Cube Cut by Peter Stokkebye

[Haebar]

Peter Stokkebye Cube Cut: Bought this 2 year-old tobacco from a friend. The cube cut is an interesting challenge to smoke. Don't pack it tightly because the cubes expand when they burn and you may have tobacco heaving out of the top of the bowl when you light it. I use gravity to load the bowl and stop short of filling the bowl by about 1/4 inch to leaf room for expansion. Due to the shape of the cubes, it is easy for a lit cube to tumble out of the bowl and burn your shirt or pants if you are not careful. It takes some effort and care to light this blend without burning your tongue. Be prepared to relight several times. You want to be careful about puffing too vigorously, particularly when you are lighting it for the first time. You can experience bite if you do. The initial flavor is of Burley with an early threat of a bite from the Virginia. The natural sweetness of the Virginia comes out with slow, careful puffing. Mid-bowl brings a balance of flavors between the Virginia and Burley, nutty, bold Burley flavor and subtle Virginia sweetness. The finish brings more of the Virginia taste to the front, with the Burley fading slightly. I smoked it in a Comoy's Guildhall billiard and a Missouri Meerschaum that is about 40 years old. I like the taste of this tobacco, but the bite factor brings down my rating to 2 stars.

[Emperor Zurg]

I like this tobacco - it's one of the few burley blends I enjoy.
As far as the bite, leave it out for a several hours before loading and lighting. I find that it's pretty wet and dries slowly, although it doesn't seem wet because of the cut. Letting it dry reduces the bite to minimal - smoking it right from bag it bites pretty hard. It also lights and stays lit a heck of a lot better when you dry it out.

[Haebar]

I like this tobacco - it's one of the few burley blends I enjoy.
As far as the bite, leave it out for a several hours before loading and lighting. I find that it's pretty wet and dries slowly, although it doesn't seem wet because of the cut. Letting it dry reduces the bite to minimal - smoking it right from bag it bites pretty hard. It also lights and stays lit a heck of a lot better when you dry it out.

Thanks for the insight, Emperor. I'll try that on the next bowl.

[Bruck]

AKA Grape Nuts

Love this stuff. Split a pound of this stuff with a co-worker earlier this year.