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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sutliff PS Cabaret Rouge

Tin Notes:
This fine blend of Virginia and Black Cavendish offers a new direction with its complexity, aroma and sweetness

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

The tin note was of sweet figs. On the charring light the predominate flavor was of figs. On the true light the sweetness from the Virginias was added to the taste. After the first half of the bowl the flavoring faded out and the natural taste of the tobacco remained.  Cabaret Rouge burned cool and well without any relights. It burned to the bottom of the bowl with a little dottle left.