Tobacco Talk

Summer Reading 2016

August 9, 2016 by Adam O'Neill

11 Comments

Although we've been given a brief reprieve here in South Carolina, the height of summer is definitely upon us. For us, great heat means great irresponsibility, as we shirk our usual weekend tasks in favour of heading poolside with a cooler of beer, a pipe of our favoured leaf, and a book good enough to lose ourselves in. ... Read More

Tasting Notes - G.L. Pease's Temple Bar & Regents Flake

July 12, 2016 by Shane Ireland

9 Comments

Temple Bar and Regents Flake are the two latest pipe tobaccos in G.L. Pease's Old London Series. Both blends feature a base of bright and red Virginias, with varying proportions of Oriental leaf. Though working within the same basic theme, make no mistake: these are two very distinct blends, both in cut and flavor profile. ... Read More

Cavendish: Chameleon of Components

July 1, 2016 by Daniel Bumgardner

9 Comments

With the release of the latest Small Batch projects and the Small Batch Blending Kit, there's been a lot of conversation about tobacco blends around here lately. Not that this is all that unusual; we share the same building with Cornell & Diehl, and their head blender, Jeremy Reeves, often makes his way around ... Read More

Summer Blend Rotation

June 21, 2016 by Daniel Bumgardner

5 Comments

The temperature is steadily rising here in the southeastern US, and with it, across the office, the usual aromas of our typical cold-weather smokes are slowly evolving into a melange of sweet, delicious clouds. Naturally, this got me wondering: What tobacco says 'summer' to you?

Tasting Notes: C&D Small Batch - Carolina Red Flake

June 10, 2016 by Shane Ireland

3 Comments

Another installment in Cornell & Diehl's Small Batch Series, Carolina Red Flake is sure to be an instant hit. It's the most honest and straightforward Virginia blend that I've ever tried. Comprised of only one varietal, and made from only the highest grades grown, harvested, and blended in the Carolinas ... Read More

Tasting Notes: Astley's 109 Medium Va Flake

June 3, 2016 by Shane Ireland

1 Comment

In this latest Tasting Notes video, I return to one of my favorite all-day smokes from a few years ago: Astley's 109 Medium Virginia Flake. If you're a Virginia smoker, or looking to get into pure Virginias, this is both a great introduction and a wonderful addition to your normal rotation. ... Read More

Spring Showdown 2016: Beyond Thunderdome

June 1, 2016 by Adam O'Neill

12 Comments

Which blend is playing Master Blaster to the other's Mad Max, I'll leave to you, but either way I guess that puts me in Tina Turner's rather angry looking spiked stilettos. As we proceed to the match, remember the law: two blends enter, one blend leaves.