Iwan Ries Private Blend

If you're like me and don't like a heavy english blend when it's hot outside then you might wanna try this blend . I dont see this as a " drugstore " blend . The cut may be kinda similar but this blend is cool and easy smoking & has quality leaf. To me it has a super mild balkan flavor to it somehow . Nice

Nice mixture of cuts. Nice burn. Predominately burley, but more than just Burley. Some light Virginia flakes. There is definitely some Latakia and/or Perique in here, but not much, to give it a hint of spicy smoke. I also detect some light licorice casing, typical of Sutclife blends. I enjoy this much more than IRC green, blue or gold. Favorable comments on the aroma. Perhaps I'd classify this as a very light English/American aromatic. Good all day smoker. P.S. I hate all of the comments comparing this to drug store blends. I am going to see how this compares to Iwan Ries new Spillman mixture. I suspect it will be similar.

5/05...I think Burley lovers will enjoy this "classic tasting" tobacco. It reminded me of a variety of non-aromatic drug store quality Burleys I have tried - yet it was more elegant in flavor. Not quite as nice as Wilke's Nut Brown Burley, but certainly on the same playing field.

I loved the shag-type cut. It made packing easy. It also burns somewhat quickly and will splatter your shirt and britches if you "bellows" your pipe while smoking.

When in the mood for a straight forward, no frills smoke, IRC Private Blend would be a good choice, (IMO, of course.)

Iwan Ries' Private Blend is an "old school" American-English, burley-forward blend (the other components are latakia, perique, and black cavendish), which has been cased with a vaguely black licorice flavor. The tobacco itself is extremely sticky; the cut is granular with bits of stray ribbon and a considerable amount of dust. This blend is acrid and monotonous: a bitter, musty burley-ish taste and a slight burning sensation on the upper palate. It is indeed very much akin to smoking cardboard that had once been part of a box which previously contained a shipment of tobacco. It also burns hotter than the dickens, regardless of the puffing cadence. I imagine in the old days, when Ries's blends were still made in house, this was a good (if not great) blend. Perhaps it's time for the good people at IRC to find another outsource? Or even better, start blending it again in Chicago.

After a 25-yr.-absence I recently smoked a sample of this venerable tobacco. Like most things remembered, it was much the same and yet different.

My memory of the mid-eighties version of this blend was that it tasted like cardboard; happily, this recent experience was better. Private Blend tasted like tobacco, but, alas, not memorable tobacco. It is certaIly a smokable blend--neither objectionable nor intriguing--but neither is it outstanding, nor worthy of commendation.

The pouch aroma is mostly one of Latakia, which, strangely, does not transfer at all into taste. Neither does its main ingredient--Burley--come through in any noticeable amount. Like most blends of Altadis origin, however, it grows on you.

If one is looking for a tobacco to smoke all day long, one that will satisfy yet not require much atention--this is it. If one seeks a tobacco to fall for...there are many tastier fish in the nicotine sea.

Very mild in flavor and strength. Doesn't get close to the medium strength IRC claims. A tale of two halves. First half is a somewhat muddled delivery of the different components - with nothing predominating for very long. Second half is when a fair tasting burley comes through and holds center stage to the end. The second half burned very hot, even when sipped.

Classic american non aromatic. Alot like the old Revelation, but with a very mild licorice casing. Good all day smoke.

A previous reviewer has likened Private Blend to American classic/drugstore blends. I agree. The blend that immediately came to mind when I smoked it was Kentucky Club Mild. Although the flavor/taste of PB is more subdued than KCM, PB is a wee bit stronger. I will agree that there is a faint hint of licorice in this blend. PB is described as being a non-aromatic. I would classify it more as a very light aromatic. Many of Ries? blends are just that, light aromatics, even some that are described as non-aromatics. If you like light aromatics, try some of Ries? blends as light aromatics seem to be their forte. PB is a nice, pleasant, lightly flavored, no bite, no frills mostly burley smoke.

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this tobacco 8.5 out of 10.

This is another of Iwan Ries' "traditional" blends, with an art-deco package labeling that suggests it's been around for generations. Indeed, back in the glory days of pipe tobaccos, this would have been regarded as an upscale blend.

Actually, in appearance the blend presents as many others; mostly medium to light brown with some flecks of gold leaf, medium cut, that would be indistinguishable from other American classics such as Mixture 79, Four Seasons, Middleton Cherry. You get the picture. Here, however, there is only a faint hint of licorice in the pouch aroma. The blend it reminds me most of is Holiday, the old classic from House of Edgeworth.

Private Blend is a decent smoke, mostly burley in taste, with more flavor and depth than a straight burley. Generally well behaved, but it can get harsh and bite if provoked.

This old American recipe is certainly worth a try, but among the blends offered by this retailer, the more modern Three Star Green is superior.