Summer of 2016 Blind Review Thread

[cpmcdill]

Blend: #18
Pipe: Comoy's bent bulldog
Packing method: Codger stuff
Appearance: Ribbon cut. Dark yellow and brown with a lot of black tobacco.
Pouch Note: Smells like an English blend. Latakia is present, but not overwhelming.
Lighting method (why didn't I think of this before?): standard Zippo

At first light this blend seemed a bit unbalanced, but as it settled in, everything pulled together, and I got the sense of a pretty decent English blend. All of the component tobaccos found their place, and the smoking experience became rather pleasant. I was smoking this as I was reading something, and my cadence must have been just right, as I was surprised that I was nearing the end. I set it down with about 25% left.

After typing up that first paragraph, I relit for the final stretch. A very slight note of sweetness is present, as well as a balancing astringent note. The smokiness of the Latakia doesn't dominate, but is always present, like a chatty backseat passenger who keeps you awake during night drives. Present enough that it's a bit hard to tell if there's Burley or Oriental in the blend, though I do suspect that there may not be Perique, unless it's in very negligible amounts.

Right near the end of the bowl I had trouble keeping it lit. Probably a combination of moisture and accumulated ash. So I scraped out the rest and swabbed the pipe. I thought this was a decent English blend. Not quite as good as #16, but good enough to finish off this baggie at least. The initial sense of unbalance, though it subsided, might still have been there just beneath the surface, though not enough to turn me off to this particular mixture.

[Tobias Lutz]

Blend: #18
Pipe: Comoy's bent bulldog
Packing method: Codger stuff
Appearance: Ribbon cut. Dark yellow and brown with a lot of black tobacco.
Pouch Note: Smells like an English blend. Latakia is present, but not overwhelming.
Lighting method (why didn't I think of this before?): standard Zippo

At first light this blend seemed a bit unbalanced, but as it settled in, everything pulled together, and I got the sense of a pretty decent English blend. All of the component tobaccos found their place, and the smoking experience became rather pleasant. I was smoking this as I was reading something, and my cadence must have been just right, as I was surprised that I was nearing the end. I set it down with about 25% left.

After typing up that first paragraph, I relit for the final stretch. A very slight note of sweetness is present, as well as a balancing astringent note. The smokiness of the Latakia doesn't dominate, but is always present, like a chatty backseat passenger who keeps you awake during night drives. Present enough that it's a bit hard to tell if there's Burley or Oriental in the blend, though I do suspect that there may not be Perique, unless it's in very negligible amounts.

Right near the end of the bowl I had trouble keeping it lit. Probably a combination of moisture and accumulated ash. So I scraped out the rest and swabbed the pipe. I thought this was a decent English blend. Not quite as good as #16, but good enough to finish off this baggie at least. The initial sense of unbalance, though it subsided, might still have been there just beneath the surface, though not enough to turn me off to this particular mixture.

This is one of my favortite SPS blends: Bosphorus Cruise:

Bosphorus Cruise is a treat for the Latakia lover. Dark, smoky Cyprian Latakia is deftly blended with red Virginias, which add a toasty sweetness and Turkish Smyrna for a richly exotic note. Rich enough for an evening smoke, it's also light enough to enjoy anytime.

[c.ortiz108]

Mystery Sutliff Blend #13

So, I’ve done a fair few cigar reviews but only one tobacco review – and that was just having fun at the expense of the vile and dreaded Mixture No. 79. So your mileage may really vary from this review. Unlike @Branzig who sensibly gives a blend 3 bowls before reviewing, I’m going to insensibly dive right in with my totally first-impression review.

I’m pairing this with a slightly sweet iced coffee with cream, and smoking in a rusticated Parker apple dedicated to Black Cavendish aros.

Out of the bag it’s very sticky, and very fruity- vanilla smelling. Reminds me of a liqueur or brandy – some kind of sweet alcohol. Appearance is mostly black with some brown ribbon-cut. So wet and goopy there’s a residue inside the bag.

It lights and smokes easily, even though I only left it out a few minutes. It's very soft and fruity smoking, with a little creaminess. I’m thinking stewed fruits like plum or apricot. The topping is so heavy I feel like it’s permanently lodged in my nostrils and I can still smell it on my fingers from packing. A true gooper. The room note is also very sweet and not really tobacco-like at all. I can even taste the sweetness on my tongue, and it kind of reminds me of shisha tobacco which is not necessarily a bad thing.

There's an occasional little zing, like tartness from fruit. This is seriously fruity stuff. There’s some other flavor I can’t put my finger on. Maybe it’s supposed to be some kind of berry. Is Sutliff the ones who do the mango-raspberry blend? The tartness is gone 1/3 down the bowl and it’s now just sweet and kind of marshmallowy. The vanilla is still there, too. It’s not an unpleasant smoke, but it doesn’t taste very natural either. Kind of reminds me of the junky, colorful candy I’d get in the 7-11 when I was kid. Like Bottle Caps. No, wait! It’s Necco wafers! Is it possible that Sutliff made a Necco Wafer blend?

Attachment 5776

Halfway there and I’m getting a little soapiness – more Mixture 79 than Lakeland. I’m guessing the tobacco itself is mostly Black Cavendish + a bit of burley, and a lot of burley-based aros tastes a little soapy to me.

Thinking of this blend in terms of shisha tobacco helps me to enjoy it a little more – imagining being at some outdoor Egyptian or Moroccan shisha bar late at night under the stars with warped Middle Eastern pop playing on an old cassette tape.

Shisha-cafe.jpg

Thinking about it in terms of Necco Wafers kind of diminishes my enjoyment.

It gets a little gurgly towards the end. Very low nicotine.

Bottom line: I recommend this if you like smooth, sweet, fruity, marshmallowy blends with not a lot of tobacco flavor or strength. It leaves a relatively clean palate so my wife won't be repulsed by me for very long. It’s inoffensive, but a little boring. I can’t really imagine ever craving it in particular, or choosing it over other aros I like much better.

I have zero confidence in my ability to identify flavors in pipe tobacco, so this might end up being pretty amusing when the identity is revealed…..

Thanks @Tobias Lutz for the opportunity to try this, and for getting me back to reviewing!

[Tobias Lutz]

Mystery Sutliff Blend #13

So, I’ve done a fair few cigar reviews but only one tobacco review – and that was just having fun at the expense of the vile and dreaded Mixture No. 79. So your mileage may really vary from this review. Unlike @Branzig who sensibly gives a blend 3 bowls before reviewing, I’m going to insensibly dive right in with my totally first-impression review.

I’m pairing this with a slightly sweet iced coffee with cream, and smoking in a rusticated Parker apple dedicated to Black Cavendish aros.

Out of the bag it’s very sticky, and very fruity- vanilla smelling. Reminds me of a liqueur or brandy – some kind of sweet alcohol. Appearance is mostly black with some brown ribbon-cut. So wet and goopy there’s a residue inside the bag.

It lights and smokes easily, even though I only left it out a few minutes. It's very soft and fruity smoking, with a little creaminess. I’m thinking stewed fruits like plum or apricot. The topping is so heavy I feel like it’s permanently lodged in my nostrils and I can still smell it on my fingers from packing. A true gooper. The room note is also very sweet and not really tobacco-like at all. I can even taste the sweetness on my tongue, and it kind of reminds me of shisha tobacco which is not necessarily a bad thing.

There's an occasional little zing, like tartness from fruit. This is seriously fruity stuff. There’s some other flavor I can’t put my finger on. Maybe it’s supposed to be some kind of berry. Is Sutliff the ones who do the mango-raspberry blend? The tartness is gone 1/3 down the bowl and it’s now just sweet and kind of marshmallowy. The vanilla is still there, too. It’s not an unpleasant smoke, but it doesn’t taste very natural either. Kind of reminds me of the junky, colorful candy I’d get in the 7-11 when I was kid. Like Bottle Caps. No, wait! It’s Necco wafers! Is it possible that Sutliff made a Necco Wafer blend?

Attachment 5776

Halfway there and I’m getting a little soapiness – more Mixture 79 than Lakeland. I’m guessing the tobacco itself is mostly Black Cavendish + a bit of burley, and a lot of burley-based aros tastes a little soapy to me.

Thinking of this blend in terms of shisha tobacco helps me to enjoy it a little more – imagining being at some outdoor Egyptian or Moroccan shisha bar late at night under the stars with warped Middle Eastern pop playing on an old cassette tape.

Shisha-cafe.jpg

Thinking about it in terms of Necco Wafers kind of diminishes my enjoyment.

It gets a little gurgly towards the end. Very low nicotine.

Bottom line: I recommend this if you like smooth, sweet, fruity, marshmallowy blends with not a lot of tobacco flavor or strength. It leaves a relatively clean palate so my wife won't be repulsed by me for very long. It’s inoffensive, but a little boring. I can’t really imagine ever craving it in particular, or choosing it over other aros I like much better.

I have zero confidence in my ability to identify flavors in pipe tobacco, so this might end up being pretty amusing when the identity is revealed…..

Thanks @Tobias Lutz for the opportunity to try this, and for getting me back to reviewing!

You smoked a bowl of SPS Molto Dolce (One of their most heavily promoted blends):

Molto Dolce is a runaway hit for Sutliff Private Stock. Excellent sweet Virginias, mellow Burleys and superior black Cavendish are married with essences of vanilla, caramel and honey for smooth flavor and an outstanding room note.

[c.ortiz108]

You smoked a bowl of SPS Molto Dolce (One of their most heavily promoted blends):

Molto Dolce is a runaway hit for Sutliff Private Stock. Excellent sweet Virginias, mellow Burleys and superior black Cavendish are married with essences of vanilla, caramel and honey for smooth flavor and an outstanding room note.

Seriously!? I've really been wanting to try Molto Dolce! I'll give it another chance and try to let all the positive reviews sway my opinion. I can't believe there's no fruit flavor!

[Tobias Lutz]

Seriously!? I've really been wanting to try Molto Dolce! I'll give it another chance and try to let all the positive reviews sway my opinion. I can't believe there's no fruit flavor!

I strongly suggest drying it out a bit. I find most Cavendish based aros smoke best when they are almost crispy. Some people find smoking it too dry makes them susceptible to tongue bite, but I've not encountered this problem.

[Tobias Lutz]

Alright guys...sorry I have been absent for a couple days. I bought a new laptop and have spent my free time since Friday configuring everything before I "broke it in". I'll respond to everyone's reviews with a quote and blend description from the manufacturer.

[Haebar]

Blend #2

The jar smell is pleasant and conservative. It smells like plums, vanilla, new shoe leather and Play-doh. It appears to be a black Cavendish and smokes like it too. It was slightly moist from the bag; I smoked the first bowl of it right out of the bag. I'm smoking the second bowl now after letting some of it sit out in a bowl overnight. I think it tastes better right out of the bag. It's not a very intense aromatic; the flavor is very subtle vanilla and something else fruity. Can't discern what the fruity flavor is; those esters all taste the same to me sometimes. It reminds me of Lane BCA, but with less vanilla flavor. It burns well enough, doesn't snap or crackle and while it did take one pipe cleaner, it is fairly dry smoking. I'm guessing this is SPS Loire Valley.

[Tobias Lutz]

Blend #2

The jar smell is pleasant and conservative. It smells like plums, vanilla, new shoe leather and Play-doh. It appears to be a black Cavendish and smokes like it too. It was slightly moist from the bag; I smoked the first bowl of it right out of the bag. I'm smoking the second bowl now after letting some of it sit out in a bowl overnight. I think it tastes better right out of the bag. It's not a very intense aromatic; the flavor is very subtle vanilla and something else fruity. Can't discern what the fruity flavor is; those esters all taste the same to me sometimes. It reminds me of Lane BCA, but with less vanilla flavor. It burns well enough, doesn't snap or crackle and while it did take one pipe cleaner, it is fairly dry smoking. I'm guessing this is SPS Loire Valley.

SPS Tabac Noir

Dark, flavorful and exotic.

Brand Sutliff Tobacco Company
Blended By Carl McCallister
Manufactured By Sutliff Tobacco Company
Blend Type Cavendish Based
Contents Black Cavendish
Flavoring None
Cut Coarse Cut
Packaging 1.5 oz tin
Country US
Production No longer in production

[Tobias Lutz]

Well...since we have all but 4 of our 24 reviews posted, I figured I would go ahead and draw for the prize package. Here are the numbers I used in the Random Number Generator:

1. @Haebar
2. @BryGuySC
3. @Branzig
4. @Desertlifter
5. @c.ortiz108
6. @cpmcdill

And the winner is...................................

#6

Christopher, you have a package on its way to you (9405803699300272821211) . Enjoy my friend, and thanks to everyone who participated.