Summer of 2016 Blind Review Thread

[Tobias Lutz]

Blend #2

The jar smell is pleasant and conservative. It smells like plums, vanilla, new shoe leather and Play-doh. It appears to be a black Cavendish and smokes like it too. It was slightly moist from the bag; I smoked the first bowl of it right out of the bag. I'm smoking the second bowl now after letting some of it sit out in a bowl overnight. I think it tastes better right out of the bag. It's not a very intense aromatic; the flavor is very subtle vanilla and something else fruity. Can't discern what the fruity flavor is; those esters all taste the same to me sometimes. It reminds me of Lane BCA, but with less vanilla flavor. It burns well enough, doesn't snap or crackle and while it did take one pipe cleaner, it is fairly dry smoking. I'm guessing this is SPS Loire Valley.

SPS Tabac Noir

Dark, flavorful and exotic.

Brand Sutliff Tobacco Company
Blended By Carl McCallister
Manufactured By Sutliff Tobacco Company
Blend Type Cavendish Based
Contents Black Cavendish
Flavoring None
Cut Coarse Cut
Packaging 1.5 oz tin
Country US
Production No longer in production

[Haebar]

Blend #3

This smokes a lot like Captain Black original only a little muted. There is a fair amount of Cavendish, both black and regular. The small amount of black Cavendish added is just enough to soften it around the edges. Burley adds a substantial body and a moderate kick. There is a tad bit of Virginia to sweeten and broaden the taste spectrum. I'm tasting both vanilla and cocoa, although not sure if the cocoa note is the native burley note or if it is something added. This is very enjoyable; smokes relatively cool and dry for an aromatic.

[Tobias Lutz]

Blend #3

This smokes a lot like Captain Black original only a little muted. There is a fair amount of Cavendish, both black and regular. The small amount of black Cavendish added is just enough to soften it around the edges. Burley adds a substantial body and a moderate kick. There is a tad bit of Virginia to sweeten and broaden the taste spectrum. I'm tasting both vanilla and cocoa, although not sure if the cocoa note is the native burley note or if it is something added. This is very enjoyable; smokes relatively cool and dry for an aromatic.

This was a bowl of SPS Top Shelf

Bourbon whiskey has been a longtime popular addition to pipe tobacco and Top Shelf offers a smooth blend of bright Virginias, soft white Burley and silky black Cavendish with an excellent Bourbon note for fine aroma and flavor.

[Haebar]

Blend #19

This is ribbon-cut with some irregular pieces here and there. It was moderately moist when received so I left some out in a bowl overnight. My first taste is of Virginias as dominant with some black Cavendish. It seems to have some type of liquor flavor. This is a very tasty blend with good body and spicy notes now and then. That's what makes me wonder if it might have some Perique.

[Branzig]

Mystery Tobacco 9

Pipes: Cobs and a Wally Frank

Tin Note: Sweet, vanilla. Little nutty and earthy as well.

Tobacco is a dark brown to black mix; ribbon cut. I am guessing mainly burley and cavendish with a bit of Virginia thrown in. Tobacco packed easy and lit just fine once dried out a bit. As is typical of these blends, the more you allowed it to dry out, the more flavor was lost. Tobacco required a few relights, but burnt down to a nice ash with little dottle left over.

Flavor wise, I picked up a lot of sweet notes overall. Vanilla and rich, almost butter quality hints. At times I thought a small liquor quality was there as well, but that may of been my mind messing with me. Here and there, a little licorice note would poke its head up. The licorice note added a nice change of pace to the sweetness overall. A little bit of earth hinted once in a while as well, but only when I would really torch it. Blend bit me a little bit, but only when I was really puffing at it. This particular blend prefers to be sipped, and sipping produced the most flavors as well.

Overall a decent, sweet blend that would make another easy all-day smoke. Nothing to complex, but just enough there to keep you interested.

[Tobias Lutz]

Blend #19

This is ribbon-cut with some irregular pieces here and there. It was moderately moist when received so I left some out in a bowl overnight. My first taste is of Virginias as dominant with some black Cavendish. It seems to have some type of liquor flavor. This is a very tasty blend with good body and spicy notes now and then. That's what makes me wonder if it might have some Perique.

This was a bowl of Hearth and Home Grandma's Kitchen

Grandma's Kitchen is a blend for those who want real tobacco flavor and a smooth aroma. Nutty sweet Burleys are combined with the mild spice of red Virginia, two natural toasted black Cavendishes, and a bit of a vanilla-based steamed black Cavendish. This mild, cool blend delivers real tobacco flavor with a hint of sweetness, and a pleasant, unobtrusive aroma.

- - - Updated - - -

Mystery Tobacco 9

Pipes: Cobs and a Wally Frank

Tin Note: Sweet, vanilla. Little nutty and earthy as well.

Tobacco is a dark brown to black mix; ribbon cut. I am guessing mainly burley and cavendish with a bit of Virginia thrown in. Tobacco packed easy and lit just fine once dried out a bit. As is typical of these blends, the more you allowed it to dry out, the more flavor was lost. Tobacco required a few relights, but burnt down to a nice ash with little dottle left over.

Flavor wise, I picked up a lot of sweet notes overall. Vanilla and rich, almost butter quality hints. At times I thought a small liquor quality was there as well, but that may of been my mind messing with me. Here and there, a little licorice note would poke its head up. The licorice note added a nice change of pace to the sweetness overall. A little bit of earth hinted once in a while as well, but only when I would really torch it. Blend bit me a little bit, but only when I was really puffing at it. This particular blend prefers to be sipped, and sipping produced the most flavors as well.

Overall a decent, sweet blend that would make another easy all-day smoke. Nothing to complex, but just enough there to keep you interested.

You smoked some SPS Blue Danube:

Blue Danube is a wonderful combination of a bright gold Cavendish, white Burley and sweet Virginia finished with sweet notes of rum and vanilla for great taste and pleasant room note.

[Branzig]

You smoked some SPS Blue Danube:

Blue Danube is a wonderful combination of a bright gold Cavendish, white Burley and sweet Virginia finished with sweet notes of rum and vanilla for great taste and pleasant room note.

Hey! Look at that! My taste buds were pretty on for this one!

Maybe I should go get a lottery ticket or something


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[Desertlifter]

So....number 11. I've smoked a few bowls so far in both a Stanwell diplomat and my beloved Tsuge pot. The tobacco presents with notes of hay and a notable sweetness in the bag. I had to air it out because it picked up a lot of smell from the other bags.

Anyway, the fi St bowl was great. No bite even when pressed hard, and a touch of sweetness and nuttiness that reminded me of a VaBur - imagine a MVF and white burley blend. I don't get DFK or cavendish from this at all. It doesn't really taste like VaBurs that I've tried before though - neither nutty nor treacly.

Had a bowl last night in my Tsuge sitting in front of the White House as I'm in DC on business. Whatever it is, but his is a medium bodied blend that is light on the vitamin N, which do any really speak much to burley, but that is what I get. In the end, I would absolutely have this again. It is an easy burning blend that isn't overly complex - perfect for a morning bowl.

[Tobias Lutz]

So....number 11. I've smoked a few bowls so far in both a Stanwell diplomat and my beloved Tsuge pot. The tobacco presents with notes of hay and a notable sweetness in the bag. I had to air it out because it picked up a lot of smell from the other bags.

Anyway, the fi St bowl was great. No bite even when pressed hard, and a touch of sweetness and nuttiness that reminded me of a VaBur - imagine a MVF and white burley blend. I don't get DFK or cavendish from this at all. It doesn't really taste like VaBurs that I've tried before though - neither nutty nor treacly.

Had a bowl last night in my Tsuge sitting in front of the White House as I'm in DC on business. Whatever it is, but his is a medium bodied blend that is light on the vitamin N, which do any really speak much to burley, but that is what I get. In the end, I would absolutely have this again. It is an easy burning blend that isn't overly complex - perfect for a morning bowl.

You smoked some SPS French Quarter


French Quarter is another of Sutliff's wonderful recreations of missing blends, this time recalling House of Windsor's Bourbon Street. Burley, Virginia and black Cavendish form the base, and a singular top flavor is added for an old-fashioned flavor and room-pleasing aroma.

[Tobias Lutz]

Well...since we have all but 4 of our 24 reviews posted, I figured I would go ahead and draw for the prize package. Here are the numbers I used in the Random Number Generator:

1. @Haebar
2. @BryGuySC
3. @Branzig
4. @Desertlifter
5. @c.ortiz108
6. @cpmcdill

And the winner is...................................

#6

Christopher, you have a package on its way to you (9405803699300272821211) . Enjoy my friend, and thanks to everyone who participated.