Sutliff Edgeworth Ready Rubbed Match:
I smoked my way through a 14oz can (the only way it's currently sold in the US) of Lane Ltd Ready Rubbed which is said to be the exact recipe of the Edgeworth original, and I found it okay but didn't want to buy that much again. So I decided to give the Sutliff match another go, as it's available in bulk starting with 1oz. I like it better. The cut is coarse, closer to the Edgeworth original than the semi-ribbon cut of Lane's, and smokes slower and cooler. Sutliff's also has a more noticeable chocolate taste which I prefer to Lane's, in which the (I believe) molasses takes front row. Sutliff's does seem lighter on the nic than Lane's, which is on the minus side for me, but the more pleasing to me taste wins out. If you're looking for a chocolate flavored tobacco that doesn't taste like a sickly aro, this might be a good one to try. A good blend for a newbie also, as it is flavorful, not nic-heavy, forgiving of packing and cadence "errors", and rather inexpensive. If nobody told me it was a match for a codger blend I wouldn't suspect it.
Amphora Brown (Original):
Perhaps it was just my taste buds at the moment, but I had to dump this one after a few puffs. There seemed to be an odd taste, like burning plastic. I have smoked Amphora Red "Full Aroma" before and found it pleasant albeit not outstanding, and expected this one to be the same but more subtle and natural. The Red is said to be the more popular of the two, and at this point I can't even see why Brown still exists, but I'm going to have to try again when I haven't eaten, drank or smoked anything else for a few hours. Not pulling the plug on it just yet.
Dunhill "The Aperatif":
I smoked this back in the 70s and remember only that I liked it, but not precisely how it tasted. I know it's in a similar vein with MM965, one of my all-time favorites, and was expecting it to be a lighter version of that. What I got instead was a flatter, bitter version of MM965. 965 has a richly-fragrant, tangy flavor but Aperatif doesn't. Perhaps being lighter on the Latakia shifts the taste more toward the uncased cavendish, or else the current version of Aperatif is much different from the one of yore. I also found the moisture level a bit high, something I have never had happen with a Dunhill before. I could pinch a clump of it and it stuck together in a ball. I'm going to give it a little dry-time and see if that changes it for the better. Otherwise I'm sticking with MM965, a heavenly blend.
Samuel Gawith Kendall Mayor's Chocolate Flake:
I was not expecting this to be a chocolate aro, and in that way was not disappointed. I was expecting it to be far too wet to stay lit, and again, was not disappointed. I was expecting it not to have Lakeland essence, and in that I was horribly, nauseatingly disappointed. Admittedly there was very little, in fact it may just be that being processed in the same plant with Lakelands is enough to taint everything in sight, but it was there in every puff. Surprisingly I was able to get through an entire bowl, and perhaps with a little airing it may eventually dissipate. I'm hopeful, because in all other respects this is a very tasty smoke. Burns slow (well, to be expected given the wetness), but also somewhat hot (again, wetness). I've read that it tastes completely different when dried, which frankly would be a shame because it tastes quite good aside from the faint soapiness. Obviously the tobacco is excellent quality, and the smoke is rich and flavorful. Definitely a sipping blend, for me perfect for after a meal.
I smoked my way through a 14oz can (the only way it's currently sold in the US) of Lane Ltd Ready Rubbed which is said to be the exact recipe of the Edgeworth original, and I found it okay but didn't want to buy that much again. So I decided to give the Sutliff match another go, as it's available in bulk starting with 1oz. I like it better. The cut is coarse, closer to the Edgeworth original than the semi-ribbon cut of Lane's, and smokes slower and cooler. Sutliff's also has a more noticeable chocolate taste which I prefer to Lane's, in which the (I believe) molasses takes front row. Sutliff's does seem lighter on the nic than Lane's, which is on the minus side for me, but the more pleasing to me taste wins out. If you're looking for a chocolate flavored tobacco that doesn't taste like a sickly aro, this might be a good one to try. A good blend for a newbie also, as it is flavorful, not nic-heavy, forgiving of packing and cadence "errors", and rather inexpensive. If nobody told me it was a match for a codger blend I wouldn't suspect it.
Amphora Brown (Original):
Perhaps it was just my taste buds at the moment, but I had to dump this one after a few puffs. There seemed to be an odd taste, like burning plastic. I have smoked Amphora Red "Full Aroma" before and found it pleasant albeit not outstanding, and expected this one to be the same but more subtle and natural. The Red is said to be the more popular of the two, and at this point I can't even see why Brown still exists, but I'm going to have to try again when I haven't eaten, drank or smoked anything else for a few hours. Not pulling the plug on it just yet.
Dunhill "The Aperatif":
I smoked this back in the 70s and remember only that I liked it, but not precisely how it tasted. I know it's in a similar vein with MM965, one of my all-time favorites, and was expecting it to be a lighter version of that. What I got instead was a flatter, bitter version of MM965. 965 has a richly-fragrant, tangy flavor but Aperatif doesn't. Perhaps being lighter on the Latakia shifts the taste more toward the uncased cavendish, or else the current version of Aperatif is much different from the one of yore. I also found the moisture level a bit high, something I have never had happen with a Dunhill before. I could pinch a clump of it and it stuck together in a ball. I'm going to give it a little dry-time and see if that changes it for the better. Otherwise I'm sticking with MM965, a heavenly blend.
Samuel Gawith Kendall Mayor's Chocolate Flake:
I was not expecting this to be a chocolate aro, and in that way was not disappointed. I was expecting it to be far too wet to stay lit, and again, was not disappointed. I was expecting it not to have Lakeland essence, and in that I was horribly, nauseatingly disappointed. Admittedly there was very little, in fact it may just be that being processed in the same plant with Lakelands is enough to taint everything in sight, but it was there in every puff. Surprisingly I was able to get through an entire bowl, and perhaps with a little airing it may eventually dissipate. I'm hopeful, because in all other respects this is a very tasty smoke. Burns slow (well, to be expected given the wetness), but also somewhat hot (again, wetness). I've read that it tastes completely different when dried, which frankly would be a shame because it tastes quite good aside from the faint soapiness. Obviously the tobacco is excellent quality, and the smoke is rich and flavorful. Definitely a sipping blend, for me perfect for after a meal.
