James and Sons Tobacconists Broadway Special

Let me start by saying I am not an aromatic smoker. James and Sons is a great shop, I bought my first pie here back in 2005 when I spent a summer in Saratoga Springs, and Broadway Special was the recommended in-house blend. At the time, I enjoyed it, and didn't return to Saratoga Springs until this past winter.

While in town on business, I had an hour to kill and strolled into James and Sons. They have a nice shop, and a good selection of cigars, as well as several blends of there own pipe and cigarette tobacco. I purchased an once of Broadway Special and a cheap corn cob to smoke it in. I didn't explore any of their other tobaccos, as I was with a colleague who was waiting.

Once outside, I packed up a bowl of the stuff, and a strong vanilla room note hit both mine and my compatriot's nostrils. He commented on the pleasant aroma, and I could taste the nuttiness of burly, very pronounced. However, the casing quickly took over, and by the middle of the bowl all the pleasure was over. I finished the bowl, and then took out my Savinelli Duca Carlo, packed with one of my preferred English blends.

A few months later, I decided to give it another try. I packed up my Petersen Bulldog, with similar results, this time, I didn't even finish the bowl. I really enjoy the taste of good tobacco, and for me, aromatics or anything with a casing just gets in the way, like putting ketchup on a quality cut of beef, ruining the experience.

If aromatics, particularly Cavendish or Burley-heavy ones, are your thing this might be for you. I'll stick to smoking tobacco that taste like tobacco. Compared to other aromatics I have smoked in recent years this was very nice.