Canadian Maple from House of Calabash - Tobaccos by Steven Books

[clanobucklin]

For all you Autumn Evening Fans this one is for you if you love Maple. While more restrained than AE this one has a sophistication and balance that is hard to beat. Lightly Sweet, rich with a real tobacco taste that is not obscured by the casing. Highly Recommended for Maple Lovers and fans of superalative Aros.
Note - when Steven's House of Calabash tobaccos went online - everyone who looked at his site - gasped at the price of a blend called Imperial - going for $65 an ounce. Well that's out of my price range too - but I bought 7 blends, quarter of an ounce each for under $30. That's about 3-4 bowls in a medium size pipe of each blend- so that's not bad re cost. So far - they are all amazing.

I will post more thoughts on his tobaccos I try on this site as I go along. Folks who suffer from TAD - stay away from this one - it could get costly.

You are Warned. ;-)

 

[gentlemanjerry]

Sounds like something to try - I really like McClelland's "Town Topic" maple flavor, AE a little less so - Clano, I ordered some Altadis "Black Spice" you reviewed a while back and must say it is FANTASTIC - Thanks!

 

[dylan793]

I've been curious to hear feedback on some of his blends. When his website was highlighted on the forums here, I went over and read the whole thing. Interesting, if not a little fairytale-ish in the way they tell his "rags to riches" story. I digress.
Unfortunately, I think the fact that most of his blends are attractively priced was overshadowed by that $60-whatever an ounce blend he offers. In particular I was interested in the Vermont Maple you mention here. Yet more blends to add to the ever growing "try em" list.
I like the fact that you were able to purchase quarter-ounce "samples" of several of his blends. That's always nice when a new blender comes onto the scene.

 

[clanobucklin]

gentlemanjerry - glad you liked the Black Spice - it is a very inexpensive Aro that is surprisingly good considering how uhm "cheap" it is. What I absolutley love about it is that it smokes extremely dry & clean which is surprising for an Aro of this type.
I have been smoking the samples - and I was wrong - you can get more than 4 bowls out of the sample pouches. So far they have all been terrific. Trying to smoke them sparingly but to no avail - will be ordering more at some point.

 

[lordnoble]

It's funny that some were put off by the Imperial blend... While I won't be purchasing any anytime soon, I saw it more like a really nice bottle of Whisky or Scotch. Sure it's really expensive, but it's also really good. I look forward to more of your thoughts on Steve's blends as I've been itching to try some...
-Jason

 

[dhizzy]

$65 an OUNCE? 8O Too expensive for my blood!

 

[clanobucklin]

I just got in 4 blends that I tried - and thought were Super enought to reorder 2 oz paks - they included:
Canadian Maple 2 oz - Aro

Young Master 2 oz - almost an Aro

Irishman's 5 Oclock 2 oz - Med English

Grandfathers 2 oz - Aro
Came to around $40 bucks shipped priority mail. I will continue to post comments about them.

 

[clanobucklin]

Posting my thoughts on Irishman's 5 O'clock - on a different thread - I am afraid a lot of members will pass up this posting due to the Canadian Maple title which is an Aro.

 

[clanobucklin]

Actually the title of this post should be..."Canadian Maple" not Vermont Maple. Sometimes I need an Editor - as I tend to write things pretty quickly.
With that being said ....I am going outside to smoke CANADIAN MAPLE right now!!!

 

[fred]

Yes, Steve's blends have given me pleasure for years. He is anything but new to this art and has a talent for creative blends that draw from long history of associations and experiences. Offering blends that give choices for big or small tobacco budgets, I've not found quality lacking whether I'm smoking within my everyday budget or indulging in a guilty pleasure that is financially ruinous. I like having that choice. Yes, $65/oz, which breaks down to $9.50/bowl is not an everyday smoke. From another perspective, I don't know of a Cigar that offers that much pleasure to me at that price point and I don't drink, so I'm not putting my $$ in a bottle. Like the man said, once you find out how good Steve's budget blends are, you will not be able to keep from wondering what the high priced stuff is like. I write this for you, while smoking some For Meerschaums Only-Reserve in a Peterson Sherlock Holmes Meerschaum Squire. It's really good. Here's my review, aka Meerschaum Man....

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_detail.cfm?ALPHA=F&TID=4534

 

[clanobucklin]

Thanks for Posting Fred. Being a former Cigar smoker - I don't think a lot of people realize that it really is advantageous to smoke a pipe - a least financially. I rarely found a good cigar for under $10 - while you can get 2 oz of several Steven's blends for around or under that price which translates into more enjoyable smokes.

 

[fred]

My pleasure clanobucklin. I like to give credit where it is due.

 

[terry]

I have been waiting for someone to review this line of blends..sounds like his tobacco blends are a winner.

 

[lordnoble]

8 oz. of quality blends for $40 is a steal, and I think I may have to put some of Steve's blends on my Christmas list...
-Jason

 

[clanobucklin]

I really have been enjoying all of them. I just put in a small order for the following
For Meerschaums Only - Med English - Superb

7 of 9 - 7 out of 9 VA's - sounded intriguing - Steven said this is a good Medium Afternoon smoke - have to give it a try - since this is new one for me.

 

[clanobucklin]

Just got in the following:
7of9 Straight VA's 7 out of the 9 Virginias

For Meerschaums Only - American English - very yummy. The Reserve is a little pricier - but superb - so I wanted to try the less expensive version.

 

[clanobucklin]

I have been smoking Meerschaum Only Select - which I have to say is delightful - while not made with aged tobaccos like Meerschaum Only Reserve - it is still really tasty.
I have also revisited Grandfathers formerly known as Grandpa's when at Rich's. I am a little bummed because there is a definite difference in taste - Grandfather's is far superior which leads me to believe that the 4 ounces I bought of Grandpa's was not blended by Steven Books. Fair enough - when I bought Grandpa's from Rich's it was shortly after Steven had left - and no one said he had blended it. Anyway Grandfather's is a wonderful morning smoke with a hint of a dark cocoa - goes well with morning joe.