Leavitt & Peirce Pound Cake

I was gifted this tobacco and consequently I've only sampled five bowlfuls, so these are more initial impressions. I am of the opinion that most if not all blends require some amount of analyzation, more some than others. This blend has consistently required my full attention. Every time I try and smoke this blend and read a book, I simply end up putting the book down. However, this blend is strange as one can analyze it two ways.

Before I discuss the smoke, the aroma in the bag is vanilla-maple like. It reminded me of Lane 1-Q...almost. In essence I think many who partake in 1-Q will find some similarities. There are some bright golden leaves, medium brown and some very dark brown-almost black leaves. I'm absolutely no expert, but I think it is a combination of golden and black cavendish with burley and maybe VA?? It's a ribbon cut, but fine almost like a shag but not quite there.

On to the actual smoking. One can smoke this blend with complete detachment and be in bliss. It can be enjoyed and understood in its most simplest form. Everything about it IS pound cake. A pipe smoker can do all of the things pipe smokers do- snork, possible French inhale, speed up/slow down tempo, leave the room then come back and smell the room note, etc.- and only detect pound cake. So a simple summary of this observation can be put in one word, accurate. The smoker is accurately getting what is being presented, pound cake.

Don't get me wrong though, the flavoring is not this heavy candy like substance that goops up and destroys the leaf. Quite the contrary. The flavoring is soft, smooth and mellow, just very...flavorful, it leaves the smoker wanting more. For this reason, a more in-depth dissection is mandated. Consequently, I couldn't read my book...The flavoring is almost a combined measure of subtleties. One can pick out a bunch of different elements that constitute this blend. I detect a maple/pancake like flavor. This is followed by a buttery/vanilla like flavor. There is a very subtle caramel note every once in a while. About midway there is a light nutty taste, I want to say it's the burley coming through. Towards the very end it does get a bit flat and the flavoring goes out, leaving a faint hint of hay and nuts; that goes away shortly and it gets a bit ashy at the end. This decrescendo of flavor was consistent in every bowl. It burns to a medium grey ash with little dottle. I smoked with a myriad of tempos, but did not experience any bite or harshness, nor was it wet.

It compliments a cream-ale very well, something light and a touch citrusy. I also found that a crisp lager is very nice with this blend. I would not recomend and Apple cider or stout. Four out of the fives smokes I had, I paired with one of these drinks, I think light undertones and caramel like notes work well with this blend. I could see a bock or maybe...maybe an alt-bier pairing nicely also. If you have the inclination to make a Brandy Alexander, I think it would be the prefered cocktail when pairing.

The room note is very pleasant and the smell of the pipe afterwards is not foul but actually very pleasant. The aftertaste is sweet, is lingers for a few minutes, it's sugary and vanilla like- similar to 1-Q or Captain Black Gold. All in all, I very much enjoy this blend. It's so light and unassuming, but packed with flavor, which I find to be very refreshing. I personally find it similar to 1-Q myself but it has that extra...care that is not present in 1-Q. I'm not bashing on this classic but I think Pound Cake is a little more dainty without losing any flavor or taste.

There you have it, all in all, I highly recommend.

After reading the above review I ordered a sampler and as the other reviewer mentioned, I also found this their best blend. Very very tasty, just like a pound cake in both the aroma and flavor. Very finely cut light brown ribbon burley I believe with maybe some golden Cavendish? I also ordered ten ounces of this blend as that fits perfectly into a large ball jar. The price was very expensive, the ten ounces plus shipping to Las Vegas was $57. Worth it? Well the tobacco is extremely high quality. It dries out which means the PG is used sparingly. The blend tastes aged and the taste and aroma are of confectionary food additives, not artificial tasting by any means. I am going to mix this half and half with a berry blend. I have a feeling I can create the most amazing Berry Pie Blend!! -Merry Christmas all

I spent a week in Cambridge and checked out a lot of the blends from this nice, classic, store. Pound cake was my favorite. I like it better than the Cake Box and the Judge's Mixture.

Not the deepest tobacco, I'll admit. But the flavor of pound cake is captured so well, in the taste and in the smell, that I was craving it after the first bowl. I bought a 10oz bag.

Not too sweet, slightly savory. If you like eating pound cake, you'll like smoking this.