Carter Hall (A Review)

[Elric]

Excellent review! Carter Hall is a great OTC and, I agree with Weedsnager, should be a mandatory smoke once for each piper.

 

[Magpiety]

I had no clue really what latakia was yet, but her reaction started to educate me that some blends might be a bit more social oriented than others!

This alone has relegated my English smoking to late at night in my study, right before I shower before bed. It's definitely made me enjoy VA and Burley based blends a lot more.

Blends with a smaller amount of latakia don't seem to be an issue, like junkyard dawg, or watch city crumb cut.

 

[gamzultovah]

Thank you for this well written insight. I’ve never tried Carter Hall, but now I might.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I think I'm going to put "55 Gallon Drum Of Carter Hall" On my bucket list.
Just to attempt to smoke through it would be pure bliss.

 

[Old School 3319]

Got a pouch awhile back first bowl was nice second was harsh had a chemical flavor not a fan but will try again

 

[jdb67]

I am a newbie and CH has saved me. I call it training wheels for pipes. I see references to the chemical thing, but I don't detect that myself. I do find a little drying time is still best for me though moisture out of the pouch is very close. I am still smoking it and have plenty stocked up. I tried something I will share. I have some University Flake and the berry topping is a bit much and I can't see doing University Flake as a normal smoke. However, take 3-4 flakes and rub it out really good and mix that into a pouch of CH. It really complements CH and gives it a bit more flavor and an even nicer room note, but does not change it too far towards University Flake.

 

[mso489]

I just received 2 oz of Chatham Hall, a Home and Hearth Midtown series match on Carter Hall, although of course somewhat different. The first bowl wasn't a humdinger, but that's often true of first bowls of anything. I have some 1-Q on hand from long ago, and other OTC's I enjoy. Sometimes you just want a basic smoke that stays lit and didn't require Interpol and the World Trade Organization to locate a basic sample.

 

[didimauw]

View attachment 18202

What could a relatively new pipe smoker add to the reviews about Carter Hall that has not been already written? Also, do I dare write a review for such a cliché tobacco? The good thing about being new, is that you don't know enough to stay out of trouble, so here we go...! ?

The main thing I can say is that I wished I had started with Carter Hall when I took up the pipe. I shied away from Prince Albert, Carter Hall and the other 'over the counter (OTC) codger blends' because of some level of disdain that I picked up on about them. (btw, OTCs are very hard to find in the stores in my area and I have had to get them online anyhow!)

Going in with bravado that I was going to 'go big or go home', I went all in on some 'better blends', particularly aromatics. This was not fatal, but I think at least for me and perhaps some new smokers, it might not be the best way to start. Here's my reasons...

1. As a new smoker of any kind, I had no clue what I was looking for and so had no palette to judge from. It was just all hot smoke to me and so I had no baseline of what to judge by in terms of what I did or did not prefer. I didn't spend hundreds, but the nicer blends were really not money well spent.

2. I had no clue coming into the pipe that technique was so important. In fact, bad technique just turns out to be a big torture and dread. It was not relaxing, fun or pleasurable. Aside from money not well spent, there was real risk to me giving up.

3. Similarly, there are so many things you are getting accustomed to (different blend characteristics, moisture levels, nic hits, avoiding tongue bite, pipe goop, anti-social room note, breaking in a new bowl, etc) that I just needed a tobacco that 'just worked' in all categories and got out of the way as I got a bunch bowls under my belt.

In summary, Carter Hall is no 'premium blend' for sure. However, for what it is, it is four out of four stars... an easy, mild, refreshing, bread and butter burley/virginia smoke that packs and lights easy. The nic hit and strength is mild to set a baseline in smoking, the room note won't kill your wife who has wondered if you have gone mad with this new hobby and it will almost smoke itself.

I'm not crazy enough to say this is the way that all new smokers should start, but it is one perspective to consider. At least for me it was a fast track to start enjoying the pipe AND it is good enough for what it is that if I got stuck on a deserted island with a 55 gallon drum of it I would certainly be plenty happy!

Atta boy!!! I could at least make a 55 gallon drum last a couple weeks! For the price, definetly worth it!

 

[Slowpony]

I agree! I have a jar of carter hall on standby for a quick smoke and when I don’t want to deplete my main cellar. I like it in the rotation.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Got a pouch awhile back first bowl was nice second was harsh had a chemical flavor not a fan but will try again

Maybe your pipe was wet.

 

[Old School 3319]

Maybe your pipe was wet.

I did wind up smoking the rest of the pouch. It was not as bad but it was aliitle on the warm side

 

[petes03]

I’ve got a lot of love for the codger blends. Carter Hall is all my Uncle ever smokes. I like it as well. I also like Half & Half and Prince Albert. Walnut and Sugar Barrel were excellent, and I really wish they would bring them back. I still have a little of both on hand, but I almost can’t bring myself to smoke them....
If I’m in the mood for something aromatic, I blend Prince Albert and straight black cavendish 50/50 for a blend I like to call “Fat Albert”. It makes for a pretty tasty smoke.

 

[Old School 3319]

Got a pouch awhile back first bowl was nice second was harsh had a chemical flavor not a fan but will try again

I have to say CH has become a staple for me it is a no nonsense smoke. I am a huge fan of the OTC i have tubs of them all and rotate frequently between them but CH is one of my favorites

 

[Tennessee Dave]

Usually start the day with a cob of CH

 

[lawdawg]

Usually start the day with a cob of CH

I've had many a day start with a cup of coffee and some CH. Burley blends in general do go great with coffee.

 

[didimauw]

I used to tell people that it's a great beginner smoke. But I've been hearing some negative things about taste and difficulty smoking it. Now I'm wondering ... I think it's delicious and easy to smoke!

 

[Ocqueoc]

Thank you for the write up and review. I just received my first pouch of CH today and it was the easiest bowl I have smoked in my brief piping career. Looking forward to my second bowl tomorrow.

 

[Misanthrope]

I like Carter Hall, but not as much as I like Prince Albert. I think codger blends receive an unwarranted amount of disdain.

 

[eugenepark]

Nice review. I'm tempted to pick up a pack to try!

 

[deadidunn]

Interestingly enough, I get more flavor depth every time I smoke it, very good for the price imo.