Peter Stokkebye Amsterdam (No.83)

This is a very fine ribbon cut tobacco, and it is a good smoke. It is a combination of Virginia and dark fired Kentucky tobaccos. The flavor was slightly sweet/nutty tobacco with a little spice from the Kentucky. This sounds like it would be fairly mild from my description, but it delivered a medium strength and flavor when combined. I found this to be a satisfying smoke. I liked this, and it is a serious bargain.

Edit: Now that I have read some of the other reviews, I think I should mention that I am smoking this in a pipe and not a paper tube. I find that hydrating it a little brings out the flavors. I have smoked over two pounds of this, and it is a 3.5 on the four-star scale for me.

The Virginias are grassy with a little earth, wood, some citrus, and a very light fruitiness. They form the base of this blend. The dark fired Kentucky is mildly sweet, fairly smokey and floral, woody, earthy, and very nutty with a fair amount of spice, and is very obvious in every puff. Obvious enough that it often takes attention away from the Virginias. The strength, taste and nic-hit are medium. A thin ribbon cut that needs hydration to bring out more flavor and reduce the burn rate. A moderate puffing cadence to avoid a cigarette note or two is recommended. Burns well even with added moisture. Has a very consistent flavor, though can tingle your tongue. May bite if puffed hard. Requires very few relights as it easily burns to ash. Leaves no moisture in the bowl. Has a spicy, lightly lingering after taste, though the room note might not please everybody. Some may use this for RYO, but it works well in a pipe as an occasional during the day smoke. I do suggest having a drink handy when you smoke it as it can dry your throat a little, especially if you use a pipe with a big bowl.

-JimInks

Summary: a pipe adaptation of the popular rolling tobacco, this delivers a piquant medium strength smoke.

Go to a park. Watch the ducks play in the lake. Nod at the lovers under a tree. Walk a few miles among the flowers and grass. What do you smoke for this venture? "Amsterdam" adapts the "Halfzware" style of mixed Virginias and dark-fired Kentucky that shows up in rolling blends like Drum "Gold," but makes it fit for a pipe smoke. Compared to recent pipe smokes of Drum "Gold," this blend is not as sweet or as strong in flavor as one might need with the hotter-burning cigarettes, but instead a mellow mix of bready and sweet Virginias with the spicy smoke of the dark-fired. For slow smokers, this is a great blend that works well outdoors.

This is a good plain unflavored tobacco for new pipe smokers who want to quit cigarettes, the flavor is spicy and nutty, very close to cigarette flavor but much better, also this can be used as RYO smoke

Peter Stokkebye Amsterdam is an exceptional bulk tobacco for an exceptionally low price. Virginia forward, like cigarette tobacco for the pipe – but much deeper and nuanced. Medium strength, middle of the road, all day blend. Could be added to with condiment mixing tobaccos or sealed up and stored with a splash of dark spirit. I prefer using a larger bowl for Amsterdam, as it relights well. A serious bargain – seriously overlooked!

The pipe tobacco version of PS Amsterdam hand-rolling tobacco, this blend comes noticeably damper, suggesting a conscious effort by the manufacturer to differentiate this from the RYO version in deference to pipe smokers. So what did I do? I smoked it rolled as a cigarette to test that hypothesis. Burns well, despite higher moisture content than RYO version. Significantly more tang than the RYO version. Overall an enjoyable smoke, though I must respectfully disagree with a previous reviewer: this is nothing like Bali Shag in cut, aroma, or flavor. If you want an excellent rolling tobacco, skip this and get some Bali Shag (or even some PS rolling tobacco).

In a pipe this blend becomes more alive. A nice KY/VA tang on the palate. Burns well, if a bit hot when over-puffed (probably a function of the cut). A good vaue as an all-day smoke for frequent pipe smokers. Lacking in the depth or complexity required by special occasions, or by occasional pipe smokers. Those who smoke Prince Albert, Half and Half, etc, should really try this one for a step up in flavor and an inexpensive introduction to Virginias.

Recommended as a step up for those currently smoking OTCs. Outstanding value in quantities over two ounces.

Reviewing as a RYO/MYO cigarette tobacco. Semi rich sweetness balanced by bold natural smokey tobacco flavors. Real overall flavor sensation that I find irresistable. "High test", best served in moderation. I think fantastic for short, thin diameter nonfilter roll type cigarettes. Great value. For me, best served fresh, maximum moisture as provided. Outstanding, I think sets the standard by which others are judged.

Edited 5/23/12: Half way thru second lb. This bag seems darker with more Kentucky in the mix, but conversely the taste is milder with less Kentucky influence. Regardless, still fantastic RYO/MYO smoke. Four stars!

Edited 7/5/12: Third lb as good/consistant with the second. Four Stars.

PS - When not inhaled, get mostly mild plain tobacco taste with slight hint of Kentucky. Out of the "pipe tobacco" / RYO Peter Stokkebye group of blends, this has the most N and is closes to any appeal for the pipe smoker. Others in this category not so much appeal for the pipe smoker, at best as mild value blenders for toning down other tobaccos.

I wanna give the most honest review I can with this tobacco blend so first off over the packing of a pipe this is far better for a RYO tobacco. If smoked in a pipe it will be smooth and is a all and all good smoke but for the best taste it really must be inhaled otherwise you'll miss out on its design. Its nicotine level is on the medium side but being a natural nicotine has a tendency to relax but by all means can absolutely be smoked in a pipe of course. Having a nice smokey tone to it and a smooth Virginia note this is a very fine tobacco blend and is highly enjoyable. It is not for the new comer but more so for a seasoned smoker although a person is always free to go for it. I find it very enjoyable and I'm not a cig smoker anymore but it is very enjoyable in that form being twisted in a zig zag or JoB paper will get the job done and you don't want a filter taking away from the taste. A velvety smoke that's alittle sweet and no bite whether in a pipe or paper. When smoked in a pipe a slow draw and slight inhale will give the best results but understanding that it does have some nicotine I do not want to down play that. I would recommend this because its high quality tobacco and is very good, its not processed and has no chemicals, its how tobacco used to be when smoked in cig form. It is what it is and suits both cigarette smoker and pipe smoker. I would also suggest it being smoked in a corn cob for the reason that it could add to your pipe cake a taste you would not really want not that its bad and is like a ash tray because its not, just that it is a stand alone tobacco with its own character robust but mellow and smooth. Pleasing in every way PS Amsterdam is a fine choice for all the reasons above, happy smoking my friends!!!

When you first open the bag you will notice it is a bit dry, this is fine in my opinion and works well for this blend. Packs well and lights easy. I have tried both the Shag cut and Ribbon cut; both cuts honestly create different flavor/effects. The shag is more harsh, burns faster, and is much stronger in spiciness. I prefer the ribbon cut.

First half: Spicy Kentucky immediately enlightens your senses. You can puff at will pipers, this blend is smooth with little bite unlike the shag. Smokey campfire meets a nutty sweet bread loaf

Mid Bowl: The sweetness is completely distinguishable from the spice yet both remain equal leaders. Burning okay, relit twice. Loving every puff.

Bottom bowl: Bready notes galore, with spice on the back of the tongue. Ashing wonderfully to the end. Last hit was pure hay.

Overview: Room note was Campfire and pure tobacco. Taste throughout was sweet and spicy with lots of bread. I have to say this is my go-to everyday smoke. I love this blend dearly. If this was the only tobacco left on Earth I would be a happy guy.

I always inhale this stuff, whether it be from a small corncob or cigarette tubes.

Smell is fantastic. Creates voluminous smoke. Taste is mediocre- drying it out (almost to the point of bone-dryness) helps a bit. Strength is a hair over medium, in my opinion.

Bland and disappointing compared to the genuine Amsterdam Shag rolling tobacco, which was much much tastier. But this dual-purpose incarnation is about a quarter of the price... a so-so tobacco for a wonderful price.

Stokkebye's Turkish is incomparably better for cigarettes.