I cut into the sixth pouch today and wrote my thoughts this morning. Looked back over them as I finished the package this evening. Have stayed away from this thread, so I wasn't spoiled. I'll include my earlier reviews as well to keep everything together.
______________________________
#1
I sniff the pouch 1. Hit with a vinegar smell and the smell of fermentation. Definitely a fruity Virginia, reds and some kind of stoving.
Out of the pouch, the flakes are dark and speckled with age. Big thick jerky flake. Somewhat gummy when rubbing out. Very dark Virginias and a small smattering of rusty lighter leaf.
On first light, very acidic. Quickly, the ember steadied, a good amount of body and a heavier tobacco room note take over (when compared to other Virginias).
The taste has well-developed sweetness and citrus-sourness - a blend that makes it’s way over the whole tongue.
For the first half of my smoke, I couldn’t find my tamper and it was a blessing.
All of this makes me think McClelland, though I’m not sure I’ve ever had the specific blend.
After leaving the remainder of the tobacco to dry for a day or two (it’s more humid than normal), the rest of blend I could appreciate the soft edges of the stoving, the slight buttery popcorn note that was more muted behind the full classic Virginia flavors. The Meerschaum I used for the second half muted some of the flavors.
I don’t smoke Virginias much anymore. I rarely ever smoke straight Virginias. In all, this was a terrific smoke. Very unique in character, and has strengths you don’t often find. High marks.
#2
Seems euro in cut
Stg or rattrays/Kopp
Promises a lot on the note but doesn’t have the same delivery.
Rested in a half smoked pipe, the morning relight is more malty, more bready.
I think this is a K&K tobacco, maybe a rattrays, but could also be something I haven’t tried. I thought there was something similar to the processing note I don’t like in Rattray’s big 3.
Reminds me a lot of darker Virginia flakes everyone seems to like but I just don’t get. (I don’t dislike them all but they are all so very popular.)
#3
Mild bag note
Still very thin, Euro’y ready rubbed.
Bigger smoke on light, very unfussy. A little bit more workmanlike. More hay and honey tea in this one than the others, though not overwhelming. I don’t think this is either of the blue flakes, but it could be HH VA. I’ve never had it, but we’re definitely in that world of EU flakes of medium character.
Coming back to half an open sampler foil of this months later: desiccated. Blowing on It, I still smell honey. Maybe not as floral as the blue flakes can be—this is lacking that similar to LNF or the Newminster flake.
#4
Some sort of C&D production flake. Piquant and vinegary. Do not detect any perique in this bag note. I think this is Pease Union Square. But it could be something like Opening Night or Red Carpet - tins I haven’t gotten around to opening. Malty, bready, sumptious in body and well-balanced between sour/savory and bitter/sweet. Nothing about this makes me second guess US. Somewhat floral. I never stock up Union Square and whenever I smoke it I say: why don’t I?
Boy this one would be embarrassing if I’m wrong. But I’ll still stock up on whatever this one is.
I tip the ash to relight and find that the bowl is done, a rare compliment.
#5
Ribbon cut. Chunky, melange of reddish browns and orangish tans. Some crimpy stringy ribbons and larger chunky bits that make me think this is Sutliff. 515 would make sense for the practice here, but I’ve never had it. Bag note is very bready and the tobacco is very dry.
Not particularly sharp. Somewhat thin. Not as pronounced to me as #4. There is something friendly, velvety about this tobacco, and the resulting room note is comforting and pipe-y. I can see how this could be a daily driver for some, though it is more mild than mine—I need something to come through the back pain. This behaves as a blending tobacco might. I should try packing a different way to see if I can get more flavor from it. Perhaps my palate is battle-worn from earlier smoking.
The burn character of the tobacco in the bowl also signals Sutliff to me. I think I tried their Red Ribbon years ago and did not like it one bit. I should have bought their other blenders to mix with it. This is different. As the bowl progresses, it’s become enjoyable. Tiny tiny hint of vanilla, not a player, just sitting alone in the nosebleeds, silent and not bothering anyone, just for that nostalgia.
#6
Now this one will trick me, I am sure of it. At first, I smell a McClellands-y vinegar aroma but I also smell something chocolate in the far back. Sniffing again, there’s a fruit casing as well. There’s something cutesy in the fruit casing. More bright than I had thought at first. There’s a nose tingle aspect of this that could be boozy or just C&D. I have not guess as to the make.
Is this CRF? Now I have almost entirely convinced myself it’s CRF and I haven’t put a match to it. I have only smoked one bowl of CRF and that was a long time ago. There’s a lot of brighter leaf in here.
Large plumes at the light. Is this pipe tobacco or Liga Privada? Spice in the nose and comfort in all sorts. Settles into something incredibly smooth, well balanced fruits.
Am I in a good mood this morning? Very few words written today, so no not particularly. But this blend is jammy happiness.
Could this be a Cringle Flake I wonder? I don’t think so. I don’t detect any of that Sutliff character. The stems included in the blend, split longwise into yellow pine needle things, make me think C&D again.
____________________________
Final Power Ranking
#1, 6, 4, 3, 5, 2
_____________________________
A great thank you for Mrs. Pickles for their generosity and effort in organizing this tasting, and for their patience with me as I finished and reported in so terribly late.
______________________________
#1
I sniff the pouch 1. Hit with a vinegar smell and the smell of fermentation. Definitely a fruity Virginia, reds and some kind of stoving.
Out of the pouch, the flakes are dark and speckled with age. Big thick jerky flake. Somewhat gummy when rubbing out. Very dark Virginias and a small smattering of rusty lighter leaf.
On first light, very acidic. Quickly, the ember steadied, a good amount of body and a heavier tobacco room note take over (when compared to other Virginias).
The taste has well-developed sweetness and citrus-sourness - a blend that makes it’s way over the whole tongue.
For the first half of my smoke, I couldn’t find my tamper and it was a blessing.
All of this makes me think McClelland, though I’m not sure I’ve ever had the specific blend.
After leaving the remainder of the tobacco to dry for a day or two (it’s more humid than normal), the rest of blend I could appreciate the soft edges of the stoving, the slight buttery popcorn note that was more muted behind the full classic Virginia flavors. The Meerschaum I used for the second half muted some of the flavors.
I don’t smoke Virginias much anymore. I rarely ever smoke straight Virginias. In all, this was a terrific smoke. Very unique in character, and has strengths you don’t often find. High marks.
#2
Seems euro in cut
Stg or rattrays/Kopp
Promises a lot on the note but doesn’t have the same delivery.
Rested in a half smoked pipe, the morning relight is more malty, more bready.
I think this is a K&K tobacco, maybe a rattrays, but could also be something I haven’t tried. I thought there was something similar to the processing note I don’t like in Rattray’s big 3.
Reminds me a lot of darker Virginia flakes everyone seems to like but I just don’t get. (I don’t dislike them all but they are all so very popular.)
#3
Mild bag note
Still very thin, Euro’y ready rubbed.
Bigger smoke on light, very unfussy. A little bit more workmanlike. More hay and honey tea in this one than the others, though not overwhelming. I don’t think this is either of the blue flakes, but it could be HH VA. I’ve never had it, but we’re definitely in that world of EU flakes of medium character.
Coming back to half an open sampler foil of this months later: desiccated. Blowing on It, I still smell honey. Maybe not as floral as the blue flakes can be—this is lacking that similar to LNF or the Newminster flake.
#4
Some sort of C&D production flake. Piquant and vinegary. Do not detect any perique in this bag note. I think this is Pease Union Square. But it could be something like Opening Night or Red Carpet - tins I haven’t gotten around to opening. Malty, bready, sumptious in body and well-balanced between sour/savory and bitter/sweet. Nothing about this makes me second guess US. Somewhat floral. I never stock up Union Square and whenever I smoke it I say: why don’t I?
Boy this one would be embarrassing if I’m wrong. But I’ll still stock up on whatever this one is.
I tip the ash to relight and find that the bowl is done, a rare compliment.
#5
Ribbon cut. Chunky, melange of reddish browns and orangish tans. Some crimpy stringy ribbons and larger chunky bits that make me think this is Sutliff. 515 would make sense for the practice here, but I’ve never had it. Bag note is very bready and the tobacco is very dry.
Not particularly sharp. Somewhat thin. Not as pronounced to me as #4. There is something friendly, velvety about this tobacco, and the resulting room note is comforting and pipe-y. I can see how this could be a daily driver for some, though it is more mild than mine—I need something to come through the back pain. This behaves as a blending tobacco might. I should try packing a different way to see if I can get more flavor from it. Perhaps my palate is battle-worn from earlier smoking.
The burn character of the tobacco in the bowl also signals Sutliff to me. I think I tried their Red Ribbon years ago and did not like it one bit. I should have bought their other blenders to mix with it. This is different. As the bowl progresses, it’s become enjoyable. Tiny tiny hint of vanilla, not a player, just sitting alone in the nosebleeds, silent and not bothering anyone, just for that nostalgia.
#6
Now this one will trick me, I am sure of it. At first, I smell a McClellands-y vinegar aroma but I also smell something chocolate in the far back. Sniffing again, there’s a fruit casing as well. There’s something cutesy in the fruit casing. More bright than I had thought at first. There’s a nose tingle aspect of this that could be boozy or just C&D. I have not guess as to the make.
Is this CRF? Now I have almost entirely convinced myself it’s CRF and I haven’t put a match to it. I have only smoked one bowl of CRF and that was a long time ago. There’s a lot of brighter leaf in here.
Large plumes at the light. Is this pipe tobacco or Liga Privada? Spice in the nose and comfort in all sorts. Settles into something incredibly smooth, well balanced fruits.
Am I in a good mood this morning? Very few words written today, so no not particularly. But this blend is jammy happiness.
Could this be a Cringle Flake I wonder? I don’t think so. I don’t detect any of that Sutliff character. The stems included in the blend, split longwise into yellow pine needle things, make me think C&D again.
____________________________
Final Power Ranking
#1, 6, 4, 3, 5, 2
_____________________________
A great thank you for Mrs. Pickles for their generosity and effort in organizing this tasting, and for their patience with me as I finished and reported in so terribly late.
