Anywho, this is a great Burley blend. For reference, a bit stronger than Carter Hall.

Pairs well with just about any uncarbonated beverage.

Upon opening the container I got the odor of burley with a slight sweetness, not honey but "honey like". Out of a sense of tradition I tried it in a corncob and it light well and I had no trouble keeping it going. It has a higher nicotine kick to it (rather like Half@Half) and a light "honey like" flavour.

I enjoyed it as I like burley's and the casing is not overwhelming, my second bowl I smoked in a clay and the third in a briar. The only hint of bite was in the clay, and I was pleased with it overall. It's in the "Old Codger" category which I think is unjust, I prefer to call it a simple reliable blend myself.

Taste-wise, this is a four star blend and I wish it would come back (I smoked from a 2 oz tin). It really wanted to bite, though, and I had to be careful not to allow it. Smoked slowly, this is a wonderful old burley with a pinch of VA. I found this much preferable to PA or CH and even my modified Granger. I can't comment about the overall quality tin-to-tin since I only smoked one but based on it, this is a solid 3 star blend, missing 4 stars based only on that elusive quality called "depth". If this were readily available, it would be in my regular rotation.

The depth of the burley and the spicy, honey-sweetened red VA play nicely together and create a richly spicy smoke. As is usual for House of Windsor, this is made of good-quality leaf which is admirably presented.

Those who seek an ingratiating, easy-smoking blend that is sweet and flavorsome without becoming dull or tiring will find Union Leader to be a definite winner. This seemed to go best in a narrow gauge chamber.

Union Leader is a mildly topped Burley-dominated blend that should recall various other American classics. I find in vaguely apple-ish, but the top note is subtle. I actually preferred that recent tin to either Carter Hall or Prince Albert. Then again, I suspect that the rarity factor made it taste better.

Even if it were widely available again, I can't imagine that I'd be investing in much Union Leader. But it was a nice little diversion when it was around.

Oh yeah! For the burley smoker, this is a must do.

When I first cracked the seal on the can the honey like topping wafted out. I normally would prefer a cube cut, but this packs and lights easily. Once underway, the honey slips back into the backround but is present in just the right amount. I recently order a large cob (direct from the Missouri Meershaum outfit; they have web site on line) and to smoke this in a good cob is to turn back the clock about 50 years. This is my go to smoke when I don't want anything complex. It's a mild, very tasty smoke and at a reasonable price. For something a little more complex I go to Revelation or Country Doctor, for simplicity this is it. (2-10-05)

Sampling notes: I smoked a two ounce tin of this blend in a variety of meerschaums, cobs, and briars. It smokes about the same, and that's pretty well, in just about any pipe. To my taste, it does best with some drying and airing. Union Leader can be smoked, apparently, at just about any humidity level--I've smoked some that was cinder-dry and it smoked just fine.

This is not to say that the topping is over-powering: it is very subtle. However, I do believe that its absence would improve this blend.

In any case, this is very nearly "Highly recommended". Any fan of blends with little or no casing/topping should find UL to be a great all-day smoke.

It was a unique time for these crimp cut blends. Many companies had a crimp cut (so-called because the leaves were 'crimped' or pressed together and chopped, but not confused with granulated like Bull Durham or Plowboy), but they also offered a fuller cut tobacco. There was PA with George Washington Rough Cut, and Velvet with Granger Rough Cut, but UL never had a fuller cut. Sad, really, because UL was not a bad tobacco, just unexciting and serviceable.

You will note that I used the past tense. I have not had much recent success in finding any foil packets of this blend, and I'm not adventuresome enough to but a large can.