Mixture #79

[Lostmason]

What is so wrong with it?
Who makes it?
Where can I find some?

[Emperor Zurg]

Tastes like smoking baby powder from what I've heard
Sutliff, I believe
pipesandcigars.com

[Tobias Lutz]

Here is my review from elsewhere on the forum:

Brand: H. Sutliff
Blender: H. Sutliff
Tin Description: Rich burley tobaccos, blended to the original, time-honored formula of the Sutliff's of California, maintains the tradition of this perennial favorite. A topping of natural vanilla flavoring gives this basic pipe tobacco blend a soft, sweet aroma to enhance its already mild, biteless, round taste.
Country of Origin: US
Curing Group: Sun Cured
Contents: Burley
Flavoring: Whisky
Alcohol / Liquor
Vanilla
Other / Misc
Cut: Ribbon
Packaging: 1.5oz Tin, 50 g Box


After much conversation in another thread I decided to dig deep into the cellar and find the sample I had of this blend. It proved to be in the very bottom of the chest and after smoking it I’m inclined to believe that might be the best place for it
The tobacco is interesting to look at. It is variegated in color and actually reminded me of some loose leaf tea blends I enjoy. Smelling it in the jar it had a scent similar to that of heavily topped cherry OTCs, but there was a unique chemical aspect that made it smell like an industrial air freshener. Supposedly the main toping is vanilla, but I couldn’t find that in the unlit odor. The moisture level was decent and the cut was consistent so it packed quite well. I chose to smoke it in a MM cob rather than risk ghosting one of my briars.
The initial light brought out a strong unnatural perfume like taste, but after a quick tamp and a second match it settled down a bit. Within two minutes however I realized this blend could bite hard if I didn’t puff cautiously. The tobacco burned VERY hot- to the point that the bowl of my cob was uncomfortable to touch after only 5 minutes. While the flavor wasn’t horrid, the heat of the bowl required me to sit the pipe aside momentarily to rest.
After a few minutes I relit and tried to pick out flavors. I could get a little whiskey and there was some honey like sweetness, but everything was muddled by the perfume nuance that still hung around with each puff. Before too long (another five minutes) the bowl was scorching hot again. I can only assume that the toppings used to concoct this blend are the reason it burns so damn hot because I wasn’t overly dry. Regardless, it made it difficult to enjoy. I finally worked my way to the bottom of the bowl on the fourth match but towards the end the mixture had hints of soapiness and vanilla (like powder room hand soap).
I would say that the best thing this blend has going for it is a fairly decent room note. I think the reason Hef endorsed this blend was because it smelled like his bunnies (unfortunately it tastes like their perfume as well).

Pros: Room note, cheap
Cons: Burns hot as hell, chemical/perfume taste profile
Overall: 2/10

[tmoran]

What is so wrong with it?
Who makes it?
Where can I find some?

Hold that thought. I plan on doing a review contest for this stuff, similar to my contest for Ennerdale from the fishy site. I was going to give it a couple of weeks since Tobias has his OTC thread going and Pete is doing another large review thread.

[Lostmason]

Well.......I'm starting to remember when i had my mouth washed out for cussing (last week),I appreciate the candid responses,and will have to think more before I jump out for a tin.

[Emperor Zurg]

I believe it comes in a pouch like most crap tobacco

[Branzig]

I have heard it is like a bad tasting Lakeland...that is kind of a scary thought

[cpmcdill]

You get a pouch of Velvet, and somehow accidentally spill your heirloom bottles of your great-grandmother's perfumes onto it. After some airing out, but not enough, you decide you are desperate enough for nicotine that you'd almost consider digging up some cigarette butts outside of a Mall entrance, you remember that you have a pouch of Mixture 79. When you are starving, anything tastes good. Mixture 79! Bliss! Then you come to your senses, and realize that your poor pipes will never forgive you, and forever more will deny you the sheer pleasure of other tobaccos. You are doomed.

On a more practical note: If you are ever cursed with a pouch of '79 that you are compelled by your inner voices to finish, there is a solution. A similarly diabolical tobacco exists called Middleton Apple, which if blended with Mixture 79 creates a synergistic effect, resulting in a nice blend reminiscent of mulled cider, a nice smoke for the Winter. It is something you can actually tolerate, if you enjoy aromatics. Mix them together and let them age and marry for a few months, and you won't have to throw them out.

[Desertlifter]

It is a rite of passage. Here's my own review from when I did the OTC trade elsewhere....

Mixture 79. It sits in its baggy. Staring at me. Daring me to set forth. In the bag it is….well….typical looking. Smells vaguely Lakeland-ish, and I loves me some Lakelands. I am determined – yeah mayhap desperate – to enjoy this blend. Cob in hand, NPR on radio, I set forth. As I readied myself for this battle I thought of Poe for some reason, but I’m pretty sure that Poe would have been a FVF kind of guy.

Lovecraft. He would be into this stuff.

“I am writing this under an appreciable mental strain, since by tonight I shall be no more.”
Yah – that’s the ticket. So join me, dear reader. I now hurl myself into the abyss of Mixture 79.

I set this stuff out last night to dry. Yes – last night. It wasn’t overly soggy anyway, but I wanted to give this blend a shot at its crunchiest. Packed the pipe and got the fire stoked. I was immediately beset with a tidal wave of sugar. Seriously. It was like I bit into a sugar cube. The retrohale was that of a mild Lakeland, if Walmart made a Lakeland blend. Perish the thought. But overall? Surprisingly not bad.

“My opinion of my whole experience varies from time to time. In broad daylight, and at most seasons I am apt to think the greater part of it a mere dream; but sometimes in the autumn, about two in the morning when winds and animals howl dismally, there comes from inconceivable depths below a damnable suggestions of rhythmical throbbing ... and I feel that the transition of Juan Romero was a terrible one indeed.”

Slight Lakeland goodness, smooth burn, little or no tongue bite – overall this is good stuff! Not as good as the other OTCs I’ve reviewed, but not the evil harridan that I dreaded. The sweetness comes and goes, and although it is very obviously that of a topping rather than from the tobacco it isn’t overpowering. It wants to bite for a moment, then that passes. What was really odd about this was that when I was merrily puffing away with no bite whatsoever, and happened to take a sip from my morning drink. This brought on a moment of level three Mac Baren bite. Truly weird, and it only happened once or twice. I got absolutely none of the anise or root beer that I noted in the bag.

“Memories and possibilities are ever more hideous than realities.”

Mixture 79 merrily burned in my bowl as I made my way through morning fog. Tomorrow I work later and will be able to listen to All Things Considered. Is that Yog-Sothoth? Waitaminute….this Mixture 79 thing is….surprisingly burnable. If you like a Lakeland, you will get a touch of such on the retrohale. It wants to bite, but doesn’t. Dry this stuff, then dry it more.

“I was nearly unnerved at my proximity to a nameless thing at the bottom of a pit.”

As I made my way to the bottom of the bowl, the sugar cube showed itself again. Then it turned into something I could only describe as sweaty feet. If you went to the gym, shoved a flake or two of Ennerdale into your socks, and then played racquetball for a few hours before smoking it, that would be it. That went away quickly, but like the image of a disfigured streaker on a trampoline, it....lingered. It was odd, because other than this moment of footiness, this was not bad at all. If toe-jam and floral notes are something that you enjoy, then Mixture 79 just might be your thing!

[Lostmason]

@Desertlifter ,Thank you for such an elegant review,it is clear that you are well read and educated.Your ability to turn a phrase is astounding.The reference to the "gym" is
quite helpful in that I have been the unfortunate purchaser of not one but three Dominican Brown Bag samplers.I clearly see the point that this '"Mixture 79" might be
acceptable due to simply haveing a differing flavor preference.On the other hand, I do believe that in a previous life you must have been either a politician or a traveling
Tonic Salesman,allbeit a very succesfull one.