Iwan Ries Affinity

Affinity mixture is another older staple of the Iwan Ries company. It has hung around because old smokers have an, well, an affinity for this blend. It has a straight tobacco taste. No latakia or fine aged virginia. Just mostly a burley with light virginia taste. An elegant cigarette type tobacco, except of course, the cut is a bit longer and thicker.

If you enjoy a straight tobacco taste that will leave you satisfied for a few hours after finishing the bowl, give Affinity a shot.

Affinity is one of the atavistic mixtures still produced for Iwan Ries & Co. How it lasted this long, I have no idea--although as with all Iwan Ries mixtures, it must have been an altogether different animal in its heyday. As it stands now, Affinity can be summed up in one word--bland. If it wasn't for an unpleasant slight burning sensation in the mouth and the acrid exhale of thin wisps of smoke, you could be unaware you were actually anything. The Iwan Ries website lists "Burley, Virginia, [and] Oriental" as ingredients, but I'll be damned if I can detect any one of them. All I taste is rancid cardboard. I should have listened to the other reviews, but fool that I am, I had to try it for myself. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

3 stars as a blender 2 stars by itself. Pipestud got it right on this one.

One of the mildest, lightest blends I have smoked in a long time. Affinity is a very simple blend, just burley and some Virginia, probably steamed to remove any harshness. In the pouch the aroma is like that of domestic cigarette tobacco, but of course the cut is more ribbony, strictly for the pipe. Very mild, but well-mannered, straight forward and steady, an old-fashion, bread and butter smoke. Too light for my needs, but it makes an excellent base tobacco for home blending. Those who like the crimp-cut "drugstore" blends like Prince Albert or Velvet may like this.