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
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 61 - 70 of 446 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 04, 2020 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
What could a relatively new pipe smoker add to the reviews about Carter Hall that has not been already written? Also, do I dare write a review for such a cliché tobacco? The good thing about being new, is that you don't know enough to stay out of trouble, so here we go...! 😜
The main thing I can say is that I wished I had started with Carter Hall when I took up the pipe. I shied away from Prince Albert, Carter Hall and the other 'over the counter (OTC) codger blends' because of some level of disdain that I picked up on about them. (btw, OTCs are very hard to find in the stores in my area and I have had to get them online anyhow!)
With gusto and bravado that I was going to 'go big or go home', I went all in on some 'better blends', particularly aromatics. This was not fatal, but I think at least for me and perhaps some new smokers, it might not be the best way to start. Here's my reasons...
1. As a new smoker of any kind, I had no clue what I was looking for and so I had no palette to judge from. It was just all hot smoke to me and so I had no baseline of what to judge by in terms of what I did or did not prefer. I didn't spend hundreds, but the ‘better blends’ were really not money well spent.
2. I had no clue coming into the pipe that technique was so important. In fact, bad technique just turns out to be torture and a big dread. It was certainly not relaxing, pleasurable, or fun. Aside from money not well spent, there was real risk of me giving up.
3. Similarly, there are so many things you are getting accustomed to (different blend characteristics, cuts, moisture levels, nic hits, avoiding tongue bite, pipe goop, anti-social room note, breaking in a new bowl, etc) that I needed a tobacco that 'just worked' in all categories and got out of the way as I got a bunch bowls under my belt.
In summary, Carter Hall is no 'premium blend' for sure. However, for what it is, it is four out of four stars... an easy, mild, refreshing, bread and butter burley/virginia smoke that packs, lights and burns easy. The nic hit and strength is mild to set a baseline in smoking, the room note won't kill those you live with who have started to wonder if you have gone mad with this new hobby and it will almost smoke itself.
I'm not crazy enough to say this is the way that all new smokers should start, but it is one perspective to consider. At least for me it was a fast track to start enjoying the pipe AND it is good enough for what it is that if I got stuck on a deserted island with a 55 gallon drum of it I would certainly be plenty happy!
The main thing I can say is that I wished I had started with Carter Hall when I took up the pipe. I shied away from Prince Albert, Carter Hall and the other 'over the counter (OTC) codger blends' because of some level of disdain that I picked up on about them. (btw, OTCs are very hard to find in the stores in my area and I have had to get them online anyhow!)
With gusto and bravado that I was going to 'go big or go home', I went all in on some 'better blends', particularly aromatics. This was not fatal, but I think at least for me and perhaps some new smokers, it might not be the best way to start. Here's my reasons...
1. As a new smoker of any kind, I had no clue what I was looking for and so I had no palette to judge from. It was just all hot smoke to me and so I had no baseline of what to judge by in terms of what I did or did not prefer. I didn't spend hundreds, but the ‘better blends’ were really not money well spent.
2. I had no clue coming into the pipe that technique was so important. In fact, bad technique just turns out to be torture and a big dread. It was certainly not relaxing, pleasurable, or fun. Aside from money not well spent, there was real risk of me giving up.
3. Similarly, there are so many things you are getting accustomed to (different blend characteristics, cuts, moisture levels, nic hits, avoiding tongue bite, pipe goop, anti-social room note, breaking in a new bowl, etc) that I needed a tobacco that 'just worked' in all categories and got out of the way as I got a bunch bowls under my belt.
In summary, Carter Hall is no 'premium blend' for sure. However, for what it is, it is four out of four stars... an easy, mild, refreshing, bread and butter burley/virginia smoke that packs, lights and burns easy. The nic hit and strength is mild to set a baseline in smoking, the room note won't kill those you live with who have started to wonder if you have gone mad with this new hobby and it will almost smoke itself.
I'm not crazy enough to say this is the way that all new smokers should start, but it is one perspective to consider. At least for me it was a fast track to start enjoying the pipe AND it is good enough for what it is that if I got stuck on a deserted island with a 55 gallon drum of it I would certainly be plenty happy!
Pipe Used:
All Types
PurchasedFrom:
Various Places
Age When Smoked:
1 to 6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 08, 2018 | Very Mild | Medium | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
This is what started it all for me. Carter Hall, in a plastic tub. A forever four-star blend in my mind.
My friends and I started smoking at an early age...maybe 12 or 13, and we’d steal cigarettes from our parents. When my friend’s dad quit cigarettes for a pipe, this is what he smoked and we would swipe it by the handful and smoke it in whatever cob or briar or cherrywood was laying about the house. We were bad kids. He knew, of course, but never really said much about it.
The aroma of this stuff is classic codger drug store Chevrolet fireworks cheeseburger flag waving America goodness. Timeless and authentic as it gets.
Carter Hall takes me back to my younger days, hearing old time fiddle tunes coming from the kitchen at 2am, claw hammer banjo, upright bass, a battle tested D-28 keeping rythym, and stomping and dancing so hard that the beer bottles are rattling off the kitchen table. Copping a swig of whiskey when the adults aren’t looking and squeezing out an upstairs window with a chewed up corncob pipe to smoke Carter Hall on the rooftop. Watching traffic slow down on the street below us, the drivers rolling down their windows in the night air to hear the music. Smelling that sweet, sugary and nutty smoke and knowing that there was something to this whole pipe thing. Hearing laughter downstairs as the tune ends and someone asks, “where are the boys, are they up on the damn roof again?” Someone shouts out a tune and the music fills the air. Everything is perfect.
I bought a pouch of Carter Hall not too long ago and smoked a bowl. I was transported to that time again, and the nostalgia brought a tear to my eye. Who am I kidding, I wept like a baby for those carefree times.
But like life, my tastes had become more complex, I found the smoke to be a one-note wonder, but not unpleasant in any conceivable way. Nutty and straightforward as a tobacco can be. The flood of memories made it one of the most memorable smokes I’ve ever had, though. Something I may only repeat a few more times in my life.
They say that olfactory memories are some of the strongest memories there are, and Carter Hall is the smell of my most formative years.
My friends and I started smoking at an early age...maybe 12 or 13, and we’d steal cigarettes from our parents. When my friend’s dad quit cigarettes for a pipe, this is what he smoked and we would swipe it by the handful and smoke it in whatever cob or briar or cherrywood was laying about the house. We were bad kids. He knew, of course, but never really said much about it.
The aroma of this stuff is classic codger drug store Chevrolet fireworks cheeseburger flag waving America goodness. Timeless and authentic as it gets.
Carter Hall takes me back to my younger days, hearing old time fiddle tunes coming from the kitchen at 2am, claw hammer banjo, upright bass, a battle tested D-28 keeping rythym, and stomping and dancing so hard that the beer bottles are rattling off the kitchen table. Copping a swig of whiskey when the adults aren’t looking and squeezing out an upstairs window with a chewed up corncob pipe to smoke Carter Hall on the rooftop. Watching traffic slow down on the street below us, the drivers rolling down their windows in the night air to hear the music. Smelling that sweet, sugary and nutty smoke and knowing that there was something to this whole pipe thing. Hearing laughter downstairs as the tune ends and someone asks, “where are the boys, are they up on the damn roof again?” Someone shouts out a tune and the music fills the air. Everything is perfect.
I bought a pouch of Carter Hall not too long ago and smoked a bowl. I was transported to that time again, and the nostalgia brought a tear to my eye. Who am I kidding, I wept like a baby for those carefree times.
But like life, my tastes had become more complex, I found the smoke to be a one-note wonder, but not unpleasant in any conceivable way. Nutty and straightforward as a tobacco can be. The flood of memories made it one of the most memorable smokes I’ve ever had, though. Something I may only repeat a few more times in my life.
They say that olfactory memories are some of the strongest memories there are, and Carter Hall is the smell of my most formative years.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 09, 2018 | Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Chocolaty, peppery, earthy—not a sweet blend. The bottom of the bowl gives some liquorice and rum. Burns well at any moisture level, albeit quickly. Very nice.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 04, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Upon opening my 1.5 oz bag, the moisture level is almost perfect. I dry it for about 10 min. Easy to pack and light. Gives off lots of smoke. Topping flavor to my palette is vanilla and chocolate. With a bit of something else sweet. Very light though. Burns fast and pretty cool. Stays lit great. Flavors are one note after topping mellows out. But still nice. Smooth mild burley flavors. I thought I could pick out the Virginia notes once or twice maybe. Burned to the bottom with no dottle. Med/low nic hit. I could see noobies and veterans liking this blend. No fuss tobacco.
Pipe Used:
Cob and Briar
PurchasedFrom:
Local tobacco shop
Age When Smoked:
3 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 09, 2016 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm choosing Carter Hall as my first review because it was the first tobacco that I felt I thoroughly enjoyed. When I was a new pipe smoker, I wasn't ready for heavier smokes or complexities that I didn't even know how to appreciate. Among the "drug store" blends, CH was my favorite.
Carter Hall satisfied because... 1: It is easy to smoke. This might be the easiest smoke I've ever had. Packing a pipe can be difficult, but I found CH to be like using training wheels. 2: It is forgiving. No bite. 3: It is mild in all respects. Everything about this blend is mild. 4: It is useful. Once I was ready to move on to bigger, better blends, I found I still wanted CH around to mix into other blends to improve their burn or mellow them out. I still like mixing CH and flake VA's.
All that said, Carter Hall is not astounding or exceptional in any area, which I feel is the requirement to earn 4 stars.
Verdict: A good, easy smoking tobacco that continues to be useful in the smoker's arsenal.
Carter Hall satisfied because... 1: It is easy to smoke. This might be the easiest smoke I've ever had. Packing a pipe can be difficult, but I found CH to be like using training wheels. 2: It is forgiving. No bite. 3: It is mild in all respects. Everything about this blend is mild. 4: It is useful. Once I was ready to move on to bigger, better blends, I found I still wanted CH around to mix into other blends to improve their burn or mellow them out. I still like mixing CH and flake VA's.
All that said, Carter Hall is not astounding or exceptional in any area, which I feel is the requirement to earn 4 stars.
Verdict: A good, easy smoking tobacco that continues to be useful in the smoker's arsenal.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 02, 2016 | Mild | Mild | Mild | Very Pleasant |
My grandfather began smoking a pipe in 1917 when he joined the navy during WWI. He smoked Carter Hall then and did so until his death in 1973. Carter Hall to me is like the feeling you get when you are six years old and it is December 23rd, you know the warm feeling you get in your stomach as you sit in front of the lit up Christmas tree with the room lights out. To me it brings back fond memories of my Grandfather. Just mentioning the name, Carter Hall or smelling a fresh open pack causes fond memories to rush into my head. It will always be my favorite, not only for the memories, but also for the comfort it gives me like "comfort food" does for most people. Sure there are many tobaccos with much more complex flavors and taste, but there are few like Carter Hall and the likes of such tabacos as Prince Albert that have that long embedded history with smokers of the past 100 years or more.
Pipe Used:
WO Larsen Briar w/ Brandy Bowls
PurchasedFrom:
Walmart
Age When Smoked:
57
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 02, 2016 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Summary: an intensely mild smoke that binds a balance of Burley and Virginia flavors with a light top note.
The nutty Burley and sweeter Virginia leaf combine into a warm natural flavor, onto which a light top note of liquor and cocoa/vanilla is applied. The mild Burley flavor gets partially absorbed into the Virginia, and vice-versa, creating a balance which is enhanced by the topping. As a result, "Carter Hall" makes a good all-day smoke with mild Nicotine and a pleasant lingering smell.
The nutty Burley and sweeter Virginia leaf combine into a warm natural flavor, onto which a light top note of liquor and cocoa/vanilla is applied. The mild Burley flavor gets partially absorbed into the Virginia, and vice-versa, creating a balance which is enhanced by the topping. As a result, "Carter Hall" makes a good all-day smoke with mild Nicotine and a pleasant lingering smell.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2016 | Very Mild | Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Carter Hall is pleasant, easy to smoke, and burns quite well. As far as mild, easy on the tongue Burley blends are concerned, this is a good one. The 1.5 oz pouch I recently bought is the first Carter Hall I tried, and I am not disappointed in the purchase. The one drawback is that it is not terribly flavorful, so if your an English blend smoker, but want something fairly robust, this is probably not it. However, for those occasions when a soft and light smoke is called for, I think Carter Hall will do nicely.
Pipe Used:
Billiard
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 11, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
I tried a few of the "drug store" brands and didn't really care for any of them. Then I tried Carter Hall. I was very surprised. I actually did a double take and smoked another bowl right after the first. It didn't bite, it smoke well, stayed lit. It was nice. You can find it anywhere and it's priced well. I would recommend this to anyone starting out.
Pipe Used:
MM Cob, Peterson.
PurchasedFrom:
Grocery store
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 24, 2015 | Extremely Mild | Very Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I have to judge Carter Hall relative to its OTC brethren.
I have not much to commend it, not much fault to find in it either. It is simple, the taste is light, it won't bite - although it can get very bitter if you puff too hard. It is a little sweeter than Prince Albert, but the flavor overall is lighter too. Sir Walter Raleigh and Captain Black are both more flavorful, although each is distinctly different from the other. I would hazard a guess though that the person who likes Carter Hall is more likely to enjoy Sir Walter Raleigh than they are to enjoy Captain Black.
I have not much to commend it, not much fault to find in it either. It is simple, the taste is light, it won't bite - although it can get very bitter if you puff too hard. It is a little sweeter than Prince Albert, but the flavor overall is lighter too. Sir Walter Raleigh and Captain Black are both more flavorful, although each is distinctly different from the other. I would hazard a guess though that the person who likes Carter Hall is more likely to enjoy Sir Walter Raleigh than they are to enjoy Captain Black.
Pipe Used:
CC
PurchasedFrom:
Rite Aid
Age When Smoked:
right out of the pouch
target="_blank"
