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Tasting Notes: Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Morning Blend
Welcome to another episode of Tasting Notes. A few weeks ago, I promised to work my way through the latest three additions to the Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation line of pipe tobaccos, all of which are available in bulk: Morning Blend, Afternoon Melange, and Evening Flake. I've been smoking each of these mixtures quite a lot recently, but specifically during their recommended times of day just to see how well-suited they are at their intended purposes. Of course, you can smoke whichever blend you want, at whatever time of the day, but I was really curious to see how these blends performed during those specific spots in my rotation. So without further ado, let's get into the first of these mixtures: Morning Blend.
Components and Tin Note:
Morning Blend is a nice mixture of a little bit of Black Cavendish, Burley, and Virginia. Just looking at the blend, it's mostly bright leaf; I don't think there's a ton of darker Virginias, and the Burley seems to be mostly White Burley, although there's probably a little Dark as well. So it's uniformly a light chestnut in color with bright highlights. The tin note is excellent; it has a very familiar sort of boozy and vanilla-like aroma. As advertised, there is a little bit of bourbon flavoring here, but the description also mentions other sweet flavorings, though the specifics are not disclosed. That said, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that there's a touch of vanilla. It's also got a slight nuttiness to it, something that reminds me slightly of hazelnut coffee creamer in a really good way.
The moisture content is absolutely perfect right out of the tin, and it's just a beautiful cut. Overall, I've found Morning Blend to behave really well in the pipe; it's really easy to load and stays lit quite well. For those reasons, I believe that it would make for an excellent crossover mixture, especially for folks who perhaps don't smoke aromatics regularly. It doesn't require a lot of attention or focus to keep the burn consistent and keep it burning cool.
Flavor and Room Note:
While there is a lot of volume to the smoke, it's not very heavy on the palate — it's a milder smoking experience, both in terms of flavor and strength. That said, the touch of Cavendish and Burley does give it a nice body. I do feel like I'm smoking tobacco. And if you know my preferences, you know that I'm typically a Virginia and Virginia/Perique smoker, with the occasional Latakia mixture in there. I do like my smoke to have enough of an oomph that I don't feel like I need to light up again right away at the end of the bowl. That's not strictly a matter of nicotine strength; it's about the body and the overall experience too.
Overall, as advertised, this is an excellent first bowl of the day. I've paired it alongside a black tea many times now, and it's terrific. I have not paired it with a coffee just yet, but it would be fantastic alongside coffee. The aromatic quality of this tobacco is so subtle that I might not even consider it a traditional aromatic, or at least not in the American sense. There's just a light touch to the fragrance that supports and elevates a background of true tobacco flavors. It's more of a Virginia/Burley, with a little bit of added sweetness. You have the grassy notes, a little bit of that hay and bread-like quality. There's also a slight nuttiness and earthiness from the Burleys as well. It's an enjoyable, no nonsense, lightly flavored aromatic. The room note is exceptional, too. In mixed company or in the house, this is going to go over really well.
Similar Blends and Aging Potential:
Though mild on all fronts, Morning Blend is still robust and complex enough to satisfy those who smoke heavier blends throughout the day. If you're a fan of Peter Stokkebye's Nougat or Luxury Twist Flake, Mac Baren's Scottish Mixture or Navy Flake, or even something like Carter Hall, this is going to be a tobacco that will definitely appeal to you. Likewise, if you're primarily a Virginia smoker but are looking to switch things up, this is one to consider too; it offers enough intrigue, enough complexity, and enough body to keep your attention — and it smells really pleasant. It's a distinctive and pleasant smell that's universally loved by smokers and non-smokers alike. It's just a really pleasant olfactory experience in addition to the great flavors.
I've smoked Morning Blend in a variety of chamber sizes. It performs equally well across chamber sizes and packing methods. I really appreciate the thought that went into developing these three blends, because they are designed to just be enjoyable across the board, no matter your preferences. The suggestion of which order in the day you should smoke these three blends is just spot on. Overall, I think that Erik Stokkebye's 4th Generation Morning Blend is going to stay with me. I can see myself cellaring away a handful of jars just to have on hand. The aromatic qualities of this blend are subtle enough that I think this blend will age quite well. I expect, with just a couple of years under its belt, Morning Blend will still be sweet with a pleasant bouquet, but it also might take on a bit more complexity, a bit more depth of flavor from those Virginias and Burleys.
Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Morning Blend
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Comments
I'd certainly be enjoying Morning Blend if it weren't for unlawful regulations. Great review, Shane.