War Horse War Horse Green

This shouldn't be considered an aromatic. Very strong tobacco taste. Stronge nicotine component. Tried it when I Recieved it, didn't care for it and set it aside. Tried again after 2 years of aging, didn't notice a change.

My review for War Horse Green is the same as for War Horse Bar (you can read it on this site) with the following caveat: The flavoring used in the Bar seems to be the same in the Green but with the addition of a liquor flavor that had the taste of anisette. Medicinal but tasty.

I just finished one of two tins I have of this in the cellar and I will likely look to trade out that other tin mostly because I did not like the topping. But topping aside, this blend does have a lot of positives going for it. I will start with the bad and end with all the good.

As stated above, the sole bad (for me) is the topping. If I had to pigeonhole this one into a genre I would put it somewhere with the British OTC blends such as condor and St. Bruno, as it is basically burley with Virginia and the topping is more similar to flowers and perfumes (things you smell) than it is to cookies and vanilla (things you eat). I have a higher tolerance to the "things you eat type" toppings than I do to the "things you smell type" toppings and thus, the when it comes to the latter, I am very picky.

I had mentioned St. Bruno and Condor earlier. I much prefer Condor to this, and only prefer St. Bruno by a hair. I can't say that I really like St. Bruno though and the same can be said about this one. I can definitely smoke it, and would much rather do so than to say smoke a bowl of Grousemoor. As for trying to describe the topping, It is like a perfume or cologne and it is pretty strong and pervasive. It will lighten, but won't completely leave while you are working your way through a bowl. If you don't like the topping, you won't like the tobacco.

Now for the good. You will taste the tobacco under this. It is dark and earthy and seems to be dominated by the Kentucky. It is bold and strong with a lot of body. You won't be drawing too fast on this or you may lose your lunch. lol The bar breaks up nice and easy and the moisture level was great from fresh. It took the light great and did not require many relights. If I liked this topping, it would rate at four stars for me. As the topping was my primary problem with this, I ended up smoking most of the tin in cobs and meers.

I was between 2 and 3 stars on this, but decided it merited the third star as the goods just outweighed my completely subjective bad.

This comes as a pressed krumble kake as opposed to a cross-cut krumble kake such as penzance.

Topped with tonquin and anise, the latter much more noticeable in the aroma than the taste. I do not find this floral at all, and I can definitely see the resemblence to condor, albeit this blend is much less scented.

Breaks apart from the square block fairly easily. This is one of the most bite free tobacco blends I have ever tried. I get a faint nougat taste, with a fairly sour red virginia (a good one) backed up by plenty of kentucky.

Can be overy astringent on the nose, so I would recommend a longer straight pipe which keeps the smoke away from one's face.

Seems like a few decades have been rolled back...

Oh Gawd, this blend is GOOD!!! If you're expecting CONDOR, forget it - not nearly as floral, IMO (contrary to JimInk's impression), but every bit as flavorful and strong.... satisfying in every way you expected! Destined for classic greatness! Age will only make this more AMAZING!

Often for me, some of the more full flavor tobaccos leave a somewhat undesirable aftertaste, this is one that does not. For that reason I really enjoyed my tin of War Horse Green, the licorice flavoring on top of the smokiness was just a bonus. For me this was a every once in a while smoke though, and I should have jarred it because it started to dry out before I finished it. If you like licorice/anisette, you will probably really like this one.

20230219 - Incredible jar note, mainly get five spice, star anise in particular. Loaded into a Dublin meer, and I get the same thing in the smoke, along with a strong sweetness, maybe some birch beer, sarsaparilla, maybe lilac. Mouth watering. In nearly all aspects, I prefer this to War Horse Bar, not least of all for the consistency of the plug. Much easier to break apart and rub out into fine shag. The flavoring lasts well into the smoke, mainly the star anise and wintergreen, whereas in the bar the topping fades rather quickly. Somewhat less biting as well. There's no getting past the topping, either you love it or you don't; I do. I could see loving bar and hating green, or loving green and hating bar, so I recommend trying both whatever the case may be. Easily on the short list for my favorite so far, and one of the first I'm considering buying in bulk.

This tobacco strongly smelled like licorice, sort of a vanilla, and a little playdough when I first opened the tin. After a week in a jar it mellowed out. The tobacco comes in a cake, but breaks apart really easy. I rub the tobacco out before loading the bowl. It packs easy, and takes two matches to light it up. I like to smoke it in the morning when I'm walking my dogs. I like to smoke it when I sit on the back patio in the afternoon. It's a good warm weather smoke. The room note is pleasant as far as I know. The licorice, and floral tastes kind of subside during the midpoint of the smoke. A sort of almond cherry flavor can be tasted as the licorice fades, then the Kentucky slowly takes over. The tobacco burns well and does not crash like a lot of aromatics do at the end of the bowl. On occasion War Horse Green seems to draw hummingbirds. If this tobacco is similar to Lakeland style blends, I think I have found what I enjoy. This tobacco doesn't make my clothes stink, doesn't smell like cigarettes, and does not leave a foul taste in my mouth. So there is less complaining from my better half; of course I only smoke pipes outside. I highly recommend this pipe tobacco.

If you enjoy Russ Ouellette's War Horse Bar, you'll probably enjoy the green version as well.

For reference, here's my review of the red version: https://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/10735/war-horse-war-horse-bar#review112776

In the tin, you're greeted with the familiar scent from the red version. It's this mysterious after-shower aroma. I really don't know what it is, but I love it. It's one of those scents that would give me nostalgic memories if I smelled it out of the blue in 10 or 20 years. It just brings a smile. And that's even before the first light.

The main difference from the red version that I can tell is that the green one is stronger in the topping and a bit less in the Kentucky. But make no mistake. This is not a classic aromatic blend. It's still fairly strong, even if not like the red, doesn't bite, and is not goopy or anything. If you want to keep smoking a medium-full-bodied blend with a bit of a kick and a wonderful non-offensive topping, this might be the blend for you.

The spiciness is not felt as strongly compared with the red, although it does sneak in towards the second third of the bowl. The fruit sweetness, on the other hand, is very much still there, alongside the body of warm layer and wood notes from the Kentucky and a bit of cocoa from the Burley.

Despite its current genre in tobaccoreviews.com, I would actually define this as an aromatic although, as I wrote above, it's far from your typical aromatic.

I've smoked this blend in different situations. Working, walking outside, socializing, and sitting on my couch. It's suitable in all situations and is pleasant for those around you. The relative complexity should just be enjoyed. Don't over think it.

Medium-full body, a notch mild-medium strength.

As with the red version, this can be smoked in every shape and size, but I get the most out of it when smoked in a small bowl. In particular, my small apple-shape WDC pipe gets the best result. Both blends also look the same, smell about the same, and behave the same in the bowl.

Some people prefer this version over the red one. But as much as I like the green, the red bar wins. Whatever I get in this version I already get in the red plus more. But don't let the comparison take away from the green. It's still a fantastic blend and deserves the full rating.