Wesley's No. 43 Old Gold

One of my early favourites. I remember it as being sweet and not really a biter. Since i have discovered tinned Virginia and Va/Per blends, i find it impossible to go back to the Old blends i started out with.

Nothing wrong with it though. I remember i used to mix it with about 30% black cavendish ( the thought of it makes me pucker up now, but at the time i really enjoyed it )

I guess for a newbie it will be a good smoke because it works well in all pipes and builds a cake very well.

For the record, i do remember it as being delicious.

When starting out smoking a pipe, i was looking for blends that had some VitN. As far as i know, most pipers start out with blends like these and it is here that i learnt the art of packing, tamping and taking it slow.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who are responsible for this site, you have no idea how much we appreciate it.

Mo, South Africa

The lead component is the very floral Turkish, which provides a fair amount of buttery sweetness, bitter sourness, smoke, earth, wood, vegetation, some spice, herbs, and light incense. The very nutty sweet, earthy, woody, bready, burley is almost a supporting player. The matured Virginias offer some tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass, sugar, bread, floralness, mild earth, wood, spice, honeydew with light dried darker fruit and acidity. They are a step above being a condiment. The sweet topping appears to be sugary apricot. It mildly tones down the tobaccos, and weakens a mite by the half way mark. The strength and taste levels start out as being a couple of steps past the medium mark, but as the topping weakens, they rate as being just past the center of medium to full. The nic-hit is a notch behind that from start to finish. No chance of bite, but as the topping weakens, you may risk a harsh note by fast puffing. Has a few rough edges. Deeply rich, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent sweet and sour, floral, spicy, mildly nutty, lightly smoky, rather savory flavor that extends to the moderately lingering, pleasant after taste. The room note is a little stronger. Leaves little dampness in the bowl. Requires a couple more than an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks

A very pleasant smoke. From the first light it had a good flavor with a slighty sweet taste. Enjoyed it allot and would recommend it as a good beginner tobacco. Will try it in a brier and edit if needed.