It's a no-holds-barred aromatic, with a robust sweet coconut; ever so almond-like finish, which smokes akin to drinking a Chinese pearl tea. It's fairly easy to see where those who draw comparisons with Pina Colada are coming from. I certainly didn't find the casing particularly abrasive, and it was nice to partake in an aromatic where taste follows the aroma suit - a rare thing, indeed. However, It's not as pungent as folk make out; It's certainly representative in the smoke, but it’s better on most other coconut- flavoured offerings. The room note is a definite winner with non-smokers in the house, too.

Initially, I’d have been inclined to attribute a three star rating, but upon letting the tin air for a short time, It’s marked personality was lost, and even the Virginias became flat, papery, and nondescript. I think if I was to buy this again, then it would need to be in sample or pouch quantity, rather than tinned at 50g. Certainly, It’s worth transferring this to an air-tight container, and for once, I’d dissuade folk from actually letting it breathe.

I acquired as a gift a Rattray's sample pack of 6 tobaccos, Charles' mixture being one. Upon opening the gold foil sample pouch, I saw a pretty tobacco of golds and dark browns, and I was greeted loudly with the smell of fruit, mostly a cherry-like aroma. Here I must interject that I like cherries two ways: fruit off the tree and in a well-made homemade pie. There are no exceptions.

In an effort to be fair to the tobacco, I let the pouch open for airing to see if the initial aromatic qualities would mellow out a bit. After about 30 minutes, the cherry overtones did subside enough for me to pack a moderately sized Alpha apple and give it a go.

Lighting was work. It took three Swans, but finally the tobacco consented to the flame. The initial smoke was sweet, but not overly so. In fact, there was a berry-ness about the tobacco for which I was glad, given my first impressions. However, the flavor was so subtle it was barely noticeable past a slight sweetness. Keeping the stuff lit was also irritatingly difficult.

Unfortunately, there were no discernable tobacco flavors to back up the very mild casing. I'm sure, being a Rattray's blend, that the tobaccos were top-notch, but the flavor just wasn't there. As I progressed into the second half of the bowl, I did notice a fair amount of smoke, but my visiting friend (and fellow pipesmoker), had this to say about the room aroma -- "Eh." Also, for a rather flavorless blend to my palate, the tobacco did develop a fair amount of heat on my tongue, unfortunatley further alienating me from it.

There may (and obviously are) fellow pipe smokers who would enjoy this blend, and perhaps they have a tongue more suited to this mixture's subtleties. I, however, must pass.

Near the bottom of the bowl, a kinda-sorta tobacco taste comes through, but up till that point it is totally dominated by the topping. Interestingly, the tin aroma is not quite as obviously coconut as the taste is. Those of you who think that the taste of an aromatic is never as strong as the flavor need to try this one out. At least one bowl.

While I can imagine that the room note might be pleasant to some, I find it cloying, the kind of cloying that would probably put a motion sick person over the edge.

This tin will last me a good long while, probably a lifetime.

Upon popping the tin, a lovely boquet greets the nose, and for a tobacco fan like myself, that is not good news! I knew from the start that I was in trouble. I loaded up anyway and was greeted with a mild aromatic taste that reminded me of honey, chocolate, vanilla and caramel all at once. It does smoke fairly cool for an aromatic, but was way too sweet to truly enjoy.

If you are a fancier of flavored tobaccos, then Charles Mixture is probably a classy blend for you to try. If you enjoy real tobacco flavor though, there are many blends in the Rattray line that will float your boat. Charles sank mine!