel. I've smoked a pipe since 1995, and over the decades I've smoked literally hundreds of mixtures and blends, which is the fun part of this 'hobby'. But along the way I discovered a favorite... Star of the East ribbon cut (and now SOTE Flake). I've got pounds of the ribbon cut cellared, and it ages marvelously. The flake provides a glimpse of what the aged ribbon cut is like 7 years in. Age this for at least 5 years and it becomes something really special and rewarding. If there was one mixture that was truly comparable to Penzance, SOTE Flake is the one and only, but it's BETTER than Penzance. Even fresh it tastes much like the 9 year old Penzance I just finished. Penzance leans more grassy VA than SOTE Flake, and lacks both the herbal note of the Orientals and the dark fruitiness. Rather, Penzance is more candied and grassy. I can see where someone who likes less Latakia, strength and body would enjoy Penzance more, but I relish the darker profile and higher strength of SOTE Flake. Both leave a sweet finish on the tongue. The only drawback to this flaked version... it's more expensive than the ribbon cut, harder to keep lit and can't be obtained in bulk. But damn... this is GOOD. Nicotine is a little stronger than the ribbon cut with a 2.0 - 2.5 out of a 5 nicotine level. This is the one.

Sutliff - Eastfarthing 1.5oz
VERY close to Frog Morton
A bit sweeter, lighter and the room note is most certainly better than Frog Morton. This lacks the body of the stout VA that FM provided, and the latakia is in smaller proportion that FM. BUT, I like this better. FM left me with a creosote tongue and the vanilla in FM was very slight - almost drowned out by the higher latakia. This is a sweeter, bolder tasting vanilla with a lighter latakia presence. That latakia that plays in the background compliments the vanilla so very well. It leaves a sweet finish in the mouth and the room note is a sweet vanilla note with a slight cedar fragrance. Mixing this with a little Sutliff 507-S Stoved Virginia provides more body, nicotine and depth of flavor, though you sacrifice what little Latakia is there. Nicotine is 1 out of 5.

Sutliff - Great Outdoors 1.5oz
Not Great... but Not Bad
There's so many other, better blends out there. If you crave the anise and birch root, seek Mixture No 79, It's better than this in that regard, and much sweeter than Great Outdoors. This has a moderately stronger anise and perhaps a little yellow birch flavoring to differentiate it from others, though not as strong as No 79. It lacks depth. It has some broken flaked pieces of burley in there too. Good room note and light bodied. There's something else in the room note... I've smelled it in the ACID cigar line too.. something botanical and almost perfumed. The finish leaves a lingering freshness with a light sweetness. Not one I'll reorder and a prime example of a blend smoked one time and the last time. Nicotine is 1 out of 5.

Sutliff - Crumble Kake English #1 1.5oz
NOT a Penzance and Not Really a Good English
Can't believe I bought two tins of this... It's difficult to comprehend how someone could compare this to Penzance. From a linear perspective; it has Latakia, VA and Orientals... it's a loose flake...but similarities end there. The VA isn't nearly as remarkable or sweet as Penzance, and the Latakia in #1 is in noticeably stronger proportions than the former. Penzance places an emphasis on the sweetness of the VA, followed by an ever so slight and finessed verdant spice of Orientals, and lastly the Latakia is supportive and never overwhelming. Sure, the burley lends a little body to #1, and perhaps that's what's causing this to be so bland. A cinnamon roll without sugar is still a cinnamon roll, but that doesn't mean it's a GOOD cinnamon roll. #1 just falls short of many, many other English. It's bland, a bit cellulosic at times and not in the least bit sweet. Consider Pease's Westminster... now that's a sweet flavored English that if pressed into a flake could easily pass for Penzance. Want something even better than Westminster and you crave latakia? Star of the East Flake... that's the pinnacle. Sorry Sutliff... I'm not a fan of the flavor, but I do like the loose flake, so a 1/2 star for that. I'll bear down and finish the first tin, but the second will most likely collect dust for well over a decade. Nicotine is 1 out of 5.

Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Afternoon Melange
Reminiscent Murray's Dunhill Standard Mixture
This is very reminiscent of Murray's Dunhill Standard Mixture; mild, natural tasting, light hand on the latakia, a little more forward on the Orientals and VA. The VA is a mixture in flavor of an herbal VA cavendish and bready-stoved VA. The Orientals are more forward; verdant, herbal, musty and while Oriental can be sour, these are more sweet. Oriental reminds me of old library books... that musty smell of dust, leather and old paper. Although I state 'natural', there's an artificial sweetness in this that tingles the tongue... maple sugar perhaps? It doesn't detract form the natural taste, but you'll know it's there. I will note that the cut is awesome! I love this finer cut. Nicotine is 2.5 out of 5. The higher nicotine caught me off guard, but then it does have less Latakia so I should've been prepared for that. I like this one. It's not very often that you have an English with a good amount of nicotine.

Cornell & Diehl - Big 'n' Burley
Think Black Pepper and Walnuts
Whooo Boy... if you're a light-weight on nicotine, don't do this one. Seriously, it'll make a ball in your chest and turn you green. Earthy, woody and fermented Dark Burley means no sweet molasses; Orientals add a bit of sourness and, as DK stated, a bit of walnut nuance; the Latakia is minor but noticeable and in very good proportion; the Perique is peppery - akin to black pepper, and it's a bit harsh at times. It's the perique that keeps this from being a better mixture. There's absolutely no sweetness, but adding a bit of red or bright VA changes that. The bitterness is tolerable, but the nicotine level is POWERFUL. Small bowls are a must with this and I prefer Scott's burners: an old classic shaped french stummel in small proportions. This will grow hair on your toenails... tread carefully. Nicotine is 4 out of 5.

Peter Stokkebye - PS23 B & B
Sweet, Mild, Cool and Smooth
This is a mild aromatic that's subtlety sweet, very smooth and has a remarkable room note. It's actually similar to Lane's RLP-6, though RLP-6 is better, in my opinion. There's no bite and has a very natural flavor (unlike many other aros). I get a fruity vanilla rather than just vanilla, which is a bit disappointing as I don't like fruit in my pipe. Stokkebye's aromatics are better than most we encounter and offer a pleasant break for us non-aromatic fans. Again, Lane makes some of the purest flavored aros and so I much prefer those over Stokkebye's, whereas Stokkebye is better than Sutliff. There's no nicotine in this. 0.5 out 5 on the nicotine scale.

Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Morning Blend
Brown Sugar & Bourbon
I don’t smoke many aromatics as I much prefer unmolested English, Burley and VA flakes, but this is actually exceptional. This has such a smooth, mellow flavored quality. The bourbon is brown sugar sweet with a bit of the typical whiskey/bourbon/scotch woody/oak/sourness. Oh yes... this is sweet and VA leaves a natural sweet finish in the mouth afterwards. There’s a hint of a vanillaesq note here and there, but certainly not a nuance that pushes this into a vanilla flavored mixture, it compliments the bourbon. Absolutely no bite whatsoever on my sensitive tongue, and it smokes relatively cool for what it is. The room note is amazing, as the Mrs remarked that she liked the sweet smell of it, whereas she normally remarks that my typical English reminds her of a horse stable. To me, and for those that have visited whiskey distilleries, you’ll definitely pick up an oak like whiskey cask smell in the room. I really like the cut of this; it’s a touch larger than shag and allows for a nice pack and burn. I really can’t find much wrong with this. It’s mildly flavored and doesn’t overwhelm, and perhaps the only fault that I can find is just that... it lacks nicotine. I’d say it’s about 1 outta 5 on the nic scale, which is actually a good thing for some. This is quite simply a light, mellow, sweet and very well developed flavorful smoke. Well done, Erik.

Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - 1931 Flake 3.5oz
Honey Sweet Bread and Hay
Great room note. The flavor is honey sweet, bready and predominantly hay-like. The mouthfeel is ph neutral, smooth and creamy. The use of cavendish is really what sets this apart. This is great after eating a steak... the sweetness balances the savory steak and provides just enough nicotine to satisfy. I really wish this was a bulk item... I'd cellar pounds. One of the best VA/BUR our there - bar none. Nicotine is 2 out of 5.