Gallaher Limited Condor Ready Rubbed (Green)

Distinctive old school English tobacco, purchased over the counter.

Whilst I prefer St. Bruno, thought I try Condor for a change. I haven't smoked this for ages and now I have a more mature palate I enjoy this far more than a few years ago. The tobacco kick is strong, with a nutty rum floral taste... It's a good easy smoke. But you need to smoke it slowly for better enjoyment. If your are new to pipe smoking then I advise to treat it gently otherwise your head will spin! Glad to say that this is a fine mass produced tobacco and suggest a dedicated pipe as the bowl holds the taste. For me it brings back memories of rainy days staying indoors by the fire with my grandfather. It hasn't changed in its aroma, although if you smoke this like no tomorrow the room note can be slightly overpowering. Thoroughly recommend, for the memories and for the ebb and flow of a good pleasant relaxing smoke. Light pipe with matches makes it taste better. Enjoy!

Ah, that Condor Moment! (As the ad used to say before the days of the health fascists) Condor separates the men from the boys, and the sheep from the goats. It's not a polite blend. It's strong enough to turn an inexperienced smoker the colour of the packet, and even a seasoned smoker will find plenty to satisfy the most urgent craving. It can bite if not handled with care. And although not as persistent as the likes of Ennerdale Flake, it will ghost your pipe. From the packet there's an aroma of ripe fruits, figs, and spice. Some would have it that Condor has the Lakeland flavour, but I think that's misleading. There's none of the rose / geranium / soapy' scent: it's something much darker. It comes a tad moist, and needs a substantial lighting. The first half of the bowl is woodsy, bitter, with heavy fruity overtones. Later it develops a wonderful incense-like dimension. And for all its strength, it's worth smoking Condor down into the dottle. Although it can kick like a mule, for me it's towards the end of the smoke that it really comes into its own. At the end it burns down to the very bottom, leaving virtually nothing but a speck of clean dry ash. For me, Condor is like a security blanket: reliable; dependable; always available. But beware: it's the kind of security which comes equipped with a side-arm, large dog, and a lot of muscle.

Given some of this in a trade with St. Bruno Flake and Mick McQuaid Plug, because I wanted to try some blends avaliable only in the UK. This stuff has that "Lakeland" thing going on, and I like it! Shag is not my favorite cut, so detract a little for that. It reminds me of certain SG and GH offerings, but the quality seems just a wee bit less. Maybe it is just the shag cut, I don't know. No major complaints, though. The blend can be a little harsh when puffed too exuberantly, but for me at least, never burns my mouth or throat. So, this is a newsstand pouch in jolly old England? Good show, then. I have had good results using this as a blender with a light, neutral Virginia, and this is what I may use the rest of my sample for. This is not to say that I mind it by itself. It is unique and somewhat raw in its taste, but manages to turn this quality into a positive attribute.

Lakeland blends in my opinion have haters and lovers.this one is my first try from the condor series.once the seal breaks a perfumy and alcohol smell comes out accompanied from some grass and citrus notes.the dark blend has medium moisture and drying is not helpfull though the lighting is not difficult.while burning you instantly get this characteristic lakeland soapy flavour.froral and alcohol notes are in the front from the beggining till the end.the virginias are subtlimated from the toppings wich are very sweet though some grass,earth and citrus notes are in the backround.burns slow and medium hot to ash with some moisture at the end of the bowl and a lot at the filter.room note is tolerable and the aftertaste very sweet.the nicotine level is almost high with a feel of burning in your oesophagus.not an all day smoke due to high nicotine level.it can be a pipe ghoster.i also recommend smoking this blend in a small bowl.

This tobacco was crafted by the devil. Slow burning, addictive and oh! so unassuming. It will bewitch you or worse, disgust you if you are one of those paladins with the gift to see beyond the devil's work.

The matured Virginias, mellow and creamy, with some hay and tanginess, become fuller as the smoke progresses. The floral, lavender like topping, while quite strong, works in symbiosis with the Virginias, adding to the whole flavor profile. The tobacco and topping never fight for dominance but work to provide smoking pleasure.

This old school tobacco is perfect for a chilly, damp and wet day, it helps you to accept and to put things into perspective... a contemplative experience.

Virginia lover

As a fairly new pipe smoker back in 2009 or so, I bought a 25-gram pouch of this from the local corner shop, opened it, smelled it, and threw it straight into the bin. The smell of an old-ladies' bingo hall... why on earth would they put that into a tobacco?

As a big fan of Lakeland-style blends these days, I now realise I must have had more money than sense (and I didn't have much money!). Condor RR is a stout, rich, dark and, for me at least, extremely satisfying smoke. Yes, it's perfumy, which is just one of those things in life that will divide opinion. It isn't an everyday blend for me, and there are a good few blends I prefer over it in the Lakeland genre, but I can easily recommend CRR to anyone who likes strong tobacco and has an open mind.

Strong tobacco, with an unusual, particular taste. Precisely this is straight Virginia but in my opinion it is flavored with deer tongue. This is the reason why very few tobaccos present this strange taste. I like it but we have to admit that this flavoring is rather overwhelming. So this is not a straight pure Virginia but a flavored Virginia. I’m not sure about the presence of Alcohol, perhaps… Anyway it doesn’t matter. I recommend everybody trying it because it has a very particular taste. Give it a chance. In my personal rating (from 1 to 10) my score is 8 and three stars.

I must have growed up a bit since this last made me sick. I had it out of desperation once, and the dear wife bought me quite a few pouches of it, so I didn't have the heart to complain. After a few smokes, however, all my memories of times with my head down the loo faded, and I ended up smoking it out of preference. Dear me, how we change with age. It's one of the few tobaccos that I get the occasional whiff of a really good cigar from, but the substances other reviewers purport to get from it, including spoiling pipes with the "Ghost?" have so far evaded me. I'm still trying other tobaccos that I haven't tried before, or I'm refreshing my acquaintance with, but with the supermarket price war still on, it's a reliable product and the savings are attractive enough to keep me going back.

Along with the various floral and herbal scents, something in the aroma of this thinly cut, ready-rubbed flake reminds me of Drum rolling tobacco along.

Primarily fire-cured virginias and burleys, the flavor is very rich and moderately sweet. The floral topping compliments the flavor nicely.

A flavorsome and companionable smoke, Condor would be a dependable all-day choice for those who's tastes run to the richer end of the scale. It will quickly ghost a briar. This went well in a chamber of any gauge.