Lane Limited Edgeworth Ready-Rubbed

This is a cube cut relatively unadorned (by todays standards) burley. It burns cool with no bite - not to worry about artificial moisteners with this blend, there are none, it is bone dry. After nearly 40 years of wandering about the pipe tobacco universe I have come to the realization that my favorites are the traditional over the counter (codger if your prefer) burlies. Accordingly, this is among my favorites, and its passing will be mourned. Others have commented on finding notes of chocolate or rum flavoring and these indeed can be found on occasion. It burns cool with no bite. The pipe world is a poorer place with its demise.

My grandfather was a pipe smoker and by the amount of Edgeworth "Extra High Grade Sliced Pipe Tobacco" tins he had kicking around his fish house (he was a lobsterman/commercial fisherman) he must have liked the flake version. I still have an empty tin that I used to keep my more esoteric smoking material in when I was a teen and have hung on to it all these years.

I've been buying the Ready Rubbed in the pouch for the last year or so, and I find it to be a very good tobacco. As other folks say, its really easy to pack into the pipe, it burns well and it tastes good. I do think it burns a little hot and it always leaves me with a burnt feel in the mouth (nothing like the Mac Baren products I've tried though).

Its too bad they have discontinued this brand. I think there is a lot of American smoking history here. My little general store still has quite a few pouches and a few cans on the shelf. I suppose I should snap them up.

I won a pouch of this at a pipe show and decided that the best thing to do was put it in a meerschaum and give it a try. I figured that if it was too bad the meer would suffer the least. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was like Prince Albert on steroids. The subtle nuttiness and spice that are faintly present in PA are far out in front with this blend. It burns fairly cool and very slow. I did not notice a huge amount of goo in the bottom of my pipe and would say this one is safe in any pipe. There is some VA taste in this blend, but I think most of the sweetness comes from the casing.

My tub, which I just opened, is composed of rather large chunks reminding me of a krumble kake. In fact I have to rub this batch out before packing. The fragrance is slightly boozy with a hint of chocolate and hay. It appears to be very good quality leaf. I find the flavor to be a bit on the mild side for me, and I was expecting perhaps the leftovers from the production of the slices version, of which I was very fond. This would be a good tobacco for those who like mild burlies, and who have the patience to sip slowly to seek the flavors out. Unfortunatly I have to smoke outside or in the garage, so I tend toward stronger tobaccos. The ready rubbed version does not have the nicotine kick of the slices, if my memory serves. I will gladly finish the tub, but will try Wessex burley slices when this is gone. My wife says the room note smells faintly of chocolate. If you like this it is a great value. **Update 03/16/08- I have raised the nicotine strength to medium. I have smoked my way through 1/4 of the tub now, and am starting to appreciate the flavor more as well. The weather has warmed up here in MO and I have been able to really spend some time savoring this tobacco- I feel a nice nicotine buzz that I hadn't noticed when it was 15 degree's. Still a 3 star blend for me, but I am really liking this stuff.

Not big on Burley or OTC blends but I read another bit of trivia about this that I will describe below. It piqued my interest so I picked up a pouch and have been working on it throughout the day. Not bad for an OTC blend. I find it smooth, a little sweet (perhaps the rum?) and overall rather pleasant. A little like Peretti's 333 or BPC blends but milder. Not bad. I usually end up not finishing many Burleys I try and they end up in the cabinet for a few months and then in the trash but I will definitely finish this pouch. Not sure if I will buy it regularly but if I am in a pinch, it won't disappoint me.

Oh, that bit of trivia- I recently read where the former dictator of the Soviet Union, Josef Stalin, loved smoking a pipe and Edgeworth was his favorite blend, but he had to hide that fact since it was an American tobacco. Hope that doesn't drive anyone away from it as it really isn't that bad, IMHO.

Aah, what memories these reviews bring back.

Many years ago, as a newer pipe smoker, I visited a large chain drugstore with an entire isle devoted to pipe tobacco. It was a hot summer morning, but seemed like Christmas to me as I marveled at all the colorful boxes, cans and pouches, spotting many brands and blends I'd never seen before.

I purchased many tobaccos that day but none as interesting as the one with the funny phrase, "ready rubbed" on the pouch. I had no clue what "ready rubbed" meant but fired up my first bowl of Edgeworth anyway.

Almost instantly, it dawned on me that this was different from the other drugstore blends I'd been smoking. This was my first taste of a decent quality blend.

No longer happily oblivious to the low quality stuff I'd been weaned on, I continued to smoke "ready rubbed" and began to seek out new blends at tobacco stores. I moved on to Troost Slices and my life as a piper was forever changed.

I don't see Ready Rubbed around the drugstores anymore and it looks like it's gotten a bit pricey in the cans. It's been years since I smoked it and am not sure how much I'd care for it today, but this one was a turning point in my pipesmoking life.

3 Nostalgic Stars * * *

This is one of those affordable "drugstore" blends that are actually better than most of the higher-priced "premium" mixtures (IMO, of course). It's similar to both Carter Hall and Prince Albert, although it has a darker and slightly sweeter taste. The cubed cut also makes a big difference in that it burns FAR more slowly than its counterparts. Like the aforementioned blends, Edgeworth RR is also an excellent tobacco for breaking in a pipe. There is a noticeable flavoring, but it's artfully applied.

How much is an ?Edgeworth? and how much does a Steinway? In the case of the latter, it weighs a lot. In the case of the former, it is probably ?worth? something to burley lovers. A gravity fill of the fine cut cubes and a tamp or two and you?re off. I found ERR a wee bit harsh at first light probably due to its dryness (of my pouch). For me, it started off with pronounced hay/grass overtones but slowly evolved into a more nutty and welcome burley taste as I progressed down the bowl. I think there are very few people around who can accurately confirm that this is the same Edgeworth that was sold in earlier decades. Additionally, what Mother Nature produces on different acreage year to year is difficult to replicate exactly. To wit, tobacco doesn?t come off an assembly line. Regardless, for the here and now, this is a solid, hearty, classic, no-frills All-American burley blend for burley lovers.

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this tobacco 8.4 out of 10.

Edgeworth Ready Rubbed is truly, one of the great Tobaccos that has stood the test of time.It is enjoyed by young and old pipe smokers alike.Very little tongue bite if any,and very tasty.It has a nutty, dark chocolate flavor that is hard to beat.Moisture is just perfect,and burns to a clean ash.One of the great Burley blends of the past and present.