McClelland Dark Star - Pipe Tobacco

This tobacco is Virginia and Carolina leaf, dark dark black color with a touch of tan here and there, looks to be very oily. Reading the description of this, McClelland ages this tobacco for 3 years before selling, well this tobacco was gifted to me by IHT with a date of 2000. So I need to note that this probably does not taste the same as a fresh open tin.

The aroma is pungent, and hits the sinuses with a tingle. The tobacco is in flake form, it crumbles easily as I prepare it for my pipe. Normally with flake I do a little folding and packing, crumble the top to get it lit, but for this review I am rubbing out the flakes.

For me, the tobacco is a bit more difficult to light with it rubbed out, I got it going though. This burns warm for the start, the smoke is clean and light, but abundant.

First this I was presented with was a vinegar and hickory. For some reason I really did the vinegar taste, I like pickles and I like Zots candy, so what can I say? Into the bowl the taste was still sour and picking up some leather tones. The smoke was consistent throughout the bowl, light and clean with a bit of citrus in the background.

There was not a lot of complexity or flavor changes, the smoke developed a woody taste and it seemed like fermented berries were hiding in the background, kind of like a liquor touch. This tobacco burns warm, never getting too hot, the flavor was still sharp and at times a sweetness tried to emerge but was never able to come to the front of the flavor profiles.

The aftertaste is very woody, it is not overbearing on the senses. The aroma this tobacco produced is like burning berries, kind of sweet with a touch of a charred scent.

My final thoughts. I really enjoy this tobacco, I have just enough for one more bowl and then it is gone, I need to purchase a couple of tins to keep around. This tobacco burns warm, doesn't bite, the smoke is smooth and clean. I find this burns easier if the flakes are not rubbed out. I would say this is an acquired taste and I will have to make sure I always have some on hand. I cannot wait to try a fresh batch too. This is a medium Body and mild strength tobacco.

Thanks IHT!!!

Classic Vanilla - Altadis - Pipe Tobacco

On the package this tobacco is described as an “all burley blend topped with vanilla” though as I was looking for more information, I found on the Altadis website that this Classic Vanilla blend is described as “We make this blend with only the choicest Burleys, Golden Cavendishes and Virginias available”. This package I have is just over two years old, so it is possible that they have changed the blend from straight burley tobacco to now include the “Gold Cavendishes” and “Virginias”.

As I looked this bag I saw a different colored tobacco leafs, from tan to brown to black. I do question the blend described on the package as to what is on the website. The tobacco is not heavily scented with vanilla, I was a bit surprised as I would have thought the aroma would have been much stronger, as that has been my experience with vanilla flavored tobacco up to this point. This tobacco seems light weight, there is not a lot of heft to it and it is soft in texture. I carefully placed it into the bowl of my Amadeus 2nd pipe.

From the beginning this tobacco lit up easily giving off a rich amount of creamy smoke with just a touch of vanilla flavor. This is not an overly flavored tobacco and is lightly sweet. I can distinctly taste the nutty flavors of the Burley tobacco with just the slightest bit of spice.

The aroma of this blend is a mellow vanilla and caramel. The tobacco burns really well, never needing a relight during the entire bowl.

As I was nearing the last half of the bowl a caramel flavor emerge and with a touch of oatmel in both taste and aroma. This blend is soothing and easy to enjoy. There is not much in the way of complexity, the smoker can plop this into a pipe and go mow the lawn without much forethought.

The tobacco smokes cool, it was not until I was reaching the final end of the bowl that the pipe started to heat up, even then the pipe is not hot, just warm. As I puffed on I was given a woody touch in the smoke, the aroma still drifting into my nose is still just as pleasant, this picking up in vanilla aroma.

My final thoughts: This is a nice mellow vanilla blend, the body was in the mild-medium range and the strength was in the mild range. This is a nice aromatic for beginners and even experienced smokers.

Fox and Hound by Altadis - Pipe Tobacco

This blog is dedicated to reviewing tobacco smoke, as such, I have decided to also start including pipe tobacco as well. It is another little pleasure of mine, more cost effective than cigars, and is just as much fun to smoke. Also, pipe smoking is not as much of a turn off to nonsmokers as is cigars, the wonderful aroma stemming from pipes is more pleasing to a nonsmokers nose. Though it is still tobacco, I have heard many nonsmokers compare it to incense, potpourri, etc. My wife enjoys it more too.

For my first pipe tobacco review I present you with Fox and Hound by Altadis.

Distributed by Altadis USA, this 1.5 ounce bag sports a green and black label with a brass bugle in the center. On the bag, is states the mixture is Red Virginia, Turkish, Burley, Latakia, and Perique. My first thought would have to be “wow, that is a lot of different tobacco in one bag”. I am a bit excited, I like a nice five country cigar, so I have some high hopes going in to this bag.

Upon opening I notice in small print the cancer warning, I always feel a bit better seeing that, for some reason it makes me wonder if I will ever see a danger label for fluorescent light bulbs containing mercury. Before I even see the tobacco I can smell the Latakia, the hickory smoke is strong and gives off a hint of citrus. Once I look in, I see four main colors, dark brown, tan, brown, and black strips of tobacco.

There is still moisture in the tobacco, I loosely packed it into my new corn cob pipe and gave it a light, surprisingly, I did not need to tamp and light again as this tobacco was already going strong. The burn was really good, I only relight twice due to me not paying attention and spending too much time on notes and not puffing.

The aroma was wonderful, sweet and mild, it added a calmness to my surrounding area.

This tobacco started off really quickly with a lot of flavors, I could not write fast enough. There was a definite cocoa, light coffee, creamer, and sweetness right from the start. Also there was a nice mellow flavor I could not pin point. I was pleased to have put this in my pipe.

Reaching into the middle of the bowl the tobacco remained creamy and it coated the entire mouth and was really chewy. I enjoying this tobacco, the aroma before lighting is far different than the flavor, it is a nice switch-a-roo and unexpected. The flavors continued as they began, picking up a buttery taste and texture to go along with it all. Also that unknown flavor was still there boggling my mind as to what I was tasting and enjoying so much.

I was nearing the middle of the bowl when I figured out what that mystery flavor is. Too my surprise it was fresh homemade bread, the kind Mom used to make.

As I reached the final third of the smoke, I was able to notice the Perique tobacco, giving off that fruity flavor mixed with the Red Virginia tobacco, this was standing out nicely. Once almost done, I was given the slightest bit of sweet spice which I figure was coming from the Turkish tobacco inside.

My final thoughts. I am impressed, this blend is really, really good. It tricked me, I was expecting a bolder smoke, instead I was given a nice medium body and strength experience. What I enjoyed was this tobacco coats the mouth so thick that it gave me the impression I had full body flavor without all the nicotine, it seemed like more than it should be. This is just right for anyone wanting to get into an English tobacco. I would recommend this in a heartbeat. If you get a chance, do not pass this up.