pipesandcigars.com Russ' Tartlet

Excellent easy going aromatic blend. Smooth cavendish with just a wisp of vanilla, grassy Virginia and nutty Burley topped with subtle fruit flavors. Puts one in mind of a good hand pie, or as we call them in rural Ky, fried pies! Well done blend, no excess moisture, burns clean throughout all the bowl. Could be an all day smoke for many. Solid 3

I'm surprised I'm the first one to review Russ's Tartlet. This is a excellent blend IMO! The appearance is a mix of darks and light browns and visually appealing. The moisture content is perfect and drier than most aromatic blends. It takes a flame well with no issues or Tounge bite.

Flavor is tangy citrus with berry notes. Sweet but not cloying or overly done. This turned out to be a very good tobacco and will likely repurchase when/If I finish the 1oz sample.

This is what a aromatic blend SHOULD be. Taste great with a present room note, easy lighting with no Tounge bite.

Largely an under-publicized fruit-based aromatic, the Russ Oullette brand now serves up Tartlet, an amalgamation of a pleasing base of Black Cavendish, White Burley, and tangy Bright Virginia. Officially labeled as a ribbon cut assembly, it is evident that a no holds barred approach has been taken in sensitizing this colorful marriage with a gamut of fruity additives, berries in particular, as well as the velvety succor of vanilla cream. By his own accounting, Russ tends to approach the crafting of his blends towards tempering a level of flavorsomeness most suitable to the average Joe. Frankly, this one of present interest underscores that basic objective quite expressly.

As an interesting side note, directionally, this Ouellette original does remind me of Mac Baren’s 7 Seas Royal to a limited degree in that it answers to similar taste callings while sharing comparable construction. Yet with all due respect to the end experience, Tartlet brings an alternative solution that is much more enlivened with vibrant charm to the smoking tooth, no doubt.

Unquestionably Tartlet’s visual display shows a sincere preference towards the Cavendish content which seems to comprise about sixty percent of the greater mix. This stands to reason given the eventual discovery of how significant the coatings fill out the envelope of experienced flavor. Honestly, I do see evidence of more than three individual strains amid the pilings as well, which makes me suspect there are perhaps a couple of other unmentioned ingredients within, quite possibly Red and a feathering of Maryland as an educated guess. For all purposes, the tobacco appears to be of mixed cut, although crowns of common Burley and Virginia ribbon are seated within the darkened mass of tobacco. Naturally, the casting is immensely black with a scattered parceling of lighter sable, copper, rust, and tarnished browns.

Unsealing the poly bag housing this bulk production a delicious air of sweetened fruity goodness instantly invades the alertness of sense. The queued spray of an arranged sugary aroma has the thrilling impact that one gets with the opening of a fresh pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum. Namely a montage of converging fruity perfumes spools brightly forward pulling with them an umbrella of developed vanilla and a waft of softer cream. Tinges of minor sour tart, a bit of distant grass, buttery nuttiness, pensive floral accented spicing, and a modest salty earthiness ground the greater essence.

Respecting the demonstration of taste, the top dressings clearly lead the main push of flavor, posting a rendering that is most “fruit-a-licious” in nature. What smartly hits you is a sweet mélange of an expanded and fused pleasurable nectar. The overtone is lively yet well-cultured in perceivable smoothness. What is more I could arguably suggest that there is an element of salty buttered crustiness to its feel; subliminal perhaps or perhaps not. Most blenders tend to be constitutionally reserved about disclosing precisely what is in their stew, as with some of these aromatics, then an entertaining game of interpretation soon proceeds.

With Tartlet however, it is readily discernable that the recipe’s noted berry component takes to form in a nice meld of blackberry and raspberry splendor; spicy, juicy, and sweetly tart. Now comes the amusing exercise of trying to decipher what else is brewing in the broth. In conclusion, there is an interesting matrix of secondary coatings afoot that endows the stammering impressions of crisp peach and honeydew melon, sugary orangish tang, cherry-vanilla, and something that entertains like a faint tarty apple. Quite perfect in its effects, for the image of one of those ridiculously stuffed Harry & David’s fruit baskets definitely comes to mind. And as Russ so accurately stated, if you are a lover of fresh fruit, which I am, you will divine in this one.

In consideration of the native components, as to be expected the dependably wooded Black Cavendish provides a relaxing baseline to the flavor. Principally the jetty leaf facilitates a silky continuance of harmonious streams while endowing a loosely sour earthen zest and slightly honey spritzed character. Furthermore, the embellishment of both tasteful, productive smokiness emanates from the Cavendish standing which serves to provide selective depth and a toasty undertone to the overall flavorful body of the registration.

Supporting this channeled Cavendish facing it seems that both White Burley and Virginia work in tandem to garnish and uplift the seasonality of the full body of taste. In particular the more prevalent Burley plays nicely by injecting a brown sugar walnut flair that is equally trimmed with some lighter molasses and that darker roasted coffee nuance. Furthermore, you do get a minor brushing of enhancing cocoa spice.

As to the Bright it tends to softly personify with an off set of tangy lemon/orange citrus and inklings of passive roasted sugary grassiness. What is more, every now and then I do catch the fleeting but familiar notations of caramelized toastiness and dark dense sweet wood that earmarks the refrain typical of a standard Red varietal as well as distinctly well-hidden tints of sprucy floral.

It probably comes as no surprise that the effected aroma that originates from this particular tobacco’s profusely smokey demeanor is nothing short of aromatic pleasantry. Mainly the sweetened moving scent of mixed fruit fills the smoking vicinity with an amiable character. Within that fragrance a bit of cheery nutwood and unpretentious spiced grass support the bottom airs. Finally, the fumes do express credible resiliency in their degree of standing permeance but that is truly a bonus given their agreeability.

On the mechanical front, hinging upon the smart combination of guiding ingredients, Tartlet manifests noteworthy physical performance. Namely throughout the sessional bowl of consistent flavor, the ensuing burn characteristics mirror the achievement of optimum coolness and even temperament. Moreover, the pillowy puffs of dense gray smoke lend themselves to a creamy texture and contenting smoothness upon the palate. As to the nicotine, you might say it is modest in impact.

So, as I sit here about to enjoy the redeeming quietude of yet another sitting with Russ’ Tartlet in my loyal Rhodesian, it affords me the consolation to reflect upon matters. One can foreseeably look to measure life’s success in terms of material things, which is sadly how most of us have been schooled. Despite that perception, at the end of a regular day, perhaps it is the simpler accomplishments in personal comforts that are more meaningful. And with that thought in mind, having a good tobacco, a generously performing pipe, and the peaceful clarity of mind to recognize their essential worth might be just enough glory for the common piper. A sweet and comforting ideal at that, don’t you think? 3.5 Pipes