EN
JA
ZH
All New Pipes
Brian M.
Reviews
Replacement Stems - Lucite Churchwarden Stem (for Nording)
Works great, but you will need to sand it
I bought this to convert my spiral freehand into a churchwarden. I read the reviews before purchasing, so I was prepared to sand the tenon to fit my pipe. If you are comfortable with sanding an expensive stem, then this is a great way to turn your Nording into a churchwarden. Good product, but SP should really update the description to let buyers know it will require modification.
G. L. Pease - Chelsea Morning 2oz
My Favorite English
I am a massive fan of light English blends - that is to say English blends with a relatively low dose of latakia. EMP and Presbyterian were my go to blends in this category for a long time, but Chelsea Morning has dethroned both of them. CM is most similar to EMP in terms of the latakia content and overall composition, but it has an added dimension of berry-like sweetness (likely from the added perique) that really elevates it. This is the type of blend that can fade into the background and provide a comforting backdrop to whatever you happen to be doing, but turn your attention to it and you will find great nuance and complexity. Gregory Pease is truly a master blender.
Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop Cake 2oz
Slight improvement on an already outstanding tobacco
I have already reviewed the original ribbon cut version of HB, so I won't dive too deep into the overall flavor profile here. The original HB has been my favorite tobacco for some time now, and the cake version is a minor but welcome improvement. The process of pressing the tobacco into a cake seems to give it a little more moisture and also allows you to rub it out to the desired texture. This means you can get it to burn considerably slower than the ribbon cut version which is a wonderful improvement. As for the flavor, it is nearly identical the original but I do detect slightly more sweet, bready notes in the cake version. If you love the original HB, I see no reason not to get the cake version instead.
Cornell & Diehl - Bayou Morning Flake 2oz
Good, but not an everyday smoke for me
Bayou Morning is exactly what it is advertised to be. It is a no nonsense, strong VaPer with enough Perique to make your head spin. The Red Virginias provide a nice malty and sweet base note that reminds me of Edisto, a C&D blend sold under the Low Country brand name. In fact, I would not be surprised if they are the exact same leaf. As much as I like it, the amount of Perique verges on too much for me and makes for a slightly rough smoking experience at times. Overall this is a fun tobacco to smoke on occasion, but don't expect it to become your daily VaPer unless you really, really love Perique.
Capstan - Ready Rubbed Blue 1.75oz
Good, but unjustifiably expensive
This is a must try blend for all pipe smokers. It's a long time classic and was allegedly a favorite of Tolkien, so it's a must for fans of his legendarium. It has the classic sweet, grassy flavors that you would expect from a straight Virginia, but I also get floral and black tea notes that make for an overall interesting smoke. That said, $20+ USD for a 1.75oz tin is absurd for anything other than a limited edition small batch blend (and even then it's a bit much). There are simply too many other Virginias and VaPers that I like as much - and in some cases better - for me to purchase Capstan Blue on a regular basis.
Orlik - Golden Sliced 50g
A little disappointed...
Writing this review feels more than a little blasphemous given the legendary status of OGS. However, I just can't get myself to like this tobacco all that much. For me the citrusy brightness of the Virginias coupled with the slight spiciness from the Perique (that may or may not actually be there) is just too harsh on my palate. I like to compare tobacco to a sound spectrum (meaning a range of frequencies from low to high) and OGS is like a song with only high frequencies. I'll stick with VaPers that have some red Virginia to balance things out.
Nørding - Labrador 2oz
Everything I hoped it would be...
I usually like to spend a good amount of time with a tobacco before reviewing it, but with Labrador it was love at first smoke. I do not wish to turn this review into a tobacco politics rant, but with the recent changes in the pipe tobacco market I have decided to primarily purchase C&D produced blends moving forward. To that end, I've been looking for something to replace my beloved Escudo. Labrador has a similar flavor profile to that blend, but with more nuance in my opinion. It has the bready, fruity, and spicy elements that I love, but with an added toastiness that puts it over the top. That little bit of Cavendish adds some volume to the smoke as well and to be honest it's hard for me to imagine a better VaPer.
Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop 2oz
I thought I was a Virginia guy...
I ordered this blend with some feelings of apprehension. I have predominantly been an enjoyer of Virginia and VaPer blends, but I decided to finally take the plunge on a classic Burley blend. Boy am I glad I did. Haunted Bookshop is deeply earthy and nutty with a prominent black peppercorn note from the Perique. Everything is so perfectly balanced and the result is a tobacco that truly evokes the spirit of its namesake. It is deep, dark, mysterious and I just can't get enough. This might be my favorite blend of all time.
Presbyterian - Presbyterian 50g
Smooth Operator
There is a longstanding debate on whether Presbyterian or Early Morning Pipe is the king of light English blends. Unfortunately I can't help settle the matter since I love them both! Like EMP, Presbyterian is very Oriental forward giving it a nutty and floral flavor with just a little smokiness in the background. I find that the flavors in Presbyterian are less distinct than EMP; they just sort of meld together in a voluminous, creamy smoke. Highly recommend if you want a laid back English that goes great with coffee or tea.
Cult - Blood Red Moon 50g
Not My Bag
I should preface this review by saying that I have never been much of an aromatic guy. That said, I heard that BRM is one of the more flavorful and interesting aros out there so I decided to give it a go. While it does have more flavor than most aros that I've tried, I wouldn't exactly call it a good flavor. BRM tastes eerily similar to a flavored chap stick. The cherry and chocolate flavors certainly come through, but it tastes incredibly artificial.
Peterson - Early Morning Pipe 50g
Great Oriental Forward English
EMP is a classic for good reason. The Oriental leaf comes through stronger than the other components and provides a wonderful nutty and slightly floral flavor that goes great with coffee. The one minor downside is some people find the Latakia to have a slightly "soapy" taste. I never understood this until I did a comparison with Presbyterian and now I see what people mean. It's mild and by no means ruins the experience, but it's there.
A&C Petersen - Escudo Navy Deluxe 50g
Pure Comfort
This is one of the most perfectly balanced blends I've ever smoked. Think apricot pastry with a little black pepper and that will give you a good idea of the flavor and aroma. Every time I smoke a bowl of Escudo I am transported to a place of pure comfort.
Low Country - Edisto 2oz
Solid
This is a solid choice if you are looking for a deep, malty type of Virginia that is available year-round. On some puffs I get wonderful sweet, malty, and bready notes. However, I find it difficult to coax those flavors out of the tobacco at times, hence the slightly lowered rating.
Peterson - University Flake 50g
A Staple of My Rotation
This was my first foray into VaBur blends and I find myself smoking it quite often. I find that the first third or so of the bowl is a bit Virginia forward and the woodsy/nutty flavors of the Burley really start to come through after that. The plum topping is present, but not overwhelming, throughout the entire smoke and it compliments the natural flavors of the tobacco wonderfully. Highly recommend if you are looking to dabble in the world of VaBurs.