Hearth & Home Mid-Town Series

[JimInks]

Here's the new Hearth & Home Mid-Town Series line up. I'm sure these blends will look familiar to you: http://www.pipesandcigars.com/brands/2070/hearth-home-mid-town-series/?type=Pipe+Tobacco

 

[JimInks]

I wonder if they are preparing for the day the "still made" blends are discontinued? These days, you never know what may pop up and what may disappear.

 

[newbroom]

I'm really hoping to read a glowing review of some of these blends.

I imagine that Mr. Oulette is once again at the helm, or nearby?

 

[bulldogbriar89]

I was looking at these blends and was tempted to put 1 or 2 into the order I just placed but I didn't maybe next order if I hear good reviews on them.

 

[jfox520]

I wish that they came in a smaller size. I do not want to buy 14 ozs to have it sit around.

 

[mso489]

If they're good in their own right, they're a good deal. Especially for people who smoke six or eight

bowls a day, or more. Us one or two bowl people might just go with the originals. It's about six

bucks a can savings.

 

[newbroom]

I looked at the flavor, strength, ratings and the Prince Andrew looks to be the most 'robust'. I smoke CH, PA, and SWR as part of my rotation right now, and I get anxious if I get low on any one of them, but, especially the PA.

I've never had Walnut..but that looks interesting

 

[pipefish]

The website says the Mid Town series "has been created to take the place of four recently discontinued blends.." Excuse my ignorance, but which blends have been discontinued?
Chatham Manor = Carter Hall

Midtown Cherry=Middleton Cherry

Chestnut=Walnut

Derby Club=KY Club Aromatic

Prince Andrew=Prince Albert

Sweet Cask=Sugar Barrel
I'm very keen on trying Prince Albert and especially Carter Hall. I live overseas so these blends aren't available, so do I need to stock up on the alternatives? Anyone try these blends yet?

 

[michiganlover]

Pipefish: only Carter Hall and Prince Albert are still in production.

 

[phred]

I wish that they came in a smaller size. I do not want to buy 14 ozs to have it sit around.

If you like Burley, they won't sit around for long... :D And if you smoke as infrequently as I do, there's always the mason jar route, which I've used on a couple of 14 oz. tubs.

 

[darwin]

I am working my way through a tub of Chatham Manor and boy I'm glad I took a flyer on it. Seems like I'm smoking it every other pipe full. If you are a CH fan, or heck even it you aren't, this is the maximum codger burley fix without the bite and the goop. I don't really care if it's good match for CH or not. It's terrific in its own right.

 

[newbroom]

As I write this post I have 5 tubs of burley blends in my rotation. The most recent are Half and Half and Mid Town's Prince Andrew.

There is comfort in having these 12 and 14 oz tubs to draw from. Each has its own taste and they all have their redemptive qualities.

The Andrew looks a lot like Arthur, but it takes awhile for me to get used to any of these burleys. The first few bowls of a new to me burley is not how the experience ends up. These seem to take me awhile to develop a true fondness, but, they all seem to find their way into my rotation.

I got tongue bite right away from the Half and Half which continued into the Arthur...but after a week or so of smoking these regularly, I've grown an appreciation for each.

What I like about burley is the taste, the simplicity, the nic, and the cost and availability.

Sure, I enjoy a tin of NightCap or Escudo, or a couple of flakes of OGS or any of the other more expensive and exotic tobaccos, but, I smoke these as spice to my 'meat and potatoes' burleys.

 

[darwin]

The thing that surprised me the most was that Chatham Manor hit the ground running. Nutty, delicious, bite free and well behaved from the first bowl onward, in half a dozen different pipes, with no accommodation or acclimation necessary on my part. That almost never happens. Perhaps it's just plain dumb luck it happens to match up perfectly with my very particular taste buds and doubtless peculiar smoking technique. I won't complain about good luck.

 

[Waning Embers]

Sweet Cask is a homerun here.

 

[JimInks]

Chatham Manor and Chestnut are my two favorites.

 

[mcitinner1]

I'm very into the Chestnut blend.

 

[weezell]

My only problem is if I start buying Chatham Manor, does that hasten the death of Carter Hall? I may like both but then thinning the herd... 8O

 

[newbroom]

JimInks,

I read your endorsement of Angler's Dream, too. How does it compare? It looks to be another of that type.

When I reach for another bowl of burley blend, I tend to rotate them, but sometimes one will taste extra good and I'll reach for it more often that day. I don't want one to run out and leave me without even that little taste of difference.

A pipe cut most often finds its way into my bowl because I smoke about 10 a day and I don't want to fuss with all of them.

 

[JimInks]

Newbroom: Angler's Dream has a totally different flavor profile than any of the Mid-Town series blends, and was designed to resemble OTCs in spirit, not as a Match. For my personal taste, I'll stack it against any of the Mid-Town blends. The burley taste isn't quite the star it is in the Chatham Manor or Prince Andrew, and it has more red Va. than CM does. Of course, the topping of AD is a light cinnamon, which isn't present in the others. The burley is more toasty and nutty with a minor cocoa note. I have two tubs of AD cellared, so you can tell I like it.
My review of AD for those haven't seen it:
I took a chance after talking to Russ about this blend. I'm glad I listened to him because I like it. It may have a little less nuttiness than your standard OTC, and maybe a little less cocoa taste than Prince Albert, but both are noticeable in this blend. I also taste light honey and the cinnamon adds a light, tasty spice. The natural sweetness of the red Virginia is mild, but flavorful. A few people have remarked that it's not complex, but compared to OTCs, I think it is because of the variety of flavors noted. I do recommend you hydrate it first because it's packed very dry, and the flavors are more obvious when moistened a little. Some, including Russ himself, think it's better dry, and I have enjoyed it that way, but I still like a slight bit of moisture in my tobaccos. Either way, it burns well with no tongue bite, very light casing, extremely pleasant and consistent taste, and has a great room note. It has one of the most entrancing aromas when you open the baggie that I've ever smelled. It's a very good all day smoke and not expensive. More of a three and a half star blend instead of just three, and probably a four star blend for my personal taste.

 

[newbroom]

Thank you JimInks,

I've learned to value your reviews and opinions. I didn't go for the Chatham Manor first because it was my Prince Andrew tub getting lowest.

I see three tubs of new H & H tub blends on the horizon. (well, new to me.)