EN
JA
ZH
All New Pipes
VELANIBRIAR
Reviews
Toscano - Garibaldi (5 Pack)
Very Good With A Terrible Name
I love this Toscano cigar. It’s my favorite they make. The tasting notes are really discernible and the cigar is lighter than the other Toscano offerings without being thin. It’s very well rounded. That said, it has a terrible name. Garibaldi was a socialist revolutionary that opposed Christ and Christ’s Church. He is an enemy of Western Civilization and the cultural heritage that produced much of cigar culture.
Toscano - Classico (5 Pack)
Enjoyable and Affordable
These cigars purchased on sale and at the 5 box discounted rate represents a very good value. Each cigar after tax is right around $3. The taste is enjoyable and complex enough for the average enjoyer. Not much more you can say than that. They are enjoyable and affordable. They are low maintenance and don’t require a cutter. I’d buy 5 boxes whenever they are on sale.
Toscano - Antico (5 Pack)
Too Strong and Mediocre Taste
I like the Toscano Garibaldi and Classico cigars quite a bit so I expected to enjoy this one. However, the pack I received did not connect. I would not buy these again. I found little in the way of taste other than just dark fired Kentucky. There was a background flavor almost like black licorice that tried to raise its head but never actual came into focus. I’m not sure if the DFK taste just blew out everything else in the cigar to me but I found this entirely disappointing. In addition, this things packs a wallop beyond most full sized cigars in a very small package. Not recommended for those who enjoy a mild to medium cigar with distinguishable flavor notes.
Sutliff - Creme Brulee
Chemical and off taste
This tastes nothing like the name. This stuff is chemically and terrible. I’d much rather smoke captain black original or 1Q if I was interested in a sweet aromatic.
Sir Walter Raleigh - Regular 1.5oz
Not Good
Chemically, little flavor, unpleasant. All in all, it was not good.
Half and Half - Half and Half 1.5oz
Inconsistent
Half and half has a very intriguing flavor half the time. It’s like granger with cranberry sauce and whisper of licorice or it’s basically Granger with less taste. I have trouble getting the notes to be consistent through a bowl.
Five Brothers - Five Brothers 1.25oz
Enjoyable But Harsh
I would prefer this to not be a shag. However, the blend itself has a nice clean tobacco taste that is more reminiscent of European burley and Kentucky blends than American. It can get cigarettey, harsh, and it is quite strong. But is a very enjoyable blend I wish just had the taste turned up a few notches. Probably won’t buy again but I would certainly buy a more flavorful version in a pipe oriented cut.
Cornell & Diehl - Old Joe Krantz White Label
Good Not Great
It’s good but not great. I also found it to be slightly inconsistent in taste between bowls. I probably won’t buy this again.
Cornell & Diehl - Billy Budd Blonde
Ok Not Good
It’s ok but has some harshness. I wouldn’t buy this again.
Balkan Sasieni - Balkan Sasieni 50g
Perfect Balance
This is a benchmark blend for me. It’s straightforward and exceptional in its sophistication and balance. A great blend to cellar except for the price. 4.5 for taste. 4 overall for cost and lack of bulk packaging. My score: 4 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
G. L. Pease - Maltese Falcon 8oz
Best Dark Balkan
Balkan blends can have a dark or light character. There are many examples of each but I find Maltese Falcon to be the best dark flavor Balkan I have tried. Well worth buying and cellaring. My score: 4.5 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
Cornell & Diehl - Palmetto Balkan 8oz
Excellent Virginia Oriental
The Virginias and orientals in this work together well. The very first blend with berries on the tin tasting notes that I actually picked up. Very surprising. Would buy and cellar.
G. L. Pease - Westminster 16oz
Very Good
Very good but not phenomenal. My score: 4 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
Velvet - Velvet 7oz
Good
A nice mild burley aromatic with an amaretto topping. I don’t get the cherry or chocolate out of this at all. I do smell it in the tin note though. Don’t know why but it’s just satisfying if for me. My score: 4 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
Mac Baren - HH Burley Flake 16oz
Cellar It Deep
Smokable from the tin. It tastes excellent with primarily earthy burley, slightly bready and sweet Virginias, and just a touch of DFK. Not overly strong and extremely consistently in both flake composition and taste. My score: 4.5 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
Granger - Granger 7oz
Good But One Note
Granger is simple and straightforward. If you like mild burley mixed with a sugar casing (maybe brown sugar?) you will like this. My score: 3.5 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
Capstan - Ready Rubbed Blue 1.75oz
Needs To Age
The cost and need to age for at least 6 month to a year make this a blend I would not regularly buy. If I’m in a brick and mortar and they have a ton with age on it or it is on sale I may buy a tin. The new price makes it double the cost of many other blends. Not certain it is twice as good. My score: 3.5 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
A&C Petersen - Escudo Navy Deluxe 50g
Worth buying if willing to age at least a year
This is a blend with a good reputation for a reason. The bread notes and spicyness are balanced pretty well. However, it needs about a year of age to start to shine. I don’t like buying blends this expensive and having to age them. That loses it a point for me. 4/5 if aged out of tin. My score: 3 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
Sutliff - Revelation Match
Enjoyable But Likely Won’t Buy Again
I enjoyed this blend. It is heavily cased/topped but it doesn’t taste of chemicals. The tobacco taste is very mild. Very unique overall. I would happily smoke it if I had it on hand. However, I wouldn’t go out of my way to get more. My score: 3.5 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - worth buying to try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
Presbyterian - Presbyterian 50g
Good But Not Amazing
This is worth smoking but not a “best” or “favorite blend” for me. The components are well blended and easily enjoyed. There are many similar blends on the market that make this something I would smoke without hesitation but I would not cellar. My score: 4 My scale: 1-2.5 - bad 3 - not worth buying 3.5 - I would give it a try 4 - it’s worth buying and re-buying on occasion 4.5-5 - it is worth buying in bulk quantities and cellaring deep
Newminster - No. 400 Superior Navy Flake
Bitey, Astringent, and Green
I did not enjoy this blend. I found it prone to bite, astringent in the mouth feel, and rather green in taste. I tried this both new and with a year of age. It saw some change but was still far from desirable.
Favorite Products
