I just smoked Royal Yacht for the first time and I thought I'd post my impressions--not really a review since I'm a bit new to pipe smoking and don't know all the lingo.
I was attracted to this blend because of all the polarized reviews I've seen posted online. It certainly seems to inspire a love/hate reaction in most smokers.
I'll just begin by saying I really like this blend. The tin note was a bit overpowering: a fermented, plum aroma as many reviews had predicted. The plum was subtle--not like the aromatics I've smoked. It was almost more like a wine / port scent.
The tobacco wasn't too wet, and it smoked better than any blend I've tried so far. I actually smoked the bowl to the bottom without a single relight, which is not something I have done before, and I don't even try to do that, since I don't at all mind relighting my pipe. That seems preferable to smoking it too hot. But the RY almost seemed to burn on it's own, even occasionally glowing red in the bowl when I wasn't puffing at all. (I was smoking in the dark.) So even though I don't mind relighting, that was a pleasant surprise, especially since I was smoking outside and only using matches. It was nice not to have to fight the wind.
This is the first tobacco that I've smoking that seemed really "strong" for lack of a better word. Irish Flake is a bit more robust as far as nicotine content, but surprisingly mellow as far as the taste went. Similarly, I've smoked some Latakia blends which were quite flavorful, but didn't really taste strong. The flavor itself was not overwhelming--just a nice, rich tobacco flavor with a hint of plum. That said, the smoke was a bit spicy, and had a bite to it. It was a bit more bracing exhaling the smoke through my nose, and once the smoke mad me cough a little when I accidentally inhaled it a wee bit. The plum was still quite subtle--only prominent in the retrohale and the aftertaste. I think it was this vague spiciness (I assume due to the African Virginias) that I found most satisfying about the smoke. It made this a different experience than other blends I've tried.
I think I have a decent tolerance for nicotine, but this was one of the more potent blends I've tried. I'd still say it's not quite as strong as Peterson's Irish Flake.
Anyway, this is probably moved into the place of my favorite robust blend. It's not really THAT out there, but there are many difficult-to-describe nuances to the blend that make it enjoyable to me. Even as I write this I'm noticing an interesting pleasant, nutty aftertaste.
Anyway, thanks for reading, those who did.
I still haven't smoked a pipe tobacco that I didn't like, so the pipe-smoking journey has been a pleasant one. Next up to try is Dunhill Nightcap.
I was attracted to this blend because of all the polarized reviews I've seen posted online. It certainly seems to inspire a love/hate reaction in most smokers.
I'll just begin by saying I really like this blend. The tin note was a bit overpowering: a fermented, plum aroma as many reviews had predicted. The plum was subtle--not like the aromatics I've smoked. It was almost more like a wine / port scent.
The tobacco wasn't too wet, and it smoked better than any blend I've tried so far. I actually smoked the bowl to the bottom without a single relight, which is not something I have done before, and I don't even try to do that, since I don't at all mind relighting my pipe. That seems preferable to smoking it too hot. But the RY almost seemed to burn on it's own, even occasionally glowing red in the bowl when I wasn't puffing at all. (I was smoking in the dark.) So even though I don't mind relighting, that was a pleasant surprise, especially since I was smoking outside and only using matches. It was nice not to have to fight the wind.
This is the first tobacco that I've smoking that seemed really "strong" for lack of a better word. Irish Flake is a bit more robust as far as nicotine content, but surprisingly mellow as far as the taste went. Similarly, I've smoked some Latakia blends which were quite flavorful, but didn't really taste strong. The flavor itself was not overwhelming--just a nice, rich tobacco flavor with a hint of plum. That said, the smoke was a bit spicy, and had a bite to it. It was a bit more bracing exhaling the smoke through my nose, and once the smoke mad me cough a little when I accidentally inhaled it a wee bit. The plum was still quite subtle--only prominent in the retrohale and the aftertaste. I think it was this vague spiciness (I assume due to the African Virginias) that I found most satisfying about the smoke. It made this a different experience than other blends I've tried.
I think I have a decent tolerance for nicotine, but this was one of the more potent blends I've tried. I'd still say it's not quite as strong as Peterson's Irish Flake.
Anyway, this is probably moved into the place of my favorite robust blend. It's not really THAT out there, but there are many difficult-to-describe nuances to the blend that make it enjoyable to me. Even as I write this I'm noticing an interesting pleasant, nutty aftertaste.
Anyway, thanks for reading, those who did.
I still haven't smoked a pipe tobacco that I didn't like, so the pipe-smoking journey has been a pleasant one. Next up to try is Dunhill Nightcap.
