Well, it arrived. As luck would have it, I was out on the porch enjoying a pipe (loaded with Tudor Castle) on an uncommonly warm Winnipeg day. The post man walked up, handed me a box and said "Here's your shoes!". Luckily, it wasn't surprise shoes, it was surprise tobacco!
I opened it right on the porch, read the shipping instructions and quickly realized that I would need some space. A lot of space. Best let the pictures do the talking
They're big pics, click on the thumbnail to enlarge
1. The box, all loaded up. The aroma was fantastic
2. The spread. I think I counted 56 or 57 different varieties.
3. The close-ups
It was a little overwhelming. My girlfriend and I spent about an hour opening baggies and smelling the different tobaccos. It was fantastic to see only a few blends that I had tried. I set aside the "definitely try", and "maybe try" piles, and even then I feel like a kid in a candy store!
Tonight I smoked two bowls, Mac Baren Roll Cake and Alsbo Gold. I'm going to re-hydrate some of the others that caught my eye and give them a go. I think I'll pay a visit this weekend to my local Thomas Hinds and send along some Winnipeg blends, along with our own pipeinhand's Halfing's Leaf. I plan on sending the box out early next week to Ghost, as I'm sure everyone is looking forward to this bonanza landing on their doorstep.