The Discontinued Middleton Blends

[Tobias Lutz]

It has been over a year since I got this email from Milan:

“Middleton Pipe Tobacco [Excludes Cigars] Customers: We were recently advised by our distributor that the John Middleton Co. has discontinued the following blends effective immediately: Cherry Blend - 12 oz. Canister; Gold & Mild - 1 1/2 oz. Pouch; Kentucky Club Continental, Mixture & Regular Blends - 12 & 14 oz. Canisters and 1 1/2 oz. Packet; Prince Albert - 1 1/2 oz. Tin Style Packet; Royal Comfort - 1 1/2 oz. Pouch; Sugar Barrel - 12 oz. Canister; Walnut - 12 oz. Canister; and Wine Berry - 1 1/2 oz. Pouch. Milan Tobacconists has been given the green light to inform our customers that a major player in the pipe tobacco industry is working on comparable blends, although a release date is not known at this time. Please feel free to contact us by email [[email protected]] or phone [877-70MILAN] with any questions, concerns, or if you are interested in our recommendations on potential replacement blends in the interim.”

I stocked up on everything but the Gold & Mild and Royal Comfort. I figured now that the market seems to be completely clear of the leftovers, it would be a fun time to review them – particularly since no one can accuse me of spurring them into buying more tobacco :) I’ll add to this thread until the 6 I have are accounted for. Note that the Cherry Blend and the Prince Albert were simply discontinuations of a specific package size- they are still available and will not be reviewed here.

[Tobias Lutz]

I. Wine Berry:

This stuff smells like you took your favorite Virginia/Burley blend and soaked it in red Kool-Aid. It is cut very fine compared to similar aromatics, and really isn’t that inherently wet. If there is anything to be smelled beyond the fruitiliciousness, it is a slight bit of hay from the stoved Virginia. As far as I know, when this was pulled from production it was only available in pouches. I transferred mine into jars, and this one had been sitting sealed since January of 2014. If there was such a thing as generic branding for tobacco blends, this would be the “IGA” brand of Dan’s Devil’s Holiday. It is really not very sweet at all, mainly giving burley nuttiness along with its berry nuances. It burns very well, and cool, without leaving any goop but it is a touch bitey if you puff too quickly. The room note will get you compliments from nostalgic non-smokers, and when it was available, the price was great. It makes me think of Carter Hall with a fruity side.

http://www.onlinetabak.com/293-1029-large/wine-berry.jpg

[Tobias Lutz]

II. Kentucky Club Aromatic Mixture

This is a mixture of about everything but Latakia…though the proportions are hard to fix, I would venture to say that the bulk is Burley and Virginia. The Burley provides a classic OTC nutty cocoa note, like that of Velvet blend. There is a dry grassiness behind it all, like lawn clippings dusted with hot chocolate mix. It is a mix cut, but is fine enough to easily pack without any rubbing or prep. It is a bit on the moist side, and does well to sit on a plate for a bit. The aromatic aspect of this blend is somewhat like the aroma and subsequent flavor of potpourri. It is hard to nail down one particular flavor in the topping, a bit like Rattray’s Sweet Fragrant. It is all a bit muddled and indistinct except for the Burley nuttiness. It had a good burn without any excess moisture in the bowl, and it stays cool but can bite if smoker too hard. The profile is between mild and medium. The room note is as ambiguous as the topping and, while pleasant, is not going to entice a non-smoker the same way a vanilla or cherry blend can.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjY3/z/sc8AAOxy7S5R-A9m/$(KGrHqR,!nwFHgTjovi8BR-!9leIHw~~60_35.JPG

[Bruck]

II. Kentucky Club Aromatic Mixture

This is a mixture of about everything but Latakia…though the proportions are hard to fix, I would venture to say that the bulk is Burley and Virginia. The Burley provides a classic OTC nutty cocoa note, like that of Velvet blend. There is a dry grassiness behind it all, like lawn clippings dusted with hot chocolate mix. It is a mix cut, but is fine enough to easily pack without any rubbing or prep. It is a bit on the moist side, and does well to sit on a plate for a bit. The aromatic aspect of this blend is somewhat like the aroma and subsequent flavor of potpourri. It is hard to nail down one particular flavor in the topping, a bit like Rattray’s Sweet Fragrant. It is all a bit muddled and indistinct except for the Burley nuttiness. It had a good burn without any excess moisture in the bowl, and it stays cool but can bite if smoker too hard. The profile is between mild and medium. The room note is as ambiguous as the topping and, while pleasant, is not going to entice a non-smoker the same way a vanilla or cherry blend can.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjY3/z/sc8AAOxy7S5R-A9m/$(KGrHqR,!nwFHgTjovi8BR-!9leIHw~~60_35.JPG

I'd get some of that just for the tin :)

[Tobias Lutz]

I'd get some of that just for the tin :)

Unfortunately, mine came in the more modern packaging:

http://wvsmokeshop.com/images/products/detail/KentuckyClubAromaticMixturePipeTobacco.jpg

[Bruck]

Right, that one's not as vintage-looking.

[Tobias Lutz]

III. Kentucky Club Continental

This is a medium brown blend with a very unique canister note. It is sliced into thin ribbons and rubbed out well. The scent is reminiscent of macadamia nuts, vanilla, and damp soil. The Cavendish is not overly sweet smelling, and the Virginia provides the scent of wet hay. It is slightly moist and should dry for a bit prior to packing. This is a medium strength blend that is on the “less refined” side. The flavors are very muddled like those of the Aromatic Mixture, but the flavor profile is a bit stouter. It isn’t sweet, and it burns quite hot. Some flavors like overly toasted almonds came through now and again, but it was really hard to pick the flavors apart. The description cites coconut, which I can see if it was coconut shrimp left under the broiler for just a minute too long. It required a few relights, but did burn clean to the bottom of the bowl. For those who enjoy the KC Aromatic Blend, but need a touch more “ummph”, this is your huckleberry.

http://wvsmokeshop.com/images/products/detail/KentuckyClubContinentalPipeTobacco.jpg

[Tobias Lutz]

IV. Sugar Barrel

In my mind, this is probably the best of the discontinued blends. While some find it to be too mild, and I’ve heard others claim it bit…I find neither to be the case. While the flavor is a somewhat unique, and won’t satisfy everyone, it has all the attributes of a great OTC blend. In the jar it has a unique floral/spice note that reminds me of an herbal tea. The moisture level is always perfect and so you never have to bother with sitting it out. It is a rather fine coarse cut that packs well in the smallest of bowls. Upon lighting I find it to remind me of honey and oats. It is medium strength in flavor profile, but less powerful in regards to nicotine. It burns cool for me, doesn’t bite, and stays lit right down to the bottom of the chamber. I enjoy it as a stand alone tobacco, but also find it to be a good option for cutting heavily aromatic blends. The burley is nutty and not overly sweet, so it cuts the sappy sweetness from Cavendish based aros. Overall, this is one to be sorely missed.

http://acimg.auctivacommerce.com/imgdata/0/3/7/6/1/3/webimg/10549880.jpg

[Pugsley]

Great reviews. I sure do miss the occasional bowl of Sugar Barrel.

[GWBowman]

You've done such a fine job, I may have to order some Match on the next order. Thanks.

[Tobias Lutz]

V. Kentucky Club Mild

This is a burley blend that is cut into small cubes, making it easy to pack in the smallest MM cob or Dr. Grabow. There is both a mild cocoa note and, at the same time, a touch of “zing” like the sour flavor you can get from a bright Virginia leaf. It is too moist, in my opinion, to smoke without sitting it out for a little while and a faint nuttiness emerges in the scent when the excess moisture is gone. My first impression is something similar to chocolate pound cake…not overly sweet, but definite cocoa notes. It has a good burn and a fine ash without any relights. While it can get a touch hot, it doesn’t bite. As it progresses in the bowl there is a faintly floral not that is not at all unpleasant, and what sweetness was there fades some as you approach the bottom of the tobacco chamber. This is probably my second favorite, after Sugar Barrel, for the discontinued lines. I would say it is similar to mixing Granger with Velvet (both at least are still available).

https://img0.etsystatic.com/040/1/8697699/il_570xN.587795030_37xe.jpg

[Tobias Lutz]

VI. Walnut

This is one of the few OTC's I have smoked that took advantage of Latakia in the blend. It is sweet smelling, reminding me of a very mild English blend like Dunhill London Mixture. There is a whiskey barrel note that is equally prevalent to the mild smokiness of the Latakia. It is a moderately fine cut blend that is reasonably dry in the container and ready to smoke when you pop the top. Once lit it tastes almost exactly like it smells. It isn’t overly sweet and is somewhat monotonous from start to finish. The Latakia is more present in scent than flavor, and I had a little trouble keeping it lit. It did burn coolly and was bite free. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by my Dunhill trinity (EMP, Nightcap, & 965), but I found this pretty lacking. I imagine if someone smoked drugstore blends exclusively, this would be a nice change of pace, but even when it was on the market for cheap- I wouldn’t have been compelled to add it to my rotation.

http://wvsmokeshop.com/images/products/detail/WalnutPipeTobacco12ozTin.jpg

[Desertlifter]

Nice review! Exactly my thoughts on this one. The problem is that there are so many REALLY good blends with Latakia that this just doesn't stand out. Pretty much the same thing as with Sugar Barrel.

Still really wish that Granger wasn't so awful - really want to like that blend, but if I want a codger blend, I reach for SWR. Like that stuff.