pipesandcigars.com Warm Up

I have been on a quest as of recent to try to find some aro's that I can tolerate as well as the people who may be around while I'm smoking. I am an English, VA non-aro smoker and always have difficulty in the depth of flavor compromise that comes with many aro's. Warm Up is an exception to this compromised feeling. This blend appeals to me in ways I couldn't have imagined. I love the base tobacco's very rich and nutty and the caramel vanilla flavoring is not over the top. Burns nicely but it's still an aro and has a tendency to bite if smoked in haste. Beyond this I find Warm Up flavorful and satisfying and have kept the complaints to a minimum with the room note.

This is a nicely balanced blend. The sweet note of the tobacco let's you know you are in for something good. The sweet caramel note is prominant. Despite its sweet note it doesn't smoke overly sweet and contains a nice balance. There's enough flavoring that keeps that enjoyment pulling through the entire smoke. It also allows the tobacco to pull through making it a fine smoke. Thus far, this is my favorite of Russ' monthly blends. It can smoke a little hot and bite if you smoke it like a locomotive. Great blend by Russ.

Pipesandcigars.com - Warm Up (Russ' Monthly Blend).

Mostly well rubbed ribbons, of which the majority's brown. The aroma has citrus fruit to it, but also a spot of fondant sweetness. Because the loose pouch had been tightly rolled up by Tobaccopipes.com the moisture suits me; a little moist, but not wet.

The black Cavendish doesn't give 'loads' of flavour to the tobaccos, I get far more setaceous Burley and vibrant, rich, Virginias. The Cav' smooths the smoke, but doesn't hog it with stickiness. The added flavours give a flavour quite reminiscent of a boiled sweet; there's sharp lemon/lime notes (more intense, for the first quarter), and plenty of sugar from the caramel. I don't find the vanilla as brash in comparison to these. On the low side it isn't the best behaved in the bowl: the smoke's warm, it burns quite quick, and bites.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: not bad.

Warm Up? A bit too zesty for me, and the mechanics aren't good. So, two stars:

Somewhat recommended.

Well it is the middle of a hot summer, so who doesn't want to warm up and get hot and sticky... with a heavy dose of caramel and vanilla. By all accounts I was ready to dive into something very sweet.

Well things sure did warm up. You need to to take it as slow as possible, as those thinly cut ribbon shreds burn hot! The flavor is in there, but as a fast puffer, I had a hard time tasting it within the hot smoke.

To this end, I may not of been a good reviewer for this blend, so take my comments with a grain of salt. If 'may' be better in gentler hands.