Aromatics

[cigrmaster]

Well I finally pulled the trigger and for the first time in my pipe smoking career, I went for a sampler of aromatics. Now I do smoke GH Rum Flake and Ennerdale flake on occasion but I don't consider those to be your classic aro's.
I was perusing tobacco reviews .com and was looking at all the 4 star blends when I happened upon some blends from Boswell's. There were quite a number of good ones so I called them up and ordered 4 oz's each of 4 different blends.I was looking for blends that had a great room note so I can smoke them indoors and not bug my kids too much.
I have smoked the rasberry cream and the Pennsylvania Dutch Treat so far today and I have to say I am impressed. The stuff smelled great out of the bag and it tastes like it smells. It is sweet and mild with absolutely no bite. I didn't need to dry it out and it burned to a nice ash and never got wet or started gurgling. I decided to dedicate an Upshall rusticated bent billiard to the experiment and it is performing quite well. It had been dedicated to strictly virginia flakes so I reamed it, cleaned it and now it will be an aromatic pipe. My two daughters love the smell of both blends and I am waiting for my two sons to get home to see what they think.
I have been a virginia flake and vaper guy for a while now and this is really a nice change of pace for me. This is definitely some quality tobacco that these nice folks put out. I feel like a kid in a candy store right about now.

 

[lordnoble]

I've yet to get any blends from Boswell's, but I've tried them from the Box Pass and they were awesome. Some day I'll add more of their blends to my cellar.
-Jason

 

[dochudson]

try their Bear Blend.. yum

 

[batdemon]

Their Berry Cobbler and Piper's Pleasure are very good too. ::

 

[matchstickman]

Christmas Cookie is one of my all time favorite holiday smokes. A bowl of that on a cold night with a flannel shirt and a blanket is heaven on earth. If you really wanna try something out of this world, mix a little Christmas Cookie with some Latakia. I swear it tastes exactly like a Smores.

 

[ohin3]

I am in the same boat as cigrmaster. I've always been a natural tobacco lover, but over the past few years have started to try more aromatics. The Boswell blends always caught my eye, but I am very wary of any aromatics that I have not tried. Are his aromatics loaded with pg casing sauces or moderately cased? I cannot stand goopy aromatics that stay goopy no matter how long you leave them out to dry. I do love a well done aromatic where the tobacco and the aromatic agent receive equal attention. Blends like W.O. Larsen Signature Vintage Mixture and Amphora full aroma that are very well done tobaccos that I would gladly smoke without the addition of aromatics. The addition of the aromatic agent though is done lightly and meant to simply compliment the tobacco.

 

[lordnoble]

Phil,

From what I've sampled (from the Box Pass), they are cased but in the same way that C&D and Russ over at P&C do it. They dry very nicely and don't have that sticky-slick feel of aromatics which has a ton of goop on them.
-Jason

 

[cigrmaster]

ohin3, since I am new to this I am not sure if these are considered goopy. I do know that they burn to a nice fine ash with nothing left in the bottom of my bowl. I am currently smoking the Berry Cobbler in a bent Mastro and it is wonderful stuff. The last one I will try in a little bit is the Christmas cookie. What I really like is that I just loaded my bowl right from the bag with no drying and fired it up. It burns so cool and sweet, I am kind of amazed. It does feel pretty moist but does not smoke wet at all.

 

[terry]

I enjoy Boswells Aro's as well.

 

[batdemon]

From what I've sampled (from the Box Pass), they are cased but in the same way that C&D and Russ over at P&C do it. They dry very nicely and don't have that sticky-slick feel of aromatics which has a ton of goop on them.

This has been my experience as well. ::

 

[cigrmaster]

I am now smoking the last of the 4 samples which is the Christmas Cookie . Again it is sweet, mild and absolutely no bite. The flavor is vanilla with a hint of whiskey. I filled it right from the bag, no drying and I am amazed at how dry this stuff smokes. I think I can officially be called an aromatic smoker now thanks to the good folks at Bowsells.

 

[cigrmaster]

storient, thanks for the tip. I will definitely have to try a tin of that. I am always up for trying something new.

 

[baronsamedi]

+1 on the Cherry Bomb. I love 7 Seas Red and G&H Top Black Cherry, but I often miss the "Oh YEAH!" effect of Cherry Bomb. Two Aros I can reccommend for being smooth smoking and not-at-all goopy are Caramel Apple Pie from P&C and Halfling's Leaf from our very own Pipeinhand. Both could easily be every day affairs for aro fans.

 

[barkar]

I've yet to get any blends from Boswell's but I have to now, you make them sound great.... :puffpipe:

 

[cigrmaster]

baron, thanks for the recommendations. What movie character is your name from? It sounds so familiar but I can't place it.
barkar, I hope you get a few samples and enjoy them as much as I have. I smoked the Rasberry Cream for breakfast with my morning Starbucks Columbian and boy was it tasty.

 

[msandoval858]

Seems to be a common theme. I've been a natural leaf smoker for years and over the few months felt like it was time to start experimenting again. I've always enjoyed a few crossover style blends, like C&D's X Eyed Cricket, but lately I'm branching out more.
I picked up a few ounces of Stokkebeye Peaches and Cream and some C&D Berries and Cream. Also working on a tin of Nording Labrador. All have been really enjoyable and the room note definitely very nice.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

If you're looking for an aromatic definitely check out Lane Limited 1-Q and Mac Baren's 7 Seas line (all of the blends in that line are quality good aromatics). Also might give Mac Baren's Vanilla Cream a try, they have a flake form of it which is really good. Plus there's the Peterson Limited Edition blends like Summertime, Special Reserve, and Holiday Season which are good as long as you don't mind $22-$25 for a tin.

 

[baronsamedi]

Baron Samedi is the Vodoun Loa of Death. He is the figure you see often represented by Death wearing a top hat.

The character was also used as a James Bond villian, played by Geoffrey Holder.

 

[cigrmaster]

Baron, I knew I recognized that name. It was from the movie Live and Let Die, Roger Moore's first James Bond roll. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[taerin]

My favorite Boswells in order are No Bite Delite, Christmass Cookie, Blueberry Cobbler, and Blueberry Cobbler mixed with Raspberry Cream. Raspberry Cream is a bit monotone to smoke on it's own, like Chocolate Cream is.
Boswells turned me from an aromatic hater to someone who smokes mostly aromatic blends (only Boswells of course!) I simply don't trust other aros atm, got burned way too many times.