ATTENTION: CB Pipe Tobacco Review Bombing Run Version 2.0

[Horsefeathers]

Details:
Date: 4/16/2015
Name: Horsefeathers
Tobacco: U - Pink C&D Exclusive
Pipe: Neerup Bent Apple
Indoor / Outdoor: Outdoors (Garage)






Observations & Examination (how it looked, felt and smelled): The tobacco was sealed in an air tight pouch. Opening the pouch revealed a soft ribbon cut tobacco. It was mostly a medium brown color with some darker tobacco mixed throughout. The smell was fairly strong and straight forward; spot on raisins and chocolate (or the most underrated movie theater candy, raisinettes!). Letting it get some air didn't seem to affect the smell in the slightest.

Preparation (how did you prepare and pack it): The pipe was packed with my best attempt at the Frank Method. Gravity filling the bowl and then topping off with a solid pinch of tobacco. The pack passed the draw test so I proceeded with the smoke.

Burn:After the struggles I had the with the last tobacco sample I wasn't sure what to expect burn wise. Turns out this took right to the flame. After a pair of charing lights I was off to the races. Over the course of the bowl I only had 4 relights with 3 of them coming in the final 3rd of the bowl. The smoke itself was cool and one thing I noticed was that there was a distinct creaminess to the smoke directly after a relight. They also, made my throat a bit dry / scratchy. otherwise it was mostly unremarkable (not in a bad way, just indistinct).

The tobacco was paired with glass of water.

Flavor:The flavor was really interesting, dancing all over in the first third. I was initially hit with a wet hay / grassy flavor that varied in intensity. After a short time a very sugary flavor developed on the roof of my mouth. This sugary flavor would come and go throughout the first third. Somewhere in second third the hay and sugar gave way to a slight cacao. It was also at this time that a floral quality started to build. The floral / soapy flavor just continued to build through the final third until it was the primary flavor, but never really too strong or off putting. The only other thing of note would be the retro-hale which was very mild, but presented notes of baking spice. It's also the smoothest tobacco I've retro-haled. No tingle or burn what so ever.

Comments and Conclusion:This was really interesting tobacco, and to date would be the most nuanced pipe tobacco I've smoked. I really enjoyed the first two thirds or so, and the Floral / soapiness (which I now believe to be what everyone refers to lakeland essence) never got too strong, but still isn't something I think I'll go seeking out at this point. I also believe that this tobacco has far more to offer in terms of flavor than what I was able to discover. A more experienced smoker or someone with a better palate would find much I have missed I'd imagine. If what I've described in the flavor profile ticks anyone's boxes I'd have no problem recommending this to someone. Smoke this one when you have some time to set aside though as I think it would be much more rewarding that way.

Next up is D - Yellow!

[Alligator Gar]

Details:
Date: 4/16/2015
Name: Horsefeathers
Tobacco: U - Pink
Pipe: Neerup Bent Apple

I'd love to see a picture of that Bent Apple. That's my favorite shape and on the top of the list of acquisitions.

[Alligator Gar]

Date 17APR15
Name Alligator Gar (Jim)
Tobacco Q Yellow Balkan Sasieni
Pipe MM Diplomat
Indoor / Outdoor Covered Porch

Before smoking I purged my palate with a large chocolate malt and a Fausto Lancero with water back.

This sample looked pretty ordinary. It was a big bag of black and tan.
Attachment 1955
I loaded it in a MM Diplomat. Cow head for scale.
Attachment 1957
I paired this with some Amrit tea and gall berry honey. Amrit is some weird looking tea.
Attachment 1959
The tobacco has pleasant barn scents of hay and warm critters.

A little drying made the tobacco less springy and it loaded well. Opening notes were a mid range tobacco and cream taste. Baking spice was present on the smooth retro-hale. The nose feel was actually better than the mouth feel. The ash is a clean white scalloped layer.
Attachment 1958
A little swish of tea cooled the sides of my tongue and throat.

The blend burns well and cool and profits from an occasional tamp. It never billows smoke but is very refined in how it burns. The flavor is a very mannerly spice, cream and hay. No heavy leather or earth flavors emerge, just a little umami characteristic of well aged tobacco. The room note is weedy. Yes, that kind of weedy. It is a good mild mannered experience, something along the lines of Early Morning Pipe. I would make this my first smoke of the morning, much as I do Cubans. It has some nice nutty and vegetal subtleties that would be fascinating on an unburnt palate.

I've smoked three bowls of Q since I received it and I don't have anything bad to say about it. I would recommend it to a novice smoker or someone who doesn't like getting their face melted and Nic buzz on. I suggest you try you a bowl of Q and see if you agree!

4/5 Would smoke again, wouldn't mind keeping a half pound back.

[Horsefeathers]

I'd love to see a picture of that Bent Apple. That's my favorite shape and on the top of the list of acquisitions.

I'll try to post up some pictures later today.