Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Sutliff Bulk 502 Medium English

Tin Notes:
A traditional mixture of Red Virginia, Turkish, Burley, Latakia, and Perique. Medium strength and perfect introduction to English-style pipe smoking

       Strength: Medium
          Flavor: Mild
           Taste: Medium
  Room Note: Tolerable


The tin note was of the sweet grass from the Red Virginia and the smokey Latakia. The blend did require some drying time, about 30 minutes. On the charring light the flavor was of sweet and tangy grass from the Red Virginia. On the true light the spiciness of the Orientals came into play. About a quarter of the way into the bowl the peppery flavor of the Perique joined the flavor profile. As far as the Latakia very much a condiment no need to fear the intensity. As stated in the above notes "a perfect introduction to English-style pipe smoking". Medium English burned cool and well. It could easily become your all day smoke.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Holiday Tins

Once again this year Sutliff has neat gift tins available for the Halberg & Cube tobacco blends. The nice box comes pre-wrapped for the your pipe smoker. All six blends are fine tobaccos. 



Friday, October 31, 2014

Mac Baren Modern Virginia Flake


Tin Notes:
Virginia, Modern Cavendish and Burley are manufactured separately, and finally the tobaccos are gently hand blended into the final blend. The Modern Virginia Loose Cut is manufactured from Virginias out of 2 continents. Bright yellow and a darker Virginia have been used combined with a Modern Cavendish, to secure a soft and smooth smoke with a touch of Burley. This blend provides you with the natural sweetness from the Virginia tobaccos combined with just a slight topping of sweet, ripe fruit. Furthermore your surroundings will appreciate the pleasant room note.

       Strength: Medium
          Flavor: Mild
           Taste: Mild-Medium
  Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of ripe apricots. On the charring light a citrus flavor and a grassy flavor from the Bright and Darker Virginias was detected. On the true light the flavor was of apricots. About a quarter of the way through the bowl a slight nuttiness from the Burley joined the flavor profile. Also the apricot flavor did fade but was still represented. Modern Virginia Flake burned well with only any few relights. This is a great tasting Aromatic that does not overpower the tobacco's natural flavor. As far as the difference between the Loose Cut and Flake versions of this blend I believe that the fruit flavor was less prominent in the flake version.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Mac Baren Modern Virginia Loose Cut




Tin Notes:
Virginia, Modern Cavendish and Burley are manufactured separately, and finally the tobaccos are gently hand blended into the final blend. The Modern Virginia Loose Cut is manufactured from Virginias out of 2 continents. Bright yellow and a darker Virginia have been used combined with a Modern Cavendish, to secure a soft and smooth smoke with a touch of Burley. This blend provides you with the natural sweetness from the Virginia tobaccos combined with just a slight topping of sweet, ripe fruit. Furthermore your surroundings will appreciate the pleasant room note.

       Strength: Medium
          Flavor: Mild - Medium
           Taste: Mild-Medium
  Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of ripe apricots. On the charring light the flavor was of apricots. On the true light a citrus flavor and a grassy flavor from the Bright and Darker Virginias was detected. About a quarter of the way through the bowl a slight nuttiness from the Burley joined the flavor profile. Also the apricot flavor did fade a little but was still well represented. Modern Virginia Loose Cut burned well with only any few relights. This is a great tasting Aromatic that does not overpower the tobacco's natural flavor.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Sutliff 1849


Tin Notes:
Henry Sutliff opened the first of his shops back in 1849 in San Francisco on Kearny Street. This fine mixture of Sweet Virginia and Spicy Perique is in commemoration of the founding of America’s oldest pipe tobacco company.

       Strength: Mild
          Flavor: Mild
           Taste: Medium
  Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of figs or raisins. The tobacco was ready to smoke right from the tin, no drying time needed. On the charring light and the true light the a tangy citrus flavor from the Flu Cured Virginia was the predominate flavor. Shortly afterwards a sweet hay flavor from the Red Virginia was added to the flavor profile. A quarter of the way into the bowl the spice of the Perique was noticeable in the background. 1849 burned well with little dottle and no relights. I do recommend to pack Sutliff 1849 a little loose. This blend would be a good all day smoke for VaPer lovers and good anytime smoke for everyone else.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Sutliff PS Old San Francisco


Tin Notes:
The California Gold Rush quickly transformed San Francisco from a small town to a booming metropolitan center of 25,000 by December 1849. Enterprising businessmen were quick to capitalize on the newly generated wealth. It was during this economic boom when Henry Sutliff opened the first of his shops. Sutliff quality tobaccos remain among the best with this complex English Mixture comprised of Virginia, Perique, Dark Fired Burley and Latakia.

       Strength: Medium
          Flavor: Mild
           Taste: Medium
  Room Note: Tolerable

The tin note was the rich aroma of the Dark Fired Burley and Virginia. The tobacco was ready to smoke directly from the tin, no drying time was needed. On the charring light the smokey flavor of the Latakia was the predominate flavor, On the true light the coca and nutty flavor of the Dark Fired Burley became the predominate flavor and the Latakia faded to more of a condiment. A quarter of the into the bowl the sweet hay flavor of the Virginia joined the flavor profile. The spice of the Perique floated in and out of the of the flavor during the entire bowl, Old San Francisco burned cool and well. Another fine English blend from our friends at Sutliff.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Sutliff PS Lord of the Manor


Tin Notes:

The term Lord of the Manor dates backs to medieval English feudalism. In more modern terminology it is used for land registry. It is indeed quirky how terminology changes over time. A case in point, all blends made under British Tobacco Purity Laws were known as English Blends, whether or not they contained any Latakia. You can rest assured that this English Mixture has an abundance of Latakia along with Burley, Virginia, Perique and Smyrna.

       Strength: Medium
          Flavor: None detected
            Taste: Medium
  Room Note: Tolerable

The tin note was of the smokey Latakia. The tobacco was ready to smoke right out of the tin, no drying time needed. On the charring light the Latakia made its presents know. On the true light the spices of the Smyrna and Perique came into play. About a quarter of the way into the bowl a tangy citrus flavor from the Virginia joined the flavor profile along with a faint nuttiness from the Burley. Lord of the Manor burned cool and well leaving a gray ash with no dottle. Be warned this is definitely a Latakia forward blend. That being said it is a great English that I would recommend.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Sutliff PS Loire Valley

Tin Notes:

The Loire Valley has been referred to as the Garden of France primarily because of its’ temperate climate with an abundance of vineyards and fruit orchards.This Fruity Aromatic Blend is sure to please with its’ Raspberry and Mango notes applied to a Black Cavendish Base.

     Strength: Mild
        Flavor: Medium
          Taste: Medium
Room Note: Very Pleasant

The tin note is of Raspberries. It reminded me of the Raspberry jellies that I use to get at the penny candy store, The blend did not require any drying time.The charring light and the true light was the rich flavor of Raspberries. After about a third of a way through the bowl the Mango flavor started to creep into the flavor profile. Towards the last third of the bowl the Raspberry and Mango seemed to trade places as far as the dominate flavor. Lorie Valley burned cool with no bite. If you like Halberg Green then this blend is a must try.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Sutliff PS Honey & Chocolate


Tin Notes:
Some things just naturally go together, as Honey and Chocolate. This  delicious Aromatic’s strength is that it actually tastes like its’ name. Neither the Honey nor the Chocolate dominates, but each complements the other rather well. When applied to a base of Burley, Virginia and Black Cavendish, you can’t go wrong with this one.

     Strength: Mild
        Flavor: Medium
          Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note reminded me of a Tootsie roll. The moisture level of the tobacco was fine right out of the tin, no drying time need. On the charring light the flavor of chocolate was the prominent flavor. On the true light the smooth sweetness of the honey came through. About a third of the way into the bowl a slight nuttiness became noticeable. Honey & Chocolate burned cool and without bite. If you are a chocolate lover then Honey & Chocolate is a must try.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Sutliff PS Breckinridge


Tin Notes:
Roughly half the tobacco farms in the United States are in Kentucky. This superb Non-Aromatic mixture of Kentucky Plug Cut Burley is fittingly named after John Breckinridge, a planter and U.S. Attorney General under Thomas Jefferson.

     Strength: Medium
        Flavor: None
          Taste: Mild to Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was an earthy and leathery aroma from the Burley. The tobacco's moisture level was good right out of the tin. On the charring light and true light the earthy and leather flavors came to the front. About a third of the way into the bowl a nuttiness joined the flavor profile. Breckinridge burned cool and without any relights. The blend burned down to light gray ashes with no dottle. I can see Breckinridge easily becoming a all day blend.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Sutliff PS Taste of Autumn





Tin Notes:
Autumn invokes a sense of pleasure with splendid colors, brisk clean air and abundant harvests. The Rich Spicy Flavors of autumn highlight this tasty Virginia and Burley based Aromatic

     Strength: Mild
        Flavor: Medium
          Taste: Mild to Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of a warm spiced wine. The pumpkin flavor that others have mentioned did not come through for me. On the charring light the flavor was of wine. On the true light the cinnamon and nutmeg flavors came through. After a few more puffs and the nutty flavor from the Burley joined the flavor profile. About the half way point a faint sweet grassy flavor was noticeable but stayed in the background. Taste of Autumn was difficult to light but once it caught it burned well with little dottle. The aroma definitely brings up images of fall. The leaves turning colors; sitting by the fire and walks through the woods.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Sutliff PS Court of St. James


Tin Notes:
The English revere tradition perhaps more than any other nationality. But leave it to the English to put their unique twist upon things. The Court of St. James’s is determined by the residence of the monarch. This straightforward mixture of Rich Virginias and Spicy Perique Tobaccos is anything but your traditional English Blend.

       Strength: Medium
         Flavor: None detected
          Taste: Medium to Full
Room Note: Tolerable

The tin note was earthy and smokey. No additional drying was needed. I know that Latakia is not listed as one of the tobaccos in the blend but it is in there, but not enough for it to be called a Latakia forward blend. On the charring light and true light the smokiness of the Latakia was prominent. After a several more puffs the peppery spices of the Perique kicked in. About a quarter of the way into the bowl the sweat grassy flavor of the Virginias came to the front. The flavor of Latakia move to more of a condiment as the bowl went on. Court of St. James burned well without any relights or bite. It is a great English blend that is well worth trying.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Sutliff PS Taste of Spring



Tin Notes:
It is near magic when the first warm days of spring bring to life winter’s hibernating buds. The bleak harshness of a seemingly endless winter has been replaced with a revival of life. This Aromatic Mixture of Sweet Fragrant Virginia and Burley is perfect for celebrating the arrival of spring.


      Strength: Mild
         Flavor: Mild
          Taste: Mild to Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of honey and the aroma of the Burley. The tobacco's moisture was fine right out of the tin, no drying was needed. On the charring light the flavor was of the honey. On the true light a mild nuttiness was added by the Burley. At a quarter of the way through the bowl a light sweet grassy flavor was added into the flavor profile by the Virginias. Taste of Spring burned cool with no relights or bite. This blend may very well by your next all day smoke.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Sutliff PS Mountain Pass


Tin Notes
In the higher altitudes the Alps retain a strong cultural identity with agriculture and culinary delights still being vital to the economy. Mountain passes have long been the route to move commerce. This delicious Black Cavendish with a delightful custardy top note is a taste of the Alpine at its finest.

     Strength: Mild to Medium
        Flavor: Medium
         Taste: Medium
Room Note: Very Pleasant

The tin note was of a rich egg custard. It reminded me of a desert my mother use to make during the holidays. On the charring light and true light the custard flavor was right there not overpowering, but flavorful. The Black and Golden Cavendish added sweetness to the flavor profile. Mountain Pass had several relights; it may have needed a little bit more drying time. Once lit it burned cool and well without any bite. I recommend giving Mountain Pass a try and you not will be disappointed.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Sutliff PS Archduke Ferdinand


Tin Notes:
This intricate aromatic is a mixture of seven distinct Vanilla sub-blends. It is a cornucopia of leaf in a variety of cuts ranging from Burley and Virginia to Black Cavendish. In that regard it is much like tracing the lineage of royalty.The name fits this blend rather well.

     Strength: Mild
        Flavor: Medium
          Taste: Mild
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of  vanilla. On the charring light the flavor was of vanilla. The vanilla flavor was not overpowering, but smooth and delicious. On the true light a mild nuttiness from the Burley was added to the vanilla. A third of the way into the bowl the citrus and sweet grass flavors were added to the profile from the Virginias. The Archduke Ferdinand blend did not bite at all. It burned cool and well leaving no dottle. I would recommend giving this blend a try and it could become your everyday smoke.


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Sutliff PS Kasimir


Tin Notes:
Kasimir denotes status as several Polish kings and prominent military leaders have borne the name. This extraordinary English Mixture of  Smoky Latakia, Rich Orientals, Golden Virginias and Burley could not be more aptly named.

     Strength: Medium
        Flavor: Mild
          Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of the smoky Latakia. The blend's moisture was good to go right from the tin. On the charring light the smokiness of Latakia was right there. On the true light the spiciness of the Orientals joined in. About a third of the way into the bowl the sweet hay flavor of the Virginias was apparent, and a short time after that the faint nuttiness of Burley jumped in to the mix. Kasimir burned cool and all the way to the bottom of the bowl leaving only light gray ashes. The Latakia in Kasimir in not over powering but is noticeable. This may replace Blend No. 5 as my favorite English. 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Sutliff PS County Cork


Tin Notes:
The majority of all Irish Whisky produced in Ireland today comes from County Cork. What better way to pay tribute to this superb Whisky blend of Virginia and Burley than to call it County Cork.

     Strength: Mild to Medium
        Flavor: Medium
          Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of the Irish Whisky. The blend was a little moist directly from the tin. So a little drying time was necessary. On the charring light and the true light the flavor and aroma was of the Irish Whisky. About a quarter of the way into the bowl the sweetness of the Virginia and a slight nuttiness from the Burley was added to the flavor profile. Three quarters of the way through the bowl the Irish Whisky flavor started to fade leaving just the tobacco flavor. County Cork burned well with only a few relights.


Monday, May 5, 2014

Mac Baren HH Latakia Flake


Tin Notes:
This is a hot pressed flake tobacco, meaning that during the pressing steam is added to mature the tobacco further and to ensure a mellow smoking experience. A blend of bright Virginias, spicy Orient, a bit of burley, and a fair amount of Cyprus Latakia is the foundation of HH Latakia Flake. The taste is complex with the smokey taste from Latakia in the front seat, the subtle sweetness from the Virginias working in the back, and the mellow spiciness from the Orientals popping up from time to time creating an intimate interplay where all tobaccos play there role in this unique smoking experience. A mellow yet satisfying tobacco,with a lot of nice smoky aroma. HH Latakia Flake has very little casing and no top flavor at all. The only taste you experience is the natural taste from the tobaccos used.

     Strength: Medium
        Flavor: None detected
         Taste: Full
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of the smoky Latakia. I have been anxiously waiting the release of this blend since Per Jensen talked about it on Pipesmagazine.com Radio Show. This is definitely a Latakia forward blend, but that is not a necessarily bad thing. On the charring light and the true light the smokiness of the Latakia was right there. A little further down the bowl the spiciness of the Orientals joined with the smokiness of the Latakia. Next the sweet grass of the Virginians joined in.  HH Latakia Flake smoked down to a fine gray ash with no dottle. It stayed lit with out any re-lights. This flake is all that I had hoped for and I will be stocking up my cellar. I would highly recommend HH Latakia Flake any pipe smoke that truly enjoys both flakes and Latakia.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Smoker Black Noble



Tin Notes:
This is the very definition of the American/English blend. Two rich and full-bodied types of Burley are combined with a light amount of Latakia and a hint of sweet matured Virginia to create a mixture that has a luscious mouth-feel and produces thick clouds of fragrant smoke. Black Noble delivers the experience of a rich cigar with the flavor of real pipe tobacco.

     Strength: Mild to Medium
        Flavor: None detected
         Taste: Mild to Medium
 Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was the sweet hay from the Virginias with a light smokiness from the Latakia. On the charring light and true light there was a mild nuttiness along with a faint smokiness. About a quarter the way down the bowl a sweet hay flavor joined in. The smokiness of Latakia was very faint, more of a condiment to add flavor to the overall blend. Black Noble burned cool and with few re-lights. I would recommend Black Noble to anyone looking to experiment with Latakia as well as American/English blend smokers.


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Hearth & Home Signature Mt. Marcy

Tin Notes:
This elegant blend gets its name from the highest peak in New York. This medium-bodied Balkan blend has a complex, delicate flavor and aroma. A great choice when you want the richness of Latakia and the bouquet of Turkish tobaccos, but don’t want anything too heavy.

     Strength: Medium
        Flavor: None detected
         Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant  to Tolerable

The tin note was of smokey Latakia and the sweet hay from the Virginias. On the charring light the smokiness of the Latakia was the predominate flavor. On the true light the sweet hay flavor of the Virginias was added to the flavor profile. The spiciness of the Turkish tobaccos would wander in and out of the flavor mix. Mt. Marcy burned cool and well with minimal re-lights. I would not say that this blend is Latakia forward, but Latakia is one of the main flavors in the blend. I recommend giving the blend a try.


Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Mac Baren HH Acadian Perique

Tin Notes:
This blend is the third of the HH tobacco family. The first two, HH Vintage Syrian and HH Mature Virginia, have been well accepted by pipe smokers worldwide. The characteristics of the first two have been toward a more natural tobacco taste where you really experience the tobacco blend. And this is also the case with the third HH blend – the HH Acadian Perique. What also was of a concern to us was that the final blend should have no tongue bite along with a big natural tobacco taste. When we first started creating the HH Acadian Perique it quickly turned out to be a very complex blend. With each testing we ended up wanting more taste nuances. The final blend includes Virginias, Burley’s, Original Cavendish, Dark Fired Kentucky, Orientals and of course Acadian Perique. All of these tobaccos marry in the most fantastic way. When smoking the HH Acadian Perique you will notice the sweetness of the Virginia tobaccos, the mild spice of the Orientals and the slightly tart, with an undertone of spice and fruit of the Perique. We did not want a blend where the taste of the Perique was overpowering the taste nuances of the other tobaccos. The solution was to use the Acadian Perique, which is lighter and smoother version of this unique tobacco. By using the Acadian Perique we achieved a balance so all of the tobaccos could participate with their own natural taste and together marry into this rare blend. After creating the blend, it was a simple decision that this symphony of high quality tobaccos should not be overpowered by any top flavor. This is also true of the first two HH tobaccos. The HH Arcadian Perique has no top flavor at all. We leave you with a blend where you indeed taste the natural tobaccos, but don’t be fooled … it seems to be a mild smoke but it is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You will experience a rich and flavorful smoke that is very satisfying. And it smokes to the bottom leaving only grey ashes.

     Strength: Medium
        Flavor: None Detected
         Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant to Tolerable

The tin note was fruity possibly figs or plums. On the charring light the sweetness of the Virginia came through. On the true light the smokiness of the Dark Fired Kentucky was present. After a few more puffs there was a rush of flavors coming forward. The tart and spiciness of the Perique, a slight nuttiness from the Burley, a sweetness from the Cavendish, and more spiciness from the Orientals. All these flavors merged into an amazing conglomeration of flavor. Acadian Perique burned to a fine gray ash without dottle. It also burned cool without relights. The Perique does not overpower any of the other tobaccos like you might think due to the name. I would recommend this blend to anyone.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Smoker Civil War


Tin Notes:
This is a distinctive and easy smoking aromatic blend with truly remarkable flavor and aroma. Civil War is a mixture of Cavendish cut light tobaccos and a steamed black Cavendish with hints of warm, smooth vanilla, a sweet nuttiness and a rich mix of flavors that not only satisfy the smoker, but leaves an amazing room note.

     Strength: Mild to Medium
        Flavor: Mild to Medium
         Taste: Medium
 Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of maple with a hint of vanilla. The blend was moist in the tin and needed a little drying time. On the charring light the predominate flavor was of sweet maple. On the true light the vanilla from the Cavendish became noticeable. A quarter of the way into the bowl a faint nuttiness joined the flavor profile. Civil War burned cool and with few relights. I would recommend this blend to Aromatic smokers.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Sutliff - Edward G. Robinson

Tin Notes:
A mild aromatic with a light Burley nuttiness and flavored Black Cavendish taste. Fruity plum notes are given a slight flavor push from a hint of Latakia, and a very pleasing top note of liquor.

    Strength: Mild to Medium
       Flavor: Mild to Medium
        Taste: Mild to Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of plums and the smokiness from the Latakia. On the charring light the wine was the primary flavor. On the true light the mild nuttiness of the Burley was also evident. The plum flavor and the sweetness form the Cavendish was added shortly after the true light. About a quarter of the way into the bowl the Latakia flavor came into the background. Edward G. Robinson burned to a light gray ash at the bottom of the bowl without dottle. E.G.R. also burned cool and with out relights. I would recommend this blend to both Aromatic and Non-Aromatic smokers. The Latakia is well in the background so it should not be an issue to most pipers. I will be stocking this in my cellar.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Dutch Masters Whiskey

Pouch Notes:
The superb and exotic blend of smooth Burley, tangy Virginias, and exotic Oriental tobaccos forms the base for our premier Dutch Masters pipe tobacco line. Uniquely blended with genuine Kentucky Bourbon..

    Strength: Mild
       Flavor: Medium
        Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The pouch note was of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. On the charring light the flavor was of the Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. On the true light the flavor from the tangy Virginias was added to the flavor profile. As I smoked further down in the bowl a faint nuttiness started to come through from the Burley. Dutch Masters Whiskey burned well with no relights. There was no tongue bite. This is one of the better Over the Counter blends that I have smoked and would recommend it to anyone.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Hearth & Home Signature Marble Kake

Tin Notes:
We have wanted to produce our own Virginia-based flake or Krumble Kake, and the result is Marble Kake. A firmly-pressed blend of Bright and Red Virginias, it comes as a solid piece which can be broken or sliced and rubbed-out, and the flavor changes depending upon how you prepare it. One of our knowledgeable Virginia fans has compared it to Hamborger Veermaster as a smooth, but tasty Virginia blend.

     Strength: Medium
        Flavor: Mild
         Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was a combination of natural tobaccos. The red Virginia and golden Virginia aromas meld together into a wonderful scent. When I first opened tin the moisture level was fine. So I loaded up a bowl and went to town. There was an extreme tartness bordering on bitterness. So jarred it up and let it sit for a week. This made a tremendous difference. The jar note was now of a more mature Virginia. I know that a week is not that much time, but it did make a big difference. On the charring light and the true light there was now mild tangy citrus flavor. about a quarter of the way into the bowl a sweet grassy flavor was added to the profile. Marble Kake burned well with no re-lights. I recommend Marble Kake with the caveat on letting it rest in a mason jar for a little while.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Mac Baren Golden Extra



Tin Notes:
American pipe smokers will find this blend under the name of Golden Extra. The blend is 100% identical to Golden Blend it is just the name that is different in the USA. Since Golden Blend was introduced back in 1952 it has gained many, many fans all over the world – rightly so. The special selected brown Burley tobaccos, mixed with just a touch of golden Virginia, are carefully pressed and stored. The large slices are cut and partly rubbed up, which makes this blend easy to fill into your pipe. This slowly burning blend is very satisfying and you will enjoy the slight note of chocolate – a note that all good Burley tobacco produces naturally.

     Strength: Mild - Medium
        Flavor: Mild
         Taste: Mild - Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was a combination of natural tobaccos. The brown Burley and golden Virginia aromas meld together into a wonderful scent. On the charring light and the true light there was a mild nuttiness from the Burley.  About a quarter of the way into the bowl the sweetness from the Virginia made its presence known. During the bowl a faint hint of chocolate wandered in and out of the flavor profile. Golden Extra burned to a dark gray ash with a little dottle at the bottom if the bowl. It stayed lit with no re-lights. This is a good smoking Burley blend and I would recommend Golden Extra. 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Dutch Masters Cherry

Pouch Notes:
Not unlike a masterpiece painted by Van Eyck or Rembrandt, this blend is distinctive. Toasted Black Cavendish forms the base for this blend with Bright Cavendish and Virginia added. A subtle Cherry flavor is applied for sweetness.

     Strength: Mild
        Flavor: Medium
          Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The pouch note was of cherry, but is not overpowering like some blends. The tobacco seemed a little moist out of the pouch and required about 15 minutes drying time. On the charring light and true light there was a mild cherry flavor. The tobacco took several tries to get going, but once it was lit it stayed lit and burned well. There was no tongue bite. The flavor of the Virginia and Cavendish was not buried under the cherry flavor or any chemical taste either. I would recommend this blend to both Aromatic and Non-Aromatic smokers.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Mac Barren Symphony

Tin Notes:
It is a very harmonious “Ready rubbed” tobacco dominated by the selected Burley tobaccos, with a minor part of Virginia and the original Mac Baren Cavendish. In this blend the tobaccos are adjusted to bring out the slight natural sweetness, plus the tender note of chocolate – which is found in all excellent Burley tobaccos.

     Strength: Mild to Medium
        Flavor: Mild
          Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was the aroma of the sweet hay from the Virginias. The charring light brought the nuttiness of the Burley to the front. The true light still had the nuttiness in the fore front, but the sweetness of Black Cavendish joined in. A little way into the bowl the Virginia's sweet hay flavor was added. I did not get any hint chocolate. Symphony burned well with little re-lights, and  smoked all the way to the bottom of the bowl with little to no dottle. This would be a great all day smoke.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Hearth & Home Signature LJ Heart Virginia

Tin Notes:
LJ Heart Virginia is a perfect introduction  to Virginia/Perique blends, or as an everyday smoke for those who want a cooler-smoking, lighter Va/Per. The larger cut of the bright Virginias burn slowly, to make this lightly-sweet mixture easy on the tongue.

     Strength: Mild to Medium
        Flavor: None detected
          Taste: Mild to Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was of almost a barbecue sauce aroma from the aging Virginias. The charring light and the true light had the flavor of sweet hay and citrus. After a quarter of  the bowl the tart and spicy flavor of the Perique came through in the background. These flavors combined into a amalgamation of delicious flavor. LJ Heart Virginia burned well with few re-lights. It left little dottle at the bottom of the bowl. This tobacco should be sipped slowly. LJ Heart Virginia would make a good all day smoke.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

The Smoker Pine Hills

Tin Notes:
If you want a comfortable blend that you can smoke all the time, then Pine Hills fits the bill. Slow burning, nutty, cube cut Burley is combined with an earthier darker Burley for body, then a sweet, fragrant black Cavendish is added. The result is a super-cool, lightly sweet blend that’s easy on the tongue and will please everyone in the room.

     Strength: Mild
        Flavor: None
          Taste: Mild
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was the aroma of the Burley. Sometimes I just love a blend that just has the smell of the natural tobaccos. The charring light brought the nuttiness of the Burley to the front. The true light still had the nuttiness in the fore front, but the sweetness of Black Cavendish joined in. The room note was pleasant. This would be a great all day smoke. Pine Hills burns cool, and well. I no re-lights during the bowl. No tongue bite at all and it smoked all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Sutliff PS Westminster

Tin Notes:
Perfect for fans of London Mixture.
Could anything be more English than Westminster? Reach the pinnacle of English Blends with this skillfully blended mixture of Latakia, Virginia, and Turkish.

     Strength: Mild to Medium
        Flavor: None detected
          Taste: Medium
Room Note: Pleasant

The tin note was earthy and smoky. Right from the charring light the Latakia made it's presence known. The rich smoky flavor came right to the fore-front. During the first third of the bowl the Orientals joined the party as well as the Virginia adding it's sweet hay flavor to the mix. The tobacco burned well and stayed lit without re-lights. I highly recommend this blend to any who is looking to start experimenting with English blends with Latakia. The flavors are well balanced.