How about a blind Pipe Tobacco PIF

[cigarsarge]

OK...My first review. For the sake of not having any ghosting in the pipe I'm gonna use a MM Spool on my reviews.

Tobacco #1 sent by James...This tobacco came in narrow strips. The tobacco was dark brown with a few golden colored strips. It's a pretty nice looking flake. It has a sweet smell about it. It was a bit moist so I dried it out for about an hour before loading it up. A glass of ice water was my drink with the pipe.

I used the cannon ball method of loading my bowl. I gave it a charring light...Tamped a bit...And lit the bowl. I immediately got a sweet floral soapy taste. This remained through the entire bowl with a bit of spice. The room note was a bit sharp but pleasant. The bowl burned all the way down with no relight. The ash was black with a few white specks.

I'm guessing this is a Lakeland tobacco...Virginia with a bit of perique. Possibly SG or GH. I'd buy this tobacco in an instant. It's not the most complex tobacco but it is real nice.

I give it 90 out of 100.

By the way...Who wants a few pipe tobacco samples?

[slcraiders]

Great review, Ken! You nailed most of it. #1 is Samual Gawith Best Brown Flake - which I believe would automatically fall in the "Lakeland" bucket. A great straight Virginia. Good move letting it dry out a bit... ...I find a lot of the SG products moisture content to be a bit high initially. A good smooth smoke, imho...

[cigarsarge]

Tobacco #2 again smoked in a MM Cob...This tobacco came in small dime sized coins. The tin note was sweet grass or hay. The coins were pretty dark with a few golden threads.

I rubbed the coins out just enough to break them up. They packed well and did not need a relight after the charring light. I did tamp the bowl a bit. Initially the taste was sweet. After a few puffs I could feel a tingle in my nose. The sweet taste continued along with a peppery finish. The strength built as the pipe got lower. The mouth feel of the smoke was creamy. The ash was black with no moisture in it at all.

I don't really have any idea what brand this is...I think its Virginia based with Cavendish and Perique in the mixture. It's a good solid smoke. I'd purchase this with no reservations.

I gave it 85 out of 100.

[slcraiders]

Nice assessment, Sarge.

# 2 was Escudo Navy Deluxe- a staple of mine...

[cigarsarge]

Tobacco #3...I decided to smoke this tobacco in my Stanwell 32 Bulldog instead of my cob. This tobacco appeared to be broken flake...Dark brown with light brown streaks. It smelled of dried fruit. I rubbed it out just a bit and loaded my bowl. It filled easily and lit well after the charring light.

Th initial impression was tongue bite. I let the bowl cool a bit before the next puff. The heat cooled enough to allow the flavor come through. It was nutty sweet followed up by the Lakeland flavor of the Best Brown I reviewed earlier. Maybe a bit of Burley is in this tobacco. It is a really strong tobacco. The flavor became very intense at the bottom of the bowl giving me a bit of a buzz. The ash was jet black. This tobacco might be better in a larger bowl that burns cooler.

I suspect this is also a Lakeland tobacco...I jut could not get my head around this tobacco enough to figure it out completely.

I give it 70 of 100.

[slcraiders]

#3- Rattray Old Gowrie

[cigarsarge]

Sorry about the slowness of my reviews...I pretty much can smoke on at work as time allows right now. My mother in law had a stroke and I watch after her during the days.

So on with the review...This tobacco is an aromatic ribbon cut tobacco. The ribbons are brown and black. The tin note is brown sugar. It seems to have the perfect moisture content...I like my tobacco a little dry but with still enough moisture to feel it in the tobacco.

I loaded this tobacco in a brand new MM Cob. It packed well and needed no relight after the charring light. The flavor was fruity and had a citrus like finish. It was pretty mild but built in strength to a nice level as the bowl progressed....Not complex but really nice. The mouth feel was nice with no bite. The tobacco burned quite well with a black ash flecked with white. The room note was pleasant. There was no moisture at the bottom of the bowl.

I give this 80 out of 100...I don't smoke many aromatics but this one one is worthy of my attention.

I know someone out there would like...A FEW FREE TOBACCOS TO REVIEW BLINDLY.