Update on Larry the Tobacco Butcher
Fellow Rollers and Wannabes:
A while back I posted some info about Larry the Tobacco Butcher's products in this thread. I thought I'd expand on it with updated inventory info and reviews of the leaves I've tried.
First of all, here is his updated inventory and price list:
Burley aged $12 per lb
Burley Red Tips $12 per lb
Bright leaf $12 per lb
Turkish $12 per lb
Dark air $12 per lb
Maryland $12 per lb
One sucker $12 per lb
Dark Fire $15 per lb
Ct broad leaf $15 per lb
Havana $24 per lb
PA Wrapper $24 per lb
Pa Binder / filler $18 per lb
Future Offerings:
Havana Cigarette grade
Silver river
Shipping is actual cost. As a data point, on my last order, shipping was $12 for about 2.5# of tobacco to VA.
To order, it's best to contact him by e-mail at [email protected]. You can pay by paypal, and I'm pretty sure he takes CCs as well. His website, thetobaccobutcher.com, is not fully up to date at this writing, but contains some more info on his leaves.
My experiences/reviews:
[Disclaimer: I have no business interest with the Tobacco Butcher, other than wishing to continue to be a customer. And, full disclosure, he does throw in the occasional free sample.]
Burley: Good component for burley pipe tobacco blends, basic honest burley flavor, not overpowering, and adds a vitamin N kick. Addition to cigar filler (just a strip is my recommendation) adds a somewhat tangy note to the flavor profile. Also works well in a cigarette blend (I use a conventional blend, approx. 50% VA, 40% burley, and 10% Turkish).
Burley Red Tips: somewhat stronger, sharper burley flavor, and a bit more vitamin N. Good in pipe blends; I wouldn't use in a cigar, and haven't tried in cigarette blends.
Bright Leaf: Very good VA for use in pipe tobacco blends, flakes, twists, etc. Also good for the VA component of a cigarette blend.
Turkish: This is the only one that Larry does not grow, but imports - Turkish Imzir. Works well as the Turkish component of a cigarette blend. Flavor is subtle, so it can be used to "tweak" a pipe blend. I've used it in pipe tobacco flakes to add a little dimension to the profile.
Dark Air: Good cigar tobacco, fermented and aged >3 years. Flavor is earthy and strong like Nicaraguan, but with less "twang." I use a fair amount of this stuff. It works well for binder as it's quite supple, almost leathery, but flexible when moist. Subveins are somewhat prominent, but if you're not obsessed with aesthetics, a sufficient section of lamina will also make a good wrapper. Its thickness makes it a bit of a challenge for use as a filler; I've found that about a quarter leaf in the bundle works well (the Dark Air leaves are quite large). I've also used DA for the binder in pipe tobacco twists due to its tensile strength.
Dark Fire: Basically fire cured Dark Air, so it's DA with hardwood smoky notes to the flavor. I've used this in pipe tobacco flakes - works well in English blends, playing off of the Latakia. I haven't tried this in a cigar yet but plan to experiment with it.
One Sucker: Very similar to Dark Air, with smaller leaves and somewhat more fermentation, i.e., cigar flavor. I've used this quite a bit for binder, as it's strong and flexible, and has a good flavor. Larry says he has limited quantities of this.
Maryland: Similar to Bright Leaf in flavor, but milder both in flavor and vitamin N. Good for mellowing out the flavor of a cigarette blend (substitute for part of the VA and Burley), and improving its burn properties. I've used it in pipe tobacco flakes to add substance w/o altering the flavor profile too much.
CT Broadleaf: Very good for wrapper or binder if you don't mind a little lumpiness. CT Broadleaf in general has prominent subveins, and Larry's is no exception. There are ways to mitigate, however - I flatten the subveins with a mini rolling pin before wrapping, and try to use lamina from the outer portions of the leaf. Also, the wrinkles and veins tend to diminish as the cigar rests and comes to proper RH. Flavor is rich and grassy, like Dominican tobacco, which is why I'm willing to sacrifice a little in the aesthetics department. I use this as part of the filler sometimes as well.
Havana: Cigar tobacco for use as wrapper, binder, or filler. I haven't used it, but have some on order.
PA Wrapper: I recently wrapped some cigars in this - they look good and have a great aroma, more Dominican than Nicaraguan. I haven't smoked any yet as they're still in their post-rolling rest phase.
PA Binder/Filler: haven't used; I assume it's the same leaves as PA wrapper, but those that didn't make the grade aesthetically or structurally.
Havana Cigarette Grade: slightly different strain from the Havana cigar leaves; other than that I have no info or experience with this.
Silver River: An interesting strain that can't really be categorized as a VA or a burley. Flavor's hard to describe - sort of minty without the mint flavor (?) Anyway, I've tried it in cigar filler, don't really like that, but it's excellent in pipe tobacco blends, and not too bad by itself in a pipe.
Overall, for my "Brohibas," I use Larry's KY tobacco almost exclusively for wrappers and binders these days, and add some to the filler bundles. For the fillers, I steer the flavor profile by blending some KY tobacco with various Hispanic leaves. My pipe tobacco flake pressings employ a wide variety of tobaccos obtained from diverse sources, including many from Larry's offerings.
Anyway, hope this helps, y'all!
