Tobacco Talk

Introducing: Caribbean Blue by Kohlhase & Kopp

July 19, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

German blenders Kohlhase & Kopp are responsible for producing many of the most sought-after pipe tobaccos among seasoned smokers. Anyone who enjoys Robert McConnell, Rattray's, Sillem's, or Solani has benefited from the expertise and passion that K&K bring to their work. I'm a particular fan of K&K blends, especially ... Read More

Top 11 Best-Selling Burley Tobaccos

July 12, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

28 Comments

Updated for 2023. urley is, by definition, an air-cured varietal of tobacco. Unlike flue-cured leaf, Burley is more alkaline on the pH spectrum (rather than acidic), has practically zero sugar, and is naturally high in nicotine. In addition to its two most common grades, white and dark, Burley can also be smoked over ... Read More

How to Pack Flake Tobacco

July 5, 2023 by Truett Smith

7 Comments

Today we're talking about flake tobacco and specifically how to pack it properly into a pipe. We've discussed packing ribbon tobacco, but flake tobacco adds one extra step to that process. Now some — especially beginners — might wonder why exactly we should smoke flake tobacco or why we would even want ... Read More

Top 10 Best-Selling Coin Tobaccos

June 23, 2023 by John McElheny

2 Comments

Like flake tobacco, spun-cut or coin-cut mixtures were originally developed to transport tobacco efficiently, and they're among the oldest styles of pipe tobacco, dating back over 400 years. Instead of pressing tobacco leaves into blocks — or plugs — coin-cut mixtures involve tightly spinning whole leaves into a rope, ... Read More

Mystery Tobacco Review: June 2023

June 22, 2023 by Alan Britt

1 Comment

Welcome back to the Mystery Tobacco Review! We're pleased to introduce Lori Gregor of our Customer Service team, who has agreed to challenge Truett, Shane, and me with a mysterious, unidentified tobacco. Lori appreciates fine quality in her whiskeys, wines, cigars, and pipe tobaccos, so we may have something ... Read More

Top 13 Best-Selling Flake Tobaccos

June 16, 2023 by John McElheny

15 Comments

Like spun-cut or coin-cut tobaccos, flake tobacco began at sea as a means of preserving a blend's moisture content. Pressed tobacco dried out less quickly because less surface area was exposed to air, ensuring that sailors could enjoy smoking their pipes over the course of long voyages. ... Read More

Tasting Notes: Drucquer & Sons’ The Merry Monk

June 8, 2023 by Shane Ireland

1 Comment

Welcome, everyone, to another episode of Tasting Notes. Today, I'll be reviewing the most recent release from Drucquer & Sons, The Merry Monk. I was particularly interested in this blend, because it satisfies two of my preferred criteria for an English mixture: Firstly, it's a flake-cut blend, and secondly, there's a little ... Read More

Proper Pipe Tobacco Humidification

June 2, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

47 Comments

The most wonderfully flavorful tobacco I've ever hated is Dark Star by McClelland, which is no longer manufactured. It was deliciously complex, with a fruity spice flavor and a sweet, complex, multi-flavored smoke. However, I was never able to keep it lit and it frustrated me. ... Read More

Mystery Tobacco Review: May 2023

May 31, 2023 by Alan Britt

5 Comments

Welcome back to the Mystery Tobacco Review! We're pleased to introduce Mr. Davis Hooker of our Customer Service Department, who has accepted the distinguished and powerful position of Inquisitor for this month's review. Davis is known for his practical and down-to-Earth approach to projects, so he may have chosen ... Read More

Top 11 Best-Selling English Blends

April 28, 2023 by John McElheny

84 Comments

While its definition has been the source of much debate, the English family of pipe tobacco, today, typically refers to any blend that contains a significant percentage of Latakia. Unlike Burley or Virginias, Latakia is not a specific varietal or type of tobacco, per se; rather, it's a type of Oriental leaf that has undergone ... Read More