Its been quite a while since my first OTC tryout with Half and Half. With a lazy, sleepy Sunday working its magic on me, I decided to go out and pick up a couple more OTCs to dive into. My local Ingles grocery store carries almost all typical blends you'd expect to find. Today, I couldn't resist it. "It" being: Borkum Riff Bourbon Whiskey. We've all heard of it. Many have smoked it. Its hated, looked down upon, loved, liked, disregarded, sometimes all of these things at once. Of course, I have to see what all the fuss is about 8)
Opening the pouch, it appears to be the typical shaggy cut you'd expect. Mostly varying shades of dark brown with some lighter leaves sprinkled in. The pouch aroma really doesn't strike me as anything like whiskey. Sort of, mildly musty and slightly raisin-ish. I dug around in the pouch to get a feel for it, and it seems a bit dry. Could be an old pouch, I'd like to think any modern pouch-packaged tobacco isn't meant to come this dry.
I filled my Peterson 80s and lit her up. Was a bit tougher to get lit than I expected considering the dry feel of the leaves. Once it got burning, my first thought were, it just seems like an average Virginia/burley mixture. Remarkably plain. Though, I dare say somewhat pleasant and undemanding. Care should certainly be taken, however. Overeager puffing WILL result in tongue bite. Chemical notes are evident, though comfortably enough in the background. The aroma is not what I would call whiskey, but whatever it is it's somewhat endearing. Its a smell that reminds me of something from my childhood but I can't place what. The smoke remained consistent through the bowl without much fuss.
Everything I've read about this blend had me prepared for some monster, instant tongue bite, evil blend which should be avoided at all costs. I don't particularly agree. It's average. I wouldn't call it bad or good at this point. The only thing ill stand up for is the aroma, im quite enjoying it. The 1.5oz pouch was $4.98 which puts it at the high end of grocery/drug/convenience store blends. Considering price and slightly south of average smoking experience, im not ready to recommend this. Ill have to see what a few more smokes give me.
Opening the pouch, it appears to be the typical shaggy cut you'd expect. Mostly varying shades of dark brown with some lighter leaves sprinkled in. The pouch aroma really doesn't strike me as anything like whiskey. Sort of, mildly musty and slightly raisin-ish. I dug around in the pouch to get a feel for it, and it seems a bit dry. Could be an old pouch, I'd like to think any modern pouch-packaged tobacco isn't meant to come this dry.
I filled my Peterson 80s and lit her up. Was a bit tougher to get lit than I expected considering the dry feel of the leaves. Once it got burning, my first thought were, it just seems like an average Virginia/burley mixture. Remarkably plain. Though, I dare say somewhat pleasant and undemanding. Care should certainly be taken, however. Overeager puffing WILL result in tongue bite. Chemical notes are evident, though comfortably enough in the background. The aroma is not what I would call whiskey, but whatever it is it's somewhat endearing. Its a smell that reminds me of something from my childhood but I can't place what. The smoke remained consistent through the bowl without much fuss.
Everything I've read about this blend had me prepared for some monster, instant tongue bite, evil blend which should be avoided at all costs. I don't particularly agree. It's average. I wouldn't call it bad or good at this point. The only thing ill stand up for is the aroma, im quite enjoying it. The 1.5oz pouch was $4.98 which puts it at the high end of grocery/drug/convenience store blends. Considering price and slightly south of average smoking experience, im not ready to recommend this. Ill have to see what a few more smokes give me.