A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So we come to the enigma of Picaroon and Ahi Ka's detective work.
Century is not a well known brand of pipe tobacco in the UK or, I imagine, anywhere. The suspicion is that, as it brags its USA roots, it's a Sutliff product. The Picaroon lists Latakia, Turkish oriental, Virginia, black cavendish and perique in its composition, the whole aged 30 days in Kentucky bourbon barrels before pressing into a plug (triggers Humble Pie's "30 Days In The Hole" in my mind).
Now, that's an eclectic list of ingredients which, oddly, appears identical to Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Bourbon Barrel - not that I've had any of that, knowingly, except this 'ere Picaroon is surely one and the same.
Another factor is price. UK prices for pipe tobacco range from £20/50g for Orlik and F&T blends, SG Cabbies their most expensive at £24, Germain's £26, Charatan £27 and this Picaroon over £28. I guess, owing to price and lack of brand reputation, that my supplier has had their Century stock long enough to age and dry quite a bit.
So it is, a fairly dry dense kake/plug which I've been cutting fine with a Buck blade, although it will break apart in chunks if picked at with determination. It loads and lights easily, only needing a relight if attention is badly distracted.
What a flavour, though. Skiff-like oriental and latakia set the scene and all of the other flavours chime in harmoniously, with a fairly high level of uncloyed sweetness throughout. It really is quite the treat; there are no rough edges, all is smooth and tasty. The room note and taste linger in a refined manner, nothing really objectionable and quite pleasant, although I wouldn't seek a spousal verdict.
My supplier has several other kake/plug blends from Century available - at the moment. They have probably sat there several years and, if we assume that they are from a now-defunct maker, once they've sold, they've gone for good. I better get my skates on and dig in to what remains.
Century is not a well known brand of pipe tobacco in the UK or, I imagine, anywhere. The suspicion is that, as it brags its USA roots, it's a Sutliff product. The Picaroon lists Latakia, Turkish oriental, Virginia, black cavendish and perique in its composition, the whole aged 30 days in Kentucky bourbon barrels before pressing into a plug (triggers Humble Pie's "30 Days In The Hole" in my mind).
Now, that's an eclectic list of ingredients which, oddly, appears identical to Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Bourbon Barrel - not that I've had any of that, knowingly, except this 'ere Picaroon is surely one and the same.
Another factor is price. UK prices for pipe tobacco range from £20/50g for Orlik and F&T blends, SG Cabbies their most expensive at £24, Germain's £26, Charatan £27 and this Picaroon over £28. I guess, owing to price and lack of brand reputation, that my supplier has had their Century stock long enough to age and dry quite a bit.
So it is, a fairly dry dense kake/plug which I've been cutting fine with a Buck blade, although it will break apart in chunks if picked at with determination. It loads and lights easily, only needing a relight if attention is badly distracted.
What a flavour, though. Skiff-like oriental and latakia set the scene and all of the other flavours chime in harmoniously, with a fairly high level of uncloyed sweetness throughout. It really is quite the treat; there are no rough edges, all is smooth and tasty. The room note and taste linger in a refined manner, nothing really objectionable and quite pleasant, although I wouldn't seek a spousal verdict.
My supplier has several other kake/plug blends from Century available - at the moment. They have probably sat there several years and, if we assume that they are from a now-defunct maker, once they've sold, they've gone for good. I better get my skates on and dig in to what remains.
