This is Brebbia tobacco in a tin, Calvados Mixture 110, an Italian brand tobacco blended in
Germany, named after a French apple brandy, Calvados, that is made in the Normandy
region of France. I aged my tin two years; it opened with the loud pssst that indicated the
vacuum seal had remained tight. The tin contains a plastic liner bag and a cardboard circle
to help seal it closed. As with many aromatics, the freshly opened tin had a perfume scent
of the brandy flavoring but also a strong fragrance of the Virginia tobaccos, pleasant all
around, but a bit too aromatic at first. The tobacco pieces are fairly large and vary somewhat
in size, and are surprisingly dry, not bone dry, but not moist feeling, just a hint. My first bowl
was in a Ser Jacopo bent blast Dublin. Since this was my first smoke with a just-opened tin,
I packed it somewhat tight and did several relights. The flavor was interesting but brandy
forward, and I looked forward to seeing what the blend would be like given some hours to
vent the flavoring, though of course I didn't leave the tin open. My second bowl was in a
Missouri Meerschaum unfiltered diplomat (with a Forever stem) and burnt more evenly and
completely than the first bowl where there was some dottle at the bottom. My third bowl was
in a Tinder Box bent pot, more loosely packed. With this bowl, I felt the tobacco hit its stride,
allowing the blend of Virginia tobaccos full play, with the brandy becoming more quiet and
providing just the nicest edge to emphasize the various hay and floral tones of the tobaccos
coming through. This is what the blender was after, and it is nicely executed. Any fan of
Virginia tobacco will certainly savor this blend, either as a holiday treat (with the apple brandy
zing) or as a regular rotation, maybe to heighten the Perique blends when they come back
around. Not every retailer carries Brebbia Calvados Mixture No. 110. I found it at Cup O Joes
under tinned tobacco. Especially for fans of Virginia tobaccos, this blend is worth seeking out.
Germany, named after a French apple brandy, Calvados, that is made in the Normandy
region of France. I aged my tin two years; it opened with the loud pssst that indicated the
vacuum seal had remained tight. The tin contains a plastic liner bag and a cardboard circle
to help seal it closed. As with many aromatics, the freshly opened tin had a perfume scent
of the brandy flavoring but also a strong fragrance of the Virginia tobaccos, pleasant all
around, but a bit too aromatic at first. The tobacco pieces are fairly large and vary somewhat
in size, and are surprisingly dry, not bone dry, but not moist feeling, just a hint. My first bowl
was in a Ser Jacopo bent blast Dublin. Since this was my first smoke with a just-opened tin,
I packed it somewhat tight and did several relights. The flavor was interesting but brandy
forward, and I looked forward to seeing what the blend would be like given some hours to
vent the flavoring, though of course I didn't leave the tin open. My second bowl was in a
Missouri Meerschaum unfiltered diplomat (with a Forever stem) and burnt more evenly and
completely than the first bowl where there was some dottle at the bottom. My third bowl was
in a Tinder Box bent pot, more loosely packed. With this bowl, I felt the tobacco hit its stride,
allowing the blend of Virginia tobaccos full play, with the brandy becoming more quiet and
providing just the nicest edge to emphasize the various hay and floral tones of the tobaccos
coming through. This is what the blender was after, and it is nicely executed. Any fan of
Virginia tobacco will certainly savor this blend, either as a holiday treat (with the apple brandy
zing) or as a regular rotation, maybe to heighten the Perique blends when they come back
around. Not every retailer carries Brebbia Calvados Mixture No. 110. I found it at Cup O Joes
under tinned tobacco. Especially for fans of Virginia tobaccos, this blend is worth seeking out.