Tobacco of the Month March 2015

[Chris0673]

Ok folks, HH Old Dark Fired won the inaugural poll for the Cigar Bum Tobacco of the Month! Smoke it if ya got it then tell us what you think! If you don't got it...well this is a great excuse to get it!

HH Old Dark Fired (http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/5214/mac-baren-hh-old-dark-fired) - A bold flake of dark-fired burleys in a well balanced unity with Flue-cured Virginias. This flake is Hot Pressed, meaning that during the pressing, heat is added by steam to the tobaccos which causes the tobacco to intensify the marrying process giving us a bolder tobacco. The robust, earthly flavour of the dark-fired burleys shines through in the taste, and you will experience a deeply satisfying smoke indeed.

[Nature]

Ok, here is my newbie review, and my inaugural review at that.

Tobacco: HH Old Dark Fired
Pipe: unbranded prince shape briar

the Tin, or in my case, the jarred baggie, aroma is a slightly smoky, sweet, earthy smell.
I used one flake, using commonsenseman 's fold and stuff method to pack straight out of the bag with no dry time. Had some initial issues keeping it lit, but with a few adjustments to the pack, got it burn right along with only a few relights and minimal tamps.

Overall, a mellow, earthy smoke. I detect some underlying fruit tones, like a plum without the sweetness or tartness. Maybe fermented fruit, like a prune? There is a bit of heat in the nose with snorking; reminds me of a very mild hot mustard. The strength is medium.

The tobacco burns to a light gray, white, coarse ash.
http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/mwright66/Pipes/C6701C2A-0787-4D97-8BD8-21866E4068BF_zpsc4vmutwg.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/mwright66/media/Pipes/C6701C2A-0787-4D97-8BD8-21866E4068BF_zpsc4vmutwg.jpg.html)

Halfway through, I get a bit of honey sweetness over the tongue. Notes of chocolate come through on occasion. The burn is relatively cool.
As I near the bottom of the bowl, a smidgen of tang emerges. Toward the end, as I experience a very relaxed, slight light-headedness, I realize the strength is becoming a bit more toward full putting the overall strength at med-full.

Bowl burn time was about 45 minutes.