pipesandcigars.com Locked Out

Pipesandcigars.com - Locked Out (Out of Office).

The second blend I bought from a newly found ebay dealer, as ebay now allow tobacco sales in the UK. Being as this brand isn't available from my usual suppliers, Smokingpipes.com, 4noggins, Cup O' Joes or TobaccoPipes.com I ordered a few different blends. From this manufacturer and a few others I can't normally acquire. As it's Sunday, my aromatic day, I decided to post my thoughts on this.

It's about 50/50 black and brown, with the brown Burley pieces being more leafy. It smells strong of sweet vanilla and mine had a good hydration to it.

The smoke: a mild, easy going, blend. The black Cavendish and Burley share the smoke evenly, it isn't a heavy, sticky, mess of only vanilla black Cav'. The white Burley gives the smoke a lift and stops the Cavendish cartelizing, hogging, the flavour. The presence of added vanilla is unquestionable, but I wouldn't rate it any higher than medium at a push. Because the blend comprises white Burley and black Cavendish (two types renowned for burning cool) the comfort of the smoke is undeniable: low in temperature and free from bite. It burns at a medium pace.

Nicotine: mild. Room-note: pleasant.

Locked out? A nice blend which deserves three stars:

Recommended.

I bought this one on a whim to fill a large order and had no expectations one way or the other, but after smoking it, I wondered if I somehow forgot how to pack a pipe! The experience was mired with blockage, uneven burning, wetness, bitter spots, and just about everything unpleasant when smoking. My tin was a mix of huge unshredded dime sized leaves and schnitzels ground to powder, making the burn all wonky.

The aroma was light, and like most vanilla blends I've tried, pretty non descript and just simply some kind of sweet. Sure there is a mix of all kind of tobaccos in here, but nothing jumped out as the leader.

If it wasn't for the aforementioned issues with the burn, it would get a passable 2 stars, but as it is...

I'm surprised to be the 1st reviewer here. All in all a really decent vanilla aro at a decent tin price. Topping is lightly done and tobacco seems quite dry for an aromatic, but in no way is this negative, because there's plenty of flavor and not a bit of gurgle. Right out of the tin with no drying, I might add. Mixture is about equal parts black cavendish and really pale golden white burley. Color of the leaf is remarkable, I'm not used to seeing such light colored burley.Tin smells like strong vanilla and brown sugar. Flavor is toasty, faintly fruity and mildly sweet, and vaguely reminds me of vanilla bean ice cream. Excellent burn characteristics, too. In time this one may grow on me enough to make regular rotation, but for now it's just a pleasant change of routine now and then. It's well done, I recommend it, especially if you have an affinity for vanillas on the more natural, fruitier part of the spectrum.

Yummy-and this coming from someone who doesn't smoke vanilla aromatics. But just like A Few Too Many in this series by P&C, this appears to be SPV repackaged in a tin. Smooth and gentle, yet a tad too sweet for this palate. I see this more as an after dinner type. Got this one on clearance, along with A Few Too Many. I get a hint of berries (like in Independence Day). This is a fast burner midway down then slows quite a bit. I enjoyed this one, but it will be a once in a while affair.

This ain’t no 1-Q, but it’s passable. It’s gloopy like many aros, but not terrible. Cheap cavendish and an equally cheap flavor, but unlike the alcohol blends in the series, it’s not outright unpalatable. If you like vanilla aros, this one fits the bill when 1-Q isn’t to hand.