Hearth & Home Beverwyck

(2.76)
An interesting, old-time blend, named after the original Dutch name for the city of Albany, NY (our home). Three different cube cuts (a Burley, a Virginia and a hybrid) are blended together with smoky Latakia, and spicy-sweet Perique. One of our regulars compares it to some of the original NYC Wilke mixtures. If you like Barking Dog, Revelation, Walnut or Country Doctor, give this a try.

Details

Brand Hearth & Home
Series Signature Series
Blended By Russ Ouellette
Manufactured By Pipes & Cigars
Blend Type American
Contents Burley, Latakia, Perique, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Mixture
Packaging 1.5oz Tin, 8oz Tin, Bulk
Country United States
Production No longer in production

Profile

Strength
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

2.76 / 4
7

8

7

3

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 25 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 16, 2010 Medium Extremely Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Yet another entry in the old and crowded field of American English blends. They get their name by effectively mimicking the formula of traditional English mixtures, only using a base of burlies instead of Virginias. These blends are perfect for those of us who love the spicy flavor of English standbys like Squadron Leader and the classic Dunhills but don't like to smoke Virginias very often due to tongue irritation. Many of the most famous American drugstore blends fell into this category, such as Revelation, Country Doctor, and Blue Boar. In fact, until Captain Black entered the market and triggered a sea change in the preferences of American smokers, these were the most popular blends available. If there was one downside to these mixtures, it was that they could be somewhat bland when compared to their cousins overseas.

Just about every major blender in the U.S. (with the exception,I think, of GL Pease) offers at least one variation on this theme. Cornell & Diehl, in fact, has an entire stable of them! Beverwyck is Russ Ouellette's unique and outstanding contribution to the field, only he adds a twist to the standard formula by upping the amount of latakia and including both Virginia and perique. These components lend Beverwyck an intensity of flavor that makes it stand out from the crowd in a pretty dramatic way. In fact, they play much the same role in Beverwyck that orientals often play in English blends, a unique twist that other blenders might do well to take heed of.

When it comes to burning characteristics like packing and ease of burn, Beverwyck also excels. It burns slowly and develops quite well in a large bowl, and the chunky cut ensures that it remains cool as long as you mind your technique. It also has very little bite, thanks in part to the perique. I detect no topping here, which means it could appeal to those smokers who turn up their noses at artificial flavorings (I'm not one of those smokers, by the way -- I'm simply making an observation).

This stuff really raises the bar for what I expect from American English mixtures. I wouldn't say it's necessarily the best of its type, but it is certainly in the top tier(along with Old Hollywood, Epiphany, Bald Headed Teacher and Gatlin-Burley). The nicotine level is on the weak side of medium, which means it could easily work as an all-day smoke if you are so inclined.
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 23, 2015 Mild to Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
This belongs in the same American English family as Revelation, Walnut, etc. The nutty, molasses sweet burleys take the lead with fair support from the grassy, citrusy Virginia. The Cyprian latakia is a minor player; smokey, woody sweet. At times, it’s here just to lend a smoky push to the other components, and other times, its flavor is more obvious. The perique is a little spicy with raisin and plum notes in a supporting role. Due to the variance in cuts, you may find that the taste varies during the smoke and from bowl to bowl, too. The strength and taste leans more on the mild side than to the medium. Can be an all day smoke. Burns well with few relights, though may benefit from a little hydration as it’s a little dry in the tin. Doesn’t bite or get harsh, and leaves little moisture in the bowl. Has a slightly more than mild nic-hit, and a pleasant after taste.

-JimInks
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 29, 2014 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Tolerable
This was my first American English, to take my opinion with a grain of salt. I was given a half ounce of this as a gift from a friend. My first impressions were not all that great. It reminded me of a stale light English blend. I noticed it felt a bit dry, so I threw in a humidifier disk and set it in the back of my cabinet. I pulled it back out after a couple weeks and gave it another try. It had improved quite a bit. While I would still take a full English over this any day, it was moderately enjoyable.

In summation, was it worth smoking? Yes. Would it be worth buying? No.
Pipe Used: Boswell
PurchasedFrom: Gifted
Age When Smoked: ???
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 24, 2010 Mild Extremely Mild Mild Tolerable
This is the third blend in a sampler. I won't go into too much detail, as I've a feeling that my expectations might have been a bit high. I expected it to be better than the standard drugstore tobacco, but it really wasn't much. Throughout, this tobaco exhibited that all too familiar wet cardboard taste that comes from cheap burley. I'm not sure why tobacconists would want to make a blend that tastes like something that comes from a two dollar pouch, but I guess there's a niche. If it were a genuinely cheap tobacco, I guess that would be forgivable. But since this stuff is four bucks an ounce, compared to Stokebye blends of much higher quality costing three bucks an ounce, as well as many Lane blends of at least equal quality for less, it looses at least a star and a half. If you are a fan of Walnut, then stick with it; at least it's cheaper.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 13, 2014 Mild Very Mild Mild Very Pleasant
Beverwyck has a unique name, but the flavor is not unique. It is a Well balanced blend that need a little something to make it more distinctive. It was pleasant smoking and very tasty.
Pipe Used: Zen haalf bent billiard
PurchasedFrom: Pipes and Cigars
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 12, 2014 Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Pleasant
Beverwyck is a somewhat unusual tobacco and one that i have bypassed many times until recently. Old timey and "American" style versions of English are not phrases which I use when contemplating a tobacco. There is simply a blend as presented by a blender, that's not to say there are not attempts by the blender to capture certain profile flavors, that's absolutely the intent but certain comparisons start to get confusing. Anyhoo, Beverwyck has, at times an incense variable that was unexpected. It's cut, much of which is cubed, makes it a tad difficult to get lit quickly but it does get going eventually. There is a light sweetness in the background which I think is the burley and although the description says nothing about flavoring, some of the burley may have a touch but nothing overwhelming. It's a bit spicy (and I am very accustomed to smoking perique) but the spice can be a bit rough. I will continue smoking my 2 ounces to see how it develops. It's worth trying but probably won't make my must have list.

3/19/14: My initial thoughts on flavoring are incorrect, the sauce on Beverwyck lingers loooonng in the bowl.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 12, 2013 Very Mild None Detected Medium to Full Very Pleasant
This is a nice contrast to hard-core "English" mixtures. I've been off those for awhile, I guess because I smoked them so much when I was younger that I've become tired of the same theme -- a bit of mellow strength from Virginias, tang from orientals, and latakia for a smoky top note. Noting that this one has too much Latakia, that one has too little, this other one is a bit stronger, and the fourth one has too much sweet/sour. Ho hum, ho hum, says me, thinking it's become something like listening to "Take Five" played by thirty different ensembles. A nice tune, but is it that nice?

Below, DoctorThoss sheds some light on the evolution of American Blends, and perhaps this is the first one I've tried, because I thought it was an interesting change of pace. Although it may be an American style tobacco, a phrase popped into my mind from *Brideshead Revisited,* "The fortnight at Venice passed quickly and sweetly - perhaps too sweetly; I was drowning in honey, stingless." That's the experience I had; this is very, very sweet, perhaps too sweet, but the smoking has no bites or sharp angles. If it's the burley, that's even more interesting. I usually notice, with Captain Pete, a "wet cardboard" or (my phrase) "burning paper" taste from burley. Didn't get any of that here. In fact I was surprised after smoking this blend to read the reviews here and learn that there was any burley in it. The Latakia hovers gently around the sweetness, adding some contrast that's pleasant but not jarring.

This is a nice, sweet tobacco with a small zest of Latakia. It's very mild in strength. It's a cup of tea with a good amount of milk and two spoons of sugar. It's Wilma from *The Best Years of Our Lives,* sweet, cheerful and helpful, almost depressingly so. I could see someone who's broadening out of strongly-topped or flavored tobacco going here without a lot of discomfort. I like to take more abuse from my tobacco, and won't be trying this again. But if a stingless honey-drowning date with Wilma is what you're looking for, this tobacco's a fine way to get it.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 14, 2013 Medium Very Mild Medium Pleasant
I have never had the opportunity to try the original Country Doctor, Barking Dog or Revelation blends. I have however tried the Altadis knock-offs of Revelation, which was just OK and their Sutcliff Man's Best Friend - Barking Dog reproduction which was excellent. The H&H Beverwyck mixture is absolutely marvelous and far surpasses Man's Best Friend, which I had greatly enjoyed. Beverwyck has a wonderful balance of flavors, a savory Latakia that delights buts does not overpower, some cubed Burley creamy richness, a bit of Virginia sweet tongue tingle and while I'm usually not much of a fan of too much Perique there is just the right amount to lend a rich spicy sweetness to this mixture. The tin aroma is a kind of spicy, smokey raisin like fragrance, which is not at all surprising do to the ingredients. It lights easily burns richly but without unwanted moisture. I've already shared my wonderful experience with the flavor of this exceptional tobacco. This is a fine example of the art of tobacco blending that I urge you to try if you enjoy the American/English style of mixture. Most highly recommended.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 09, 2011 Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I wanted to like this blend but it wasn't ment to be. I like many of pipesandcigars blends and I believe they strive to use quality tobaccos. My dislike of this blend is likely just a matter of personal taste rather than the use of sub par compoents. The description of Beverwyck makes a comparison to Revelation and Country Doctor both of which I like. I found nothing remotely resembling either of these blends in it. For me Beverwyck was just hot and tasteless.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 05, 2009 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
Well, I?ve been reading reviews on this site for a while and have decided to jump into the fray with my first review. I see from this board that Hearth and Home: Beverwyck hasn?t had much written about it of late. Well, I?m jumping in to say that this is quite good stuff indeed.

Beverwyck is a step along my search for the perfect all-day, everyday tobacco. This is part of an order of 4 Hearth and Home blends from Pipesandcigars.com. I have smoked this in a number of pipes.

The cut of the tobacco was kind of strange to me at first. This is a cube cut tobacco, or as other reviewers have noted, granular. The cubes are about 1/8? on a side. It took a while to get the hang of packing it into a pipe but I have learned to just pour/sprinkle, or scoop tobacco into the pipe until the bowl is full, tap the side a few times to settle it, perhaps top it off some, and tamp it down ever so slightly. If done properly, it doesn?t need much tamping during the smoke except to settle the ash as it burns.

The burn is clean, no goop or gunk is left in the bottom of the pipe, just ash and a tiny bit of charcoal-like tobacco bits (a dry dottle). This stuff produces copious amounts of creamy smoke. There is an alternation between the creamy Burley and a slightly sweet poking through of the Virginia and Perique. At the same time there is the steady but not overpowering Latakia. (Think of Pachelbel?s canon.) The Burley and Latakia provide the bass line, the Virginia and hybrid cubes provide the melody. Others have commented on a tea taste. Well, I haven?t exactly tasted that but I have tasted something else. At this point I cannot quite put my finger on what it is.

As other esteemed reviewers have noted, there does seem to be some variability from pipe to pipe and from bowl to bowl. I believe that this is a result of the cube cut of this blend. The flavor which one gets is dependant on the proportional mix of cubes you get in that particular pipe. To be honest, I think that this is what keeps the blend from becoming boring. Not only does this affect the change of tastes within a particular bowl but also provides a nice variation as the day goes along?if you are smoking multiple bowls of this very nice stuff.

My personal qualm is that there is, to me, a certain peppery quality to this blend which I am not particularly fond of. I believe that this is caused by the Perique contained therein as I notice it in other blends containing that choice tobacco from Louisiana. I wonder what this would taste like with Turkish instead of Perique?

All in all this is a wonderful blend which burns slowly, coolly and has a good supply of vitamin N. If you like the combination of sweet-ish and Latakia, like I do, you owe it to yourself to give this stuff a whirl.

****
1 person found this review helpful.
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