First, a caveat -- I have been smoking a pipe regularly for about two years. I think I've got the mechanics down pretty well, and I'm broadly familiar with the various types of tobaccos and the categories of pipe tobacco, but I have never been able to identify and name some of the subtler nuances that some people seem to get. I've had the same issue with cigars.
That said: Rocky Patel Prohibition Pure and Simple was one of the first tobaccos I bought. I didn't quite realize just how much tobacco 12 ozs is (which is the only way it comes - in a large jar) so I still have more than half of it left after a year and a half. I haven't seen much written about it so here goes.
It is what I guess is called an "American style aromatic". Noticeable and strong topping -- in this case I get vanilla, nougat and a sort of baked sweet roll tin (jar) note, and a very pleasant room note (my daughter said it smelled like baking cookies). I do pick up some flavor as its smoked -- mostly vanilla, maybe some caramel.
What I like the most about it is how absolutely wonderfully it behaves -- lights easily, stays lit, produces a lot of smoke, burns down fairly cleanly and doesn't leave a lot of goop in the bowl. No tongue bite for me. I smoke it when driving. Perhaps not a choice if one wants to sit back and contemplate the nuances of the tobacco, but a great smoke if you are busy doing something else and want something that tastes and smells nice and doesn't need a lot of attention.
It contains black cavendish, burleys and virginias. I can't pick up any hint of the virginias -- perhaps overpowered by the topping? I do get a slight acrid note even when smoked slowly, and I'm not sure if that is the burley or just an inevitable chemical side note of a noticeably topped aromatic. It is better -- much better -- than the CAO aros which I tried, in my opinion (I tried all of those in a sampler, not bad other than "Cherrybomb" which I threw away after one bowl due to the chemical note).
I have generally grown to prefer English blends over aros, but for an aromatic I find this to be my go to. For comparison, I've also tried Missouri Meerschaum Great Dane (pretty good), CAOs (meh as noted), Brigadier Black Bull Run (not a fan), and Peterson Gold Blend (only had a few bowls, which I've enjoyed so far). Never tried Lane 1Q, but I'd imagine that RP Prohibition could fill a similar niche as an all day anytime smoke. For a straight aro, this one seems pretty darn good.
That said: Rocky Patel Prohibition Pure and Simple was one of the first tobaccos I bought. I didn't quite realize just how much tobacco 12 ozs is (which is the only way it comes - in a large jar) so I still have more than half of it left after a year and a half. I haven't seen much written about it so here goes.
It is what I guess is called an "American style aromatic". Noticeable and strong topping -- in this case I get vanilla, nougat and a sort of baked sweet roll tin (jar) note, and a very pleasant room note (my daughter said it smelled like baking cookies). I do pick up some flavor as its smoked -- mostly vanilla, maybe some caramel.
What I like the most about it is how absolutely wonderfully it behaves -- lights easily, stays lit, produces a lot of smoke, burns down fairly cleanly and doesn't leave a lot of goop in the bowl. No tongue bite for me. I smoke it when driving. Perhaps not a choice if one wants to sit back and contemplate the nuances of the tobacco, but a great smoke if you are busy doing something else and want something that tastes and smells nice and doesn't need a lot of attention.
It contains black cavendish, burleys and virginias. I can't pick up any hint of the virginias -- perhaps overpowered by the topping? I do get a slight acrid note even when smoked slowly, and I'm not sure if that is the burley or just an inevitable chemical side note of a noticeably topped aromatic. It is better -- much better -- than the CAO aros which I tried, in my opinion (I tried all of those in a sampler, not bad other than "Cherrybomb" which I threw away after one bowl due to the chemical note).
I have generally grown to prefer English blends over aros, but for an aromatic I find this to be my go to. For comparison, I've also tried Missouri Meerschaum Great Dane (pretty good), CAOs (meh as noted), Brigadier Black Bull Run (not a fan), and Peterson Gold Blend (only had a few bowls, which I've enjoyed so far). Never tried Lane 1Q, but I'd imagine that RP Prohibition could fill a similar niche as an all day anytime smoke. For a straight aro, this one seems pretty darn good.
