Uhle's Blend 303

The earthy, molasses sweet, woody cube cut burley also has a touch of cocoa and is a prominent component. The wine-like, smoky, woody Syrian latakia is almost a secondary star, being about as noticeable as the Turkish. The “monopoly” Turkish provides a bit of wood, some sour dryness, and is a little spicy and floral with a light buttery sweetness in very obvious support of the other tobaccos. The lightly tangy, dark fruity, earthy red Virginia plays a smaller role. The citrusy, grassy gold Virginia is almost in the background. The fire cured black cavendish chips in with a light toasty sweetness. The spicy, raisiny perique underscores the experience. The strength is in the center of mild to medium, while the taste level is a step past that. The nic-hit is just past the mild threshold. No chance of bite or harshness. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with a richly complex, mostly consistent flavor from start to finish. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, lingering campfire after taste and room note. Can be an all day smoke. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks

No reviews in over 4 years???

The first thing noted when peering into the bag is the preponderance of cube cut burley. That view is not deceiving, as this is predominantly a burley blend with the constituent tobaccos taking a backseat. To use the music analogy of the previous reviewer, I see this as the Rock Symphony. The burley provides the cadence upon which the entire piece relies. The black cavendish and latakia are the rock riffs and classical counterpoint that makes this combo work. The Turkish adds its embellishments and the virginia is sort of like the triangle player, occasionally adding an exclamation point at just the right moments. But without the burley, this is just noodling over the E major scale. The burley gives this one purpose.

Loading is simple - just pour it in your bowl, tamp lightly and off you go. This is lighter tasting fare, perfect for summer. It's not nearly as complex and flavorful as Bishops Move (I've not yet smoked the 232 or 71) but it has a different sort of body to it - more relaxed. I was reminded of Tinderbox's Sherlock's Choice when I smoked this and this is to Bishops Move as SC is to TB's Philosopher... a gentler, milder, morning version with the addition of burley. This is probably not one I'll buy again but I'm glad I got the opportunity to try it.

Way too light in the flavor department for this cowboy. When I smoke a blend with all the components of 303, I want more flavor and more strength. Having said that, it smoked cool and dry all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I do believe those who like this style of tobacco and want their flavor in light doses, will thoroughly enjoy 303.

Pipestud

As Lewis Carroll noted, sometimes things get "curiouser and curiouser." So it is with Uhle's Blend 303.

The most delightful (and frustrating) thing about tobacco blending is that the result is invariably more than the sum of its parts. Objectively, 303 is logical. The late Jack Uhle frankly said (Jack was never anything but completely frank and thoroughly honest) that 303 is a mixture of Blends 71 and 232. Do the math. But, as ever, the devil is in the details. Blend 303 does not taste like either of its constituent parts.

Blend 232 is a somewhat lighter version of Bishop's Move; Blend 71 is the acme of "American English" blends. In my review of 71, I said that the Burned Cavendish component is evident in room note and pouch aroma, though not in taste. In Blend 303, logic would tell one it is even more to the rear. Not so. The unflavored Black Cavendish provides the melody line off of which the other tobaccos play, most notably Latakia. The Monopoly Turkish dances in and out, and the Burleys in Blend 71 are subsumed altogether.

For the Latakiaphile, Blend 303 just might be the perfect all-day tobacco, year 'round. I have the advantage of smoking this wonderful concoction on a warm fall night, just before Halloween.

There is nothing here NOT to like. In my opinion, it is the ideal autumn smoke, though the absence of discernible Burley taste might not do me for summer. It would likely fill the bill for a perfect winter "go to" tobacco when you don't know what you want, because 303 has it all.

For spring...a bit more Virginia, Perique, and Burley in the blend would round out the year.

Three out of four stars.

Since I very much like both the #71 and the #232, I wasn't surprised to find that I like #303 as much, if not more. It's kind of the best of both worlds in that it has the cube burley, VA, cavendish, and latakia of the #71, with the Turkish, (more) VA, and (more) latakia of the #232. I find it stronger in latakia than either of the other two, and yet the taste is light enough for summer smoking here in humid Wisconsin, perhaps due to the presence of the cube burley. In terms of strength, I would consider this to be a medium English. The taste of latakia is there in slightly greater proportion than Dunhill London Mixture, I would say, so it should be sufficient to satisfy the average latakia-afficionado. This is another beautifully dry tobacco from Uhle's and should be enjoyed as is. You will be pleased to note that there is no gurgling or appreciable moisture left behind in your pipe. Highly recommmended.