Gallaher Limited Condor Ready Rubbed (Green)

I must say I don't really detect the soapy aroma that so many people have mentioned and consider this tobacco a very rewarding taste. It does leave an hint of itself on any pipe used and the taste will be there for a great deal of time, but that's not really a problem. Mind you I've one pipe put aside that I use exclusively for this tobacco. I am adding to this review because I have just come back to this tobacco - the first part of this review was written in 2011 and it is now 2014 - I must say that Condor is one of my favorite OTT tobaccos, second only to St. Bruno in my opinion. I don't think it is a suitable blend for anyone new to pipe smoking but when you get used to the art this blend pays off in spades. Quite excellent.

2023 now and I still enjoy this tobacco so that's not much more praise you can give.

Ah Condor: The daddy of the floral flakes!

Some see this glorious tobacco as the marmite of the pipe world, complaining about Condor's soapy nature. This does slowly fade away, leaving it to shine out above all the other 'supermarket' blends. Sadly this does require patience -and at least a second pouch- and some do give up before this: Out of the fear of tainting their pipes and recalling memories of their loose-tongued youth.

Full-bodied and floral, making it a perfect bedtime pipe. Though if you are inclined toward the milder smokes, you'll probably be screaming yourself to sleep with this one.

I have never reviewed this product ... my review was of Original Long Cut version and this has been corrected ... sorry I don't know how to delete this one.

***Update. After 125g of this over two months, I've changed my recommendation. It's clear that Condor is in a class by itself, the king of the full strength soap flakes. I've learned to smoke this slowly in a small bowl, not to let it dry out too much to preserve the added flavorings (which is the point with Condor, it is a full aromatic), and pack it very loosely, almost fully rubbed out. I've never had a pipe cleaner come out black, or any tarrier than any other rich blend, this way. ***

Pheeeew... This is some rank weed! OK, I like St Bruno a lot when I'm in the mood, its strong but very enjoyable. But this is just taking it too far! Its like St bruno, but a little stronger and 10 times tarrier. When I first got it, I thought (Why, Ive no idea) that I should sample it in a realy big pipe, while taking a stroll in the park. This prooved to be a mistake, as I realised when my head started to spin halfway through the bowl. I sat down on a park bench, feeling like aqualung, and felt a pang of guilt when a bird fell lifeles from its perch in the tree above me... Alright, I exagerate a little perhaps. It seems to have been made in the same style as St Bruno, but far fouler. It makes a horrible, heavy, muggy smell, it tastes foul, like the flavours in Bruno but foul and too thick, and unlike the Bruno, it burns hot, and will all too easily bite. Pipecleaners come out black. I have a feeling that this stuff may not be so healthy.

A gentlemen I have bought old pipes from on the Preston Market, once advised me that his all day smoke of 20 years was a 50/50 mix of St Bruno and Condor. This I dutifully tried, and indeed despite my fears it was alright. It's not so heavy as neat Condor, more like beefed up St Bruno, and it does not burn hot or bite. If Im spending a weekend in the woods in the colder seasons (as I will this December), this is what Ill smoke. Rich, hearty, a little course, excellent tramping tobacco. As for neat Condor, Ill leave that to those who can tolerate it.

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Update

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Having been overwhelmed by this weed, I later came to enjoy it greatly. Such is the way of things, I think the same has happened with all the lakeland flakes. I tried several and was initially put off by them, three years of living oop noorth and I came to understand them, and later to love them. I may also have manned up somewhat through exposure to Chips and Gravy and the horrors of Lancashire weather...

So, what is Condor? Condor is a VERY strong, VERY manly pipe tobacco. It is a dark, strong, cooked virginia flake with a traditional scent added to it. Soap and perfume indeed, and manly because of it.

This is a tobacco to smoke after doing an oil change on your Royal Enfield Bullet. Or after ploughing a field or laying a hedge. Or in a lock in in a pub after you've come back from a successful nocturnal expedition poaching with a long net with your fellows.

This is not a tobacco to smoke while posting self concious tobacco reviews on the internet! Nor is it to be smoked while at work in an office. You should not smoke this in a fancy wine bar, or while walking around John Lewis with your beloved.

This is actually a very fine pipe tobacco. You would never dream the room note would be as good as it is by smelling the pouch. The actual pouch aroma was STUNNINGLY similar (believe it or not) to the virginias McClelland uses.

It's meant to be smoked slowly and patiently, and like all pipe tobaccos, I seem to HAVE to try and see if it'll bite me a little. It did (but not too bad). It's a fixation I have, I guess... I like to push the envelope. I did, in fact, as this pipe tobacco is a bit on the strong side. I smoked it to the very bottom of the bowl, 'til all that was left was a fine ash. It gets a little stout at the end, so if you're a little on the mild-liking, just smoke this wonderful stuff 'til it suits you.

I enjoyed this pipe tobacco from start to finish. I'll be buying some more in the not-too-distant future!

Let's see, I've done all but talk directly about the tobacco...

I used a match to char, another to light, and another to re-light. After that, only the tamper was needed. It's sweet, slightly spicy, and has a very "cologne-esque" taste to it. You WILL taste the casing unless your taste buds are kaput. It is a very full tobacco, so:

1.) Make sure you've eaten something... 2.) Make sure you're not going to be eating a mild dessert (like, say your wife's sumptuous banana pudding) because your tastes will be a bit mitigated for an hour or so. I am, however, enjoying some oregon chai, and I love the way it tastes, especially now.

I do all my reviews RIGHT AFTER I smoke 'em, so... There you go!

Condor is a real winner. Thanks Vagabond!

Well what can be said about The Mighty Condor??
If I lived in the U.K. this would be my go to daily smoke but as I don\'t I have to rely on visits by friends & family to keep me stocked up. I keep it for those special occasions when a good smoke can be lifted to another level. The \"Condor moment \" was not just an advertising slogan it is  something that is very real & once experienced is addictive.

So lets get to the review.
Almost everyone that gives T.M.C. a negative review complain about the \" soapy \" smell, it has an scent but mores the pity I\'ve never come across a soap that smells like T.MC. I\'d never be out of the shower. It\'s just it\'s aroma, it\'s the smell of T.M.C. it doesn\'t come through the smoke as a separate part of the experience the taste & aroma are one. Imo it  shouldn\'t be classed as a room note. It\'s a dark tobacco that has an unique but strong aroma. It fills, packs, lights easily, doesn\'t bite or heat your pipe. The flavour is the T.M.C. taste, a totally one of & there\'s nothing that comes close to it so there\'s nothing to compare it to. It\'s available over the counter in almost all large supermarkets chains in the U.K. & is cheaper than all the big name brands. Rumour has it that it will ghost your pipe but in my opinion ghost should only be applied to a smell or taste that you don\'t like, well I love the everything about THE MIGHTY CONDOR

A caballo entre St. Bruno y Amphora Full. Algo menos dulce, quizas mas aspero, o amargo. Un regusto a alcohol. Quema bien, una fumada placentera. La nota de habitacion es muy agradable. Frutas oscuras estofadas, matices a tierra, madera. Un tabaco decente, con un precio en España, que jamas volvera a ser tan barato y accesible. Que se puede pedir mas de este mitico tabaco. Me encanta este tabaco.