Sterling Tobacco Samples...

[dudleydipstick]

There is a company called Sterling Tobacco that is offering samples. I heard of them and the offer through another forum. There are no reviews on tobaccoreviews.com.
Sterling Website
I contacted the owner by e-mail with the requisite information yesterday which was returned with a very cordial reply that told me a sample of the 1776 Tavern Blend was on the way.
...looking forward to the mail in the coming week.
One interesting thing I'd read was that once someone becomes a known customer, they can make a phone order and have the product sent out along with an invoice to be paid later. Kind of harkens back to the days of companies willing to do C.O.D.. (D&R is one.)

 

[jonesing]

Thanks for the heads up.
I requested Bostonian.

 

[unclearthur]

I couldn't resist either 1776 Tavern!

 

[dudleydipstick]

When I sent the e-mail and included my information under "blend usually smoked", I said #2015 or about any other non-aromatic. I guess that was reason enough to have the Tavern blend sent, which by the sound of it, I don't mind one bit.

 

[unclearthur]

Looks to be nice stout stuff! I love a full flavored smoke. And a big hit of vitamin N isn't too bad either.

 

[dudleydipstick]

I got my samples today.
The 1776 Tavern Blend is a generous sample at around 2oz. It'll need some drying, but I'm excited because it smells REALLY good.
Also included was a couple ounces of the $15 per lb. bargain blend. It seems to be the type of aromatic hodgepodge that a lot of dealers offer, but looks and smells like it's made up of quality tobaccos.
Included in the envelope was a few pages of information on the different blends and an order form. There's also a page with an offer for the Senior Pipe Reamer. (For anyone interested in the reamer, it's the lowest price I can recall at $17.50.)
I'm impressed. Once I can afford to buy some, I'll be sure to give this guy some business. It was also nice to see that he was willing to spend $2.07 just to get the samples out to me.

 

[cortezattic]

Here's my review of Sterling's Country Store Natural blend. A codger Burley worth checking-out.

 

[unclearthur]

It sounds like a great geezer blend!

 

[cortezattic]

Phil asked

Larry, would you recommend it for a first time "Natural" tobacco?

I think so. It's like Prince Albert with pizzazz -- very restrained use of cigar leaf and Latakia.

I normally doctor my PA with Perique, but cigar leaf/Latakia is a very good way to go too.

BTW I was reading about Connecticut shade grown leaf: considered some of the finest grown in this hemisphere.

 

[unclearthur]

Well guys! I sampled the "Bargain " pipe tobacco today . What I got smells and smokes a lot like Half and Half. Ain't bad, but I don't know if I will order any.

 

[jonesing]

Yeah I forgot I got that other sample. I opened it when I got it and smelled it....huh...well that's certainly different. Mine didn't seem Half and Halfy to my nose.
It likely churns a good deal. I assume it's the scraps?

 

[dudleydipstick]

It likely churns a good deal. I assume it's the scraps?

Most likely. A lot of blenders will just throw scraps from different blends together and sell it at a discount. Mars Cigars and P&C sell blends like that. One of them even offers the choice of aromatic or straight.

 

[dudleydipstick]

Arthur,
Did you dry the Tavern Blend out any before you smoked it? I did for a while on the back porch in the breeze and then under a light bulb until it was just right.
For a smoke that didn't gurgle any, I was surprised at how much tar was left behind when I cleaned my pipe.
A tasty smoke all the same, though. Your blog post pretty much summed up my experience too.

 

[unclearthur]

I left the bag open for about half an hour before I stuffed the pipe. Got a nice dry smoke. Even in the meer which as I said tends to smoke a bit wet. I did find it left a fair amount of residue in the pipe too.

 

[fhb2532]

I just snail mailedd my request for a sample today, so about two weeks to go for me. Tried email but I don't do outlook, oh well

 

[dudleydipstick]

I just snail mailedd my request for a sample today, so about two weeks to go for me. Tried email but I don't do outlook, oh well

I don't do Outlook either, but if you right-click on the e-mail link, you can use "Copy E-mail Address" and paste it into the address field of an outgoing e-mail.
This is his address:
jackpete@sbcglobal.net
You might be able to write and tell him to disregard the snail mail if you want to.

 

[fhb2532]

I tried that with gmail, still didn't work

 

[pstlpkr]

I think I'll go the "snail mail" route as well.

 

[fhb2532]

Just got my samples about 3 hours ago I asked real nice for a 2nd sample of the peach style country atore and they kindly included it as a 3rd sample. Very impressed by the size of the samples. So now I've got three new tobaccos to try, yummyI'll report back after they dry out a bit. Fast turn around for snail mail 8 days total time.

 

[unclearthur]

Soooooooooooooooo? Anything especially Nummy?