I've delved into the world of Vanilla flavored pipe tobacco many times over the years and this one ranks right up there with the best of them. A delightful sweetness just perfect for an after dinner dessert. It does goop up the bottom of the bowl and ghost the dickens out of the briar, so do remember to reserve this one for your aromatic pipes. Unless, of course, you enjoy a little (okay, a lot) of Vanilla flavoring mixed in with your Latakia.

This is a loose ribbon cut, and is very moist. It requires drying out in order to have any hope of smoking without a flamethrower effect. Unfortunately, even after drying and careful packing, it is still difficult to smoke this without singing your tongue. It is not just that it burns hot; it actually seems to sting, no matter how slow you puff. I have read that vanilla can have that effect, but I have enjoyed other vanilla blends without this effect.

The flavor is pleasant when it is not attacking your tongue, but it is pretty much a one-trick pony. There is little depth here, and that, coupled with the tongue bit, makes this one to avoid, rather than seek out. I give it two stars because my wife likes the odor.

The tobac provides a soft smoke that is cased with a somewhat synthetic vanilla/coconut flavouring. Imagine having coconut cream pie with your garden variety generic vanilla extract rather than with vanilla beans--that's what this reminds me of.

Sometimes, when you are with friends and its late, you feel like having that generic slice of pie rather than the $8.00 slice at Wolfgang's. You're there for the conversation, not the dining experience.

Well, so it is with this tobacco.

Personaly, I do enjoy F&C. I would readily buy it again, but at it's sales price of $5.00 USD for a 100 gram tin. I would not pay full retail.

It packs easily, burns like a dream (one char, one match, no sparking PG). Experience it with slow sips and it's like desert at Ma's in early Fall.

Tobacco flavour does indeed slip through, including VA's heated sting if your too ambitious. The flavour of Cavendish bounces off the vanilla casing, giving that illusionary coconut sensation.

This is not as refined as MacBaren's Vanilla Cream, but then again, it isn't really meant to be. Instead, F&C is a simple, utilitarian, working man's vanilla offered in an upscale tin. And I must say: it does have a tasty room note.

Granted, there are far finer blends out there. However, I do enjoy Ocean Liner F&C as a change of pace (I mostly smoke Burley based tobacs). So, I'll pick another tin next year, but only if it should happen to go back on sale.

Now, please excuse me as I follow that room note....

This by-the-numbers vanilla honeydew is not the worst of the series.