War Horse War Horse Green

Like War Horse Bar, the overall impressions come more from the flavoring than the tobaccos, although hints of the Kentucky come through and the underlying VAs are just continually present here. Part of the flavorings are much milder versions of the cocoa, with hints of coffee and tonquin, found in the Bar. There is also a hint of the same flavor found in Condor Longcut, and perhaps a hint of menthol in the aftertaste. I found the flavors milder than those in the Bar, if a bit more varied.

The bar seems to be between a plug and a heavily-pressed crumble cake, but it breaks apart fairly easily. The N is well-hidden at first, but it does sneak up on you throughout the bowl. Unless you already smoke ropes and other heavy-N blends, this isn't an all day smoke. It lights easily, but does need a relight or two more than usual after the first half of the bowl.

Ironically this arrived a few days after another sample of a notorious tobacco. Enthusiasm runs high for the re-boot of the War Horse bar of old, and the "green" version crumbled easily from the cake -- sorry, it is more like a cake than a plug -- and fell into the pipe. Lighting it up brought a strange sense of deja vu. This flavor was so familiar... so distinctive... and the room note so similar... what could it be? The answer is "Mixture 79": a straight-up Burley seasoned with anise, wintergreen and floral elements. The same flavoring is here, as is the "toasted marshmallows" room note that family and friends prefer to the usual miasma of mundungus and roasted Burley. Underneath that onslaught of flavoring, the Burley makes itself known, with a sweet harmony from Virginia tucked up inside and then a top crest of the Dark Fired Kentucky. The result tastes like pan-seared Burley with an aftertaste of Virginia, and is not brutally strong like the original, but serves as a good solid after-dinner smoke. If you like aromatics, this top note is pleasant and room note is cheesy but inoffensive. For those who are hoping for the original, this blend is not the bulldozer that the War Horse bar was, but it is a good casual smoke that will not put you on the floor but will not wimp out either. Let us hope it can be achieved at normal domestic prices instead of boutique sticker shock, and this could be a regular smoke.

Thanks to Pipes Magazine forum member "cosmic" for this sample.

I very much enjoy Condor and as this blend was an attempt to catch the general flavor profile of Condor, I was eager to try it. As others have said, this is not a copy of Condor, rather has a heft and manner that are certainly in the same genre. Whereas the predominate flavors I find in Condor are pine and anise, War Horse Green is cocoa and anise. I enjoyed War Horse Green quite a bit, but it doesn't scratch the Condor itch. The cake has a nice flaky texture that is easily broken apart for packing and the tobacco smokes cool and easy. As its own thing, this is a nice tasty scented tobacco that I think most lovers of Lakelands would enjoy.

War Horse - War Horse Green.

Although it's badged as a plug, fear not. WHG isn't a plug like 3P's or Revor, where a sharp blade, or even a coffee grinder are a requisite. Yes, it's a plug, but more of a firm kake than a steadfast plug. A bowls worth can easily be removed from the block by hand, and then it crumbles perfectly; the hydration aids this, being spot on. In the aroma the anisette comes over strongly.

The smoke? Imagine banging something mildly floral/Lakeland, like St Bruno, on steroids, and then you'll get the idea! The anisette governs the added flavourings, with a floral underscore. Of the tobaccos I get far more fiery Kentucky and coarse Burley, than fresh Virginia; FAR MORE. The burns decent, once it's burning it goes reliably, steady, with the number of relights being easily left uncounted; it needs none unless left to sit unattended! I notice, if puffed in a voracious manner, the smoke creeps above warm and tends to bite; so a gentle technique ameliorates the enjoyment!

Nicotine: loads. Room-note: urgh.

War Horse Green? A very heady smoke, considering the strong Kentucky and potent topping. Albeit, I'll happily recommend it:

Three stars.

The plug smells quite intensely of anise and chocolate, it can be peeled off with just the fingers, a knife is not essential. It comes in a good moisture level to smoke straight away.

Lights easily and produces a full bodied but smooth smoke of medium strength where the dominant aromas are a sweet mix of anise (or rather anisette, the anise flavored liqueur) with tonquin or vanilla, cocoa and a whiff of mint. At least this is what I am getting. I am not a great fan of anise (I do not particularly like pastis, ouzo etc.) but here the anise is smoothed out by the sweeter vanilla-like aromas and I really like War Horse Green. As I smoked down the bowl I tended to forget the toppings and taste the tobacco better. And what I get most is the dark-fired Kentucky.

It burns slow, cool and dry and to the last shred to a fluffy grey ash. Room aroma is sweet but quite strong, it’s not a discreet room note.

The anisette flavouring reminded me of Half & Half, which I did not like, and that was some 25 years ago…

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.

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.

Not for the faint hearted. War Horse Green is the tobacco I have been looking for. I recently purchased from P&C along with bengal slices which I have not tried yet. This is the first Russ O. blend I have tried. I have heard that this tobacco is strong in the anise note department and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. Prominent and quality anise note really imbuing with the fresh theme that this tobacco insinuates. I am pleased that this tobacco is STOUT. There is a welcome pungency here on the retrohale and french inhale. Very invigorating! What came to mind on my walk this morning was that this tobacco is for taking some good strong puffs (must be pushed HARD to give even the slightest hint of bite THANKFULLY) and getting on with it. A DOING blend. All in all I am very grateful for this blend and I think I have found something that truly fits my attitude, taste, and cadence. This blend lives up to its name. It is a WAR HORSE and an invigorating, pungent one at that. I hope that this blend is a mainstay for years to come.

Some other notes I even get on slow sips - very mild horse manure - green grassy and dark and ripe. Masterful - all I can say. Makes me glad I picked the pipe up again. Grateful to be part of this art.

I mark this as recommended vs highly recommended because I have a hard time believing that this will be well received by the plethora of pipe smokers out there. It is a specific cadre who will truly appreciate this sublimely dense cake. The War Horse Green enjoyers will meet you when you're ready. Cheers and much love - And, thanks to this man Russ and our great ally Tobacco who helped this great blend come to be. Aho

UPDATE: recommended for brisk walks, sits well in the bowl for relight- maintains flavor. again - this tobacco is strong.

EDIT:

Just got a couple more tins - popped one open today and its a crumble cake! Loosely packed together. I'm a bit disappointed. Not as dense as the last plug I got.