I would love to hear your thoughts on those. Straight to the point works great for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Madbricky
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I would love to hear your thoughts on those. Straight to the point works great for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Madbricky
I just opened up my Lakeland one as well. Smells great! Not as strong as some I have on hand, but still smells great. Can't wait to light this one up.
The world really needs some more Lakeland Snot in it. Keeps things balanced and right :p :pipe:
If you have reviewed anything up until this post, go back and look to see where the tobacco name has been revealed :pipe:
And now for the two winners...
This was harder to judge than I expected- I actually had it down to four pretty easily, but then I hit a wall. After much consideration, in no particular order (other than incidentally alphabetical), your winners are:
@Alligator Gar
@JustTroItIn
Pete, they're all yours :)
Congrats gentlemen!
@NeverBend
Congrats !! @Alligator Gar And @JustTroItIn
Great job !
Wow, quite humbled here as I don't consider myself much of a reviewer. Congrats to @Alligator Gar and Thank you @NeverBend for the contest and @Tobias Lutz for organizing everything!
Attachment 1997I didn't get my samples in hand till Saturday. For the benefit of some of you that might want to compare impressions here is the last 3 samples I reviewed Sunday aft. I wrote this in my notes so here it is.
Details
Date 4/20
Name pink H G&H Scotch Flake Aromatic
Tobacco variegated blend of dark brown and yellow pressed into cake and cut into long strips
Pipe MM Country Gentleman(not Mizzou shown)
Indoor / Outdoor: indoor
Observations
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled): This was a very moist combined stack of sliced strips smelling strongly of sweet baking cocoa
Preparation: (how did you prepare and pack it): I seperated strips, cut into 1/2" pieces. They where rubbed out and then dried in my warming tin, then cooled dry. They where packed with the Frank method lightly as they still had a good bit of moisture.
Burn: Charring light and relight was all that was needed until the sides needing tampering like a big bowl may require. No other relights required.
Flavor: This tobacco opened with a blast of Dial soap. Ugh! It settled down but without the promised cocoa in the prelight aroma. It really did not present any definitive flavor other than some characteristics I associate with Burley. I had hoped for more after getting punished for swearing.
Comments and conclusion. Not much to say, I'm not a Lakeland fan. Wish I could say more but there was no overwhelming flavor profile.
Attachment 1998
Details
Date: 4/20
Name: madbricky
Tobacco: yellow U C&D Exclusive
Pipe: MM Flame finished Mizzou
Indoor / Outdoor: indoor
Observations
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled): This came out of the bag fairly "squishy" like a sponge flake. The ribbon cut exuded an aroma of Sweet floral, vinegar, and hints of cocoa.
Preparation (how did you prepare and pack it): I warmed it up in my ever present drying tin and was welcomed with an eye watering vinegar chemical fume. So much for sticking ones nose into a warming pile of mystery baccy,! After it comes dry from the tin I loaded it first with a musketball twisted into the bowl, smoked it and then a 2 step pack and smoked that. Results where nearly identical with a stronger flavor coming from the musketball load.
Burn: lit and burned really nice thanks to drying prep I use with nearly every tobacco.
Flavor: I was greeted with a very strong blast of tobacco right off. Flavor was Nutty like Burley? Also got a good Nicotine hit from this. It was too harsh to retro so I was contented to just hold it in my mouth and roll it around the palate. More nutty! The finish was a bit of baking Cocoa. This must be Little Debbie nutty bar blend, lol
Comments and conclusion: This would be a good after dinner blast for a relaxing full in your face smoke session. I'm sure it would be more mellow in a larger pipe.
Congrats Gents! @Alligator Gar And @JustTroItIn
Thanks for the great time Pete!
Edit: Didn't realize that the names of the samples were up. Really interesting to reread the reviews and see what other folks had to say about the same samples.
Attachment 1999
My last sampler review! A day late thanks to the USPS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE SOME OF YOU GOT BALKAN SASSIENI TO TRY! $16 an ounce too. I had a great blind review time, thanks!
Details:
Date 4/20
Name madbricky
Tobacco: pink N Newminster 400 Superior Navy Flake
Pipe: MM Legend
Indoor / Outdoor: indoor
Observations
Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled). This came like the other cake cut strips fused by vaccum into one chunk. It was much coarser and variegated with a larger amount of lighter yellow bits. It was pretty dry already so it was not prepped in the warming tin. It had a light smell of cocoa.
Preparation (how did you prepare and pack it). I peeled a strip off the chunk and rubbed it out into a fluffy pile. It was packed in the Frank method.
Burn: It lit easily, char, tamp, relight. The burn was nice and slow with no relights other than after tamping.
Flavor: The first draws where a tad harsh after which it settled into a sweet hay flavor, very full in body with a rich tobacco flavor to the end.
Comments and conclusion: I wouldn't kick down the door of your cellar for this. Lots of cake and plug out there just like this to smoke. I had to sip this slowly to keep it mellow and my style is more like the little train that could. Lots of big puffing for big clouds of rich smoke that I could not get from this gentlemans blend.
Squeee! TroIt is the prettiest gal at the dance, but I can cook! I think this was a great kind of bomb that got a lot of fellows thinking about what they were smoking and tasting. Saw some great pipes, a motorcycle with a side car and learned a ton! Nicely done Tobias and Pete, what a great way to get people talking and sharing. And now I don't need to buy any Lakeland to give it a try. That could be the nicest gift of all. Many thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz
@Tobias Lutz @NeverBend
Thanks for the herculean effort to do this. Perhaps another gent may sponsor this again. Being home grounded these days I really enjoy contests to keep my mind busy.
Would you also be so kind as to identify my last 3 reviews? Much obliged brothers!
So Sandalwood, dried hay and leather in barn prelight. Clover, Mown Grass and citrusy zing (twang). You obviously just smoked an aged Cuban.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz
done. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by madbricky
I was wondering why it was so hard to rub out :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Alligator Gar
Tobacco AA Fuschia (MacBaren Latakia Blend circa. 2000)
"The overall experience reminds me of smoking a cigarette, something I'm not the least interested in."
"There aren't a lot of tasting notes in this review because I didn't taste much. I would be interested in some sort of exchange program where I surrender the rest of Fuschia AA (MacBaren Latakia Blend circa. 2000) in return for equal amounts of Fuschia A. (G&H Dark Sliced) Now that tobacco tasted like something."
So awesome. I pee all over 15 year old Latakia Blend (being a self professed lover of aged tobacco and Latakia) and offer to trade it for G&H Goop Sliced. I'm a dope.
Well said @Alligator Gar . I was reticent to say anything bad about @NeverBend Pete's stash that he generously shared with me, especially being pen pals! He threw a couple zingers my way for sure. As the God of baccy as my witness I did guess the first one. I even wrote MacB #1 on the bag after consideration. I bought several tins during the Groupon Madness last year. I gave one to a friend who like me is nuts about good Virginia blends. The leftover tins did not make it to the "cellar". I smoked a couple bowls a day till it was gone. It rocks with English or Irish Breakfast tea from Twinings.
I'm a fan of several Newminster budget blends as they are Peter Stokkebye, so I'm a little embarrassed that my last review missed the all Virginia aspect. I did like it a lot and it's way cheaper than Dunhill!
This whole blind review is good for us, it ushers humility for those who need it, and confidence for the newbie that they can trust a new palate. @NeverBend Pete, you are my pipe brother of the month for this service and fun given to me! Expect a cruel payback in the future my friend!
Great contest boys!
Congrats to @Alligator Gar and @JustTroItIn for bringing home the W. Every time I would read one of your guys' reviews, I would think to myself, "one of these 2 have to win." Between all the photos and the descriptions, it was really great stuff!
Thanks again to @Tobias Lutz and @NeverBend for putting this together. No easy task. I think we all had a lot of fun reviewing and reading what others reviewed!
Tobias, if possible, I would like to know what my remaining samples are as well. I am 99% sure one of them is Glengarry Flake, but not sure of the others.
Thanks and Congrats again!
Brandon- Post the codes and I'll tell you what was what.Quote:
Originally Posted by Branzig
:stupid:Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz
Guess that would help :p
Pink P
Pink B
Orange C (vac)
Thanks!
Congratulations to the winners! :applause::whoo::clappy:
This was a fun activity. I found it a nice way to approach tobacco without any prior expectations. Often I browse all available reviews before I get something, and the experiences of other probably do color my own. It was also an opportunity to figure out where I need to fine-tune my palate.
In smoking the Yellow E, I actually did pick up a slight Lakeland note, so I was surprised that it turned out to be Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake. Could it have gotten a little cross-contamination from proximity to a Lakeland blend?
I've had bulk Ennerdale seep into other plastic bulk baggies in my order before. I have since then learned my lesson and always request that any bulk Lakeland Snot being sent gets a double bagging effort. And, with that being said, that is the only blend that has ever done it. Grasmere, Aromatic Dark, & Kendal Flake have all gotten their stench on the plastic baggies before, but never made it through to the tobacco.Quote:
Originally Posted by cpmcdill
Also, with these samples being vacuumed sealed, I don't think the essence would of seeped out. I couldn't smell a single aroma through these things. They were as solid as tins IMO. Which I think is one of the main reason's Pete did this whole thing. To see how the vacuum sealing worked out. Well, Pete, in my totally unprofessional and biased opinion, I feel that the vacuum sealer is as good as a tin. I have literally had one of these things sealed for weeks, and nothing is wrong with it. Weeks, years...whatever time is time. They'll hold up :p
:pipe:Quote:
Originally Posted by Branzig
Congratulations to @Alligator Gar and @JustTroItIn and many thanks to @Tobias Lutz and @NeverBend . I would also like to thank the other participants, as it was a pleasure to read your reviews. Hoping to slow down soon and reread knowing what these are.
Great job fellas thank you!
Your excitement and willingness to participate made this all worthwhile and fun. Without you guys there was nothing.
I read every review and appreciated all the comments. Thanks for the feedback about the bags and the comments like Jim's that the flakes 'fused' into a brick. Good to know. Apology to Bryan (@BryGuySC) for not restoring the rim of his pipe (last owner sanded it) but I did restore the rims and part of one stem (rebuilt the button) on the pipes for Jack (@Justtroitin) and Jim (@AlligatorGar). I hope to have pics of how they looked before being sent. I'm a selfish guy. If a pipe smokes well, I keep it (some exceptions Brandon). If it smoke poorly I sell it on the Bay. Please let us (me) know how these pipes smoke because I want to wish that I had kept them!
Craig (@MadBricky) got his samples late and after the contest ended but he wrote reviews anyway. Class.
Anyone know if Chris (@Chris0673) and Landon (@LandonColby) are OK?
Tobias graciously bowed out of the review contest when he volunteered to judge it. This would never have happened without Tobias. Therefore, by the power invested in me I give you a brain.., er, a heart..no, no, a PIPE!
I hope to have pics of the three pipes to post in this thread later tonight (but, as always, they'll be bad pics).
Pete
Date: 4/15/15
Bum: Emperor Zurg
Sample: “Orange i" Vac Packed G&H Brown Flake
Pipe: MM Freehand Natural
Environment: Vehicle - windows down, highway
Observations:
Appearance: Brown flake with lighter streaks
Preparation: Dried for a couple hours - fold and stuff almost 1 entire flake. This pipe holds quite a payload.
Burn: Burned beautifully after I got it going. No relights unless I put it down for a while.
Tin Note: Sweet hay and raisins.
Flavor:
False light tasted of Lakeland soap. I puffed it a bit and it changed to a creamy soap, then I let it go out.
True light took a couple tries with quite a bit of fire and puffing - got pretty bitter but I finally got an ember going.
Once it got under way and settled down...
The first thing I noticed was dry hay. Dry hay with a touch of soap. Soon this took on a pretty dry, floral profile that stabilized for a bit. After about 10 minutes I got some sweetness creeping in that continued to build throughout the bowl. About 20/25 minutes in I would describe the flavor as sweet dry grass with a light floral component. Eventually the floral started to fade a bit, giving way to a hint of pepper. The pepper was welcome because I was getting bored with the floral grass flavor and hoping to get a shift to citrus or dried fruit (which never came). The pepper built for a while and the smoke eventually took on a bit of an almond flavor once in a while, although never loosing the floral component. This seemed to be the dominant profile because it lasted for the majority of the bowl. Toward the beginning of the last 1/3 the pepper had faded out quite a bit (was never really strong in the first place) and I think I picked up a touch of apricot or something once in a while - the floral component seemed to be coming and going at this point. I was getting dizzy so I set the pipe down and grabbed lunch. After I recovered a bit, I lit it back up and once it settled down I was getting a pretty delicious caramelized sugar flavor on the tongue, although the smoke was still pretty floral out the nose. I was liking the caramel much more than the floral at this point so I didn't retro much anymore. The caramel also made a sip of my coffee taste a bit like butterscotch. I was enjoying this quite a bit but alas, the vitamin N was getting to me again and I was pretty near the bottom of the bowl so I set it down for the last part of the trip, fearing any more and I wouldn't be fit to drive.
Comments and conclusion:
This was another interesting and enjoyable flake. I didn't care so much for the constant floral profile but it changed around enough that it stayed interesting. I'd classify this as a medium strength that probably wouldn't have bothered me much had I smoked a usual-sized bowl but this was a long delivery trip and the Freehand holds an enormous payload - way more baccy than I would usually smoke in 1 sitting; about 2 hours in and I still have some left in the pipe. I did enjoy the previous, sticky flake more as I like the citrus flavor that one had, but I wouldn't turn this one down.
Thanks to Pete and Tobias for making all this possible! :)
I did! I apologize for not letting you know. I've been super busy with prepping for finals and my final Digital Video project. I promise I will get the reviews up as soon as I can. I just have not had the time to sit down and smoke...at all!Quote:
Originally Posted by NeverBend
Hay Chris,Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris0673
(Hay - inside joke because of your avatar...ok, sorry).
I was just a little worried about you and glad that you're ok. Your Education is nearly as important as your smoking but far more costly so you need to focus on that, make us and yourself proud and no explanation or reviews needed unless you're home free with Aces.
Pete
http://makeameme.org/media/created/w...ell-lkeeha.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by NeverBend
I did say NEARLY but the cost accountant in me didn't want to overstate the obvious. Method to madness. Ok, just madness. I have PAD and TAD and my name is Pete (it's become my freakin' mantra).Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz
I apologize for the disappearance...a synergy of many things came together just right and drained me of all time and energy these past couple weeks. I haven't even touched a pipe since then and I'm long overdue.
All is well and I'll be doing all my reviews this weekend at the latest.
Good to see ya Landon. I missed your piercing eyes and shrill predatory calls. I have some raccoons that need predating? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by LandonColby
Short story is that whether the weather (I always wanted to use both n a sentence) cooperates or not, the prize pipes will go out by Tuesday. Sorry for the delay.
https://youtu.be/K0J-T2lr0MsQuote:
Originally Posted by NeverBend
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04...0cc994d293.jpg
Musings of Sample "Y" (green) McClelland #14 circa 1996
Saturday, April 25th
Smoked indoors.
First off the appearance is very dark, ribbon cut..or what once was. Fine texture, very crumby. The scent is lovely, very dank muskyness, and reminiscent of cow manure (I like the smell actually). Moisture was prefect and I only let it stand in the open air for a few minutes to dry and then swirled it into my Big Ben dublin. This blend takes to flame easily with minimal expansion from heat. The first flavors that come to the senses are very deep, rich, and sweet. Flavors of cavendish and stoved virginias, a whisper of spice, possibly from perique, and a subtle smokiness. The flavor stands firmly down the bowl, gradually becoming more and more homogenized into a deeper version of the sweet and spicy notes. An absolutely delicious smoke! It reminds me of "bayou" and "cajun" genre of tobacco blends like C&D Mississippi Mud.
Nicotine was present but only noticeable as a slight tingle on the tongue, no apparent head change.
Overall, I have no scruples with this blend. I think it's exactly what it's meant to be and I'd definitely smoke it again. I'm sensing this has some years on it but then again it could be the deep, rich scent throwing me off. Definitely a recommended blend.
@LandonColby
I edited your post to name the blend... you picked one of the most unique ones to do first :)
At Pete's request, I've copied all the actual reviews from the original thread into this one in the Pipe Related Reviews Forum. Enjoy!
Very cool. Now I need to read the different reviews on the same tobaccos. That will be interesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz
Prizes sent, sorry for the delay.