I don't think this blend requires much drying but I am reviewing it a year after opening it originally and it's still fine. Burns nice and evenly with no need to relight after getting it started. The taste is very sweet to me with the flavor of the apricot coming through strongly. The burley acts as a nice base, imparting a bit of its nutty disposition into the mix. Unlike most aromatics, I find the flavor stays pretty consistent with the Melange throughout the bowl. The oriental and VA peak a little bit in and out during the later half of the bowl adding a little bit of spiciness to the fruit.

Overall, a very enjoyable aromatic if that's your thing (which it is for me). I would certainly recommend this to new pipe smokers that want to enjoy sweetness without the bite. Also, quite light in the nicotine department. Stanwell Melange is a spicy apricot tobacco ripe for summer smoking in your backyard and quite enjoyable with a little bit of brandy as well.

The tobacco can details an apricot flavor, I can not sense anything close to apricot just many types of creamy vanilla.

Smoking this stuff is a challenge, it burns hot and spicy, if you smoke it too slow it doesn't feel like you're getting a consistent puff, and smoke too fast it will tongue bite you hard.

People compliment the smell regularly, I've yet to get anything but positives on this. I had a bicyclist stop down the street just to tell me it smells AMAZING.

I recommend if smoking the Stanwell Melange to not take big puffs, you will be disappointed with the taste and effects on the throat.

One tip- this tobacco is bitey in the beginning and will benefit greatly from setting aside after the charring light and a few puffs. Come back to it after about ten minutes and the flavors of the casing will have noticeably mellowed and the tobacco flavors developed. Smoke this one slow. Follow the advice above and be rewarded.

A nice Virginia based aromatic. Dry to the touch. The orientals give it a rich flavor. And it's very fragrant and satisfying.

But does it smell good? Mrs Plod's sister Gwladys is visiting from Wales. She "presents" every time I smoke this, once Honoria departs the sitting room of course.

But I will not be distracted from my pipe, despite Gwladys' rather shapely hindquarters. This is a very fine pipe tobacco indeed.

Toward the bottom of the bowl, the nuttiness prevailed (for me anyway). It reminds me of a Filipino dessert that my mother used to make (that has coconut and a fire roasted taste to it). Maybe that's why I'm liking this blend.

For anyone that likes aromatics or is just starting out, I'd recommend this. This is going in to my rotation for sure.

So I ordered this from the continent.

It has an amazing open tin fragrance second only to Davidoff's Danish. Indeed it is somewhat Danish in it's character.

A Vanilla/honey bomb that explodes on the pallet. Yes it's true it even comes through in the smoke. How many blends can you say that about ? Not too many.

It doesn't last all the way to the bottom of the bowl. In fact it can go a little sour after rest. It can also bit a bit of a bugger to keep alight.

The really disappointing thing is the room note. I thought after that extraordinary tin opening scent, it was going to be something special. Mrs RW hasn't made any comment at all which I am very surprised at.

A fine blend though and, if you are fond of aromatics, you'll want to try this one for sure. I'm halfway through the tin and it hasn't got boring. I hope it doesn't.

The smoke is very pleasant and enjoyable. Slightly sweet taste, maybe a litle nuttiness from the burley. The aromatic casings/flavoring don't overpower the smooth virginas and orientals. Nice kind-of-salty finish to each puff.

This blend is very competitive with some of the equally excellent "big name" aromatics I've tried over the years. An excellent aromatic and a very pleasant surprise, especially for the price.