When smoked, the raspberry came across as more of a tartness on my tongue than anything else. The cream flavour was OK, but kind of sickly after a few minutes. Reminded me a little of eating a cheap candy that uses a very artificial flavour.

The tobacco burned well, until the bottom of the bowl. It left a wet, goopy mess in the bowl after I had finished.

It passed the wife test, and in fact she said that if she was going to take up a pipe and join me, she would smoke this one.

Personally I was disappointed with it. Guess my hopes were too high. I won't likely be buying this again.

People new to pipe smoking, and possibly ladies might appreciate this tobacco though.

I didn't get any tongue bite, and there was only a small amount of chemical tasting nastyiness by the end of the smoke.

Pouch aroma: light, unimpressive

Consistency: damp, not wet or overly sticky

1st puffs: very little flavor, steamy and bland

Smoke character: thin, watery; difficult to obtain nice, thick smoke

2nd half: flavor emerges, sweet, tasty; not nearly as strong as I would wish

Aftertaste: definitely raspberry, very pleasant, long lasting

Overall: a somewhat unsatisfying smoke. The raspberry flavor is very nice but it is not strong enough. Frustrating to try to get a good, thick smoke without puffing too fast.

In fairness, I will let this dry out for a bit and then try it again.

Pipe: Kirsten Cavalier

Weather: Sunny and warm

Mood: Good

Modifications: 3 Nording's Keystones to keep the tobacco from plugging up the bore hole.

Packaging: I ordered this bulk blend and it came in a ziploc bag. I put it in a glass jar and let it dry out for a few hours before sealing it.

Initial Impressions: Like most McClelland aromatics, this one comes a little damp and with a slightly sour smell. A little drying out and the smell seemed to lessen. The tobacco is mostly dark, with ribbons of lighter colors and a few flecks of gold.

Packing: Once dried, this packs very well. My Kirsten bowl only holds a small bit of tobacco, maybe one third of what you could fit into a Savinelli big bore.

Lighting: Charring light went off without a hitch. A slight tamping and a relight were problem-free.

Smoking (First Third): A really nice aroma of sweetness and berries pervades the first few puffs and then you're bathed in what I can only describe as a creamy, rich smoke. It may smell like you're puffing one of Mom's berry pies in a water pipe, but you'll love how the vanilla and fruit essences are blended so that one doesn't overwhelm the other. There is a good tobacco base to this and it plays like beach music on a warm summer's day.

Smoking (Second Third): The berry flavor really starts to mix and with the tobacco flavor, producing a nice thick slice of smoke to wrap your tongue around. You'll hear a bit of sizzle in the bowl (which is why I use a Kirsten), but I never once got tongue bite or stingy nose from this blend. It smokes at a cool temperature and lends well to medium puffing speed.

After Effects: This seemed to have a blessedly low nicotine content and the flavoring kindly refrained from burning its mark into my tongue. A simple brushing and Biotene rinse was enough to get my mouth into social condition. It didn't foul the briar and it burned down to a clean greyish-black ash that had no moisture in it.

Overall Recommendation: If you need a GOOD aromatic that makes everyone happy (including you!), then this is your tobacco. A simple drying ensures that the smokability stays high. This is my everyday tobacco and what I choose when I need a simple, uncomplicated and satisfying smoke. I think a beginner would do well to choose this blend and even a Virginia devotee might like an occasional bowl of this.