D & R Tobacco Rimboché A.B.

The first thing that hit my taste buds was the tangy spice from the dark fired tobacco that was processed by the perique method. It is a little raisiny, figgy, smoky and woody, too, with a couple date notes. There’s a “touch” of Cyprian Latakia present, but noticeable in most every puff and adds a sweet, very smoky, earthy, musty, woodiness. I think more than a touch is present, but the Latakia always plays back up. The flue cured gold Virginias are the base for the other components to shine; grassy and hay-like with some tart and tangy citrus and a drop or two of honey. Has no toppings. Very well balanced with a deeply rich, consistent flavor to the finish. Leaves no moisture in the bowl, and hardly needs a relight. It does benefit a little from some hydration, but it does very well dry, and isn’t really necessary due to the richness of flavors. And I seldom smoke bone dry tobacco. The strength and nic-hit are medium. The taste is a couple of steps past that mark. Will not bite, but the spice is pleasantly tingly all the way, translating to the lingering sweet and mildly savory after taste. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran and repeatable for the less experienced.

-JimInks

This Blend is not for everybody. The Virginia and Latakia makes the room note pleasant to us smokers. The "Wife Rating" is probably est described as "danger'.

An excellent outdoor cool weather smoke that I find refreshing. The nicotine strength is very high,so be careful. This tobacco get you arguing with yourself and you are sure to lose the argument.

I don't understand why D&R pipe tobacco is not more popular. Dollar for dollar, Mark Ryan produces some of the finest tobacco available today. His leaf is top quality and his blends are original and quintessentially American.

Rimboché A.B. is a perique lovers dream. From start to finish, the perique-processed dark-fired leaf is the star of the show. Upon light up, one is presented with the most delicious fruity perique flavors, without any of the spiciness that sometimes overwhelms heavy-perique blends. Midway through the smoke, the flavors become more nutty. It took me a while to figure exactly out what I was tasting -- pecans and walnuts. Toward the end, the flavor changes subtlety, reminding me of a fine cognac.

The Virginias are a co-star, providing a welcome note of toffee-like sweetness that becomes more pronounced toward the second half of the smoke. The Latakia is very much in the backround but nevertheless felt. You never really taste it but its presence makes itself known by adding a depth of flavor that one does not find in any other VaPer that I have tried (and I've tried many).

As delivered, the moisture level is perfect. Loaded using the gravity method, it lights easily and burns as cool as any tobacco I have smoked. It burns to a light gray ash and leaves no moisture in the bowl.

If I had to classify Rimboché A.B., I would call it an aromatic. While it contains Virginias and Perique, it is much more flavorful than your typical VaPer.

Rimboché A.B. is a sipping tobacco. Smoke it slowly and savor it. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

A very unique and interesting tobacco. The Virginias are sweet hay. The Lat is a mild smoke in the background. The star is the Acadian Black. Usually, when a Burley has gone through the Perique process, there's no nuttiness left in the flavor. Here there is a nutty, earthy note along with the usual dark fruit associated with Perique. Also a nice spice hit and an extra bit of tang from the dark firing process. This stuff has a lovely flavor. I think I better stock up on this one.

Medium in body. Medium to full in taste. No added flavoring. Burns very well.

D & R Tobacco - Rimboche A.B.

The tobacco arrives a little on the dry side. Not 'crunchy', but could do with being moister. The ribbons are mostly medium brown, there's a few darker or lighter ones, and they're fine in build.

The dark fired Perique really fills out the flavour, and is easily the strongest of the leaves; giving quite a full taste and a good amount of nicotine! The Virginia has nowhere near as much flavour, I guess it could be described as filling out the build but not the taste; the heavy Perique smothers the Virginia, somewhat. Now the Latakia? I can't identify any smokiness from it, the dark fired leaf takes that crown, but a woodiness comes through after a quarter bowl. The fine cut and dryness cause an inadequate burn: too warm and quite fast. I get no bite.

Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: quite strong.

If I were rating A.B. on flavour alone it would easily score four stars. But, because of the dryness I'll rate it with three. I can't go any lower when the taste is this good!

Recommended.

There was nothing about this tobacco that needed hydration. I got the 3.5oz plastic tub. Mine was the right moisture, neither wet nor dry, and ready to smoke straight away.

I can't be sure what it smelled of in the tub, perhaps some 'woodsy' fragrance. It was pleasant to smoke with a certain balance in which none of the ingredients overplayed its hand. There was sure some spicy sweetness to it that let off a fairly strong nicotine content. It seems to me that it is one tobacco that can also be used as an RYO (roll-your-own) blend though it's cousin, Three Sails which is a 'shag' seems to fit in that role more appropriately.

All in all, a good blend especially given that it comes at a bargain.

I was somewhat disappointed with this blend. After having smoked a tin of Rimboche S.J., I was expecting more in this tobacco blend. It was just OK in my opinion. The sweetness I was hoping for was not there and the taste of any Latakia was almost nonexistent. Maybe I am too picky, but when a blend description says there is Latakia I really want to taste it. As for the dark fired Perique, it seemed minimal as well. The Virginias offered not much in the sweetness department. I rated this with two stars because some who want a very mild smoke may like it. As for me, I'll finish my 40 gram tin and not buy anymore. (one day later) I hate to admit when I am mistaken, but I must reevaluate this blend. When first I smoked this last night it was not a fair test. I had just finished another pipe of my favorite VaPer so the memory and taste of that blend was fresh on my mind and in my mouth. This morning, bright and early, I refilled my pipe and lit up again. The outcome was decidedly different. I found the smoke to be full of very pleasant flavor. The Virginias shown through with a very sweet taste, but the Perique and Latakia were very much in the background. Personally I like more of each when I smoke a blend with these two components present. My evaluation therefore is moved upward to recommended. It tastes good, but not my bowl of smoke.

A gorgeous blend, again with no additives which is something I just love about D&R's stuff. The bright Virginias are good quality and make a perfect base for the Acadian Black perique. The hint of latakia with it really adds a nice complexity without overwhelming the blend also. I usually pop a 72% boveda in the tub if need be, but it's never been overly dry for me. Having no additives or casings these tobaccos just require a little extra care in storage.

Smoky, woody, touch of sweetness initially. 2/3rds of the way into the bowl the bouquet really blossoms. Taste of raisins, fig, sweetness. Even got a taste of butterscotch here and there.

Burns well leaving a fine white ash. Required no relights, the humidity of the tobacco was perfect out of the bag. I had to swab the bore a couple times with a pipe cleaner.

An excellent tobacco. At this price (20$/lb on sale) it’s a steal.

Super dry without being dust. I loaded a bowl then breathed through the pipe for a couple of minutes to introduce some moisture. Boy, oh, boy! Smokey, earthy, slightly sweet, leathery, and spicy. Less sweet but still sweet enough. The Acadian Black Perique is a bit tamer on the tongue and nose. Latakia is a player, but this is not a lat-bomb and mingles well with the forementioned components. I could not smoke this all day, but some could. One of the most relaxing blends I have had in a while.