Amphora Original Blend - New vs. Old Versions

[eggrollpiper]

Amphora seems to score high with many, including 4 stars from Jim and Pipestud, however that's for the older blend, which I never tried. I recently got a pouch and found it to be bland an not not like anything particular, also the pouch note has an unpleasant aroma to me, similar to that of half and half, like an icky raisin smell. As opposed to a pleasant raisin smell I guess. Anyway, has anyone tried both the new and old that can compare them? Is it relatively unchanged or better/worse? Because to me it's a 2/2.5 * blend max..

Also is the full aroma worth trying if I'm not into the original.

So far I've only tried it in one pipe which may or may not have been oversmoked at the time so I will try again in a freshly cleaned and rested pipe as I await any replies..

 

[workman]

I haven't tried Original. The Full Aroma is not very good IMO. The flavorings are pleasant enough for a while, chocolate and berries of some sort, but I am bored with them after a few minutes and when they fade, the underlying tobaccos are harsh. I am not going to say it isn't worth trying though. Pouch note is great.

 

[JimInks]

I think the new version is mostly the same as what I had been smoking through the entire 2000s. MacBaren started making it in 2007. The one thing I have noticed is the older versions (I've smoked it on and off since the 1970s) were not as moist. The new stuff needs some dry time. I never noticed any raisins.
The version I smoked in the 1970s and '80s had a little less chocolate, and a touch more Orientals and burley. Other than that, it's the same thing. My review is for the current version. I rewrote it when it returned to the USA, so you were reading my thoughts on the current version.
The Full Aroma is sweet and floral, more so than in the 1970s. It also needs some dry time. I found the toppings diminish just a tad after the half way mark, but they hold on. Unlike Workman, I never found either blend to get harsh.

 

[sasquatch]

It's never been raisin-y. The original was a biscuity burley with dutch cavendish. A little chocolate flavor came through, though it never smelled cased to me. A touch spicy and never real sweet (typical dutch tobacco), it was good with coffee, but not a pouch I reached for much to be honest.

 

[eggrollpiper]

Thanks for the comments guys. I had a second bowl since and it was good enough. I got some of the underlying chocolate notes and it was nice w iced coffee. Just very mild, I guess what some call an all day smoke. I prefer more body and flavor, personal preference I suppose. A nutty burley blend like Haunted Bookshop is more my speed. That's my favorite burley so far, however also the type of blend I have the least experience with. And btw I did dry the amphora both times for a few hours. The pouch will go live with my other less desirable Va and burley blend Ammo-dor and I'll try it again in the future..

 

[spartacus]

I just received a pouch of this from P&C yesterday. I will have to give it a try.

 

[eggrollpiper]

Please do try and leave a comment..