Opening the tin it was hard to tell if there was actually tobacco inside, or if it had been mistakenly replaced with potpourri. A very overpowering, almost perfume-like smell emerged. The tobacco was very moist, to the point where I decided to dry it out quite a bit before trying it, this thankfully also seemed to reduce the fragrance a little.

The taste was nowhere near as bad as the smell, but still nothing to write home about. The tobacco was still overpowered by the casing and the whole blend felt quite bland and artifical. I gave it quite a few more tries, but halfway through the tin I just gave up and handed it to my neighbour, who interestingly enough was very positive and thought it was quite a good tobacco.

One star is perhaps a little harsh, apart from the initial smell it's not a horrible tobacco, it's just obviously not suited for my palette. But it's a subjective review after all and the simple fact is that I just wouldn't recommend this blend to anyone, and then one star is the only fair score.

That all occurred within about a month of my starting to smoke a pipe. It stayed in the closet for 2 or 3 months. Just today, in fact right as I am writing this, I opened up the tin for a second time to give it a smell. It appears that I had improperly closed the tin because now the tobacco was dry- not too dry however. Further, the tin smell had become far richer and intense. I was hit immediately by heavy vanilla and apricot; I couldn't detect the supposed cinnamon until I lit the bowl.

I took the blend to my kitchen, rubbed it out, replacing it in the tin. I then packed a full bowl and, after the charring light, proceeded to smoke a very acceptable aromatic.

It is still a *little* bitey from time to time, a slower smoker shouldn't have any trouble however. It's sweet and the tin aroma is transferring well to room note through the smoke. It has also cooled down a considerable amount since the unintentional dry out. It has no trouble staying lit or even. Further, huge clouds of smoke.

My tongue is tingling at the moment, something which doesn't occur with most blends I smoke- I think it's because I tend to be a slightly fast smoker and this blend really needs a slow draw. I mention it only for the other fast smokers out there.

I think I'll stick to my English blends, but, this is a perfectly acceptable tin aromatic- however, I am sure the local tobacconist has something in bulk which is similar and probably a lot less expensive.

2 stars, as of 10/31/09. I'll update this review in another month or two, see whether things have progressed.

I left the tin about 4 weeks and returned to it yesterday………This can’t be the same stuff I was smoking a month ago!! It’s a very light smoke, but the flavors were great, and it burned cool and clean! For me Gold Blend is a winner after some time to dry out and some patients. Gold blend thanks for not giving up and loosing hope…. Original Blog Link: http://ow.ly/15WsuK

Golden Blend - no. 3 in that list - was waiting unsealed since. I had just a couple of bowls or bit more just after the purchase.

GB (golden yellow lid) has a beautiful contrasted colour similarf to an EM. The tin smells aromatic, of course, in the vein of the Danish Pastry (vanilla, nuts and a bit of cinnamon). At the touch I feel high quality leaves.

The smoke is mild both in strenght and body. The resemblance to Golden Ambrosia is remarkable, GB is just two notches more flavoured. GB smokes very smooth, cool and velvety (same 9mm filtered Savinelli Spigot). No bite at all. The flavouring is consistent - difficult to trace true tobacco taste, as it happended with GA instead - but not overwhelming or cloying.

GB is truly a quality aromatic, which I could recommend ***. The fact is that I don't see any good reason to pay all those euros. GA perfectly fits the bill when I'm in the mood for an aro.

It's at least a unique and tasteful blend of casings, so it doesn't smell like a cheap lotion marketed for pubescent girls like many aromatics do.

It actually tastes rather nice, too. It's an easy blend that's good to keep around for sharing. The only problem, and for me it's a big one, is that it leaves behind its mark quite strongly in a pipe in which it is smoked.

Starting at a baseline of two stars, I'm docking this a star for not having any true complexity and docking it another for leaving its calling card in my pipe. But I'm giving it a star for being a rare tasteful aromatic and giving it another star for being so easy-going in its smokability and approachability.

After almost two tins I've given up trying to pick out the flavors.

It's damp,dry it. Burns warmer than most of my choices and has bit me more than I like to admit. Seems to lose the sweet flavor twards the end of the bowl

I didn't lose interest in the smoke, I just have aro's I enjoy more.

It continues...

Gold Blend is classy in leaf and presentation, but the flavor is just not there for me. I like an occasional puff on the sweet side, but I also like to taste the tobacco and feel like I'm smoking without having to check the bowl to make sure the weed is lit.

Lovers of light aromatics with quality leaf will enjoy this one and that is why I give it three stars.

While smoking this, I have visions of the Irish countryside -- a cold, crisp morning with dew all about. I imagine sitting in a small cottage with pleasant smoke wafting throughout. A small fire burns in the corner keeping the teapot warm. My rocking chair is the perch to reconsider the day's events.

One of five stars

I like the flavor as well. It goes well with coffee or tea. It doesn't overpower the pallette or the pipe, and tastes like tobacco, of all things! It's a good, cool smoke, easy on the nose and of those in the room. Potentially an all-day kind of tobacco. I'm keeping this in my regular rotation.

Room note got great reviews. Guess I might have liked it better if someone else had been smoking it.