Recently there seems to be an uptick in independent and small batch pipe tobacco blenders coming to the market. To be very clear, I find this insurrection to be a wonderful thing! Similar to artisan pipe carvers, these boutique tobacco blenders – when done well – help support the aging hobby of pipe smoking and contribute to advancement in the pipe smoking pastime. Furthermore, I do believe this creative practice generates a healthy, innovative avenue for those of us on the never-ending search for the perfect tobacco blend (this is where Tobacco Acquisition Disorder – TAD – originates from) and keeps the big boy tobacco producers from getting completely lazy and monotone in their blending practices.
For those who may not be familiar with the producer of this blend, The Briar Fellowship, owned and operated by James Ravenwood, is an independent pipe tobacco blending company and online pipe and tobacco consignment shop. Established in 2011, The Briar Fellowship is an online hub for the Ravenwood pipe tobacco blends, which currently have a portfolio of 14 – 20 blends at any given time. As many of the Ravenwood offerings are one-off creations or seasonal blends, the serious pipe tobacco adventurist will need to follow The Briar Fellowship on Instagram (@thebriarfellowship) to be informed of small and seasonal blend releases.
According to The Briar Fellowship website, Moose Marmalade was created as “a little different than your everyday aromatic. The main flavor profile is that of citrus – tangerine, orange, lemon. Using Virginia, Burley, and Toasted Cavendish, I tone the citrus down a notch with some sweetness and earth, balancing the mixture out. The end result is something that really is reminiscent of Marmalade, a slightly citrus sweet blend that retains some “baccy” flavor, with some wisps of almond and vanilla.”
From the Tin: The first thing to note, even before opening the tin, is the awesome tin art Ravenwood has commissioned for this blend. Again, this is something the independent tobacco producers are doing much better than the large-scale tobacco conglomerates. And let’s be real, having great tin art is never a negative when it comes to deciding whether to try a tobacco blend. It’s part of the overall pipe and cigar smoking experience!
Upon opening, the first thing you will notice is the aromatic bliss of vanilla syrup and fruit zest. Before going any further – be warned – if you are not an aromatic pipe tobacco fan, you will not want to pursue this blend. The tobacco is a very nice mix of light and medium ribbon cut pieces, with the dark cavendish taking front and center stage visually. The tobacco is very moist upon opening and does need a bit of drying time before loading into your favorite pipe for enjoyment. I found between 20-30 minutes to be perfect for drying out the blend.
Flavor Notes (Taste + Aroma): After smoking six bowls of Moose Marmalade, I found that I most enjoyed it in a small – group 1 or 2 – sized bowl. The moisture level in the tobacco seemed to burn and perform better when not packed in large size quantitates/bowl. The room note on the tobacco is most enjoyable and continued to bring my palatable mind to glazed donuts and pancake syrup. The vanilla seemed to be the most prominent flavor with mild chocolate, roasted marshmallow, and faint orange fruits also being present in the tobacco’s flavor profile. The smoke consisted of a thick, rich creamy texture and the retro-hale proved to be harsh – almost unbearable. Between all six bowls I never once experience tongue bite and the total package – aroma + tastes – had me wanting more. This is a very well blended aromatic and I plan to purchase more tins for enjoyment with friends and family this holiday season.
Overall Impression: Fun, interesting, and enjoyable. Those are the three adjectives to best describe this blend. Has Ravenwood revolutionized the pipe tobacco and blending world? Probably not. However, it is very nice to have access to such a wonderful example of a classic aromatic pipe tobacco. In fact, this blend reminds me a lot of the aromatics I used to purchase at my local Brick & Mortar Tobacconist when I first started pipe smoking. And as discussed above, these small independent blenders are much needed to fill the unfortunate void where small town tobacconist have gone away and/or closed shop.
If you are looking for a nice sweet, aromatic smoke for the holiday’s, Moose Marmalade will not disappoint you (the pipe smoker) or your guests (the in-laws). Although pricier than most regular big-box production pipe tobacco blends, I most certainly recommend picking some up for the extra buck or two it will set you back. Not only will you be supporting both the independent blender and the hobby as a whole, but I am also confident you will find lasting enjoyment in each deliciously sweet and aromatically savory bowl. Finally, in a world that seems to be consistently fighting against our innocent and relaxing hobby of pipe smoking, I applaud James Ravenwood – and the many other boutique tobacco blenders – on being the continued innovators and pioneers of pipe tobacco blending. If these courageous folks keep fighting the battles, and we will keep supporting your endeavors.
To celebrate 25 years in the pipe and tobacco industry, Smoking Pipes, an offshoot of their parent company Laudisi, has commissioned Cornell & Diehl with creating two celebratory premium pipe tobacco blends utilizing a rare 25-year-old Virginia tobacco that was cellared and sourced specifically for this project.
Named appropriately for their representation on the opposite ends of the tobacco composition spectrum, Dusk and Dawn were released in late July with only 10,000 tins of each blend manufactured. With the Reserve XXV being a speciality small batch tobacco, this was a one-time run and is now not available on the regular market. However, if you are willing to pony up the funds, tins can be found on secondary market websites such as www.tinbids.com for a premium price. I would most certainly not advise paying the astronomical price tags some of these tobacco thieves are seeking, as they only purchase blends such as this to flip for a premium at a later date and time. This by no means is helpful or supportive of our amazing hobby. So if you are one of those people and are reading this….stop it!
The following description for the Reserve XXV Dawn is from the smokingpipes.com website:
“The XXV Reserve: Dawn is a straight Virginia flake with bright highlights and a naturally sweet, bready character, perfect for enjoyment with a morning brew.”
Info & Overview
Brand: Cornell & Diehl
Category: Virginia
Blend Components: Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Flake
Available Packaging: 50g tin
Price: $14.28 USD
Tin Date: 07/2025
# of Bowls Smoked for Review: 7
On to the review…
From the Tin: Like the many other C&D blends claiming to be flakes, the XXV Reserve Dawn is NOT an actual flake, rather, a broken flake. I have no idea why these products from C&D are labeled in this manner, but I’ve come to expect it prior to purchasing. When they say flake, you’re going to get a broken flake. The color of the “flakes” is gorgeous with lots of medium and dark Virginias, and sprinkles of bright yellows throughout, similar to a seasoning on a great cut of meat. The smell from the tin showed notes of dark raisin fruits and sweet hay barn with mild earthy undertones. Out of the tin the flakes are at an almost perfect moisture level. I found giving them between 10 and 15 minutes of dry time placed them at a pinnacle moisture level for smoking.
Flavor Notes [Taste + Aroma]: Smooth, rich, naturally sweet, and savory. Those words are the perfect description for the C&D XXV Reserve Dawn flake. The tasting and aroma notes danced around a core of molasses, sweet hay/grasses, brown sugar, and dry toast. I noticed intermittent notes of dark fruits and graham cracker sprinkled throughout several bowls. The body of the smoke was straight medium, providing you with a nice mouthfeel, and strength was also medium but can edge to medium plus if the tobacco is smoked too quickly. At no point did I ever experience any type of tongue bite or harshness on my palate while smoking. The tobacco burns down to a nice grey, white ash mix. This tobacco does show some delicacy and needs to be savored at a slower cadence than what many of us are used to. Sip slowly and enjoy!
Overall Impression: Admittingly, I have not been impressed with the Cornell & Diehl small batch/special release portfolio in past years. I do believe the XXV Reserve Dawn has now broken that unpleasant streak. This is indeed a very enjoyable tobacco that has a uniqueness making it not only feel as though it were a top-shelf, well-aged product, but something special for the pipe tobacco enthusiast. From experience, I know that many Virginia and Virginia-Perique blends do better with some age, however, the Cornell & Diehl XXV Reserve Dawn does not need the extra time. It is ready to smoke and enjoy now. Is this due to the 25-year-old tobaccos in the blend? Possibly. But I do not foresee the couple of tins I have lasting longer than a year or two. It’s just that good! Do I wish I had gotten a few more tins? Yes. However, I hope with the larger production run, many of you were able to score a few of these special release tins and can enjoy them as much as I am. If you’ve been waiting to open them, don’t. The XXV Reserve Dawn is meant to be smoked and savored now.
Reflection and contemplation tend to go hand-in-hand with pipe smoking. They pair together like peanut butter and jelly, or bacon and eggs. As I recollect and recount the many tobaccos I have had the privilege of enjoying this year, I found that my palate continues to gravitate toward similar blends and compositions that it has in past years. However, I will admit that I was much more specific this year when it came to selecting pipes to enjoy those tobaccos. Although I have an extensive cellar – that continues to expand even at my wife’s disapproval – I also have a pipe collection of more than 100 pipes that I am proud of. Do I need 100+ pipes? No. But each of them has meaning, value, or purpose that if I attempted to explain to a non-pipe smoker, they would surely believe me to be crazy. I do plan to write about this unique behavior in the future here on The Pipe Professor website, and possibly for the North American Society of Pipe Collector’s (NASPC) Pipe Collector publication; but, for the time being, here are some small snapshots of my collection (Note: some pipes not pictured due to a media disclosure form not being on file…in all actuality, not all of my pipes will fit on this one shelf).
So why do such a list each year? Bottom line is I enjoy putting together a compilation of my favorite blends and sharing it with others. Am I asking for validation on the list? No. Do I feel you should agree with each selection? Not at all. Do I recommend using this as a potential starting point for exploring blends you may not know about or haven’t tried? Absolutely! Furthermore, I enjoy watching how my palate changes and adjusts year in and year out. As Nathaniel Hawthorne notes, “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.” I hope these pipe tobacco reflections are the shadow I can leave behind each year, and that others may have the opportunity to dabble into the enjoyments I have experienced over the past 365 days. Wishing each of you a wonderful and joyous 2025 and thank you for reading my nonsense for another year.
Without further ado, I present my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2024. Enjoy!
Tobacco #5 for 2024
L.J. Peretti’s Midnight
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: L.J. Peretti
Category: English
Blend Components: Black Cavendish, Latakia, Perique, Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Ribbon
Available Packaging: 1oz, 8oz can, or 1lbs can
Price: $5.65 USD per ounce
Tobacco Notes: For anyone who does not believe Latakia/English blends do not age well, think again. I ordered an 8oz tin of Midnight seven years ago and just opened it in spring of 2024. This tobacco is so good I only have a bowl or two remaining from the entire eight ounces. The blend has been nothing short of magical and I placed a restock order through L.J. Peretti during the summer as I hope to start the aging and settling process for my new 8oz tin immediately. L.J. Peretti Midnight is an all-black tobacco mixture that offers the pipe smoker a thick, rich, smokey experience. If you enjoy the burnt wood campfire essence mixed with a natural creaminess, this tobacco is for you. Full flavor, strong aroma (that may not be appreciated by non-pipe smokers) L.J. Peretti’s Midnight reignited its spot in my regular rotation. Simple and delicious!
Tobacco #4 for 2024
Sutliff Molto Dolce
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Sutliff Tobacco Company
Category: Aromatic
Blend Components: Black Cavendish, Burley, Virginia
Flavorings: Caramel, Honey, Vanilla
Cut Type: Ribbon
Available Packaging: 1.5oz tin
Price: $10.41 USD
Tobacco Notes: By now I’m sure you have heard that Sutliff tobaccos has been bought out and will begin to cut their portfolio beginning…..NOW! This is highly unfortunate for us pipe smokers and potentially damning to the hobby as a whole. Only time will tell. With that being said, even prior to any announcement regarding the upcoming changes, I found myself continuously going back to Molto Dolce throughout the year for a sweet and flavorful aromatic smoke. This tobacco is a high-class aromatic and clearly provides the smokers with notes of vanilla, cream, light roasted coffee, and caramel sweetness. Want to turn others on to pipe smoking? Light up a bowl of Molto Dolce….just don’t tell them it’s going away.
Tobacco #3 for 2024
Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Samuel Gawith
Category: Straight Virginia
Blend Components: Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Flake
Available Packaging: 50g tin
Price: $14.15 USD
Tobacco Notes: To start, the “pop the top” video review of me sampling Samuel Gawith’s Best Brown Flake can be found here, or, you can read my the full review on The Pipe Professor website here. To summarize, SG Best Brown Flake greets your palate with a light pepper spice (tingle on the palate), dried fig, and brown sugar, all wrapped around a tight nutty core. On the retro-hale you will get an aged leather characteristic that is not present in the tastes while puffing. Aromas are a rye bread and maple syrup mix. An overarching chocolate scent will also be found by those with a keen sense of smell. A wonderfully sweet and subtle smoke. Easily approachable and crafted for those who enjoy loading a bowl and sitting back to puff on a fine pipe tobacco for an extended period, Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake is delicious and savory. Highly recommended for beginning and veteran pipe smokers alike.
Tobacco #2 for 2024
Esoterica Penzance
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: J.F. Germain & Sons
Category: Balkan
Blend Components: Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Flake
Available Packaging: 50g tin or 8oz bag
Price: Varies due to limited availability
Tobacco Notes: I can already hear the grunt and gruff of this tobacco being placed on the list. Get over it. Is the tobacco difficult to obtain? Yes! Will you probably overpay for a tin of this wonderful Balkan mixture? Yes! But it’s not impossible to find and Germain’s/Esoterica is still producing the blend (although in small quantities). If you are looking to find Penzance on a more immediate basis, I would recommend visiting the Pipe Stud website run by Steve Fallon (www.pipestud.com) or heading over to Tin Bids and finding an auction for a tin or two (www.tinbids.com). Yes, prepare to pay a premium, however, Penzance is typically available on one website or the other.
What can you expect in this blend? Silky, smokey richness, that will coat your palate with tastes of wet earth, musty antique books, dried oak, and an over ripe natural fruit sweetness. The aroma is reminiscent of an antique bookshop with a mix of black tea and damp pine woods. This tobacco has been a favorite of mine for much of my pipe smoking journey, however, for 2024 I found my enjoyment for this glorious tobacco only exemplified. If you have never tired Penzance I highly recommend doing so. If you enjoy quality Balkan blends, this is a must especially if you can afford to splurge on the experience. A true treasure tobacco.
Tobacco #1 for 2024
Hearth & Home WhiteKnight
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Scandanavian Tobacco Group
Category: Balkan
Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Coarse Cut
Available Packaging: 50g tin
Price: $14.25 USD
Tobacco Notes: Okay, first and foremost, I once again knew Hearth & Home’s WhiteKnight was my #1 pipe tobacco of 2024 well before any announcements about Sutliff and Mac Barren were made. Knowing that two of the top five on my list will be phased out and no longer produced is extremely disheartening, however, if you have the opportunity to try this glorious mixture before it’s gone, do it!
Being a part of their Marquee Series, and blended by Russ Ouellette, WhiteKnight is produced to be a substitute for the Original Balkan Sobronie Smoking Mixture. Unfortunately, I was not a pipe smoker during the time of the original Balkan Sobronie white label – in fact I don’t think I was born – however, many posts on tobaccoreviews.com and the Pipes & Cigars website attest to the amazing similarities this blend exhibits.
Cool and slow burning with notes of earth, floral/herbs, natural tobacco sweetness, mild spice, and charred barrel/wood, this tobacco is in a class of its own. The strength is medium and the body mild to medium. No tongue bit and just a solid smoking experience, Hearth & Home’s WhiteKnight is my Pipe #1 tobacco of 2024! If you are looking for an all-day smoke that offers a decent level of complexity, WhiteKnight is a definite win. I’ve made sure my tobacco cellar is stocked and can only hope this tobacco is saved from the impeding tobacco cuts to come.
Top Two Tobacco Disappointments of 2024
Disappointment #1 for 2024
Cornell & Diehl Small Batch Steamworks
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Cornell & Diehl
Category: Oriental
Blend Components: Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Broken Flake
Available Packaging: 50g tin
Price: $14.55 USD
Tasting Notes: Not sure because the three tins I’ve opened this year have been full of mold…. I have no words. Get it together Cornell & Diehl. What a complete waste…
Disappointment #2 for 2024
Sutliff Maple Shadows II
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Sutliff Tobacco Company
Category: Aromatic
Blend Components: Burley, Kentucky, Virginia
Flavorings: Maple
Cut Type: Ribbon
Available Packaging: 8oz tin
Price: $23.04 USD
Tasting Notes: I had high hopes for this blend as Sutliff tends to be up and up on their aromatic game, however, Maple Shadows fell way short for me. The description reads, “…seasonal blend inspired by the eerier aspects of the Fall season. The blend is a rich and complex aromatic mixture of Black Cavendish and Dark-Fired Kentucky topped with sweet maple notes, creating a smooth smoking experience redolent with earthy spice and subtle sweetness.” I smoked several bowls and never got even an inclining of these flavors or essences. Bland. That’s the best way to describe this tobacco. Bland and flavorless. If I wanted a dry smoke that lacks flavor, I would reach for an over-the-counter drug store burley pouch tobacco (no insult intended to the pipe smokers who only smoke OTC pouches). Ridiculous and a complete marketing trap. This tobacco can just stay in the shadows.
And that’s going to do it for my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2024. Thank you again for visiting The Pipe Professorwebsite. I hope you have enjoyed the list and stay tuned for more reviews and exciting content in 2025. So, all my readers know, it’s my pipe smoking resolution to contribute to the website on a more regular and consistent basis. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me over the years. I wholeheartedly appreciate your support. As always, I hope each of you has a blessed new year and until next time, cheers!
* All tobacco/tin pictures and blend information (excluding tobacco notes) were taken from tobaccoreviews.com, tobaccopipes.com, pipesandcigars.com, and smokingpipes.com. The writer of this post is not the owner of the above photos/blend information related to each tobacco and does not take credit for their creation.
Being a part of the African Line in the HU Tobacco portfolio, Nyala is described as “… a medium bodied blend made of Malawi burley with a hint of perique, Brazil tobaccos and a little amount of Havana cigar leaf. A well balanced mixture with decent chocolate notes, and the nice and spicy taste of the Havana leaf in the background. Smooth and complex” (TobaccoReviews.com, 2024).
Although I was able to purchase my tin of Nyala three years ago from Estervals Pipe House – prior to HU Tobaccos being sold on the US market – as of late October, early November 2024, pipe enthusiast in the United States should now have access to a variety of blends in the HU Tobaccos line-up.
I was met with some challenges when attempting to visit the HU Tobacco website (https://hu-tobacco.de). Firstly, the entire site is in German (I believe…) and there is not an option for translation to English. Therefore, the pictures all appeared great, however, I could not read any of the information provided. Secondly, the last post appeared to be from November 2023. Although not terribly out-of-date, I would argue the website has not been tended to for more than a year. Obviously, I encourage each of you to visit the site, especially if you are fluent in German, and dig into this new and unique line of tobaccos (at least for the US folks).
Info & Overview
Brand: HU Tobacco (Kohlhase & Kopp – blended by Hans Wiedeman)
Category: Cigar Leaf
Blend Components: Red Virginia, Havana/Cigar, Perique, Burley, Brazilian
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Ready Rub
Available Packaging: 100g tin
Price: $20.40 USD
On to the review…
From the Tin: The bouquet of tobaccos presents everything from light, to medium, to dark brown leaf, with the occasional mid-night black mixed in. The tobacco is a mix of ready rub and small chunks of flake tobaccos. The smell is easily and prominently chocolate. If I didn’t know any better, I would think some type of chocolate topping has been added to the tobacco, but the blend has no toppings or casings. Along with the chocolate, I find a dark red fruit smell present from the blend. It reminds me of an overly ripe plum or deep rich red wine. For being three years old, the moister content of the tobacco is excellent. I do want to note that I found the most success with this tobacco when I let it dry for 20-30 minutes before loading a bowl and smoking (a bit dry worked best for me).
Tasting Notes: Although the Red Virginia was the majority component of the blend, both the burleys and cigar leaf led the way when it came to my palate. Tastes during smoking included chocolate, creamy nuttiness, dry toast, and mild earth. The aroma was very pleasant and reminiscent of a freshly whipped silky chocolate mousse cream, and the tobacco never showed harshness or spice leading me to believe the perique was well-balanced or used sparsely. The tobacco produced a nice, thick, white smoke leading to an overall medium body with the strength also being medium. The tobacco burned nice and cool leaving behind a mix of light and dark grey ash.
Overall Impression: When we describe tobaccos as being “solid” I would argue HU Nyala is a prime example of that description. Originally, I would have said rookie palates should avoid this tobacco, however, now that I have smoked through an entire 100g tin, I must reconsider this recommendation. Not too light, not to strong or harsh, Nyala is a perfect all-day tobacco that can be enjoyed by newbie and veteran pipe smokers alike. If you are looking for a pipe tobacco that has sweet flavors but is not an aromatic, or caked with tons of flavorings, Nyala would be an excellent choice. We are very lucky to have this tobacco now offered in the US and I plan on making it a part of my regular rotation. Very much a recommend from The Pipe Professor!
Established in 1792, Samuel Gawith tobacco company, an offshoot of Gawith Hoggarth and Company, is one of the oldest and most well-known producers of pipe tobacco and nasal snuffs in the world. It comes as no surprise that their tobaccos have remained highly sought after by luxury tobacco enthusiast for 232 years.
Recap of how the Summer of Sammy G Series Started
As I came across a recent drop of their pipe tobacco blends on smokingpipes.com, I had a crazy idea to purchase one of each available tin and do a simultaneous review of the entire portfolio (or at least those I could access and purchase). As of the writing of this review, the Samuel Gawith pipe tobacco portfolio, according to tobaccoreviews.com has included 117 blends since their inception. For this Summer of Sammy G Series, I will be smoking through and reviewing 15 of these blends in search of the best of the best in their current production portfolio.
The second tobacco we will examine in the Summer of Sammy G Series will be Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake. For reference, I plan on doing pop-the-top tin reviews on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel and following up those initial impressions with a full review here on The Pipe Professor website once I finish each tin. If you would like to view my Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake first impressions video prior to reading the following full review below, the video may be accessed here: https://youtu.be/kq-vqngeTZE
Continue to check back as I will be posting reviews of the Samuel Gawith pipe tobaccos on a regular basis throughout the summer and beginning of fall.
Info & Overview
Brand: Samuel Gawith
Category: Straight Virginia
Blend Components: Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Flake
Available Packaging: 50g tin
Price: $14.15 USD
On to the review…
From the Tin: Once again we are presented with a beautiful stack of thinly cut dark brown flakes. From the tin we are provided smells of Earth, barnyard, sweet and sour vinegar, leather, and roasted honeycomb. A very pleasant and complex aroma package! Furthermore, and similar to Full Virginia Flake, the tobacco is extremely moist and needs plenty of time to dry before smoking.
Tasting Notes: Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake will provide the pipe smoker with a light pepper spice (tingle on the palate), dried fig, and brown sugar, all wrapped around a tight nutty core. On the retro-hale you will get an aged leather characteristic that is not present in the tastes while puffing. Aromas are a rye bread and maple syrup mix. An overarching chocolate scent will also be found by those with a keen sense of smell. A wonderfully sweet and subtle smoke. Regarding performance, the tobacco presents a warm smoke that is medium bodied and mild/medium in strength. Best Brown Flake is a very slow burning tobacco. Easily approachable and crafted for those who enjoy loading a bowl and sitting back to puff on a fine pipe tobacco for an extended period of time. In fact, my palate just kept wanting me to puff on this one. It is truly unique, delicious, and savory. With that being said, I did have a hard time keeping it lit and figured out that a minimum of one hour drying time was needed prior to packing and lighting this beautiful creation.
Overall Impression: Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake is a timeless tobacco that continues to perform at an ultra-superior level. In fact, to provide a small confession to my readers, I went and purchased several more tins after smoking through my first, as this tobacco has not only found its way into my regular rotation, Best Brown Flake is now a desired taste for this old pipe smoking professor.
Admittingly, I was worried when I first tried the tobacco as a cigarette like essence was present on my original pop-the-top experience, but it quickly dissipated, and I never had that same characteristic the remainder of the tin. Not sure what prompted the sensory memory the first go around (see my pop-the-top tin review on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel for details) but it never occurred again. Overall, I found Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake to be just a smidge more enjoyable than the Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. Personally, this was due to Best Brown being a much more approachable, easier to smoke tobacco, and not as full force in body and strength as Full Virginia Flake. Because it’s more of an all-day smoke, I’m going to give it a nudge higher rating than Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. We continue the excellence in our Summer of Sammy G Series with a potential top 5 pipe tobacco for 2024, Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake.
Tobacco Score: 4 ½ out of 5 pipes
Interested in seeing the video review for this blend? Visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link for video review of this tobacco: https://youtu.be/kq-vqngeTZE
This review is a part of the Summer of Sammy G Pipe Tobacco Review Series. More information on this project and other Samuel Gawith pipe tobacco reviews can be found here: https://youtu.be/bniYy0MJmwI?si=lBjqfkSe5iPcSnLB
Until next time, don’t forget to slow down, simplify, and smoke a pipe. Cheers!
Established in 1792, Samuel Gawith tobacco company, an offshoot of Gawith Hoggarth and Company, is one of the oldest and most well-known producers of pipe tobacco and nasal snuffs in the world. It comes as no surprise that their tobaccos have remained highly sought after by luxury tobacco enthusiast for 232 years.
As I came across a recent drop of their pipe tobacco blends on smokingpipes.com, I had a crazy idea to purchase one of each available tin and do a simultaneous review of the entire portfolio (or at least those I could access and purchase). As of the writing of this review, the Samuel Gawith pipe tobacco portfolio, according to tobaccoreviews.com has included 117 blends since their inception. For this Summer of Sammy G Series, I will be smoking through and reviewing 15 of these blends in search of the best of the best in their current production portfolio.
The first tobacco we will examine in the Summer of Sammy G Series will be Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. For reference, I plan on doing pop-the-top tin reviews on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel and following up those initial impressions with a full review here on The Pipe Professor website once I finish each tin. If you would like to view my Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake first impressions video prior to reading the following full review below, the video may be accessed here: https://youtu.be/Wfm-8KQZgFM?si=usBOVO2ZqfMwYdxN
Continue to check back as I will be posting reviews of the Samuel Gawith pipe tobaccos on a regular basis throughout the summer and beginning of fall.
Info & Overview
Brand: Samuel Gawith
Category: Virginia
Blend Components: Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Flake
Available Packaging: 50g tin or 250g bag
Price: $14.15 USD
On to the review…
From the Tin: Beautiful presentation of thinly stacked dark brown flakes. The colors of the tobacco remind me of a mosaic with hints of light and medium browns sprinkled throughout a canvas of rich, dark Virginia tobaccos. The smell from the tin is a dry grassy straw barn with mild earth and dried prunes. The flakes are extremely moist and need plenty of time to be prepared and dried out.
Tasting Notes: The tobacco is very deep, dark, and rich for a Virginia flake. When the name says full, they mean it. The body and strength of the smoke were both in the full range with a noticeable nicotine punch being present. Note, if you are a veteran tobacco user, and have established a nicotine tolerance, you will be fine, however, newbie pipe smokers be warned. This one can, and does, pack a punch in the nicotine department.
Flavors of the tobacco were very enjoyable with tastes of ripe dark fruits, earth, tangy citrus, and new oak barrel to match an aroma of baked brown sugar, biscuit/bread, and molasses. The tobacco burns down to a nice white, gray ash mix and due to the high moisture content level, this tobacco must be smoked with a slower cadence to avoid tongue bite. There were several instances, when smoking, where my tongue reminded me that he is no superhero, and that I needed to slow down or pay the price.
Overall Impression: Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake is a classic tobacco that continues to perform at a superior level. With a market that is constantly being assaulted with new blends that are “the best ever” or “super rare and small batch” any sensible pipe smoker would be silly to not gravitate toward Full Virginia Flake. I guarantee you won’t be dealing with mold issues due to poor manufacturing practices and will enjoy the savory smoke that this tobacco offers in every time. I recommend that all pipe smokers try Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake at least once and am confident that more will be purchase once its classic characteristics are experienced. I will certainly continue to have a few tins in my cellar for rotation and enjoyment for many years to come. If you come across this tobacco, pick a tin or two up. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised at the distinctions this tobacco has to offer. Excellent start to the Summer of Sammy G Series!
Tobacco Score: 4 out of 5 pipes
Interested in seeing the video review for this blend? Visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link for a first impressions video review of this tobacco: https://youtu.be/Wfm-8KQZgFM?si=usBOVO2ZqfMwYdxN
This review is a part of the Summer of Sammy G Pipe Tobacco Review Series. More information on this project and other Samuel Gawith pipe tobacco reviews can be found here: https://youtu.be/bniYy0MJmwI?si=lBjqfkSe5iPcSnLB
Until next time, don’t forget to slow down, simplify, and smoke a pipe. Cheers!
We have finally arrived at the moment of truth. The Pipe Professor’s Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023. Those that follow The Pipe Professor webpage regularly (thank you!) know that there was no Top 5 Pipe Tobacco list for 2022. Why? The answer is two-fold. Firstly, 2022 was without-a-doubt a cigar year for me. I simply enjoyed many, many more cigars than pipe tobacco last year. Did that trend reverse back to “normal” for 2023? YES! Secondly, in 2022, I purposefully focused on enjoying pipe tobacco blends that are regulars in my cellar and rotation. Afterall, there’s no point in collecting, or “hoarding” as my wife would say, all these wonderful tobaccos if we are not planning to ever smoke and enjoy them. That’s precisely what I did in 2022.
With that being said, I indeed managed to relish a fair amount of glorious pipe leaf in 2023. Below I have outlined my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023 along with my 2 biggest disappointments. Understandably, as I have often alluded to, taste and enjoyment of fine tobaccos, top shelf spirits, vintage wines, and gourmet foods, are completely subjective. What I may enjoy in my bowl may be the complete opposite of what you enjoy. And that’s ok! In fact, that’s one of the characteristics that makes this hobby so enjoyable. The variety and options of available pipe tobaccos on the market are more than any one individual could ever smoke in their lifetime (although I believe JimInks I is getting rather close—see tobaccoreviews.com for proof). The point, if there is one, is to share my experiences in the hobby with each of you, in hopes that we can expand the dialogue around the pastime of pipe smoking that each of us enjoys. Therefore, if you don’t agree with this list, that’s ok. If you haven’t tried any of the tobaccos listed below, give them a go. If you’ve had similar or different experiences with each, leave a comment and let me know. But, no matter what the outcome, please continue to love and support this amazing hobby and community. If we don’t take care of that which we have been given responsibility, who will? Someone took the time to protect this pastime, let us continue that sharing and celebration for many years to come. Merry Christmas and happy new year!
Without further ado, The Pipe Professor’s Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023!
Tobacco #5 for 2023
Dan Tobacco Devil’s Holiday
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Dan Tobacco
Category: Aromatic
Blend Components: Black Cavendish; Virginia
Flavorings: Blackcurrant; Fruit
Cut Type: Coarse Cut
Available Packaging: 50g tin or 250g package
Price: $17.50 USD per 50g tin
Tobacco Notes: Admittingly, I found this blend to be best enjoyed in my bulldog meerschaum pipe. Smokers will immediately note the fruit/berry topping, which is a quality topping, not a generic cherry found in many OTC blends. Further, similar to other Dan Tobacco blends, the Virginia tobaccos are of a higher quality than most aromatics on the market. Essentially, this is a wonderful aromatic that will offer a sweet aroma while providing a savory grass note on the palate. I’ve smoked several bowls in a single day and never experienced tongue bite. If you are an anti-aromatic pipe smoker, I would encourage you to take the leap and give Dan Tobacco’s Devil’s Holiday a try. This is easily an everyday smoke to be enjoyed by pipers and non-pipers alike (the room note is not offensive).
Tobacco #4 for 2023
Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Peterson
Category: VaPer
Blend Components: Virginia; Perique
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Curly Cut/Coin
Available Packaging: 50g tin
Price: $22.50 USD per 50g tin
Tobacco Notes: Rich grassy sweetness, bready, yeasty, with an undertone of brown sugar and molasses. Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls is a true treat! This tobacco is what spirit enthusiasts would consider to be “top shelf” and that is further reflected in the price. In fact, when it came down to finalizing my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos, price was one of the main reasons this tobacco didn’t find itself higher on this list. Yes, this tobacco is pricey, but if you can afford adding a tin or two to your next order, do it. I promise this is a very special blend that will deliver nothing but satisfaction for the rookie and veteran palates.
Tobacco #3 for 2023
Presbyterian Ordained
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Sutliff Tobacco Company
Category: Virginia
Blend Components: Virgina
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Flake
Available Packaging: 50g tin
Price: $16.07 USD per 50g tin
Tobacco Notes: To start, the “pop the top” video review of me sampling Presbyterian Ordained can be found here, or, you can read my full review here. To summarize, this Virginia flake is indeed downright delicious! The tobacco burns extremely well delivering a memorizing savory room note of vanilla cream, rich baking spices, with hints of a yeasty/fresh bakery sweetness. Flavors you will experience include a grassy/hay opening, which continues throughout the smoke, a cashew nuttiness, and a finish of toasted vanilla wafer and brown sugar. Something to note, and understandably one of the major reasons why I could not award a higher rank to this tobacco is its availability. Although Presbyterian Ordained was in reasonable supply at the beginning of 2023, it is no longer available at the time of this writing. I am not sure if Ordained was a limited release by Presbyterian or not, however, I would highly encourage Sutliff to not only bring this blend back to market, but also make it a regular production blend. I was able to hold back about 8 tins total (I have smoked 4 ½ tins of Presbyterian Ordained thus far in 2023) and will be very intrigued to see how some age morphs this amazing blend into further bliss. If someone from Sutliff happens across this post, from one pipe smoker to another, PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Bring back the Presbyterian Ordained and make it a regular in your portfolio.
Flavorings: None listed, but I suspect a mild vanilla
Cut Type: Ribbon
Available Packaging: bulk by the oz
Price: $5.35 per oz
Tobacco Notes: I honestly do not believe Boswell’s tobacco gets enough credit in the pipe smoking community. It seems that everyone who experiences Boswell’s tobaccos has a positive experience. Truly, you never hear of anyone not finding a Boswell’s blend they don’t enjoy. With that being said, I happened across this English (although I suspect it’s an English Aromatic) in September of this year. Since finding this blend, I can’t get enough as I have almost smoked through a full pound. I must admit that I have, and continue to, enjoy this blend most in a cob. Specifically, my Missouri Meerschaum Charlestown Cobbler. This tobacco is unique in that it has many flavor layers throughout smoking. You can expect to experience a rich campfire essence, tangy, earthy, and mild sugary cream notes on the palate. The aroma is mesmerizing and would not overly offensive to a non-smoker. I do detect slight vanilla and warm baked butter notes on the nose/room note which makes me suspect there is some type of light topping added to the tobacco, however, upon researching the Boswell’s webpage, nothing is noted that would indicate this to be accurate. Either way, Boswell’s English Biscuit is a very enjoyable tobacco that will be sure to please your palate, regardless of if you are an aromatic junky, VaPer snob, or crotchety English codger. Pick some up. I guarantee you will be quick to order more!
Tobacco Notes: Ok, first and foremost, we must bring forward the fact that this tobacco is indeed, not a flake. Cornell & Diehl is notorious for claiming many of the tobaccos in their portfolio to be flakes, however, Sunset Harbor Flake is not an actual flake (like Dunhill Flake or Samuel Gawith Full Virgin Flake or Presbyterian Ordained Flake). At some point in the production process, this tobacco very well may have been in flake form, but do not be surprised upon opening a tin, when you are met with very, very broken flake pieces. Now, does this affect the overall product? Absolutely not! But I would ask that C&D stop calling tobaccos flakes that are not in flake form….What is Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor flake? An exceptionally flavorful, well-balanced smoke. In fact, C&D Sunset Harbor Flake is indeed downright delicious. Often wine drinkers will talk about the balance in a wine. Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake is precisely that, balanced. The strength, the body, the nicotine, the aroma, and the flavors offered are a delectable harmony for the pipe smoker. Once again, like many blends listed above, and on my past lists, this tobacco was most enjoyed in my Rusticated/Craggy Peterson Meerschaum straight billiard pipe.
Since finding this perfect pair of pipe and tobacco, I now exclusively smoke C&D Sunset Harbor Flake in my Peterson Meerschaum. It truly is a match made in Heaven. Flavors (Tastes + Aroma) that you can expect from this tobacco are campfire smoke, perique spice, frothy cream cheese, woody/earth, and a ginger citrus zest. Very complex and best enjoyed with intentionality and focus. Further, the tobacco burns slow resulting in a cool, dry smoke that lingers on the palate for a long finish well past finishing the bowl. I honestly took a random chance on this tobacco after seeing Mike, from the Pipe & Tamper Podcast, post a picture of the blend on his Instagram raving about how good. So, if you happen to read this Mike, thank you for exposing myself and others to a wonderful tobacco. Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake is an extraordinary tobacco that is much deserving of The Pipe Professor’s #1 tobacco of 2023.
Top Two Tobacco Disappointments of 2023
Disappointment #1 for 2023
John Cotton’s Double Press Creme
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Sutliff
Category: Aromatic
Blend Components: Black Cavendish; Virginia
Flavorings: Vanilla
Cut Type: Krumble Kake
Available Packaging: 50g tin
Price: $15.55 USD per 50g tin
Tasting Notes: Full of sweet vanilla cake flavors and wonderful baking fragrance aromas this tobacco is not. You read that correctly. Those flavors do not exist in this tobacco. In fact, not many tastes are apparent at any point. Further, when I read vanilla to be one of the toppings added, I would at least expect to find hints lingering in the room note. Nope. This tobacco is truly not much of anything. Granted, the tin krumble kake presentation is very eye appealing but similar to women, it’s only looks that are pleasing. Further, what makes this even harder for me to accept is the fact that I’ve generally had wonder experiences with the John Cotton lines, with John Cotton’s Number1 being my #1 Pipe Tobacco in 2017. The Double Pressed Crème, not so much. And for the price, there are many other great tobaccos on the mark to choose from. Take my failures with this blend as your wisdom in tobacco selection and pass on this blend. Nothing to be missed.
Disappointment #2 for 2023
7-20-4 Briary Blends Boston Tea Party
Info & Overview
Manufacturer: Cornell & Diehl for Briary Blends
Category: Burley
Blend Components: Burley, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Ribbon
Available Packaging: 2oz tin
Price: $15.00 USD per 2oz tin
Tasting Notes: Similar to other tobaccos on this list, I came across this blend while swiping through Instagram. Not having had a Briary Blend tobacco before, I reached out to the Briary Tobacconist store and placed an order for a few tins. All I can say is, I just don’t get this one? It’s not that the blend is flawed or has a problem, it’s just….bland. I have smoked almost an entire tin of Boston Tea Party and have never experienced any amazing flavors or distinctions listed in the description, not even once. According to the tin, Boston Tea Party “begins with a medium-bodied feel, slowly increasing to a medium-full as you progress down the bowl. Hints of cedar and nuts are accompanied by sweet hay and citrus flavors. A nutty, caramel-like sweetness rounds it out with a pleasant black tea flavor on the finish. A bright and flavorful blend that evokes the spirit of New England.” Every bit of this sounds right up my alley when it comes to flavor, but none of it exists when smoking. At least not to my palate. Maybe I’m missing something, however, this blend just has not hit any of the right notes with me. Now, I do have a few tins put away in my cellar, and will certainly revisit it in future years, but as for now, 7-20-4 Briary Blends Boston Tea Party is no party at all. Just another silly “revolution” in the vast world of pipe tobaccos.
And that’s going to do it for my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023. Thank you again for visiting The Pipe Professor website. I hope you have enjoyed my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023 and please stay tuned for more reviews and exciting content in 2024. As always, I hope each of you has a blessed new year and until next time, cheers!
* All tobacco/tin pictures and blend information (excluding tobacco notes) were taken from tobaccoreviews.com, tobaccopipes.com, watchcitycigars.com, and smokingpipes.com. The writer of this post is not the owner of the above photos/blend information related to each tobacco and does not take credit for their creation.
I’m not sure if it’s old age memory lapse, or all the drugs I did when I was younger (just kidding, I still do them…. not really). I don’t remember how I came across this blend, or why it piqued my interests, but I’m glad I did (spoiler). My experience with the brand Presbyterian, specifically Presbyterian Mixture, was little more than meh/average, so I honestly didn’t have high hopes for Ordained once acquiring a tin upon release. Let me just go on record saying, I’m very glad I tried this one.
From the tobacco reviews website:
“Matured bright Virginia flakes deliver a bouquet of natural flavors — bread and hay with a subtle citrus undertone and a gentle, amiable spice. This toasty, artfully sweet smoke charmingly showcases what the bright, flue-cured leaf is all about, delivered through an easy, cool burn.”
Straight Virginia blends have certainly grown on me over the past 2 years; however, I would summarize my experiences with them as definitely hit or miss, no in-betweens. Let’s take a closer look at Presbyterian Ordained and see what this tobacco all about.
From the Tin: Absolutely top-notch presentation from the tin. Beautiful, thin flakes with a mixture of medium and light brown colors. The aroma from the tin was truly amazing showing very strong scents of hay, fresh straw, grain cereal, sweet citrus/fruit, and brown sugar. The flakes were spot on in moisture content and needed no drying time making for ease of rubbing out and loading my pipe.
Tasting Notes: This tobacco is truly a treat. Seriously! Presbyterian Ordained has come out of left field to steal my little pipe smoking heart (or palate if you prefer). The tobacco burns extremely well delivering a memorizing sweet room note of vanilla cream, rich baking spices, with hints of a yeasty/fresh bakery sweetness. Flavors noted during the smoking experience include a grassy/hay start which morphs into a cashew nuttiness and finishes with toasted vanilla wafer and brown sugar. Although the description details spice as a characteristic, I did not experience any type of pepperiness or harshness during any bowls smoked. The smoke remained cool, sweet, and smooth throughout. This tobacco should be smoked slowly and deserves your full attention for maximum enjoyment. Nicotine level for this tobacco is low, however, body proved to be medium over each smoking experience. Overall, a delightfully flavorful, clean tasting tobacco.
Overall Impression: I love it when a tobacco’s taste and performance surprise me. Even more so, I love it when I am able to find a new tobacco gem. Presbyterian Ordained is just that, a gem! No doubt this wonderful Virginia flake will only get better with age. Further, I am so blown away by the amazing smoking experience this tobacco provides, that I am certain it will be a contender in my Top 5 Tobaccos for 2023. As of the writing of this review, I have already smoked through two full tins and am contemplating opening a third. Just wonderful! Do yourself a favor, grab a tin or two, if you can still find it, and enjoy! I have no doubt Virginia lovers will find much pleasure in this tobacco.
To be completely honest, Cornell & Diehl has been very hit or miss with me over the past year or more. Some of their blends are very enjoyable, however, the ones that miss, tend to miss big. Specifically, I am referring to most of their Small Batch and special release series. Understanding this to be the case, I opted for a regular production blend that I’ve been wanting to try since the start of the year.
This blend came across my radar after seeing the well-known Mike Murphy from the Pipe and Tamper podcast blast rave reviews about it along with showing off the abundance of Sunset Harbor Flake tins he has cellared away. Of course, anyone who puts away that much of a single blend will raise eyebrows, especially mine. So, I decided to pick a tin up and see what the hype, if any, is about. Afterall, my recent luck with Cornell & Diehl has been dismal at best.
From the Tin: Upon opening, the first thing noticed was the dark color of the tobacco. Tin aroma was a rich, dark leather, musty wood, and slight hint of campfire smoke. The tobacco was on the moist side and needed time to dry out before smoking. Having now smoked 8 bowls, I found 30 minutes to be just about the perfect amount of dry time before packing and lighting. Although marketed as a flake, this tobacco is far from what I designate a “flake” tobacco. In fact, there were not even long pieces of “broken flake” to be found in the tin. I would instead classify this tobacco as crumbled tobacco once being in flake form.
Flavor Notes (Taste + Aroma): C&D Sunset Harbor provides the smoker with a very rich, flavorful smoking experience. Tastes consisted of mossy damp forest, wood, mushrooms, leather, and an initial faint spice. Aroma was an antique mustiness with a very prominent sweet cream noted when smoked in a meerschaum. In fact, I have found I enjoy this blend most in a medium size (group 3 or 4) meerschaum pipe.
Overall Impression: C&D Sunset Harbor Flake burned cool producing a dark gray gritty ash. The smoke was thick and cool presenting no bite with the tobacco strength being medium and body medium/plus. Although very enjoyable, I would not recommend this as an all-day smoke as you run the risk of potential palate fatigue due to the opulence of the blend. Overall, I find Sunset Harbor Flake to be a solid offering from Cornell & Diehl and will certainly be purchasing more to smoke over the next decade or more (I do think short term aging will show rewards for this blend). This tobacco is very much recommended and if you’re a Balkan fan you should certainly give it a try.
Created by Kyle Gellis, in collaboration with Cornell & Diehl’s Jeremy Reeves, Warped Cloud Hopper Pipe Tobacco was resurrected from the well-known Warped Cloud Hopper cigar brand, blended and produced by Gellis at the El Titan de Bronze factory in Miami and Casa Fernandez’s Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. in Nicaragua.
Originally coming onto the market in 2109, Warped Cloud Hopper is the pipe smoker’s rendition for the love of travel and adventure Gellis and his brother enjoy embarking on. According to the smkoingpipes.com website, “Cloud Hopper pipe tobacco features AA-grade Dominican Criollo cigar leaf…married to traditional Italian air-cured tobaccos, yellow and red Virginias, and Perique pressed and cut into flakes. The blend transports pipe smokers to an adventurous flavor profile of complex notes of earth, spice, and citrus, while hints of cream and coffee offer comfort along the road. It’s a mixture free of added flavors, meant to showcase the natural profile of quality tobaccos” (2022).
As I frequently enjoy premium cigars, this tobacco seemed to fit my palate profile from the description, thus, prompting me to purchase a tin and see if this cigar blend is as enjoyable as the actual Warped Cigars (which I do enjoy).
To view the video review of Warped Cloud Hopper Pipe Tobacco, please visit The Pipe Professor YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/CMyr_yB6OJU
Info & Overview
Brand: Warped/Cornell & Diehl
Category: Virginia
Blend Components: Cigar Leaf. Perique, Virginia
Flavorings: None
Cut Type: Flake
Available Packaging: 2oz tin
Price: $11.60 USD
On to the review…
From the Tin: Although listed as a flake tobacco, my tin did not contain a single fully intact flake. I would easily classify this tobacco as a broken flake, not an actual flake similar to Dunhill Flake, Capstan Gold/Blue, or MacBaren Pure Virginia. [Side note, I have come to believe the flake designation according to Cornell & Diehl is actually a broken flake. Buyer beware.] The broken flakes are very dark in color and have hints of golden Virginia sprinkled throughout. The tin aroma provided notes of dark chocolate, earth, raisins, and fresh yeasty bread. Very much enjoyable and reminiscent of a cinnamon raisin muffin. Extremely enjoyable tin note! The tobacco is very moist straight out of the tin and I had to allow it a minimum of 50 minutes dry time depending on the drying venue.
Flavor Notes: When discussing flavor, we must always account for taste and aroma (taste + aroma = flavor). Tastes I experienced while smoking were earth (similar to a dry truffle), deep rich fruits, mineral/graphite, and light spice. Aroma was a nice, charred wood, similar to a charred bourbon barrel (without the alcohol). Tobacco produced a thin, white smoke, with an overall medium body and medium strength profile. As I smoked just shy of the entire tin, I found I enjoyed Cloud Hopper most in a meerschaum pipe, and when the tobacco was almost bone dry. The dryer smoke allowed for the cigar leaf to come forward and be a noticeable experience in the smoke.
Overall Impression: The Warped Cloud Hopper is a very unique blend that offers flavors some pipe smokers may not be familiar with, or typically experience in their pipe tobaccos. I am glad I took the time to figure the blend out and will purchase another tin or two to measure the aging potential of the Virginia and cigar leaf. I am hopeful that with an extended period of time (i.e., 10-15 years) this tobacco will become an extremely “fine wine.”
With that being said, I will probably not purchase more tins to be smoked now or be placed in my regular rotation. Is the blend enjoyable and worth a try? Absolutely! Is it what I seek to experience on a regular basis when enjoying a pipe? No. We will hopefully revisit the blend in 10 years and see if the gamble/investment pays off. If you’re looking for something to intrigue your palate, pick up a tin of Warped Cloud Hopper and see what you think.
The Pipe Professor 