ATTENTION: CB Pipe Tobacco Review Bombing Run Version 2.0

[LandonColby]

Samples were received today. Can't wait to dig in!
-Yellow "K" (vac)
-Orange "B" (vac)
-Green "Y" (non-vac)
-Green "J" (vac)



Think I'll open the Green "Y" either tonight or tomorrow morning, my palate is a little tired from heavy puffing today.

[cpmcdill]

My third review:

Details--
Date: April 08, 2015
Name: cpmcdill
Tobacco: Green J (vac) G&H Louisiana Flake
Pipe: Canterbury straight billiard
Site: Indoors

Observations--
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled).
This blend was vacuum sealed, and appears as a slab of pressed flake tobacco, about 5" long and 7 slices thick. Colors present in the flakes are mostly yellows and medium-dark browns in equal proportion. Feels like a good moisture level, and possesses a delicious fragrance, with distinct fig and cocoa notes. My nose cannot single out any of the individual tobaccos in the flake.

Preparation (how did you prepare and pack it).
Peeled off and slightly rubbed out just enough to fill my pipe, then folded the strands into sort of a ball and stuffed it in. I guess it's a sloppy air pocket packing. On the cold draw I discover the pipe stem needs a bit of cleaning, so I run a pipe cleaner soaked with Everclear through, to freshen it up. Then, it was ready to light.

Burn:
I used matches, and found it lit up perfectly, so it was indeed at the right moisture level. Maintains a steady burn even with very light puffing. Stayed lit just fine, but had to let it go out at halfway, because I had to go add some fuel to the woodstove. On returning I lit up again.

Flavor:
The pronounced figgy/cocoa aroma of the flakes was not in evidence on first lighting, but a slight flash of Lakeland, which quickly went away, and when I slowed my puffing tempo, a sensuous chocolatey character came through. Virginia's in there, but I'm not even going to try guessing what else. It is rich, and very rewarding to a slow, mindful cadence. Even at the first quarter, I want to know what this is, so I can buy a pound or two to cellar. At 50% the flavor's stillgoing strong, but gaining in strength, with more tobacco coming through. Chocolate notes are still present. Continued right down to the bottom with no significant change, and minimal dottle.

Comments and conclusion:
This is one I enjoyed a lot. I have not had it before, but I would definitely consider adding something like this to my permanent rotation.

[Branzig]

All these reviews are making me excited! Great reviews so far everyone!

Can't wait for mine to show up so I can get to them!

[Horsefeathers]

Samples arrived today! Thanks Pete!

Horsefeathers received:
C - Pink (VAC)
D - Yellow
R - Pink
U - Pink



Going to review C - Pink (VAC) first since it stands out the most of the 4. I'll have the first review done as soon as the weather cooperates.

[GWBowman]

@NeverBend , when ever I have received a package of pipe tobacco in regular ziplock bags, it is immediately evident from the smell. Generally the box will smell great , even after being emptied. No smell on the outside of these bags. One you sent was a ziplock type with the tear open spots. It did tear open where it was supposed to. I took the tobacco out and jarred it. Since then I have opened and closed the bag several time. It works great. One time I closed it, puffed up slightly, with some air in it. Squeezing will not make it pop open. I finally was able to squeeze the air out, but it was incredibly hard. After that, I opened it backup and put some water in it. It held. I had to really give it hell to make it leak. It took a lot more pressure and manipulation than it should ever be under in normal use. These are great.

[cpmcdill]

My fourth and final review:

Details--
Date: April 09, 2015
Name: cpmcdill
Tobacco: Pink i (vac) G&H Brown Flake
Pipe: Dr Grabow Golden Duke Adjustomatic straight rusticated pot
Site: Indoors

Observations--
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled).
This tobacco came vacuum-packed, and appears as an intact pressed flake, six inches long and 6 slices thick. In color it is mostly light to medium brown, with few flecks of yellow and darker brown. There's a faint glitter of sugar crystals on the surface, by which presence I infer that this flake has had some aging. It's flexible, has a good moisture level, and smells great. Sweet grassiness with a touch of raisin.

Preparation (how did you prepare and pack it).
Reamed and cleaned the pipe first. As is my preference with flakes, I pulled off just enough for a pipeful, and rubbed it out a little, then rolled it in a loose ball and stuffed it into the top, maybe allowing a little air space near the draft hole. Cold draw was fine.

Burn:
Matches are used. Took a light easily, after the initial light and tamp. With a slow and steady cadence, it burns steady and cool, and for a long time. I can tell it might bite the tongue with hard puffing. No re-lights all the way down


Flavor:
Right from the start, the sweet grassiness comes through in the smoke, and a little later some spiciness. 25% in, the sweetness has tapered and the fresh grass is more hay-like. About this point it got a gurgle (thank goodness for adjustomatic - was easy to blot the moisture). Three quarters along, and the flavors stays much the same. Good nicotine in this - I can feel it. Smoked all the way down to ash with not dottle, and no ashy flavors.

Comments and conclusion:
I found this to be a tasty flake, though I was even more impressed with the other two flakes I was given. Definitely high quality tobacco, and I wouldn't say no to more, though the others piqued my interest more strongly.

[BryGuySC]

My fourth and final review:

Details--
Date: April 09, 2015
Name: cpmcdill
Tobacco: Pink i (vac)
Pipe: Dr Grabow Golden Duke Adjustomatic straight rusticated pot
Site: Indoors

Observations--
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled).
This tobacco came vacuum-packed, and appears as an intact pressed flake, six inches long and 6 slices thick. In color it is mostly light to medium brown, with few flecks of yellow and darker brown. There's a faint glitter of sugar crystals on the surface, by which presence I infer that this flake has had some aging. It's flexible, has a good moisture level, and smells great. Sweet grassiness with a touch of raisin.

Preparation (how did you prepare and pack it).
Reamed and cleaned the pipe first. As is my preference with flakes, I pulled off just enough for a pipeful, and rubbed it out a little, then rolled it in a loose ball and stuffed it into the top, maybe allowing a little air space near the draft hole. Cold draw was fine.

Burn:
Matches are used. Took a light easily, after the initial light and tamp. With a slow and steady cadence, it burns steady and cool, and for a long time. I can tell it might bite the tongue with hard puffing. No re-lights all the way down


Flavor:
Right from the start, the sweet grassiness comes through in the smoke, and a little later some spiciness. 25% in, the sweetness has tapered and the fresh grass is more hay-like. About this point it got a gurgle (thank goodness for adjustomatic - was easy to blot the moisture). Three quarters along, and the flavors stays much the same. Good nicotine in this - I can feel it. Smoked all the way down to ash with not dottle, and no ashy flavors.

Comments and conclusion:
I found this to be a tasty flake, though I was even more impressed with the other two flakes I was given. Definitely high quality tobacco, and I wouldn't say no to more, though the others piqued my interest more strongly.

Man, you are crushing those reviews!
I gotta say, I'm pretty jealous. I'm antsy to get puffing!

[GWBowman]

My first review



Details
Date-4/9/2015
Name-George Bowman
Tobacco- A yellow G&H Dark Sliced
Pipe-smooth rhodesian basket pipe
Indoor / Outdoor-indoors

Observations
Examination
The tobacco looks to be a string cut but has some small pieces of flake. It is such a dark brown, it’s almost black. There are a few small light brown specks scattered all through out. It is a little wet. The smell is fantastic. Smells like tobacco, sweet, raisins, very dark heavy dried fruit. There is something in the smell that is a little smoky but I can’t tell what it is.
Preparation
It was a little wet, but I didn’t think too wet to smoke. I was wrong and could not get a good light. I put it on a paper plate for about 25 or thirty minutes and then gravity fed with just a little packing.
Burn
It lit well. Now I realize I packed it more than I thought or this is very dense. Probably a combination of both. Several relights are normal for me and this was no different. It burns hot to a white ash. The smoke is thick, white and abundant.
Flavor
I immediately catch a little citrus that is almost always present but will not take the lead. It’s smoky and there is a earthiness that makes me think of burley. There is a good amount of spice in the retrohale. The more I smoke, the spicier it turns, as well as smoky. It produces an oily smoky coating on my tongue and roof of my mouth. A soapy taste comes on that turns into a chemical taste and smell. The hot burn is putting a little bite on the back and outside edges of my tongue. There is something I’ve been tasting almost the whole time that I want to attribute to tonquin but am starting to think this is Lakeland Essence. A perfume taste. Toward the end of the bowl, I’m thinking it taste like oven cleaner smells.

Comments and conclusion
The tobacco smelled terrific and tasted nothing like it smelled. It is an incredibly strong tobacco. The nic hits the stomach and then the head. While it is a quality tobacco, the taste and smell are nothing I would buy.

[Alligator Gar]

@NeverBend , when ever I have received a package of pipe tobacco in regular ziplock bags, it is immediately evident from the smell. Generally the box will smell great , even after being emptied. No smell on the outside of these bags. One you sent was a ziplock type with the tear open spots. It did tear open where it was supposed to. I took the tobacco out and jarred it. Since then I have opened and closed the bag several time. It works great. One time I closed it, puffed up slightly, with some air in it. Squeezing will not make it pop open. I finally was able to squeeze the air out, but it was incredibly hard. After that, I opened it backup and put some water in it. It held. I had to really give it hell to make it leak. It took a lot more pressure and manipulation than it should ever be under in normal use. These are great.

They are super heavy duty and would be good for vacpacking dried fruit, jerky, smoked fish, smoked peppers, dried mushrooms, etc. Would be good for packing meals for hiking, hunting or fishing. You could dry pack a fire starter kit, it would stay dry and you could rip it open in an emergency. Pack me some blind smoked trout in one, Pete and I'll tell you what wood you used and where you caught 'em.

[Alligator Gar]

My first review



Details
Date-4/9/2015
Name-George Bowman
Tobacco- A yellow
Pipe-smooth rhodesian basket pipe
Indoor / Outdoor-indoors

Observations
Examination
The tobacco looks to be a string cut but has some small pieces of flake. It is such a dark brown, it’s almost black. There are a few small light brown specks scattered all through out. It is a little wet. The smell is fantastic. Smells like tobacco, sweet, raisins, very dark heavy dried fruit. There is something in the smell that is a little smoky but I can’t tell what it is.
Preparation
It was a little wet, but I didn’t think too wet to smoke. I was wrong and could not get a good light. I put it on a paper plate for about 25 or thirty minutes and then gravity fed with just a little packing.
Burn
It lit well. Now I realize I packed it more than I thought or this is very dense. Probably a combination of both. Several relights are normal for me and this was no different. It burns hot to a white ash. The smoke is thick, white and abundant.
Flavor
I immediately catch a little citrus that is almost always present but will not take the lead. It’s smoky and there is a earthiness that makes me think of burley. There is a good amount of spice in the retrohale. The more I smoke, the spicier it turns, as well as smoky. It produces an oily smoky coating on my tongue and roof of my mouth. A soapy taste comes on that turns into a chemical taste and smell. The hot burn is putting a little bite on the back and outside edges of my tongue. There is something I’ve been tasting almost the whole time that I want to attribute to tonquin but am starting to think this is Lakeland Essence. A perfume taste. Toward the end of the bowl, I’m thinking it taste like oven cleaner smells.

Comments and conclusion
The tobacco smelled terrific and tasted nothing like it smelled. It is an incredibly strong tobacco. The nic hits the stomach and then the head. While it is a quality tobacco, the taste and smell are nothing I would buy.

This has got to be the same as Fuschia A. Stout but smooth, weird oily taste I don't dislike. Reread my review and see if it does not sound familiar to you. Does it taste like it's had some cellar time? I hope it's not unobtainable, because I WANT.