4 Noggins Sample Packs

[werdna]

Since you guys have sampled some of these tobaccos, what are your opinions on them?

I've followed your thread with interest, and you've done well so far. I would like to see how your tastes change over time, and how you reevaluate these blend in time. I find it difficult, for me, to determine a blend's nuance in less than a full tin. Maybe because I'm still learning myself.
Your opinion on Prairie Wind is good, but you failed to mention anything about it containing Perique, which, for me, is the star of the blend. I've been smoking it for awhile and the spicy, fruity flavor has won my heart. While not very strongly flavored, it hits a satisfying note for certain moods. I'm cellaring it by the pound and hope to try it as the flavors mature.
I've recently bought 4noggins Weybridge, a Bur/Va/Per blend. I don't think it's in the sample packs, but I'd recommend you give that one a try, if you're curious about Perique. It's more flavorful than Prairie Wind, and might suit your taste better. I've been pondering doing a review on it too.
Keep up the good work, and enjoy yourself.

 

[canadianbacon]

Weybridge is indeed in my lineup but it is located in spot 13 of 15, so it will be a few days before I get to it.
I didn't mention perique, simply because I don't know what it is. I don't know what any of this is really. Since you have told me about this, I can be more cognizant of it in the future. I would appreciate more of this so I know what to look for. That being said, I don't want the smoking to be a chore either. I don't want to be sitting there with a pipe, trying to pull apart it composition. For me, it takes away from the relaxation of the pipe. Maybe as I mature and slow down in life, that may change.
In any case, I would agree that it's hard to get a good grasp on a blend on it first run. I will keep this thread alive as long as there is still interest in it. This will allow the tobacco to age, as well as my knowledge to increase, and perhaps my taste buds to mature. Perhaps there will be more pipes in my collection in the future and that may change my opinion as well.

 

[canadianbacon]

Chippman Hill English
This was was quite enjoyable. This blend seemed like it was born to be packed in a bowl, that's how nicely it packed. It smoked well too, smoking dry, and to the bottom, however a little hot, but not bad.
It has the typical flavours and aromas I've come to learn of the English blends being moderate to strong in both regards.
4noggins index:
Strength: Medium

Flavoring: None Detected

Taste: Medium

Room Note: Pleasant to Tolerable
I agree with this index.
If you are a fan of English blends, I would give this one a try.

 

[05venturer]

+1 0n Chipman Hill, I enjoyed the sample Rich sent me awhile back and will be ordering more.

 

[canadianbacon]

Lord Methley's Aro
This one had a nice aroma and flavour, however it was a bit of a chore to keep this one lit. Maybe not the blend for a novice as it required just the rite rhythm. I ended up smoking this one too hard to keep it lit which altered the flavour can caused some bite. It didn't help that I'm smoking this out of a basket pipe, and perhaps it would smoke better in a higher quality pipe. I'm sure more advanced users of aromatics would enjoy this.
4noggins index

Strength: Mild

Flavoring: Medium

Taste: Mild

Room Note: Very Pleasant
I would agree here, but wouldn't put the room not as "very pleasant" but it was good.

 

[canadianbacon]

Alamosa Virg.
I can see why this one is currently sold out.
Alamosa is a broken flake, and as such, I am still having troubles packing this just rite, which I'm sure has effected the smokability of this which I have taken into account. It took me a bit to get this one going, but despite laying the flame down into my bowl, the tobacco remain cool and pleasant. The room note was nice, and flavouring was mild. I had to relight a few times, but surely, my lack of packing skills was to blame.
4noggins index

Strength: Mild to Medium

Flavoring: None

Taste: Mild to Medium

Room Note:Pleasant to Tolerable
I would agree here wholeheartedly. I'm putting this one in my top 3 so far. Let's see what the last 5 tobaccos have to offer.
On a side note, I have noticed that there are 15 other blends from 4noggins. I emailed Rich to see if he would send me another shipment of 15 samples, of 1 ounce each. I will upadate you with his reply. That may constitute a 4noggins round 2.

 

[brdavidson]

I'm currently smoking a small sample of Killington that I got out of the Canadian Box pass and I have to say it may be my favourite aromatic tobacco I've tried. Smoked slow it has a creamy smoke that is full of flavour and not overwhelming by any means. I had some at lunch at work today and even the cigarette smokers all commented on how great this stuff smells.
Anyways, I'm impressed with your reviews for a new pipe smoker, I wouldn't have even tried (and still likely wouldn't) as my palatte is just not very refined beyond like and don't like. Keep up the good work!

 

[canadianbacon]

Is El Rincon blended by Rich. It is under it's own section. May be another one to try down the road.
A couple of you have mentioned Weybridge now. I am looking forward to trying this. It should be up to try in the next day or so. I must remain patient.
Thank you for your continuing input.

 

[canadianbacon]

That is a pretty accurate assumption then. I just got in from work, so It's shower and smoke time. A new review should be up soon.

 

[canadianbacon]

Jesse's Own Eng
This one is a full bodied english. A little too strong for my liking in both taste and aroma, however this doesn't make it bad. The tobacco was moist which caused it to require a few relights, but also gave it a nice deep smoke. It could probably use some time on the drying table.
My wife typically doesn't enjoy the smell of the English, however she didn't mind this one
4noggins index:
Strength: Medium

Flavoring: None Detected

Taste: Medium to Full

Room Note: Pleasant
Once again, the index is accurate. Jesse's Own may have the potential to be a favourite for full bodied English fans. Next time around, I'm going to let this one dry out for an hour to see if it tones it down a notch.

 

[canadianbacon]

Double Fantasy (Aro)
This one smelled good right out of the jar. It packed nice, and smoked well from the beginning, letting off a nice aroma. Definitely a more sweeter taste than all previous. It needed little work to keep it lit, and smoked well to the end of the bowl. I noticed it had similar notes to Captain Black, and after reading the description, I noticed it contained black cavendish. I must enjoy Black cavendish because I enjoy both this Double Fantasy blend as well as Captain Black.
4noggins index
Strength: Mild

Flavoring: Mild to Medium

Taste: Full

Room Note: Very Pleasant
I don't know if I would put taste at full, but it was definitely there and enjoyable. I would recommend this one to people who enjoy Captain Black white, but want something a little more balanced. One of my favourite blends thus far.

 

[canadianbacon]

Weybridge (Virginia)
Honestly, I was expecting a bit since a couple of you recommended it. It packed well, and had A nice room note, but it didn't deliver on the palate. This is, however, a nice relaxing smoke.
As I edge closer to the end of my first run through of these tobaccos, I have come to realize that maybe my rookie palate prefers the flavours of the black cavendish.
4noggins index
Strength: Mild to Medium

Flavoring:Very Mild

Taste: Medium

Room Note: Pleasant
I agree here except for the taste. I found it very mild. I'll try this one in my Nordig next time. Perhaps a better constructed pipe will allow it to smoke cooler and allow the flavours to come out. My cob pipe did get hot to the touch, however the smoke remained cool.

 

[werdna]

A nice room note, but it didn't deliver on the palate

Wow, if you're looking for something stronger flavored than Weybridge, I don't know what to say. It is most definitely a burley forward blend, with a good nutty flavor. As Roth said, the sweet VA and fruity Perique in the background, knocked my socks off and added dimension and interest. As the bowl progressed the VA became more evident, and finished with a mellowed spiciness of Perique.
Perhaps aging is the answer for you, but for me it's very good at a young stage. Proof that we all have slightly different tastes.

 

[canadianbacon]

There is a lot of passion with the weybridge. I will do two things here. In the next little while, I will try the weybridge in a different pipe to see if anything happens. I will also cellar it a few months amd reasses then. I I definitely have enough for a couple more bowls.
On another note, I mentioned previously that I seem to like black cavendish. After a bit of reading, I discovered that this is a process rather than a type of tobacco. It is able to absorb flavours easily and allows a mild smoke. So it is possible then that I like the mildness and the added falvour the cavendish presents?
In any case, I will have to reasses my findings. After all, these are all preliminary results.
Thank you for the continual input.

 

[mortonbriar]

Its refreshing to read straight honest reviews, thanks!

 

[murf]

I wish I was this methodical when starting out! Of course, I wish I had found this site before starting out too.
Great job, so far, bacon! I found this because I saw that you received Jesse's Own. I got a sample of it with my order from 4noggins. Had my first bowl of it tonight, playing with my son in the yard.
I'd have to say that I got a slightly sweet and smokey flavor from it, both while smoking and from the pouch (pouch note). From this, I can understand why your wife liked the room note. I enjoyed this smoke very much. It's sweeter and more mellow than the other Lat blends I've smoked recently. Just my opinion, but I'll have to try it some more, maybe order a few oz of it before I make my final decision

 

[canadianbacon]

Harvest Moon (Eng)
Fresh Baked Bread. Call me crazy, but that's what I was reminded of when I lit this one up. Maybe it was something else, but whatever it was, it was nice. Well, after the harsh initial smoke the rose upon lighting this. So it started harsh, settled down into a nice full bodied english and mellowed out as it smoked to the bottom of the bowl, requiring only one re-light.
So what can I say? I enjoyed this English blend. Perhaps I just have to be in an English mood. I cam home from work, packed my pipe and took the dogs out for a walk, so perhaps, I need to be in an active state rather than a passive state while enjoying an english. I will test this theory further.
4noggins Index
Strength: Medium

Flavoring: None Detected

Taste: Medium to Full

Room Note: Pleasant to Tolerable
I agree here. It says no flavouring, so it must just be quality tobacco in here pleasing my palate. I'm willing to bet this will go well with an early morning black coffee. I will test this theory as well.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. Strong, yet pleasant. I'm definitely coming back to this one.
And as always, thank you for the positive comments and insights. It is helping me move along my testing at a faster pace than anticipated. I may just as well pack my 15th and final bowl tonight to wind up my preliminary testing.

 

[canadianbacon]

Here she be. The Last one.
Covered Bridges (Aro)
This one had an almost fruity note to it. As for the flavour, I am looking for the proper words to describe it. It is sort of active. It is there on the tongue, but not intrusively so. Overall, the blend has a bit more character to it. To summarize, I would say light and fruity. Smoked well despite being a bit moist. As a result of puffing easier, it had a lighter, drier smoke as compared to other aromatics. Not a bad all rounder.
4noggins Index
Strength: Mild to Medium

Flavoring: Medium

Taste: Mild to Medium

Room Note: Pleasant
Can't contest here. A nice easy smoke to round up the lot
So that is all 15 of the sample packs. Rich still hasn't replied to me to see if he would sample me the other 15 4noggins bulk tobaccos.
Please feel free to add your comments, and as stated before, I will be reassessing these blends as I come back to them.
What will I have for you tomorrow? I will pack a bowl of Captain Black White. Let's see how my tastes buds and my knowledge of tobacco as been effect this past week.

 

[canadianbacon]

So I tried some Captain Black. My taste for pipe tobacco has certainly mature a bit. The Captain ins sweet and mellow, however lacks body, or burning quality. It was bubbling and didn't smoke to a white ash to the bottom of the bowl. Something that many of these 4noggins blends did effortlessly. It was definitely fun and constructive trying these 15 noggins blends, and I would recommend it to anyone, especially those trying to explore the vast world of pipe tobacco.
That being said, what tobacco is out there that has the sweetness and the mildness of Captain Black yet lends a full body flavour and dry smoke? Any suggestions?
On another note, Rich still hasn't emailed me back about my question concerning sending me the rest of his tobaccos as samples. Does he usually take a while to respond?
Thanks

 

[urtpiz]

This is a great review from a unique (yet seemingly educated?) perspective. I've been a pipe smoking hack for two years and it is great to see what I've been doing wrong. One thing though: you like the Captain Black White, and for me White would be no better if I dumped the tobacco, shredded the package and smoked that. I'm curious what recommendation you would have for someone who needs more flavor from tobacco, based on your experience thus far.