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Casey G.
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Reviews
G. L. Pease - Maltese Falcon 2oz
Noir Sophistication
Silky smooth, strangely muted, expertly balanced flavor awaits the connoisseur in this blend. I’m no connoisseur, but as a member of the pipe smoking laity, I’m highly impressed. I tend to favor the light, sweet and smooth profile of Union Square, which has been my daily driver for a while now. The Falcon is giving it a run for its crown. I get the sweetness that I look for in brighter Virginia tobaccos, with the gravity and noir sophistication provided by the red Virginia base and Latakia. I really like this one.
Stands & Pouches - Claudio Albieri Leather Tobacco Pouch Deluxe - Olive/Chestnut
Perfect Minimalist Design
If you’re a minimalist, look no further than this gem. It holds tobacco, lighter and tamper neatly and it’s all you need. I bought 4 of these, color coded for my 4 favorite blends and they’re a daily go to. Grab one while they last! The quality is top notch and the construction is simplistic genius. Well done Claudio. Well done sir!
Stands & Pouches - Claudio Albieri Leather Tobacco Pouch Deluxe - Chocolate/Chestnut
Perfect for the Minimalist Pipe Smoker
If you’re a minimalist, look no further than this gem. It holds tobacco, lighter and tamper neatly and it’s all you need. I bought 4 of these, color coded for my 4 favorite blends and they’re a daily go to. Grab one while they last! The quality is top notch and the construction is simplistic genius. Well done Claudio. Well done sir
Stands & Pouches - Claudio Albieri Leather Tobacco Pouch Deluxe - Tan/Chestnut
Perfect for the Minimalist Pipe Smoker
If you’re a minimalist, look no further than this gem. It holds tobacco, lighter and tamper neatly and it’s all you need. I bought 4 of these, color coded for my 4 favorite blends and they’re a daily go to. Grab one while they last! The quality is top notch and the construction is simplistic genius. Well done Claudio. Well done sir
Stands & Pouches - Claudio Albieri Leather Tobacco Pouch Deluxe - Chestnut
Fantastic EDC Tobacco Pouch
If you’re a minimalist, look no further than this gem. It holds tobacco, lighter and tamper neatly and it’s all you need. I bought 4 of these, color coded for my 4 favorite blends and they’re a daily go to. Grab one while they last! The quality is top notch and the construction is simplistic genius. Well done Claudio. Well done sir!
Stands & Pouches - Claudio Albieri 1-Pipe Roll Up - Olive/Chestnut
Not What I Needed
I’ll start off by saying that the quality of this roll-up is amazing and is not the reason for my 3 star review. The utility of the bag on the other hand, was somewhat underwhelming. There is no place for tobacco in the roll-up, which for me, is no bueno. When I’m traveling with a pipe, I like to keep things simple. I pack the pipe, my tamper/dottle pick, a pipe lighter and my tobacco. That is it. This bag has a ton of pockets for every kind of pipe gizmo imaginable that I would never consider using. It has a pocket for your lighter, 5 tampers, pipe cleaners, a pair of socks, car keys, a pocket knife, chewing gum, a comb, a kitchen sink and nice drawstring pocket for your pipe but no pocket for tobacco. I just don’t need all that. If you’re a minimalist like me, get yourself one of Claudio’s deluxe tobacco pouches and MAYBE a smoking pipes leather bag for your pipe if you feel the need. The tobacco pouches will hold a lighter, a tamper and vitally, your pipe tobacco very neatly. I bought 4 of the tobacco pouches for my favorite blends. They’re the best.
Rattray's - Accountant's Mixture 100g
Strong and Easy to Pack
As an accounting graduate, I felt obligated to give this one a try. I normally reside in the realm of mild Virginia’s, venturing into English blends occasionally. From that perspective, this blend is strong. It has a lot going for it though. There is a silky quality to it that I like and I find it easy to pack and burn with very few relights. It’s a great workhorse blend!
Cornell & Diehl - Dreams of Kadath 2oz
Grapes of Wrath LOL
Another guy on here, Roh Echt, beat me to this title. There is an undeniable grape tin note on opening, but don’t let that scare you off. I find this to be a rich, dark, contemplative blend that really lets each of its components shine in the flavor profile. This is one of the few blends that noticeably shifts as you smoke it, to allow each tobacco strain to shine in its turn. I would compare it to Quiet Nights, but it seems more complex. Like its namesake, a bowl of Dreams of Kadath is a journey. It’s a journey I enjoy!
G. L. Pease - Union Square 2oz
Daily Driver
I’ve been enjoying pipes since 2008, and the road from goopy, drug store aromatics to a refined palate has been long and winding, hopefully with many more good miles ahead. It was only about 5 years ago that I really started getting into pure Virginia’s, and I have to say that they now form the base of my cellar. Union Square, after nearly 2 months of daily attention, has worked its way to daily driver status. It’s mellow and easier to burn than John Cotton’s Double Pressed, Orlik or MacBaren, and offers a sweet, bread crust flavor that really pleases my palate. I rarely need to relight, even on 2hr bowls in my IMP bent egg meerschaum. Even after multiple bowls, the aftertaste is mild, sweet and non-intrusive. I’ve had many blends that taste great in the moment but come with a rough, acrid payback after smoking. This is not one of those. The lack of casing or topping and the mildness of the virginias selected for Union Square allow me to enjoy bowl after bowl and always leave me with a scrumptious taste afterwards. This may be the best tobacco I’ve found to date.
Stands & Pouches - Rattray's Tobacco Pouch - Roll Up Peat
Convenient Storage for Travel
I saw another review saying that this little pipe pouch couldn’t hold a pipe and felt compelled to offer a more detailed opinion. This is a great pouch for EDC. I find that it has just enough room for my Peterson 150, pipe tool, lighter, tsuge pipe plug, and enough tobacco for about 3 bowls. It’s not large, but it’s perfect if you’re on the go. I also appreciate the leather quality. As long as you have a straight or half bent pipe 6.5” or less, this pouch should work nicely for you. No, you can’t fit a Strambach calabash in it, but let’s be reasonable. This pouch is fantastic for many standard sized pipes along with a modest compliment of accessories. I use it every day.
Samuel Gawith - Black XX Rope 8oz
Great Stuff!
I see a lot of reviews noting the strength and harshness of the SG XX black rope, and I’ll agree, it is strong. I’ve even seen the word “acrid” bandied around, with one hilarious review comparing XX and Escudo Navy Flake as a “2 inch thick, charcoal seared musk ox liver steak to a 9 course meal at a fine French restaurant. This comparison is obvious hyperbole, but that being said, once you get this one tamed, it turns into a heavy, cool, sweet smoke. I enjoy it when I’m in the mood for more oomph than Union Square but don’t feel like crossing the threshold into burleys. XX has become one of my favorite blends, and I’d say it’s one of the sweeter blends I’ve had once I got it dialed in. The stuff is no frills. There are no toppings, no weird attempts to add vanilla beans or rum, just pure Virginia tobacco, flue cured and delicious. Preparation of the XX is a labor of love and is absolutely critical to an enjoyable smoking experience. I like to cut off 5-6 coins and rub them into fine shag, then let the shag dry for 3-4 hours. 2 hours was not enough drying time for me, but your mileage may vary depending on how you store it. I then proceed to enjoy a moderately packed bowl with my trusty Peterson 150, with care to take it slow. It’s like taking a step back in time, harkening to simple agrarian days before all of the flavorings and fancy blends came into prominence. A bowl lasts me about an hour and a half or so, and when properly prepared, requires very few, sometimes no relights. I sit on about 48oz of this in my cellar. If you manage to catch this one in stock, don’t sleep on it. Pack you a bowl and take a journey!
Granger - Granger 12oz
Grandpa’s Drugstore Burley Blend
I’ll start out by saying that I purchased this blend on nostalgia. This is the blend my grandfather smoked and for that reason alone, I had to try it out. I’m typically not a burley smoker but this stuff is ok. It smokes cool and dry, burns well, and being a ribbon cut, is easy to pack. It can burn a little hot if you get overzealous, but unless you’re really puffing it won’t bite. The flavor is mild, nutty, and very slightly sweet. For the price, it’s a decent burn. Solid 3 stars. I won’t trash talk it out of respect my elders. I enjoy this tobacco in a Peterson Deluxe 8s.
Sutliff - Crumble Kake Virginia Perique 1.5oz
Awesome Red Va-Per
I purchased this tobacco with high expectations and was rewarded for my decision. Flavor is rich and sweet with just a little spice from the Perique. The cake is easy to crumble and pack, burns well and doesn’t bite as long as you sip it. I enjoy this blend out of a dedicated Peterson Deluxe 12.5. My only complaint is the tin note. On opening, there is a strong smell of vinegar that I don’t care for. Setting the tobacco out to dry for around 20 minutes solves the problem, however that vinegar note is keeping this from 5 stars. Aside from that, this is an outstanding smoke and will remain in my rotation.
Orlik - Golden Sliced 100g
Great Everyday Virginia
I really like Orlik. I don’t like it as much as Union Square, but it’s good. I find it has a much brighter flavor than some other Virginia’s I enjoy, such as MacBaren HH Virginia Flake for example. There is a distinct sweetness that I really like about it too. It’s just right, not too sweet and not too bland. I usually set a few pinches aside for about 15 to 30 minutes before smoking to get it to the dryness I like. It always burns well, almost no relights right down to the heel with no tongue bite. The flake roll is a little unique and took me some getting used to, being a fold and stuff kind of guy but it works. I enjoy this one out of a dedicated Peterson Deluxe 12.5 and it never disappoints.
Sutliff - 707 Sweet Virginia
A Little Too Sweet
I bought 2 lbs into this one, mostly because it was inexpensive. The “sweet” in the title caught my eye. It turned out to be a bit too sweet for my taste unfortunately and I ended up giving it away to a buddy who liked it. As a Virginia it hits the boxes with the usual grass and hay notes one would expect, but those flavors were overshadowed by an overwhelming sweetness that I did not much care for. I’m not sure how this was cured, but it tasted like it was cased in honey. The tobacco was moderately dry out of the bag, burned well right to the bottom of the bowl and did not bite, it was just too sweet for me. I tried it out of both a Peterson 315xl and a Peterson Deluxe 12.5 and it didn’t float my boat. That’s said, if you like sweet tobaccos, this might be for you.
John Cotton's - Double Pressed Virginia 1.75oz
Great Virginia Out of the Tin
I’ll start out by saying that this stuff is rather on the pricy side, especially for a Sutliff product. It’s between Union Square and Orlik for me. This tobacco is rich and sweet, like a snickers bar. It’s not as bright as most golden Virginia blends, specifically Orlik, and though I do get some flavors of grass and hay, they are mellowed, perhaps from the double pressing process. This tobacco tastes a lot like an aged MacBaren HH Virginia, which I also enjoy. It’s easy to pack, though it is a little moist on opening, burns well right down to the bottom of the bowl with few delights and does not bite. I enjoy it out of a Peterson Deluxe 12.5, my favorite pipe for Virginias.