Summer of 2016 Blind Review Thread

[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.