John Middleton, Inc Carter Hall
(3.03)
Cross cut burleys with a sprinkling of Virginia flake.
Notes: Carter Hall has been providing a straightforward and enjoyable smoking blend at an affordable price since 1895 by keeping things simple: ribbon-cut Virginia and burley leaf of good quality, combined in the right proportions.
Details
| Brand | John Middleton, Inc |
| Blended By | John Middleton, Inc. |
| Manufactured By | John Middleton, Inc. |
| Blend Type | Burley Based |
| Contents | Burley, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Bourbon, Cocoa / Chocolate |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 14 ounce plastic tub |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.03 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 40 of 446 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05, 2019 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
The first time I ever smoked Carter Hall I was the ripe old age of 12 - now I'm 64. You see my uncle had a big collection of pipes and jars of Carter Hall tobacco placed at strategic locations around his home - he was never more than 6 feet away from his CH anywhere in his house. When I went to visit and as soon as he was busy in his office reviewing some legal brief or working on a new trial I'd sneak into the den and take one of his pipes, fill it with CH, grab a cane pole and haul ass down to the creek. I'd spend darn near an entire morning sitting on the bank and puffing on my uncles pipe and CH. I can also remember getting incredibly sick several times from the nicotiene - especially in the hot summer months of South Texas.
So now it is 52 years later, I'm sitting on my front porch of my country house watching the deer graze by the creek smoking a Missourri Meerscaum filled with Carter Hall and a nice amount of Wild Turkey in a coffee mug thinking how fortunate I've been and how good life is.
I don't smoke CH all the time - I became "educated" in the way of pipes and tobacco in college and mostly smoke VA/Per or Balkan style blends. But when I'm here, in the country, back to my roots - it is always Carter Hall.
As soon as I open that "luxury" pouch, take a whiff, pack my pipe - I'm transported back to a simpler time where things were just 'right'.
So Carter Hall isn't a complex tobacco that undergoes several itterations as you smoke it, you don't need to have a roundtable about what is in it, what it smells like (i laugh my ass off at these guys who attempt to disect tobacco as if it is some fine French wine - if they only knew what they think they know). CH is what it is meant to be - just a simple blend of burley and virginias that is meant to satisfy and relax your soul, as all tobacco should be. It tastes good, smells good, burns cool and dry - all the characteristics of a good smoking tobacco.
Try it - you'll like it.
So now it is 52 years later, I'm sitting on my front porch of my country house watching the deer graze by the creek smoking a Missourri Meerscaum filled with Carter Hall and a nice amount of Wild Turkey in a coffee mug thinking how fortunate I've been and how good life is.
I don't smoke CH all the time - I became "educated" in the way of pipes and tobacco in college and mostly smoke VA/Per or Balkan style blends. But when I'm here, in the country, back to my roots - it is always Carter Hall.
As soon as I open that "luxury" pouch, take a whiff, pack my pipe - I'm transported back to a simpler time where things were just 'right'.
So Carter Hall isn't a complex tobacco that undergoes several itterations as you smoke it, you don't need to have a roundtable about what is in it, what it smells like (i laugh my ass off at these guys who attempt to disect tobacco as if it is some fine French wine - if they only knew what they think they know). CH is what it is meant to be - just a simple blend of burley and virginias that is meant to satisfy and relax your soul, as all tobacco should be. It tastes good, smells good, burns cool and dry - all the characteristics of a good smoking tobacco.
Try it - you'll like it.
Pipe Used:
missourri meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
pipe & cigars
Age When Smoked:
1 month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 28, 2018 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
The essence of this tobacco is its mildness. It is a 1950s Ford Fairlane doing 35 mph on the two-lane highway, and that's its jam.
Not strong, not weak, not soft, not heavy, it stays in the middle of the road. You light it once, it stays lit, and remains an unobtrusive partner in whatever you're doing.
I'm not a fan of mild; I like powerful, complex flavors, interacting and changing as you go through the bowl.
But you know what? Sometimes I'm fixing a Broken Thing or cleaning or mowing a lawn, and I don't want to spend my time chatting with a beautiful, but attention-demanding tobacco. I want a silent companion.
That's what Carter Hall is about. I can see why it's been an American success story in pipe tobacco. And, by gum, when you smoke it for what it is, you cannot be less than pleased. 4 stars, because its true to its aims.
Not strong, not weak, not soft, not heavy, it stays in the middle of the road. You light it once, it stays lit, and remains an unobtrusive partner in whatever you're doing.
I'm not a fan of mild; I like powerful, complex flavors, interacting and changing as you go through the bowl.
But you know what? Sometimes I'm fixing a Broken Thing or cleaning or mowing a lawn, and I don't want to spend my time chatting with a beautiful, but attention-demanding tobacco. I want a silent companion.
That's what Carter Hall is about. I can see why it's been an American success story in pipe tobacco. And, by gum, when you smoke it for what it is, you cannot be less than pleased. 4 stars, because its true to its aims.
Age When Smoked:
1 month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 02, 2018 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Very Pleasant |
This is an American style light aromatic tobacco very similar to Half & Half. The casing is not as pronounced, but the quality of the leaf they use seems to be pretty similar. It has sort of a cocoa or nutty flavour difficult to miss and it evolves quite nicely throughout without loosing its profile. If you are a beginner searching for his first tobacco, Carter Hall could be one of the best options you can cut your teeth on. It is very soft on the palate, forgiving and easy to approach. OTC though it might be, it is a good performer and can be smoked all day.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2018 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
One of my favs! This should be in every pipe smoker's cabinet, humidor, sock drawer, or whatever. It packs and lights easily, and takes minimal effort to keep it lit. Burns all day long without being hot. I never get tongue bite with this. It's a simple blend. Lightly aromatic, not too flavorful, but very pleasant all the way around. Daily smoker.
Pipe Used:
Briar, Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
local tobacconist
Age When Smoked:
New from pouch
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 26, 2017 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This tobacco is already well-reviewed, so i don't have much to add. Out of all the so-called drugstore tobaccos, this is far and away my favorite. It never gets harsh, requires no dry time, burns cleanly, and never bites. I can smoke bowl after bowl of this. It's simplistic and requires no thought. The topping is sparingly applied and allows the wonderful burley flavor to shine. On top of all that, its very affordable to boot. I always keep a big tub of CH handy and often binge on it for several consecutive days
Pipe Used:
Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Local B&M
Age When Smoked:
Fresh tub
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 25, 2017 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
Ditto what others have said. Very satisfying smoke....cool and mild, nice tobacco flavor, without hitting you over the head. Just an honest, unadulterated flavor that went extremely well with the first cup of coffee for the day. Sometimes it just pays to go back to basics, and avoid chasing rainbows and unicorns.
While I do love my Old Glory, my BCA, my 1Q, RLP-6, and various mixes of those. the CH struck me as simplicity in itself, not trying to be something else, but just the pipe tobacco I recall smelling as a kid. I ordered a tub, while P&C was having their appreciation week. This will most definitely be part of my rotation.
Try it mixed with a bit of 1Q for a flavor that is very remindful of the taste of a sweet-salty mixture of roasted nuts.
Lovin it!
EDIT: 9/11/2017. I purchased a tub of CH, based on how good the pouch was. The cut and unsmoked aroma seemed to be the same, but the tub contents was more moist, and smoked with a very harsh, very bitter taste. A second pouch seems to smoke as well as the first, however. I'm not sure what makes the tub contents so different. They certainly look the same. However, it may have to dry for 6 months (or more) until it begins to smoke like the pouch contents. I'd still recommend the pouch, but approach the tub with some caution.
EDIT 9-27-2017. I'm changing my rating to 4-stars. The tub finally dried nicely, and I discovered that my aromatic chugging technique is not appropriate for this. Sipping brings out an astounding sweetness, nuttiness, cocoa that is well worth discovering. I'm quickly finding that I go to my aromatics less and less, and gravitate to CH and LRR at almost any time of the day.
While I do love my Old Glory, my BCA, my 1Q, RLP-6, and various mixes of those. the CH struck me as simplicity in itself, not trying to be something else, but just the pipe tobacco I recall smelling as a kid. I ordered a tub, while P&C was having their appreciation week. This will most definitely be part of my rotation.
Try it mixed with a bit of 1Q for a flavor that is very remindful of the taste of a sweet-salty mixture of roasted nuts.
Lovin it!
EDIT: 9/11/2017. I purchased a tub of CH, based on how good the pouch was. The cut and unsmoked aroma seemed to be the same, but the tub contents was more moist, and smoked with a very harsh, very bitter taste. A second pouch seems to smoke as well as the first, however. I'm not sure what makes the tub contents so different. They certainly look the same. However, it may have to dry for 6 months (or more) until it begins to smoke like the pouch contents. I'd still recommend the pouch, but approach the tub with some caution.
EDIT 9-27-2017. I'm changing my rating to 4-stars. The tub finally dried nicely, and I discovered that my aromatic chugging technique is not appropriate for this. Sipping brings out an astounding sweetness, nuttiness, cocoa that is well worth discovering. I'm quickly finding that I go to my aromatics less and less, and gravitate to CH and LRR at almost any time of the day.
Pipe Used:
cob
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from the pouch
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 09, 2017 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Carter Hall. Cross cut burley with a smattering of virginia. Its simplicity is a thing of beauty. Objectively it is one smoke that has probably contributed more pleasure to my years of piping than any other blend. Its that good. Not "a good otc" or a good "in a pinch" smoke. A good smoke, no qualifier needed. Straightforward soft, round, nutty and cocoa ey burley flavor with a very slight extra sweetness from the virginia. It isnt complex. It will not bite. It will reward slow puffing. The topping is mild, and hard for me to characterize except to say i very much enjoy it. Said topping is fairly conservatively applied and not overly strong. Definitely best in a cob. If we can be honest with ourselves for a moment, what isn't best in a cob? I have several cobs and briars dedicated to this humble blend, and i nearly always have some on hand. If you enjoy prince albert, half and half, or swr, i cant imagine not enjoying the hell out of carter hall, and in my opinion it surpasses all of these by a good margin. Don't be too proud to pick up a beige and orange pouch of Carter Hall. You'd be depriving yourself of one of the simple true pleasures in life.
Pipe Used:
Cobs, meerschaums, briar
Age When Smoked:
New to 1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 2017 | Very Mild | Extremely Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant |
I bought this CH several months ago along with a couple other codger blends (Prince Albert & Sir Walter Raleigh). I immediately opened the CH and after performing the sniff test I loaded up a pipe for the first smoke. Not bad stuff, monochromatic and cool smoking as others have duly noted. With plenty of other blends available, I then socked away the remainder of the pouch into a mason jar.
I've been holding off smoking a new Castello Old Antiquary Briar Stack that I picked up a few weeks ago as I've been undecided whether to use it for Flakes or English / Balkan blends. Although I'm still unsure of which direction to go I figured it was high time to begin the break in process ... so I opted for some good old Burley (with just a tinge of Virginia). To my surprise, the CH that I had trialed just a few months ago and jarred away ... now presents with slightly more "nut and molasses" smooth flavoring. Did just 3 months of cellaring turn this so-so blend into a tasty treat? Me thinks so. Heck I like CH ... nothing complex ... just good old nutty tasting Burley that delivers a cool smoke ... can be used for an all day smoke if one desires. Guess I'll just continue breaking in that Castello with CH until I figure what else to use it for ... and if I can't ... well heck I'll just stick with the CH.
I've been holding off smoking a new Castello Old Antiquary Briar Stack that I picked up a few weeks ago as I've been undecided whether to use it for Flakes or English / Balkan blends. Although I'm still unsure of which direction to go I figured it was high time to begin the break in process ... so I opted for some good old Burley (with just a tinge of Virginia). To my surprise, the CH that I had trialed just a few months ago and jarred away ... now presents with slightly more "nut and molasses" smooth flavoring. Did just 3 months of cellaring turn this so-so blend into a tasty treat? Me thinks so. Heck I like CH ... nothing complex ... just good old nutty tasting Burley that delivers a cool smoke ... can be used for an all day smoke if one desires. Guess I'll just continue breaking in that Castello with CH until I figure what else to use it for ... and if I can't ... well heck I'll just stick with the CH.
Pipe Used:
Briars, Meerschaums & Cobs
Age When Smoked:
Fresh & Aged Several Months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 19, 2016 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Unnoticeable |
Lighter? Please...
I'm certain coarse language or simmering glances will probably light up this classic. And keep it lit, and lit, and lit, and lit...
My first, and what I thought would be my last experience with Burleys was Prince Albert (That I had to buy, because "...in a can..."). Carter Hall brought me back. It is perfect marriage with your black morning Joe as others have attested.
If I were to make a whiskey comparison - It's the Old Grand Dad BiB of 'baccy, There's a reason it's still around. Reliable, agreeable, and no fuss.
In my opinion thus far it's the trinity of starter tobacco - Captain Black, Carter Hall, and Balkan Sasieni. Then go from there into further aromatics, burleys or English blends.
I'm certain coarse language or simmering glances will probably light up this classic. And keep it lit, and lit, and lit, and lit...
My first, and what I thought would be my last experience with Burleys was Prince Albert (That I had to buy, because "...in a can..."). Carter Hall brought me back. It is perfect marriage with your black morning Joe as others have attested.
If I were to make a whiskey comparison - It's the Old Grand Dad BiB of 'baccy, There's a reason it's still around. Reliable, agreeable, and no fuss.
In my opinion thus far it's the trinity of starter tobacco - Captain Black, Carter Hall, and Balkan Sasieni. Then go from there into further aromatics, burleys or English blends.
Pipe Used:
Cobs
PurchasedFrom:
PipesAndCigars.com
Age When Smoked:
None
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2015 | Medium to Strong | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
This is one of the first pipe tobaccos I ever smoked (way back in 1971!). I didn't like it then, I thought the baccy was too strong and didn't like the taste (at all). The only thing I enjoyed was smoking it in a corn cob pipe (the novelty of doing this at the time intrigued me). Well, I just revisited CH over this last weekend, and, just for nostalgia's sake I used a cob. Unfortunately, nothing about my original experience changed. I find the Burley in CH to be "dirty"—I don't believe this is a high quality leaf, nor is the Virginia. For an OTC it's not bad but really, you'd be lying to yourself if you say this is a great Burley; it's not. I don't regret trying it again after all these years, but, honestly, I can think of about 90 other tobaccos I'd rather be smoking.
Keep on Pipin'
Keep on Pipin'
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