Nick M.

Reviews


Gladora - Pesse Canoe Oriental Flake 50g
Good, but...odd?
This is a really unusual flake. It feels almost overly moist while simultaneously crumbling almost into dust as if it were completely dried out. It also just has a sort of "old" and musty quality to it. Maybe stored in a dusty, mildewy room or something? Hard to put a finger on. It's a solid smoke, but I won't queue up for additional tins.

Capstan - Flake Blue 1.75oz
I like it, high price be damned.
Not gonna make any friends with this take but I think it’s worth the price. I’ve smoked quite a few Virginia blends at this point, both new and well aged. I think this is superb for a Virginia smoke, right out of the tin (and even better aged). The slightly higher than midshelf pricetag keeps me from buying it regularly which is probably for the best because if I enjoyed this regularly I think it might potentially ruin all other Virginias for me. The flakes are super high quality and presented really nicely. I feel guilty stuffing them into a mason jar. Smells great, tastes great, smokes well in every pipe I’ve tried it in. I have my “mains” that I may enjoy throughout the week. When I want to reward myself or something I’ll reach for something like capstan.

Cascadia - Downwind 1.76oz
Not too shabby!
I snagged a couple tins of this on the cheap at auction just to try it out. Lo and behold, it’s actually a very decent smoke, and that’s coming from someone with little love for burley. I immediately cut mine into flakes for easy prep, and I look forward to revisiting.

Cornell & Diehl - Sansepolcro 2oz
Probably my top blend from 2024
I snagged a lot of small batch in 2024, and basically cracked open every tin immediately to dive in, and this one definitely stood out for me. Medium bodied with a nice nicotine slap from the dark fired if you're into that. Room note, I'm told, was very favorable to the nonsmokers who were in my sphere of influence at the time as well. I liked it so much I immediately went back to my B&M to snag a few more tins to put away for a rainy day. I'll definitely jump on this if they ever release another version of it.

Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Bob's Chocolate Flake
Really good stuff.
Went to my local B&M back home and the guy behind the counter turned me onto this. I'm really impressed with it. Very clean aromatic, not excessively cased, and the latakia juxtaposed against the sweeter leaves reminds me a lot of Mexican chocolate; very sweet, and a little spicy. This is probably my favorite blend in rotation, at the moment.

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Blog's Commented on

Cornell & Diehl's Sun Bear Returns: Introducing the Bourbon Cask Edition
  • ► Lucky enough to be in my hometown that has one of the best brick and mortar stores in the southeast. Proprietor was nice enough to put me “on the list”.