Borkum Riff Orange & Honey: Review

Blender: Swedish Match
Tin Description: Borkum Riff Orange & Honey is composed of specially selected tobaccos that help to underscore the mild scent and aroma of orange and the pleasantly rounded and creamy honey notes. Borkum Riff Orange & Honey consists of bright Virginia, richly aromatic Kentucky and cool-smoking Burley tobacco. The perfect choice for the bon viveur who prefers a fruity tobacco with a soft body.
Country of Origin: SE
Curing Group: Air Cured
Contents: Burley
Kentucky
Virginia
Flavoring: Orange
Honey
Cut: Ribbon
Packaging: 50g Pouch

I purchased this, along with the other two “new” blends from Borkum Riff (Mixture No.8 and Vanilla Cavendish) in order to make free shipping on a cigar order from P&C last month. This one stood out as the most interesting so I put the pouch aside to get it in my rotation quicker.

The tobacco is dappled with multiple colors due to it being a 70-30 Va/Cavendish blend. The cut is nice and even without any odd large pieces. The pouch scent is fruity with a citrus sharpness. You can definitely smell the minority Cavendish though. The blend reminds me of an herbal tea (orange blossom) that is mixed with a vanilla black tea. Overall the scent is “bright” and pleasant.

The ribbon cut packs nicely. The moisture level seemed reasonable right out the pouch, though it might be slightly wet for some. It packed easily and lit well. I decided to use a Dr. Grabow Riviera. What better pipe than a Dr. G for an over-the-counter blend?

To my surprise the topping was not overwhelming in the first puff. The light was surprisingly mild and left a wonderful room note within seconds. The tobacco burned fairly cool for me without any bite. I should note that I typically let any tobacco sit on the tray for a couple hours after I rub it out prior to packing it. I do this to prevent gurgling in my pipes, but this also usually helps with bite. There was no excess moisture here and the pipe stayed quiet throughout my smoke.

The orange is very easy to pick up on in this blend. It isn’t a spiced orange like what you sometimes find in a Xmas blend, but instead is just fruity. The honey is harder to find but there is an inherent sweetness from the Cavendish. I would label this as a fairly bold aromatic (as most OTC aros are), but it is neither overwhelming nor perfume tasting. There is still a flavor of “real” tobacco from the Virginias that escapes the topping. This is what makes it a halfway decent smoke. The room note is very pleasant, mild and almost floral.

I can see this being something fun to pick up for a yard smoke if you’re into aromatics, but it isn’t for those that prefer subtle toppings because while not super-strong, they are definitely pronounced here.

Pros- Lit & stayed lit (4 matches for the bowl and 2 were from where I left the room), decent flavor, and good room note.
Cons- Still a bit heavy on the topping for my taste. Advertised as “Orange & Honey” but the latter is MIA.
Overall- 6/10