After decade of smoking only two blends I have decided to experiment a little. A few days ago I received Cascadia's Open Water and their Campsite and now have smoked two bowls of each.
Campsite is a pleasant blend and I think some people would describe it as a "morning smoke". It doesn't have a lot of character but not every smoke has to be exciting. It comes in a plug form and when the tin is opened what struck me first was a a slightly sweet odor combined with a bit of cut grass. I sliced off and shredded a bit and then let it sit for about 15 minutes.
In the bowl it has no particular flavor standouts but is nice with no bite. The room presence is very light. It is a tobacco I could smoke throughout the day unlike some stronger blends I have sampled. I did have some trouble keeping it lit but I suspect that may be related to my learning about prepping plug tobacco.
Open Water is a different kettle of fish (or bowl of tobacco if you wish). Like Campsite it comes in a plug form. Opening the tin gave me a lovely smell of anise mixed with hints of organics I can't identify. This is a tobacco with character but not so obtrusive as to make the smoker wide eyed. I could detect no after-tastes but the front feel was nice, rich, and with very little bite. There is more of a room presence but not offensive. Like the Campsite I had some trouble keeping it lit.
I was told that plug tobacco can be too moist but I found both of these to be slightly on the dry side. That could be individual to the cans of course, but on the second bowls I smoked them directly after the shredding and they were distinctly cooler and better tasting.
I recommend both of the blends to a smoker not wanting too rich or aggressive a smoke and have put aside a chunk of the Open Water in an airtight mini-jar to try in a few months.
Campsite is a pleasant blend and I think some people would describe it as a "morning smoke". It doesn't have a lot of character but not every smoke has to be exciting. It comes in a plug form and when the tin is opened what struck me first was a a slightly sweet odor combined with a bit of cut grass. I sliced off and shredded a bit and then let it sit for about 15 minutes.
In the bowl it has no particular flavor standouts but is nice with no bite. The room presence is very light. It is a tobacco I could smoke throughout the day unlike some stronger blends I have sampled. I did have some trouble keeping it lit but I suspect that may be related to my learning about prepping plug tobacco.
Open Water is a different kettle of fish (or bowl of tobacco if you wish). Like Campsite it comes in a plug form. Opening the tin gave me a lovely smell of anise mixed with hints of organics I can't identify. This is a tobacco with character but not so obtrusive as to make the smoker wide eyed. I could detect no after-tastes but the front feel was nice, rich, and with very little bite. There is more of a room presence but not offensive. Like the Campsite I had some trouble keeping it lit.
I was told that plug tobacco can be too moist but I found both of these to be slightly on the dry side. That could be individual to the cans of course, but on the second bowls I smoked them directly after the shredding and they were distinctly cooler and better tasting.
I recommend both of the blends to a smoker not wanting too rich or aggressive a smoke and have put aside a chunk of the Open Water in an airtight mini-jar to try in a few months.
