Summer of 2016 Blind Review Thread

[Desertlifter]

So....number 11. I've smoked a few bowls so far in both a Stanwell diplomat and my beloved Tsuge pot. The tobacco presents with notes of hay and a notable sweetness in the bag. I had to air it out because it picked up a lot of smell from the other bags.

Anyway, the fi St bowl was great. No bite even when pressed hard, and a touch of sweetness and nuttiness that reminded me of a VaBur - imagine a MVF and white burley blend. I don't get DFK or cavendish from this at all. It doesn't really taste like VaBurs that I've tried before though - neither nutty nor treacly.

Had a bowl last night in my Tsuge sitting in front of the White House as I'm in DC on business. Whatever it is, but his is a medium bodied blend that is light on the vitamin N, which do any really speak much to burley, but that is what I get. In the end, I would absolutely have this again. It is an easy burning blend that isn't overly complex - perfect for a morning bowl.

[Tobias Lutz]

So....number 11. I've smoked a few bowls so far in both a Stanwell diplomat and my beloved Tsuge pot. The tobacco presents with notes of hay and a notable sweetness in the bag. I had to air it out because it picked up a lot of smell from the other bags.

Anyway, the fi St bowl was great. No bite even when pressed hard, and a touch of sweetness and nuttiness that reminded me of a VaBur - imagine a MVF and white burley blend. I don't get DFK or cavendish from this at all. It doesn't really taste like VaBurs that I've tried before though - neither nutty nor treacly.

Had a bowl last night in my Tsuge sitting in front of the White House as I'm in DC on business. Whatever it is, but his is a medium bodied blend that is light on the vitamin N, which do any really speak much to burley, but that is what I get. In the end, I would absolutely have this again. It is an easy burning blend that isn't overly complex - perfect for a morning bowl.

You smoked some SPS French Quarter


French Quarter is another of Sutliff's wonderful recreations of missing blends, this time recalling House of Windsor's Bourbon Street. Burley, Virginia and black Cavendish form the base, and a singular top flavor is added for an old-fashioned flavor and room-pleasing aroma.

[cpmcdill]

The package has arrived, and what a delightful sight and smell it is! There are very few of these that I've had before, so I'm thrilled to have a chance to fire these up. Hardly know where to start.

As some of you have expressed curiosity about what the prize package contains, here you go. There are 16 baggies with 1 or 2 ounces each of some top shelf blends, and they were loaded into a pair of neat cotton bags stamped with some kind of alchemical or heraldic symbol. The whole bundle is giving off a terrific aroma. My postman probably wonders why my mail smells so nice sometimes.

Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky 2014
Esoterica And So to Bed
Milan Tobacconists Black Forest
McClelland Dark Star 2011
McClelland Christmas Cheer 2011
McClelland Christmas Cheer 2013
SG Bob's Chocolate Flake 2011
SG Chocolate Flake 2012
SG Firedance Flake 2014
SG Top Black Cherry 2012
SG Navy Flake 2012
SG Rum Flake 2010
Russ Ouelette's Fusilier's Ration 2014
Rattray's Charles Mixture 2014
Rattray's Bagpiper's Dream 2014
Carter Hall

Thanks again to @Tobias Lutz . I'm pretty overwhelmed by this!

6426.JPG

[c.ortiz108]

The package has arrived, and what a delightful sight and smell it is! There are very few of these that I've had before, so I'm thrilled to have a chance to fire these up. Hardly know where to start.

As some of you have expressed curiosity about what the prize package contains, here you go. There are 16 baggies with 1 or 2 ounces each of some top shelf blends, and they were loaded into a pair of neat cotton bags stamped with some kind of alchemical or heraldic symbol. The whole bundle is giving off a terrific aroma. My postman probably wonders why my mail smells so nice sometimes.

Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky 2014
Esoterica And So to Bed
Milan Tobacconists Black Forest
McClelland Dark Star 2011
McClelland Christmas Cheer 2011
McClelland Christmas Cheer 2013
SG Bob's Chocolate Flake 2011
SG Chocolate Flake 2012
SG Firedance Flake 2014
SG Top Black Cherry 2012
SG Navy Flake 2012
SG Rum Flake 2010
Russ Ouelette's Fusilier's Ration 2014
Rattray's Charles Mixture 2014
Rattray's Bagpiper's Dream 2014
Carter Hall

Thanks again to @Tobias Lutz . I'm pretty overwhelmed by this!

6426.JPG

WoW! Nicely done, Tobias! And not a dud blend in the lot (well, except maybe for the CH... ). What's the story with the mysterious cotton bags?

[Tobias Lutz]

WoW! Nicely done, Tobias! And not a dud blend in the lot (well, except maybe for the CH... ). What's the story with the mysterious cotton bags?

Those are from a gentleman out on your side of the country. I bought three custom leather bike saddles from him and those are what they arrived in. He does absolutely beautiful work!

Obsidian Monarch

- - - Updated - - -

The package has arrived, and what a delightful sight and smell it is! There are very few of these that I've had before, so I'm thrilled to have a chance to fire these up. Hardly know where to start.

As some of you have expressed curiosity about what the prize package contains, here you go. There are 16 baggies with 1 or 2 ounces each of some top shelf blends, and they were loaded into a pair of neat cotton bags stamped with some kind of alchemical or heraldic symbol. The whole bundle is giving off a terrific aroma. My postman probably wonders why my mail smells so nice sometimes.

Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky 2014
Esoterica And So to Bed
Milan Tobacconists Black Forest
McClelland Dark Star 2011
McClelland Christmas Cheer 2011
McClelland Christmas Cheer 2013
SG Bob's Chocolate Flake 2011
SG Chocolate Flake 2012
SG Firedance Flake 2014
SG Top Black Cherry 2012
SG Navy Flake 2012
SG Rum Flake 2010
Russ Ouelette's Fusilier's Ration 2014
Rattray's Charles Mixture 2014
Rattray's Bagpiper's Dream 2014
Carter Hall

Thanks again to @Tobias Lutz . I'm pretty overwhelmed by this!

6426.JPG

Enjoy my friend- I had a lot of fun going through the cellar and pulling all those together!

[cpmcdill]

Those are from a gentleman out on your side of the country. I bought three custom leather bike saddles from him and those are what they arrived in. He does absolutely beautiful work!

Nice! I'll check them out. Always appreciate the artisans keeping the craft of leatherworking alive.

Enjoy my friend- I had a lot of fun going through the cellar and pulling all those together!

Already started. I picked the Firedance Flake as my first, as I've long had a curiosity about that one. I enjoyed the flavor, and my wife totally approved of the room note. Just bought some cases of half-pint mason jars to store these blends in, as well as the blends from the blind review challenge and the Milan blends. I think it amounts to 25 little jars to fill up and label. Yes indeed, excited and overwhelmed. So much fresh variety added to my cellar.

[cpmcdill]

Still enjoying my new tobaccos, both the original review blends and the "lottery winnings" -- thanks again, Tobias!