Brown & Williamson - Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
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Tom Servo	03/29/2011	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Tolerable
A lot of reviewers here talk about the tin aroma of Sir Walter as fruity, maple, boozy, chocolate, but all I detect is Burley and licorice, I think anise or licorice liqueur has always been the topping in this blend, but I may be mistaken. Anyway that’s all I get - licorice, sweetness and Burley. Pleasant and uncomplicated. Cube-ish cut packs easy and lights perfectly. Smokes cool, the sweetness doesn’t last long, the licorice fades a little slower. As the bowl progresses the flavor of the tobacco is warm and nutty. This lasts for about five minutes. Then the fleeting aromas and flavors of burning trash, used coffee grounds, soap and urinal cakes drift in and out of the Burley making any further enjoyment difficult. The smoke is mild, as are the unpleasant notes. No bite - just hard to like. The bowl finishes with campfire notes, still some soapy taste (that seems to coat the mouth, unpleasantly). Licorice comes back near the end, but scorched and sour. My apologies to my elders who’ve smoked Sir Walter Raleigh for years, but I can’t recommend this tobacco to anyone. I know it’s been around forever but that’s no indication of quality tobacco. Cigarettes have been around forever too. However, good or bad, life’s too short for drugstore tobacco. Support your local (or online) tobacconist, and do yourself a favor.
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Ichbinmuede	03/17/2011	Very Mild	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Well when I got this tobacco I wasn't expecting much. I was expecting to bring a smile to a lady-friend's face because her grandfather smoked it. I did do that but I also found a good friend. Maybe I'm just an easy dude to please but I can honestly say that I love this tobacco. Nice and mild, tasty, easy to pack, and a pleasure to smoke. A perfect thing for the morning, noon, or night and just the sort of thing I like to have while I sit and ruminate, read, or work. Like a good dog this one will never bite you and will gladly keep you company. I would recommend this to everyone.
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gilgawulf	01/14/2011	Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable
Early in my pipe smoking career I purchased a pouch of this on a whim. At the time I regretted it: I had to rehydrate it, it was cut in this wierd 'cube' shape, etc. etc. Those very same things I complained about as an early pipe smoker are now the very things I've gone back to it for. The cube cut is perfect: just gravity fill to the top, press down just a little, and add a few more little 'cubes' and you're good to go. As for the dryness... maybe I'm just still pissed off about having to spend over a month drying all the propelyne glycol out of a tub of Prince Albert, but for me it seems perfect. Obviously, it's not Wessex Burley Slice or Solani Aged Burley, but I'd put it right up there with MacBaren London Burley. I don't see why it lives in Prince Albert's propelyne glycol drenched shadow: things should really be the other way around. My only complaint is that it is a little bit difficult to find in pouch form. Thankfully, the girl at my local B&M (Blue Havana, in Chicago) was kind enough to order me in a bunch of this, as well as crap-ton of Prince Albert pouches. (Now all of you Chicagoans know where to find those two in pouches.)
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Thesir	01/10/2011	Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Picked this up as a cheaper tobacco to smoke with the guys while having a drink. As a newcomer to pipe smoking, it's a good blend to smoke casually. The sweetness is a bit off-putting at first but now that I'm nearing the bottom of the pouch it's a pleasant thing to come back to. It needed some airing to smoke well but there were few problems with burning out or burning too hot in a well-packed pipe. Not a bad blend to pick up if you're low on money or need something to smoke quick and enjoy on a car ride.
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Arkie	01/06/2011	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
I wanted to like this blend because of nostalgia from 45 years ago of my dad's best friend smoking it. The first thing I noticed when I opened a pouch of SWR was the cut of the tobacco. It almost seemed as though it had been finely ground rather than cut. I suppose it was chopped so finely in order to conceal stems and twigs. It tasted exactly like Prince Albert and it had the same room note. There are better blends available at the same price (SWR aro & Carter Hall) so it couldn't be considered a good value even if it is cheap. Still, it is an honest blend with no awful additives, fillers, artificial flavorings, etc so it is worthy of 2 stars.
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chgo.piper	12/29/2010	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Straight, honest burley and nothing more. This drugstore smoke hits the spot everytime I have a taste for it, especially with the morning cup. I was very pleased with this. savor it slowly in a cob and enjoy the chocolatey and earthy notes a good burley naturally has... I can't snub this OTC blend. Update: 7-22-12/ I picked up a 14oz. can... This stuff must be purchased by the pouch if you want that same wonderful burley taste... The 14oz. can does not provide it.
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TK Pipe	12/05/2010	Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Non aromatic SWR. A nice smooth, satisfying and easy to control OT American Burley tobacco. A bowl of this in a MM cob, and you’re all set. As a side note, I use a half of a Dr.Grabow filter in my MM cob. This works for me. This tobacco seems to improve with some drying time, also ending the smoke before the last bit of tobacco is consumed, is my SOP when smoking OT burleys. They could lower the PC level in this blend, but all in all a very wothwhile smoke, no bite and well suited to a busy smokers life. My personal rating 4.5/5 Addendum...Some tubs need more dry/airing time than others, but properly done SWR is a first class all day smoke. Either as a blender to tame stronger mixtures or straight, I‘ve enjoyed more than a few tubs.
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PipeFullof20s	11/03/2010	Extremely Mild	None detected	Very Mild	Unnoticeable
Having just tried this tobacco, and comparing it to other OTCs (Prince Albert, Captain Black White) I find SWR extremely lacking in pretty much everything that makes my pipe smoking experience worthwhile. The pouch note is nutty and chocolatey, typical of a Burley, but I detected no flavor, natural or additive. While I respect SWR for its longevity, I'll probably not be picking any more in the near future.
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paulw	06/10/2010	Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
I smoked this once because my father liked it,I didn't like the finish, it started out as a good burley smoke but half way down turned rotten, yeah rotten that's the best word for it.Sad to say prince albert was better also the famous writer william faulkner smoked this blend, when he couldn't get his dunhill mixture
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doc'spipe	05/12/2010	Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I recently purchased a 14 ounce tin of SWR regular and have to say I am quite pleased with this all Burley blend. Upon opening the tin, it was very fresh and springy, but not with excessive moisture. It was identical in appearance to ERR - both not exactly cube cut, but more like a cut plug with some short, broad leaf. The 14 ounce tin of ERR is nearly full and when placed side by side with SWR, you can't tell them apart by appearance alone. It is in the tin note where you start discerning the difference. Where ERR is chocolate-like in aroma, with perhaps a touch of the rum that is added, upon opening SWR you get the smell of slightly fermented apples. However, the taste of SWR is more chocolate and fruity-like, and stronger than ERR in taste. When you put your nose into the tin and take a deep smell, SWR smelled just like an Italian spiced rum/chocolate cake, laced with apples - very delicious. This wonderful aroma translates into the taste and remains throughout the entire smoke. SWR was smoke-able right out of the tin. Filling and lighting were a breeze and few re-lights were required. There was a mild chemical taste after first light, but unlike ERR, this chemical taste never really interfered with the overall smoking experience (my several year-old tin of ERR still has a pronounced chemical presence). In spite of the casing's prominent flavor, I did taste good, honest, Burley leaf throughout the smoke. I personally didn't detect any bitterness with SWR. perhaps the bitterness many have described, in my opinion, is nothing more than the natural bitterness of Burley - and I mean it in a good way. Very much like the bitterness in a fine cigar, but certainly not as pronounced. It probably has to do with the addition of some Kentucky Burley. Some like it and others do not. It produced a beautiful side stream sweetness - always translating to the taste. The room note is good, old-fashioned Burley sweetness. It burned slow and even, always cool, left no dottle, and never produced a bit of moisture. It was a nicely sweet smoke and never harsh. I can see where some have noticed its smoking similarities to ERR as it tastes similar, but I think SWR is better in every way. So far, for me, the best of the codger Burleys, and I have been an ERR fan (Larus version) for years. SWR is a bit more fuller-bodied than ERR which gives it a slightly spicier taste. According to my family, the room note of the two are not exactly the same but very similar. It is interesting in I read somewhere that Lane Ltd. (who took over the blending of ERR from Larus up until its discontinuance) was licensed to blend this tobacco for Brown & Williamson, perhaps the key to their being so similar. If this is true, I am happy they did a better job than with their own ERR. If you are looking for an affordable, every day good, solid smoke, SWR regular should satisfy. The roomnote is very "old school" sweet smelling pipe tobacco and will get you comments like, "reminds me of what my grandfather used to smoke..." Very comforting all around. The best of the codger Burleys in my opinion. UPDATE 12-5-11: Buy a tub, open the seal and let it sit with the plastic lid on and age some. For me, after a year and a half, no chemical taste or bitterness whatsoever, and never a bite. If you like Burley, don't pass this up. A very underrated tobacco.
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Storm Watch	04/28/2010	Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Easily one of my favorites. Nice strong woody taste to this burley. Pouches tend to be a little less flavorful than the tubs. Lots of smoke and stays lit. No nasty mess in the bottom of the bowl. Best out of a cob or a clay pipe. For some reason briars tend to change it too much. I remember the first time I tried it I thought it was too strong. It grew on me quickly and now many years later I still smoke it regularly. The folks I get it from think I'm nuts. I go in and buy a dozen tins of high dollar stuff and a couple tubs of SWR at the same time. It's not about price. It's about what you like.
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Steden	03/24/2010	Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Another classical given me by Clarkus, that I thank. SWR is a good tobacco very easy to load and to smoke thanks to the cut (cross cut?) it has a mild flavoring and an unmistakable aroma of Burley. There is some Cavendish here (of good quality) that can somewhat remind Mc Baren style, on briars it tends to get little hot but smoked in a cob (with a bit of pressing) it improves, it doesn't bites at all and leaves a polite aftertaste. I highly recommend it to beginners and for all the others definitely worth a try.
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smoke65	02/27/2010	Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
i rotate between this blend & PA. It's and reliable smoke-so you know what you're getting without any suprises. Like many OTC blends, it a manly smoke which satisfy you from start to finish. It does have a fruity smell that delights the senses. I give it my recommendation for those who are looking for reliability over some weak, metro-sexual, FOO FOO, expensive crap.
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DK	02/19/2010	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
I'm not exactly happy with a two star recommendation on this one but I also don't feel comfortable changing it. Perhaps this is one of those that needs a 2.5 star recom. The top half of each bowl of this I smoked was wonderful. Nice, mild nutty burley, plain and simple, with a pleasant roasted almond flavor. Mild tasting but good flavor. A very relaxing tobacco. Excellent! The bottom half is where things went south. That pleasing nut flavor turned bitter rather quickly. It never got harsh but it took on a sour, unfriendly taste. I found this to be consistent in every pipeful. I'm not sure if it needs more drying or what and it was most offputting. I got the best results from this when I "parfaited" it by putting something like Sugar Barrel on the bottom and SWR on top. The nutlike sweetness then got a bit sweeter as the Sugar Barrel took over and the SWR burned away. That upgraded it to a solid 3 star recommendation. I plan to do more experimentation in this manner. Highly recommended for the top half bowl, not recommended for the bottom.
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Shawn_M	02/17/2010	Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant
A plain no frills burley blend, not very exciting, but comforting and reliable.
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James	02/08/2010	Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant
I think it's a good smoke. I have my favorites and try to blend others together but I would not turn this one down.
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7formy1911	01/15/2010	Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
In my quest for good smokes I always seem to shoot for the esoteric and miss the obvious. While I'm a huge fan of Prince Albert I haven't really looked into codger burleys beyond PA. Being thrifty I got the idea to head by the nearby tobacco stop and see if they had any pipe tobacco at all. They had the typical stuff like PA, SWR, Half & Half and Carter Hall. I picked up a pouch of SWR and Half & Half since I've actually never tried them before. I had a newly acquired estate pipe in hand so I figured why not break it in with SWR. Upon opening the pouch I was greeted with the smell of raisins, figs and an ever so slight rum smell. My wife said it smelled like a "fruity granola bar" which I agree is pretty accurate. It's a pretty chunky cut which I can say I'm ambivalent about. Loading up my new Amphora sandblasted bulldog I gravity filled the pipe with an extra pinch on top and gave it a nice charring light. One more match and I was off to the races. SWR struck me as a nice burley with some of the raisin and rum flavor coming through but not as strong as I suspected. There was some burley nuttiness that I enjoy but not as much as PA. The one detraction was that it can turn bitter if you puff a little too hard or it's a bit windy out but it's quite easily controlled as long as you puff slow and steady. It burned fairly fast and even though this is a pretty large pipe I was done in about 40 to 45 minutes. That can be good or bad depending on time constraints or how much free time you have to burn (pun intended!). If you want something simple, not heavy on nicotine, tasty with some burley nuttiness then SWR will certainly fill the bill. It's not a nicotine or flavor blast and it's quite simple from beginning to end but I truely am admiring simplicity both in life and pipe tobacco. SWR is quite simple but still has much to offer in that simplicity.
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Sparks	11/07/2009	Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
When I first started smoking the pipe regularly, I got wrapped up on the hype and was a sample whore. I tried every tobacco I could get my hands on, and often found myself to be utterly dissatisfied. Eventually, I decided it was time to search for the elusive "all day smoke". Many search and never find such a thing. Now, I won't say that this turned out to be it for me, but it is a regular for sure, and I thoroughly enjoy it. This is a basic blend, simple, no frills. There is no doubt if you have only tried the pouch, do yourself a favor and get a tub, you might find yourself adding one or two stars to your review. The smell out of the tub is enticing to me, chocolate, coffee and spiciness, very rich. A granulated cut burley, it is easy to load and light. Those of you that think this is ribbon need to re-acquaint yourself with tobacco cuts. The flavor is simple, no nonsense. Good nutty burley with hints of chocolate and raisin flavors in the smoke. It can get boring, but it's not meant to be a Pease or C&D blend. As far as bitterness goes, if you puff too hard it will go sour on you. This is mild, so accept that and enjoy the slight soft nuances of this smoke. If you are expecting a flavor punch like from OJK or another boutique burley, you are not going to get it here. Enjoy it for what it is. When I don't know what to smoke, and my palate is overworked by all the fancy blends, this is what I turn to.
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pipesmoker33	11/03/2009	Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Tried this one because I wanted to try some different drug store blends, and I can remember my grandfather smoking this stuff years ago. My first thought when I opened the package was that of a weak smell. Maybe a light alcohol smell. The tobacco was very dry. Did not pack well in my pipe at all. Burned very hot, and had the flavour of burnt grass. Gonna throw this one out. Update: 11/09/2009 I shouldn't be so quick to judge. After smoking a few bowls, it's not as bad as I thought. Still not my fav, but i will add onother star.
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wosbald	11/02/2009	Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable
In the tin, this plug-cut burley has a basic burley grassiness topped along with an alcohol and cocoa aroma which smells like a chocolate liqueur. This is a basic mix of gently sweetened light, brown, and dark burleys with rich flavor and a nice nicotine hit. SIr Walter Raleigh is unassuming, comfortable, and quite enjoyable. This went well in chambers of any gauge.
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