three star blue

[joeg]

Has anyone tried the latest version of Three Star Blue? Used to be available all over, then Iwan Ries only made it available through them for many years. Consolidated/Altadis/Sutliff/Mac Baren has made it for many, many years. They stopped making it in boxes and now it's available in pouch or 7 oz tin from others (see smokingpipes.com). People said for years that it had perique, latatakia and perhaps "deer tongue." I never sensed any of those tobaccos when smoking it, nor did Iwan Ries really advertise what was in it. Well, now, they advertise what's in it on the label. It's certainly a very polarizing blend; like Mixture 79 is..not that they're similar, just how they seem to be love it or hate it blends. Wondering if anything's changed since the box formula. Any and all comments are welcome and I thank you in advance - Joe G., Danbury, CT.

 

[michaelmirza]

It's a shame that I've never tried it, considering it's the flagship blend from my home shop here in Chicago. I like the premise though, as I generally enjoy aromatic blends with latakia. From what I remember the topping might be whiskey-flavored? I am most likely wrong about that. Anyway, now that a pouch is less than $5 it's hard to resist.

 

[JimInks]

I'm getting a sample to review, and will see how it is.

 

[warren]

Smoked it most of my adult life, over 50 years. Never noticed a changed in flavor or makeup. It is a blend of which I always have a couple 7oz. packs on hand. Never gave a thought to what the blend was made up of. My only concern with any blend is whether I like the flavor and does it deliver sufficient nicotine.
3Star Blueis a review I would be interested in as I swear by Jiminks. The only reviewer I seem to match up with more often than not. No extraneous bull crap (read: prose) in his reviews.

 

[ericusrex]

A review from Jim is already on tr.com. Most of the other reviews are pretty abysmal.

 

[JimInks]

I have reviewed it already, but I am getting a fresh batch, and I will treat it as if I had not smoked it before. I may have to edit that review to reflect my current thinking on the blend, or perhaps I'll not need to do so. Either way, I'll post it on this forum after I have smoked a few bowls.

 

[mso489]

I had a box of it some years ago, and it smoked harsh when I opened it, but when I tried it again some months later, I found it tasty. It is tobacco forward, and the Lat and Per seem pretty remote. Right now, smokingpipes.com has the 7 oz. tub for $14.99 or whatever, compared to Iwan Ries $19.99. I was intrigued to see that IR had expanded its distribution. They have quite a selection under the Three Star series, both aromatics and non-aros, and I feel that all of these blends go back far before 2007. I'm considering ordering a tub of Three Star Blue, and/or a pouch or two of non-aromatic Three Star blends. These have flown pretty much under the radar, outside the IR smoking lounge, for fifty years. I bet there are some good blends in there. I haven't tried Mixture 79, but just from the constituent tobaccos, I'd guess that Three Star Blue is a more refined blend. Yes, Jim Inks is a serious reviewer; he gives you everything you need and want to know, and nothing you don't.

 

[JimInks]

MSO: Thank you for the compliment. I do agree that in several ways, Three Star Blue is a refined Mixture #79, though the constituent tobaccos are not the same, and the topping is not as strong in the Blue, thus making it an easier smoke for those who want a less intense, less perfumy topping.

 

[mso489]

What I can't seem to learn is what flavoring is used with Three Star Blue. The tobacco part seems to correspond to what's listed, but there's no hint on the flavoring, unless I'm missing it. It sure didn't leave any impression when I smoked it, but that was some years ago.

 

[JimInks]

Licorice is one of them, but I think something else is present, too.

 

[joeg]

Gentelemen: I appreciate all of your input, and I look forward to JimInks' review. I've read many and consider him very objective about his reviews. I wonder if any of the other three star blends will be distributed by others. Thanks again for all of your input...joe

 

[JimInks]

Well, Sutliff sent me a pouch for review. They knew I had reviewed it before, but asked me any way. I'm finding that, while it's the same blend that I smoked a sample of when I wrote my review a couple years back, that smoking it fresh out of a newly opened pouch makes a difference. Now, I wonder how old the sample I smoked was, and how long it was out of a pouch before I got it. Most of the flavors are the same, but this is much better, more well behaved with a fresher taste. I also notice a little vanilla, which I hadn't before. When I smoke a little more, I'll be rewriting and posting the review. This is the reason to always keep an open, objective mind about the tobacco you smoke.