Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023

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.

Tobacco #2 for 2023

Boswell’s English Biscuit

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: J.M. Boswell

Category: English

Blend Components: Latakia; Toasted Virginias; Cavendish

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 #1 for 2023

Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Cornell & Diehl

Category: Balkan

Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Perique

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $11.90 USD per 2oz tin

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.

Presbyterian Ordained

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.

Info & Overview

Brand: Presbyterian (Sutliff Tobacco Company)

Category: Straight Virginia

Blend Components: Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $16.07 USD

On to the review…

If you would like to see my First Impressions review of Presbyterian Ordained from January 2023, please visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/IuGOTG3OKiU

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.

Tobacco Score: 5 out of 5 Pipes

Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake

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.

Info & Overview

Brand: Cornell & Diehl

Category: Balkan

Blend Components: Latakia, Orientals/Turkish, Perique

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $11.40 USD

Tin Date: 11/2021

On to the review…

Watch my first impressions video review here: https://youtu.be/tFLB9nn8GiU

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.

Tobacco Score: 4 out of 5 pipes

Warped Cloud Hopper

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.

Tobacco Score: 3 out of 5 pipes

Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2021

Another year has come and gone. It seems as though the older I get, the faster time passes. Of course, when reflecting on the past 365 days, I am not shocked by the reality of accomplishing less than I set out to accomplish at the start of the year. Without making excuses, the continued threat of COVID does not always make endeavors easy, however, it appears this virus is here to stay. Thus, we must now work to live with it, not just around it.

With all of this being said, I was able to enjoy several pipe tobacco blends this past year and most were excellent in nature. Below, I have presented my Top 5 favorite Pipe Tobaccos for 2021 along with my top two biggest disappointment blends. The five tobaccos I selected as my favorites are blends that I not only smoked the most, but tobaccos I worked to cellar more than any other blends during the year. Each presents a unique and enjoyable experience and if you haven’t had the opportunity to try them, I suggest you do. As always, thank you for taking the time to read and follow The Pipe Professor website. I can’t guarantee posts will be regular but be assured they content on this page will be of utmost quality now and in the future. Here’s to a blessed and joyful 2022!

Tobacco #5 for 2021

Drucquer & Sons First Amendment

Info & Overview

Brand: G.L. Pease

Category: English

Blend Components: Burley; Latakia; Perique; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 100g tin

Price: $21.25 USD

Tobacco Notes: Admittingly, I very much enjoy G.L. Pease tobaccos and am an even bigger Drucquer & Sons fan. When I saw the release of a new tobacco to the D&S line this past summer, I did not hesitate and jumped in immediately purchasing three tins blind. I did do an initial review of First Amendment on the Pipe Professor YouTube channel, but since the filming of that video, I have continued to smoke and enjoy First Amendment more and more. This tobacco offers a rich flavorful nutty smoke that is savory and hints at rustic, rich tea notes all followed by a natural tobacco sweetness. The blend is very complex and extremely enjoyable. So much so, that I went back and have now stocked my cellar with this blend for many years to come. To say I am eager to see if it continues to expand in enjoyment from time-set-aside is a complete understatement. Drucquer & Sons First Amendment, if you haven’t tried it, I don’t know why you are waiting. It’s fantastic and available.

Tobacco #4 for 2021

Boswell’s Honey Roast Pipe Tobacco

Info & Overview

Brand: J.M. Boswell’s

Category: Aromatic

Blend Components: Golden Cavendish; Black and Fire-cured Cavendish; Black Honey Cavendish

Flavorings: Honey

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: per oz

Price: $3.75 USD per oz

Tobacco Notes: For several years now, I have put aside smoking aromatic pipe tobaccos. Why? I have no idea. However, during 2021, I found myself craving the sweet aromatic offerings that first spurred me into the hobby. Anyone who is a seasoned pipe smoker knows that if you are looking for the best aromatic pipe tobaccos, your guaranteed option is Boswell’s. I put in an order on the Boswell’s website earlier this year with several 2oz samples. Of all the aromatics I tried this year, not just Boswell’s, the Honey Roast found its way into my pipes more than any other. This tobacco offers an outstanding room note of sweet, dark baked bread, the tastes also come forward offering honey, browned buttered toast, and candied sweetness. The tobacco has its own unique complexity in that your palate will be satisfied but always wanting more. Boswell’s Honey Roast is a lasting aromatic pipe tobacco that should be sampled by pipe smokers who enjoy a little honey sweetness in their smoking diet.

A short video review of me sampling Boswell’s Honey Roast can be found here.

Tobacco #3 for 2021

Orlik Golden Sliced

Info & Overview

Brand: Orlik Tobacco Company

Category: VaPer

Blend Components: Virginia; Perique

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 1.75 oz tin or 3.5 oz tin

Price: $9.58 USD for 1.75 oz; $16.99 USD for 3.5 oz

Tobacco Notes: The king of Virginia Perique (VaPer) blends, at least that’s my opinion. There has indeed been some argument in the Pipe Community that Orlik Golden Sliced actually contains no perique and is just a straight Virginia blend, but I do not fall in that camp. Being the tobacco I have purchased the most of in 2021, Orlik Golden Sliced is a perfect example of not only a Virginia Perique tobacco, but a blend that ages wonderfully. This past year I finished a tin of OGS from 2015 (it was spectacular and smoked like a dream) and worked my way through two fresh tins. The aged sample had its own fantastic qualities; however, this tobacco is still amazing when enjoyed fresh. The best part of it all? OGS is a very affordable tobacco that is frequently on sale at your local online tobacconists. Fresh hay, spiced sweetness, and brown sugar, this tobacco, in my opinion, is the best bang for your buck currently available on the market. And to think, early in my pipe smoking career, I very much disliked this blend. I’m glad I finally came to my senses!

Tobacco #2 for 2021

Mac Baren Modern Virginia Flake

Info & Overview

Brand: Mac Baren

Category: VaBur

Blend Components: Virginia; Burley; Cavendish

Flavorings: Apricot; Pineapple

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 1.75 oz tin

Price: No longer in production

Tobacco Notes: It seems like I always find a tobacco I really love and shortly afterwards, it’s pulled from production. Mac Baren’s Modern Virginia Flake Cut is one of those tobaccos and unfortunately, I didn’t have the foresight to stock up as I did with other blends that are now forever removed from our pipe tobacco portfolios. This tobacco has aged into a wonderfully dark, crystalized flake. The fruit toping has settled just enough to present an exceptionally pleasant room note while not taking away from the fruit sweetness, rich natural honey, and mild nutty flavors presented in the tastes. This tobacco burns cool and smokes under the medium body, mild strength profile. Completely perfect when I’m looking to interrupt my regularly scheduled smoking rotation. If you have been able to cellar or find Mac Baren’s Modern Virginia Flake, good for you. I suggest going ahead and opening those tins to enjoy. You will be glad you did and experience something that should have never left the market.

Tobacco #1 for 2021

McClelland Frog Morton on the Town

Info & Overview

Brand: McClelland Tobacco Company

Category: English

Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 50g tin or 100g tin

Price: No longer in production

Tobacco Notes: I’ve smoked my share of regular Frog Morton (Frog-on-a-log) and Frog Morton Cellar. Both are highly enjoyable tobaccos but neither have come close to uprooting my favorite McClelland tobacco, 40^thAnniversary. It wasn’t until late summer/early fall this year that I decided to pop open a tin of Frog Morton on the Town to see where it stood in comparison to its Frog friends. Wow! I was, and continue to be, blow away by how much I enjoy this tobacco. I never smoked this blend when still available on the market, therefore, I don’t know if it’s the age or if the blend has always been spectacular, but I do know it’s worth every penny I have paid and will continue to pay for it. The smoking experience offers a damp, earthy room note and tastes that is offset by floral/herbal notes, forest pines, and black tea creaminess. The smoke is rich and smooth with the tobacco burning slowly down to a white ash of wonder in each bowl. My palate could, and would, enjoy this tobacco all day every day is possible. If you haven’t been able to sample McClelland’s Frog Morton on the Town, it would be worth your hard-earned coin to find some and splurge. Every pipe smoker should have the opportunity to enjoy this heavenly bliss at least once.

Top Two Tobacco Disappointments of 2021

Disappointment #1 for 2021

Former’s Bird’s Eye Flake

Info & Overview

Brand: Former

Category: VaPer

Blend Components: Perique; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $10.63 USD

Tasting Notes: This was the first Former’s blend I have ever smoked and without standing, very well could be my last. I did a first impressions video of this tobacco here, but as I sampled it a few times after this initial impressions video, I found the tobacco did not improve. Dry, simplistic, and bland with an overall ‘dusty’ quality, this tobacco did not find enjoyment with my smoking palate. It’s possible that this blend will age wonderfully but I’m not willing to dedicate my time, money, or cellar space to find out. With so many fantastic Virginia tobaccos on the market, Former’s Bird’s Eye Flake is an easy pass for me.

Disappointment #2 for 2021

Sir Walter Raleigh Original (Pouch)

Info & Overview

Brand: Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG)

Category: Burley

Blend Components: Burley

Flavorings: Anisette; Sweet/Sugar

Cut Type: Corse Cut

Available Packaging: 1.5oz pouch (or) 14oz can

Price: $4.13 USD per pouch (or) $38.18 per can

Tasting Notes: I started a segment on my YouTube channel (which I do intend to continue forward with in 2022) called A Study in OTC Pipe Tobacco Pouches. In this study, I am sampling several of the most common and available ‘codger’ drug store pouch tobaccos in search of any real gems. Sir Walter Raleigh original was the first pouch I sampled in the series (video here) and going into the review, I had very high hopes. I mean, let’s be real. This blend has supposedly stood the test of time being around more than a century. Surely, there is something amazing that folks have flocked to generation after generation. Without going into the details (those can be found at my original post here) this blend has absolutely nothing to offer. Completely flavorless and bland. It baffles me to think that folks have continued to smoke this blend entire lifetimes. I just don’t understand why. No flavor, no real room note, just bland nothingness. My current plan is to give the remainder of this pouch to anyone who wants it and never purchase another Sir Walter Raleigh pouch again. To be very bold, if this were the only pipe tobacco available on the market, I wouldn’t smoke a pipe.

Again, thank you for visiting The Pipe Professor website. I hope you have enjoyed my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2021 and please stay tuned for more reviews and exciting content including My Favorite Things of 2021. As always, I hope each of you have a blessed new year and until next time, cheers!

* All tobacco/tin pictures and blend information (excluding tobacco notes) were taken from tobaccoreviews.com, boswellpipes.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.

A Study in OTC Pipe Tobacco Pouches

The Introduction & Pouch #1: Sir Walter Raleigh Original

A few weeks ago, I came across a sale on the Pipes & Cigars website for pouch tobaccos. As I looked through the prices on the pouch tobaccos, I began to wonder why I had never actually tried any of the staple Over the Counter (OTC) pipe tobacco pouch blends during my pipe smoking tenure. After lighting a bowl of something not OTC, I reminisced on the fact that I started pipe smoking with my local tobacconist blends (Schwab’s Pipes N Stuff Ideal and Big Blue Blend) and immediately moved into Cornell & Diehl blends, Dunhill EMP, McClelland Frog Morton Series, and at the time Tewksbury’s Hobbits Weed (Rest in Peace).

I concluded that my pipe smoking journey had completely by-passed where a lot of pipe smokers start the hobby.My thinking further reasoned that many of these blends are highly revered and have stood the test of time, some for a century or more. If folks have been enjoying these blends for that long, maybe I really am missing out on something spectacular. I knew I couldn’t just let the opportunity pass without at least trying some of the blends, so, after moving through another bowl or two, I decided to place a large order with P&C and catch up on the pouches I have missed out on during my pipe smoking journey.

So, where to begin? In all fairness, I decided to put all the pouches (plus some others I already had in my cellar, unopened) in a large bag and do a random pull to begin smoking my way through each to see what these infamous OTC blends all are about. I detailed the process for this little experiment on my YouTube channel with a video called Introduction to A Study in OTC Pipe Tobacco Pouches. You can view the video here or I will quickly review the process and guidelines below.

Guidelines to the Study

Pouches will be reviewed in a random order, one per week, until all pouches have been sampled.
Each tobacco will be smoked a minimum of four times; once in an unfiltered Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman Corn Cob pipe, once in a Missouri Meerschaum Pride filtered Corn Cob pipe, once in an unfiltered Huck Finn Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob pipe, and once in a Ropp Superior paneled briar pipe.
I will capture my initial impressions for each tobacco in video format on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel and provide my final assessment here on The Pipe Professor webpage after smoking the blend a minimum of four times throughout the week in the various pipes.
As I smoke through each blend, I will place them in rank order, updated with each review here on the webpage. Blends will move up and down the list until I have smoked through all the OTC Pipe Tobacco Pouch blends.
Similar to other pipe tobacco reviews, I will rate each blend using the Five Pipes scoring rubric.

Without further ado, let’s jump in to our first OTC Pipe Tobacco Pouch, Sir Walter Raleigh Original.

Sir Walter Raleigh Original

Let’s be honest, if you are a pipe smoker or have ever smoked a pipe, you have more than likely heard of Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco. I was excited that this pouch was the first random draw to come out of my bag. Supposedly having been around since 1927, this name and tobacco blend is easily a staple in our timeless hobby. With a blend that has survived almost a full century, I was eager to experience the successes that have carried this blend forward for 91 years. Similar to other pipe tobacco enthusiast, I headed to the Tobacco Reviews webpage to read the description and find out more about the tobacco. From the Tobacco Reviews website:

“An aromatic burley blend with hints of cocoa and Oriental spice, the Sir Walter Raleigh regular mixture has been a popular favorite of countless smokers for generations. A traditional blend of burley tobaccos made in Kentucky.”

This description sounds wonderful and lovely making me want to jump right into smoking. Before doing so, let’s take a look at the blend breakdown.

Info & Overview

Brand/Manufacturer: Sir Walter Raleigh/Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG)

Category: Aromatic Burley

Blend Components: Burley

Flavorings: Anisette and Sweet Sugar

Cut Type: Course Cut

Available Packaging: 1.5 oz pouch/7 oz can/14 oz can

Price: $4.62 USD per pouch/$20.04 per 7oz can/$38.18 per 14 oz can

On to the review…

(Sir Walter Raleigh Pipe Tobacco First Impressions YouTube video can be found here)

From the Pouch: Upon opening the seal I am met with a very rich, pleasant tobacco smell, similar to Red Man or Levi Garret chewing tobacco with prominent notes of chocolate. The tobacco color consists of dark browns and the cut was more shag than course in my opinion. Moisture content out of the pouch was perfect, however, I did find a few stems that needed to be removed before packing and smoking.

Smoking Notes: The tobacco was easy to pack and light. In fact, the burn and performance of the tobacco was not bad at all. I had no problem keeping each bowl lit and the tobacco burned at a nice pace. The strength of the tobacco was mild and the body was an overall mild + (almost medium bodied). The major problem with this tobacco is the taste and aroma. They are both non-existent. I ended up smoking a total of six bowls of Sir Walter Raleigh Original (four in the cobs and two in the briar). Not one single smoking experience provided me with any flavor. Truly, not once did I get any tastes good or bad from this smoke. It was just….there. The room note at times did hint toward a chocolate essence, however, I’m honestly not sure if that was real or my mind hoping for it. Granted, it is important for a tobacco to perform well in the bowl, however, I smoke to enjoy great tastes and smells in from my pipes and tobaccos. I got neither from this blend.

Overall Impression: 91 years of blandness. Maybe I missed something, but I never got anything from this blend….nothing! Flavor was non-existent, at times the room note hinted at a coco chocolate but rarely developed, and the strength of the tobacco was very mild. The tobacco did burn well and stayed lit easily, so that is one positive. If I am going to spend money on tobacco and put forth the time and effort of enjoying a pipe, it will not be on Sir Walter Raleigh Original pipe tobacco. This will easily be my first and only pouch of this tobacco. 91 years this blend has survived! Wow, my mind is blown on why and how.

Tobacco Score: (2 out of 5 pipes)

Stay tuned as we study a different OTC Pipe Tobacco Pouch next week. Until then don’t forget to slow down, simplify, and sip on a pipe. Cheers!

Current Order of OTC Pipe Tobacco Pouch Enjoyment

Sir Walter Raleigh (it’s the only one I’ve smoked thus far and won’t be here long, guaranteed!)

Tobacco & Tomes

A review of Former’s Bird’s Eye Flake & the book Later by Stephen King

I filmed a first impressions, “Pop-the-Top”, tobacco review of Former’s Bird’s Eye Flake last weekend, in which, I found the blend to be “just ok”. The video for my first impressions, and review of the book Later by Stephen King, can be found here (FYI, watch the video until the end for a special surprise).

I must confess, I failed to acknowledge, mention, or even purposefully detect the perique in the Former’s Bird’s Eye blend during my initial impression. The only indication I found during my first smoke experience was the deep, rich fruit notes I detected on the nose when smelling the freshly opened tin. Now that I have been able to smoke this blend over the course of a full week, I am much more “in-tune” to what the blend has to offer and will discuss my final score below.

Info & Overview

Brand: Former’s

Category: VaPer

Blend Components: Virginia; Perique

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Broken Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $10.50 USD

On to the review…

From the Tin: From the tin, the tobacco is presented as broken flakes. Understandably, the manufacturer sells this tobacco as a flake tobacco; however, the flakes I encountered were broken, not full flakes like that of Orlik Golden Sliced or Dunhill Flake. The tobacco is very, very dry upon opening the tin, almost overly dry. This is a bit concerning, as the tobacco will not only burn hotter while smoking but may be too dry to age well in the cellar. The broken flakes are light golden and yellow in color. The perique is not evident unless you purposefully look for it. The smell from the tin is a straight up hay barn, no qualms about it. Due to the dryness of the flakes, the tobacco required no dry time. To be completely honest, I almost considered re-hydrating some of the tobacco but did not do so.

Tasting Notes: I always find it interesting how a blend changes from the first bowl to the lasting crumbs of an empty tin. We all hear it said, and it is absolutely true, if you don’t like a blend at first, give it some time and see how either it or your tastes change. My initial tasting impressions of Former’s Bird’s Eye Flake was not bad by any stretch of the imagination; however, after giving the blend my full attention over the past week, the tastes really became clear. Former’s Bird’s Eye Flake offers the smoker tastes of grass, hay, spicey black pepper, wheat/grain, and dry cereal, similar to bran flakes. Initially, I thought I was tasting a leather quality but after smoking almost the entire tin, I realize it wasn’t leather, but an earthy, dried fruit note found from the perique. Side note, I only found this taste to be present a few times. In fact, it was so random I’m not completely comfortable listing it as a given taste you will experience while smoking this blend.

Overall Impression: First and foremost, quick cadence smokers be warned! If you pull hard or fast on this tobacco, it WILL give you tongue bite. Maybe it’s due to the dryness, maybe it’s the sparce perique… Either way, this is a tobacco to be slowly sipped and enjoyed. As I scored this tobacco “just ok” in my initial impression, I continue to hold strong to that thought. The tobacco is a good quality and I’m glad I had the opportunity to smoke it; however, there is really nothing special about this blend. It’s a pretty standard Virginia flake (with a sprinkle of perique) and with all the various options on the market, there are much better choices I can put my time and money into. For me, the major drawback of the blend is its extreme dry character. I feel this probably hurts the quality of the tobacco more than it helps. Is it worth a try? Sure! Will I be filling voids in my cellar with tins of Former’s Bird’s Eye Flake? No. Score from my initial impressions to the end of the tin, not changed.

Tobacco Initial Impression Score: 3 out of 5 pipes

Tobacco End of Tin Overall Score: 3 out of 5 pipes

Later

by: Stephen King

A new novel by Stephen King, I couldn’t resist giving it a read. Not to mention, I am a sucker for the cover art on a book and Later, screamed interesting read. I know, I know, “you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover” but let’s be real people. All of us do it, whether intentional or not. So, coming out of the pandemic and having the chance to read the new King novel, I took total advantage. I will say, I was hesitant to purchase the book as the last few King novels have been less than satisfying, thus, not warranting a second read. Therefore, I took advantage of my local library’s online e-book option called Libby. Not only was I able to read the novel for free, but the book is also automatically returned on its due date. I’m typically terrible about returning books to the library on time, so this is a welcomed change for me.

Here are the specific details on the novel:

Info & Overview

Title: Later

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: Hard Case Crime

Publication Year: March 2021

Genre: Fiction/Crime/Horror

Number of Pages: 272

Price: $9.56 USD (mass-market paperback); $9.99 (Kindle e-version)

On to the review…

As discussed in my video review of the book on YouTube, I am using a new review system similar to what I use when tasting wines. I will be breaking my thoughts into the following categories: Successes, Struggles, Suggested Audience, and Score. With that being said, let’s dive right in.

Successes

It was easy to relate to the characters in the book, especially the main character and narrator of the story, Jamie Conklin. Maybe it was the modern-day era that made the connection to characters smoother, or maybe King just did an overall better job at bringing out the details of each person. Either way, the characters in the book were well done and helped make for a good story.
Building off of Success #1, King does a really nice job of having characters appear and reappear throughout the story (hints the book title Later). I especially found an interest in the reappearances of Jamie’s mom’s NYPD detective ex-girlfriend Liz. The way King manipulates her relationship and personal desire to other characters was very well done.
The final success complement’s King’s persuasive writing. Even though this was a fictional story, the manner in which it is written and delivered makes it highly believable and realistic. The setting for the story is modern day in New York City (or just on the outskirts of the city itself). King continuously pulls the reader out of reality then expertly pushes us back in. The set-up is so good one may think something similar to this story could indeed happen in real life.

Struggles

There were editing issues within the kindle (e-book) version of the publication. Simple things such as “s” on the end of words that would never have needed them or made sense for them to have a plural or possessive plural function. Also, there were random symbols and letters in some of the words and sentences. For example, “As I wal%ked up the 3tepes, I noticed the door slightly ajars”. I’m sorry but at the level Stephen King is publishing, there should be zero editing errors, no exceptions. I hope these errors were not found in hard copies of the book and am allowing the benefit of the doubt that it had to do with some kind of electronic upload/formatting failure when pushed to kindle.
If you follow King on any type of social media, you undoubtably know his philosophy and moral stance when it comes to politics. The same can be said for reading his books. There were a few parts in the story where King used his writing platform to make stabs at individuals in today’s current political world. Whether you agree with his stance or not (I am NOT opening that can of worms on this website. Visit your friendly local news organization to find all the political gossip you can handle), the jabs and snide remarks toward those he agrees and disagrees with are unnecessary and do not help push the story plot forward in any way, shape, or form. The book would be just as effective and enjoyable without bringing the political rhetoric into the story. After all, I read to escape the bull crap of this world (such as politics), therefore, when it follows me into my pastime, I begin to look for other authors to satisfy my storytelling needs, who understand, fictional stories can do without real-life horror.
The final struggle of the book is two-fold as the first part is somewhat the cause of the second. As mentioned above, the main character is a young boy named Jamie Conklin, and Jamie can see dead people. Yes, this theme has already been successfully achieved by M. Night Shyamalan in the 1990’s blockbuster hit The Sixth Sense. Although a touch different than the Bruce Willis film, as dead people only last three days and must tell the truth when asked a question, King did do a nice job of using Jamie’s unique skill to bend the plot into an enjoyable rat-race (read the book and you’ll better understand what I mean). With that being said, the second part of struggle three is related to this special ability. King uses it to abruptly end the book causing the entire story to fall flat and just end in a “happily-ever-after” sort of manner. A very tense moment at the end just kind of stops and literally, “walks out the door.” Really!? We had all this major build-up and were staged for the grand finale and what do we get? A moldy bologna sandwich. I don’t know if deadlines were tight, ideas had run dry, or he was just looking for a sequel opportunity (mark my words now…See You Later by Stephen King, set to debut December 2022). No matter what the case, this is becoming characteristic of King’s writing. He just doesn’t finish strong anymore. That was one of the reasons I started reading his work 20+ years ago. He wrote a great story with a very satisfying ending. No, it may not have been a happy ending, but it was satisfying. King has lost his touch when it comes to a solid finish. Period. Best word to describe it, unfulfilling.

Suggested Audience

Obviously, this story is written for a mature audience (adults), however, this would be an acceptable novel for a mature young adult or teen. Also, if you are looking to dive into Stephen King’s work, this would be a good novel to start with for two reasons. First, there are no characters linked to a previous story/book and secondly, it is a horror novel, but it’s not demented horror like we find in several of his other stories (i.e., you will be able to sleep at night).

Overall Book Score: 3 out of 5 books

So, there you have it, a Tobacco and a Tome. Thank you again for visiting The Pipe Professor webpage. Stay tuned, both here and on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel, for more literature, tobacco, pipes, cigars, and timeless treasure content. I hope to post bi-weekly (alternating) Sundays on both platforms.

Until next time, thanks for reading. Cheers!

Pipe Tobacco Review

Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader with Perique

Samuel Gawith tobacco company is one of the oldest and most well know producers of pipe tobacco, cigars, and snuff. Established in 1792, the company operates out of the United Kingdom. The specific tobacco we are discussing for this review, Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader with Perique, was re-introduced to the pipe smoking market in 2015 with a special release of 2000 tins from Smokingpipes.com (SPC). Since then, SPC has had two consecutive releases of this limited edition tobacco; 2018 where they produced and sold 3000 tins, and 2019 where 4500 tins were provided to the pipe smoking consumer base. I am hopeful we will see a 2020 production with 5000+ tins, however, with the current worldwide pandemic, things may not turn out in our favor. Only time will tell…

Info & Overview

Brand: Samuel Gawith

Category: English

Blend Components: Virginia, Latakia, Orientals, Perique

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $13.75 USD

On to the review…

From the Tin: Interesting combination in the tin. The tobacco shows lots of light and dark brown leaves. The dark black latakia and perique leaf is certainly viable and present. The tin note is heavy latakia with the synonymous campfire/burn wood scent. There is also a naturally sweet, similar to honeysuckle, undertone in the tobacco tin smell.

Tasting Notes: I still recall the first time I tried this tobacco. Just to be straightforward, from the first bowl, I was hooked. This is a wonderfully made tobacco that I find extremely tasteful and satisfying. From the tin, the tobacco yields a good moisture level, however, as I enjoy smoking my blends a little on the drier side, I allowed the tobacco to sit out for 20-30 minutes prior to loading the pipe and smoking. Consistently, this tobacco offers tastes of wood cedar chips, dry grasses/hay, campfire, and burnt wood notes. There were times I noted a spicey pepper essence, however, this typically dissipated quickly after the start of the bowl. The tobacco burns down to a fine white ash leaving little dottle in the bottom of the pipe. The smoke is a cool, thick, and white with a room note that is what you would expect from a heavy latakia or oriental blend. Not spouse approved. Overall body of the smoke I would rate as medium/full while the strength of the tobacco is full.

Overall Impression: As I stated in the opening, this tobacco is exceptional. My only issue regarding the blend has to do with the production and availability, not the tobacco itself. As a limited/special run, this blend is very hard to acquire and not in regular supply. It could, however, be argued that most of the Samuel Gawith blends are currently difficult to purchase, making this tobacco just a normal for us in the States. If you are ever provided the opportunity to purchase Samuel Gawith’s Squadron Leader with Perique, I highly recommend you do so. Keep an eye open on the Smokingpipes.com website for their “hopeful” annual release of this blend as you will be highly rewarded for your wait.

Tobacco Score:

Interested in seeing the video review for this blend? Visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/XJz61yRApko for video review of this tobacco.

Be well,

April/May Pipefuls Community Review

Cornell & Diehl Smokingpipes 20^th Anniversary XX Flake

Screen Shot 2020-04-14 at 11.56.57 AM

*The above photo was taken from the smokingpipes.com website. The author of this post is not the owner of the above photo.

For those readers who also listen to the Pipefuls podcast, I recently made a request for anyone wishing to review Cornell & Diehl’s Smokingpipes 20^th Anniversary Blend XX Flake to post their review under the comments on The Pipe Professor webpage. This is the post that was referenced during the podcast and available for anyone wishing to contribute to the community review of SPC 20^th Anniversary XX Flake (regular not the dark flake).

Below you will find the information and blend details. If you would like to participate, please write your review of this month’s blend below in the comments of this post. As the Pipefuls podcast works to build up community participation, I will be selecting reviews posted below to be read aloud on the Pipefuls podcast Episode 6 premiering May 10, 2020.

If you would like to participate in the Pipefuls community review, please write your thoughts, experiences, like/dislike, or other information you have noted about the SPC 20^th Anniversary XX Flake below in the comments. Anyone wishing to participate has from April 12^ththrough May 8^th to post comments or reviews about the blend.

Info & Overview

Brand: Cornell & Diehl

Category: Virginia

Blend Components: Perique, Oriental, Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2 oz tin

Price: $12.00 USD

Link to Pipefuls Episode 4 on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pipefuls-episode-4-interview-with-chad-yarbrough/id1501977611?i=1000471231456

As always, thank you for visiting the website and supporting the Pipefuls podcast and YouTube videocast. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these trying times. As always, be well and cheers!

Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2018

Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2018

Top 5 2018 Pic #1

Now that 2018 has officially come to an end, it’s time to reflect, remember, and revel the pipe tobaccos I enjoyed most during the year. If you follow other pipe smokers through online social media (i.e., Instagram, YouTube, Twitter) you will note several of our pipe smoking friends are sharing their favorite blends from 2018. I always enjoy seeing and reading these lists as they prompt my own inquire to explore tobaccos others find enjoyable.

On a more negative note, pipe smokers, and the hobby in general, experienced several hardships over 2018. From the closing of the McClelland Tobacco Company, to the halt of production on Dunhill tobacco, and the addition of ridiculous warning labels to our favorite tins, pipe enthusiast continue to remain optimistic and support the hobby to its fullest. If anything can be gleaned from these trials, it’s that we need to remain vigilant at all times and never take the market for granted. If you find a specific tobacco blend or tobacco you like, stock up. It goes without saying that things can change (and did) in the blink of an eye. Don’t get caught off guard. If you like it, buy it.

Now that we’ve covered the negative, let’s examine a more positive topic. Below I have detailed my five favorite pipe tobaccos from this past year along with my biggest disappointment. Please note that with any review, or end-of-year list, all information presented reflects an individual opinion. If you don’t agree, that’s fine. Every individual’s personal background is subject to their own experiences. Thus, sharing those individual opinions is part of what I find enjoyable with this hobby. Without further ado, I present my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2018. I hope you enjoy this list and please feel free to leave comments and thoughts regarding your own experience with these blends below.

Tobacco #5 for 2018

Boswell’s Titus

Boswell's Titus.png

Info & Overview

Brand: Boswell’s Pipe & Tobacco

Category: American English

Blend Components: Black Cavendish; Burley; Latakia; Perique; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: Bulk

Price: $5.10 USD per ounce

Tasting Notes: Named after the family dog that frequented the Boswell shop, the Titus blend is described as a “gentle giant” in remembrance of the family pup. Although classified by Boswell’s as a light English blend, I’m not sure I would catalog this tobacco as an English at all, rather, an Aromatic with a spritz of Latakia. With that being said, I must admit, I agree with the gentle giant description as the blend is certainly mild. Further, tobaccoreviews.comdoes not list any flavorings for this blend, however, the aroma from the tin, or bag in this case, has a heavy vanilla scent with light campfire undertone in its profile. When smoked, this tobacco showed tasting notes of nuts, oaky wood, vanilla, cream, and sweet ripe fruits. Further, although Titus is a gentle giant, when puffed too hard or too fast, this blend tends to leave the smoker with a slight remanence of tongue bite. I found myself enjoying it most in a cob throughout the year and would certainly recommend this blend to any aromatic smoker looking for options to transition into English tobaccos.

Tobacco #4 for 2018

G.L. Pease Westminster

Info & Overview

Brand: G. L. Pease

Category: Balkan

Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 2 oz tin, 8 oz tin, or 16 oz tin

Price: $10.63 USD (2 oz tin); $35.70 (8 oz tin); $61.63 (16 oz tin)

Tasting Notes: This tobacco was a pleasant surprise to me during 2018. Being old hat to seasoned pipe and tobacco enthusiast, I first tried this blend on a ‘Pop the Top’ segment for my YouTube channel in March of 2018. Since that day, I have never looked back. Westminster is a rich, smooth, medium to full bodied Balkan blend that is enhanced by its sweet red Virginias. What I find unique about this tobacco is its ability to offer such a diverse smoking experience based upon the pipe I select to enjoy it with. That’s right, depending on the briar, cob, or meerschaum I choose to use, this tobacco offers extraordinary differences in its smoking profile, all of which are very much enjoyable. This diversity, along with a tasting profile that is woody, campfire smoky, smooth, and toasty are precisely why Westminster has earned the #4 spot on my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2018 list.

Tobacco #3 for 2018

Dunhill Flake

Dunhill Flake Picture

Info & Overview

Brand: Dunhill

Category: Virginia

Blend Components: Straight Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 50 g tin

Price: No longer in production

Tasting Notes: As I discussed in the opening of this post, production on Dunhill tobacco blends was halted earlier this year. Anticipating the market would quickly sell out of specific Dunhill pipe tobaccos, I managed to pick up a few tins of Dunhill Flake before its disappearance in late summer. Being a gorgeous, thinly sliced, medium brown flake, this tobacco is absolutely top-notch offering the smoker notes of lemon zest, fresh hay/grass (yes, William Serad of Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine, we all know you hate this description…get over it), yeasty bread, and sweet tea. Dunhill Flake will be greatly missed by many pipe smokers as it was a true quality pure Virginia tobacco. If you are able to find this blend for a reasonable price (let me reiterate reasonable) be sure to pick some up and enjoy a tobacco that is soon to be, up in smoke.

Tobacco #2 for 2018

Cornell & Diehl Star of the East Flake

Info & Overview

Brand: Cornell & Diehl

Category: English

Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2 oz or 8 oz tin

Price: $9.78 USD (2 oz); $29.33 (8 oz)

Tasting Notes: If you are a frequent follower of The Pipe Professor webpage, it will come as no shock that Cornell & Diehl’s Star of the East Flake is my #2 tobacco of 2018. This tobacco is said to be a replacement for the highly sought-after Esoterica Penzance, however, in my opinion, Star of the East Flake not only outperforms Penzance, it is an all-around better smoke (and readily available). Offering a bold, latakia forward experience, Star of the East Flake provides the smoker with a thick, creamy, rustic smoking experience. Tastes of dark fruits, fig, and earth accompany a cool, dry smoke allowing you to be transferred to a state of euphoria. You can read my full, in-depth review of this blend here. If you are a lover of latakia and have not tried this blend, I highly recommend you do so. This is one you don’t want to miss out on.

Tobacco #1 for 2018

Cornell & Diehl Professor

C&D Professor Picture

Info & Overview

Brand: Cornell & Diehl

Category: English

Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Perique; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 2 oz tin

Price: $9.78 USD

Tasting Notes: Before progressing any further into this review, I want to note that this selection has nothing to do with the fact that my website is known as The Pipe Professor. In fact, it was through unintentional means that I found this beautiful blend. Let me explain. Like many of you, I shop at online tobacconist who offer free shipping on orders of $95 or more. It never seems to fail that I will have selected an online cart full of glorious tobaccos that totals $88 and well, it just seems silly to pay $8.99 in shipping when you can just throw in one more $10 tin of tobacco to reach the free shipping offer…. right? That was precisely the case for me with Cornell & Diehl Professor. I added this tobacco to an online purchase in order to qualify for free shipping in April of this past year. Low and behold, it is an absolute diamond in the rough. Providing tasting notes of sweet and sour Orientals, woody earth, dried grass, spicy fruits, and a lingering musty room note that is remanence of an old library or book store, Cornell & Diehl’s Professor has earned my #1 spot for 2018. Although it started the year as a free shipping add on, Professor has now become the crux of my online ordering.

Top Tobacco Disappointment of 2018

Cornell & Diehl Mad Fiddler Flake

C&D Mad Fiddler Flake

Info & Overview

Brand: Cornell & Diehl

Category: Virginia

Blend Components: Black Cavendish; Cigar Leaf; Perique; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2 oz tin

Price: $9.78 USD

Tasting Notes: I find it somewhat funny that my top two tobacco of the year are produced by the same company that makes what I found to be the worst tobacco I smoked in 2018 (in fact, it may be the worst tobacco I’ve ever smoked). I’ve always enjoyed a creepy H. P. Lovecraft story and find his writing to reflect a genre currently overrun with zombies and zombie apocalypses. Being a part of the ‘Great Old One’ series, which is a direct link to Lovecraft’s fictional work, I figured I would pick a tin of this blend up and give it a go. After all, the ratings and reviews I had read online all suggested Mad Fiddler Flake to be something special. As it turns out, this tobacco and me, don’t pair well. Point blank, I find this blend to be absolutely disgusting. Straight out of the tin I endured an aroma similar to that of dried dog food. Yes, dried dog food…weird. Granted, the flakes all look wonderful, however, upon smoking the tobacco not only performed and tasted horrific (maybe that’s why it’s part of the Lovecraft line…. horror), it leaves a lasting, penny-like metallic taste in my mouth. No offense, I have never enjoyed eating basic coinage. Yes, I understand that many people find this blend to be enjoyable, but not this guy. Those of you who like this one have nothing to fear (no pun intended), I won’t be attempting to cellar any of it in the future.

Thank you for visiting The Pipe Professor website. I hope you have enjoyed my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2018 and please stay tuned for more reviews and exciting content in the upcoming year. As always, I hope each of you have a blessed 2019 and until next time, cheers!

* All tobacco tin pictures and blend information (excluding tasting notes) were taken from tobaccoreviews.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.