War Horse War Horse Bar
(3.37)
Made of dark-fired Kentucky, dark air-cured and matured red Virginia.
Notes: From P&C's web site: War Horse Bar is a plug tobacco made in the tradition of the long-missing Irish tobacco. Made of darker, earthier leaf, War Horse Bar has a singular top note added, and the tobacco is pressed and cut into plugs. The flavor and body are astoundingly stout, and is definitely meant for the experienced pipe enthusiast. If you love robust and bold pipe tobacco, War Horse Bar will become a staple for you.
Details
| Brand | War Horse |
| Blended By | Russ Ouellette |
| Manufactured By | Sutliff Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Burley |
| Contents | Burley, Kentucky, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Anisette, Floral Essences, Other / Misc, Tonquin Bean |
| Cut | Krumble Kake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Medium to Strong
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.37 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 52 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2017 | Medium to Strong | Strong | Full | Pleasant |
A friend recently included a nearly 2oz sample of this in a tobacco care package. I have been enjoying it over the past few weeks and thought to share my impressions. For what it is worth, I have no experience with any other iterations of War Horse, recent or previous.
The tobacco comes in a small, flattish bar, the shape of which reminds me of an underwhelming chocolate confection we youngsters called a 'Cuban Lunch'. It is a mottled looking thing, shot through with blacks n' browns. WHB is not heavily pressed, and rubs apart easily with a bit of pressure, no need for a sharp knife. The nose of this stuff is heady: orange peel, burnt sugar, and shortbread, and all sorts of other things that ring bells in my head but that cannot be named. As per JimInks, there is a significant tonka-like essence at play here, so if you like that sort of thing, this could be very pleasant. If not, well, keep movin', cowfolks.
Lightup produces a blast of what I presume is the Valerian root extract flavour, and it doesn't really abate during a bowl. I found it enjoyable - sweet, in a marzipan sort of way, and lightly fruity, with the hint of almonds - but it does dominate the experience. Not much in the way of complexity here, or variation. Happily, relights are a breeze, and this is a very consistent tasting tobacco.
Speaking of taste, the prevailing one is of burley and dark-fired. I get throat tingles immediately at lightup, but if puffed gently, the spicy character of this blend is a treat - retrohale carefully. Drawing heavily turns it bitter and ashy, so a gentle cadence is needed. There's some strength here, too, but it builds slowly. I would put the nicotine at medium-full, with the taste being full. These both increase slightly as you make your way through a bowl.
This is fun stuff, something like an American riff on an English flavoured tobacco of olde. I like it enough that I am gonna order some.
The tobacco comes in a small, flattish bar, the shape of which reminds me of an underwhelming chocolate confection we youngsters called a 'Cuban Lunch'. It is a mottled looking thing, shot through with blacks n' browns. WHB is not heavily pressed, and rubs apart easily with a bit of pressure, no need for a sharp knife. The nose of this stuff is heady: orange peel, burnt sugar, and shortbread, and all sorts of other things that ring bells in my head but that cannot be named. As per JimInks, there is a significant tonka-like essence at play here, so if you like that sort of thing, this could be very pleasant. If not, well, keep movin', cowfolks.
Lightup produces a blast of what I presume is the Valerian root extract flavour, and it doesn't really abate during a bowl. I found it enjoyable - sweet, in a marzipan sort of way, and lightly fruity, with the hint of almonds - but it does dominate the experience. Not much in the way of complexity here, or variation. Happily, relights are a breeze, and this is a very consistent tasting tobacco.
Speaking of taste, the prevailing one is of burley and dark-fired. I get throat tingles immediately at lightup, but if puffed gently, the spicy character of this blend is a treat - retrohale carefully. Drawing heavily turns it bitter and ashy, so a gentle cadence is needed. There's some strength here, too, but it builds slowly. I would put the nicotine at medium-full, with the taste being full. These both increase slightly as you make your way through a bowl.
This is fun stuff, something like an American riff on an English flavoured tobacco of olde. I like it enough that I am gonna order some.
Age When Smoked:
Newish
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 13, 2017 | Medium | Strong | Full | Tolerable |
On opening the tin it smelt just like 1792 Flake. I used a chefs knife and had trouble cutting it. (I cube cut it)The bouquet and flavor of Tonquin was medicinal and down right sickening. No tobacco flavor came thru at all. Every once in a strange but lovely floral aroma (not unlike The Lakeland Essence) made an appearance, but not often enough for me to want to smoke this on a regular basis. I am going to cellar the tin for a year or 2 and give it another try. Overall don't waste your money,there are much better blends around.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli bent billiard
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
1 week
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 19, 2018 | Very Strong | Medium | Very Full | Strong |
Well, you don’t need me yapping about how great this is. Plenty of others here do a better job than I would. But I do want to give this qualifier: just because this guy or that guy likes or doesn’t like this blend doesn’t make it good or bad. It is what it is. If you enjoy Gawith Dark Flake (scented or not) you’re going to like this. For some reason I don’t get this giant Lakeland floral thing from it like most others have described. I just get waves of strong dark tobacco flavors with a slightly sweet note that takes the edge off rather like the Gawith Sweet twist flavors are subtle and sweetening. If you’ve smoked some of the Gawith scented flakes (which pretty much reek of the scent) this one is way down the scale. This is one of my favorite blends. Great, great stuff for those with the constitution to appreciate it. Five Stars.
Pipe Used:
Full bent small briars - group 3 size.
PurchasedFrom:
Gifts - nice, eh?
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 15, 2017 | Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Very Strong |
When I opened the tin, I was struck with a very strong and pungent aroma that reminded me of something I had smoked in the past. Something that considerably lacked in the quality department. It took me two days to figure it out : Backwoods Berry flavoured cigars. Yes, that's what War Horse Bar smells like. It's also what it tastes like. And it's also what the roomnote smells like. Low quality aromatic cigars. If you like Backwoods cigars, then War Horse Bar is for you.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 04, 2017 | Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
This is by far the best and most interesting aromatic blend I have had to date. The tobacco itself has a rich core of roasted nut, dark chocolate, with a deep earthieness, and rich sweetness, along with a sharp pepper. Then comes this very unique top flavor that I am having some trouble pin pointing. It has a difinate rose water flavor, accompanied by sweet herb, and botanical flavors. The aroma reminds me of Tibetan Nag Chomps. My only for giving this 3 stars instead of 4 is that it tends to burn hot in the last half, washing out some of the fantastic flavors.
Pipe Used:
MM Freehand
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes and Cigars
Age When Smoked:
3 Months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2017 | Strong | Medium to Strong | Very Full | Very Pleasant |
I looked forward to trying this one since I first heard of its recreation. It is a great Virginia/burley with a very tasty topping. The Kentucky leaf is nutty and toasty. The Virginia is sweet and earthy. I taste cinnamon, mild tonquin, and valerian tea in the top note. These flavoring drown the tobacco taste a bit but it's well done so I don't mind. The plug is very easy to work with though it benefits from dry time to get an easy burn going. I think with some age this could be a 4 star blend but it is a little rough around the edges and I get some harshness from the Kentucky. Still, an enjoyable blend with an awesome room note.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2017 | Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Unnoticeable |
I am not sure what to make of this stuff. It has a strange smell, but a great taste. Not sure I believe it is all that strong i.e. 1792 Flake. I have enjoyed what I have smoked, but have trouble keeping it lit. Have not smoke many plugs. It sure is interesting and I am very happy I tried it. You should too.
Pipe Used:
Cherrywood Churchwarden
PurchasedFrom:
Pipe and Cigars
Age When Smoked:
Out of the tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 09, 2017 | Strong | Medium to Strong | Full | Strong |
Like its sister War Horse Green, this is potent stuff. Not quite at the level of Gawith's 1792....but not too far from that. You have to sip it. Even so I found the strength a bit much. The green label is easier to deal with while still having a lot of nicotine for those that crave it (like me). The taste is something like Brown Bogie crossed with Kendall Flake and 1792. The room note will drive people away, so be warned. Earthy, and bears comparison to old school snuff flavoring. You either like this stuff or you dont. But its to Mr Ouelette's credit that he came up with a U.S. answer to the old school Gawith style plugs and flakes (I never smoked the original it must be noted). The plug is more a plug crossed with a krumble cake. Reasonably easy to deal with (green label is easier). Strong, perhaps too strong, but tasty. `The dark fired leaf predominates.....with the vanilla (or valerian root) and other flavorings in back (I taste licorice, and perhaps whisky...and maybe geranium). Its great...but not all the time.
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 20, 2023 | Very Strong | Mild to Medium | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
20230501: Probably has hit the #1 spot on my list. It's complex enough in its aromatics to be interesting, but not overbearing or cloying, and the underlying tobaccos are excellent, perfectly suited to my tastes. More than sufficient in the nicotine department. I've come to appreciate the moderation in aromatics of WH bar as compared to Green, which has become a little too much for me lately.
20230313: Yep, upgrading my rating.
20230219: Compared to some of the G&H Lakelands I've tried, the (what I might call) Lakeland style topping is fairly light. In the jar I smell licorice, probably anise mainly, and I love it. Shaved some off the plug and packed it into an Old Dominion 'Jamestowne', a very small clay. I taste the licorice and anise, the Kentucky, maybe a tiny bit of baby powder, but also some cream. Moderately sweet, very strong nicotine hit. When it makes the rounds through my other pipes, I may upgrade my rating; not positive it'll end up a favorite, but this is definitely something I'll keep around. I almost find myself wishing the topping were a little stronger, it's very nice.
20230313: Yep, upgrading my rating.
20230219: Compared to some of the G&H Lakelands I've tried, the (what I might call) Lakeland style topping is fairly light. In the jar I smell licorice, probably anise mainly, and I love it. Shaved some off the plug and packed it into an Old Dominion 'Jamestowne', a very small clay. I taste the licorice and anise, the Kentucky, maybe a tiny bit of baby powder, but also some cream. Moderately sweet, very strong nicotine hit. When it makes the rounds through my other pipes, I may upgrade my rating; not positive it'll end up a favorite, but this is definitely something I'll keep around. I almost find myself wishing the topping were a little stronger, it's very nice.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 19, 2023 | Strong | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
What can I say? This is a great tobacco. Nice strong Kentucky, nice topping. Sutliff manufactured this? And Russ Ouellette blended it. I like Sutliff's aromatics, except for Mixture No. 79. The guy who said it is like smoking a urinal cake was right about that blend. This, though? No urinal cake here. Nice Lakeland-type flavors, though of the rich and savory rather than the flowery perfumey type. Most importantly, high-quality tobacco that smokes long and evenly and well. Expensive, but highly, highly recommended. A crumble cake not a plug, but a good crumble cake.
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