Sutliff Tobacco Company Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend

I've been smoking a pipe off and on for the better part of 40 years now; I started when a lot of us did, back in college... in our youthful and somewhat misguided quest to present an image that would help attract the opposite sex, and at the same time maybe even impress a few of the professors...

The Pipe Holster was a mandatory part of the college costume in the '60s... at my school, it went along with the Bamboo Six Shooter holster (the huge slide rule that Freshman engineering students ALL had dangling from their belts)!

At that time I picked up on the tobaccos that the drugstore had. Knowing absolutely NOTHING about tobbacco, I turned to my experience as an 18 year old Ancient Movie Freek... I spotted tough guy actor Edward G. Robinson's portrait on one of the 2 ounce or so packets... and in confused desperation I grabbed one to go with my shiny new Dr. Grabow's.

Hey... Little Rico Bandini was a GREAT gangster... he should know something about pipe tobacco too, right???

I didn't know it at that moment, but I'djust set up a sure recipe for disaster.

Well... when first encountering a pipe that hasn't been broken in yet, a novice / newbie pipe smoker couldn't have made a selection that was much worse.

EGR Blend on that naked briar, stoked by a frantically puffing Newbie, really BITES like a P.O.ed member of the police department's newly formed Canine Patrol!!!

The reason for the frantic puffing was to try to keep the damned thing LIT... nobody had ever showed me how a pipe is properly packed. I was using up Ohio Blue Tips at a rate of about one every 2 minutes.

That wasn't helped a whole lot by the copious amounts of "soup" that seemed to be forming in the bottom of the bowl... and I must admit that it was really YUMMY when it came pouring down the stem, courtesy of that neat little aluminum condenser which I hadn't yet ditched!

Half the time my new pipe was making noises like it was about to spout a cloud of soap bubbles!

In any case... about halfway thru the first semester I'd learned, by trial and error, just how a pipe should be operated and cared for. I learned it the HARD way; for a couple of months my tongue was on fire. It felt like it belonged inside of a combat boot on a 20 mile forced march during Basic Training.

It's a wonder that I kept at it... but such is the stupidity and tenacity of youth. I just didn't know any better.

But... I eventually reached the point where I began to actually ENJOY pipe smoking, even with EGR Blend.

In any case... based on my experience so long ago, I obviously can't recommend EGR to a beginner. It's WAY too much tobacco in terms of strength.

IMHO, the EGR Blend is mildly aromatic... something that I still like... but that's overpowered by the strength of the blend. You sure get your money's worth in raw nicotine with EGR.

Over the years I've flirted with the other drug store tobaccos... Borkum Riff, the infamous Cherry Blend (IMHO, Cherry Blend is only suitable for smoking by a novice Chicago pimp who's trying to make an impression), and a few others... but somehow I always wound up coming back to Good Old Eddie.

Only now, decades later, am I exploring what else there is out there in the world of tobaccos, and that was triggered by a matter of economics.

The little pocket packs of EGR are getting harder and harder to come by around here, and the last time I bought a tub it was almost $40.00... and moving up!

I'll probably always have some EGR around; I've come to appreciate it's honest, no nonsense tobacco taste... but I just got some assorted samples of Boswell's stuff. Besides the cost, the Old Lady is beginning to hint her displeasure with the room note of Eddie.

Funny... when we were just going together, she said she LIKED it! Funny what a difference 35 years makes...

This mild aromatic combines fruit tones of grape and red fruit with darker notes of campfire and dried meat. At first, I found it inclined to smoke a little hot, but after practice and experiment, I discovered how to keep that in check: shallower bowl and a slightly tighter pack delivered to the bowl by slowly stuffing from a tobacco pouch rather than the three pinch method. It delivers a consistent flavour profile throughout the bowl, turning from lighter to darker tones as it progresses towards a fine white ash. Mechanically, it smokes well requiring almost no relights.

The wife, who is an asthmatic non-smoker, loves this blend. To her it smells like "warm happiness" with lower tones of dark fruit and Christmas spices. Add freshly baked bread, she says, and it would smell like a Hobbit hole.

I agree with her. While this is not my overall favourite blend (I enjoy Balkan blends like G.L. Pease's Blackpoint and Peterson's Old Dublin, straight Virginias like Newminster Flake and Capstan Blue), it is an aromatic that has won my attention. I can scarcely resist buying another tin every time I purchase tobacco.

As my brother says, "if it's old, it's probably good." I must agree. This is definitely a good, old blend.

Cheers to all!

Mildly aromatic is pretty spot on. It's black Cavendish, Burley, and just a pinch of Latakia. The top note was dark fruit and some spice. I could make out the Latakia, too. Upon first light, the spice was strong, almost over powering. But then it mellowed out pretty quickly. There's some nice depth here with wafts of Latakia throughout the smoke. The fruit and liquor compliment the tobacco very evenly. It left no moisture in the bowl and a nice white ash. Room note was pleasant to tolerable. Never bit or smoked hot. A very nice mellow smoke. I highly recommend it.

As did others, I wanted to like this as I'm always on the lookout for aromatics as a change of pace. However after almost finishing a small tin, that was not possible. The tin smell, cut, and ease of packing were fine. The taste was just OK, hard to describe but certainly not overly sweet. It did not leave a wet residue, but did smoke fairly quickly.

The kicker, as many others have stated, was the bite. It occurred in everything from cobs to a Dunhill, and even when I had not smoked for a while. Wound up throwing out two or three bowls worth.

I'm finding myself in reviewer Jim Inks camp on this one in that I didn't experience any tongue bite when I smoked it fresh out of the tin. While I did pick up the smell of plums when I opened the tin, I found the actual taste and strength to be mild-to-medium and rather plain. As someone who smokes and enjoys latakia blends, I really didn't notice it as much. I enjoyed a couple of bowls sitting in my backyard while seated next to my wife and asked her opinion. She said the smell was not her favorite but it wasn't nearly as bad as some of the other tobaccos I enjoy. This may not make it into my daily rotation, but I did not waste my money on buying it either. I will be smoking it on occasion.

This is my first review, but I have been smoking a pipe since 1972.

After reading so many different views on this blend, which seems to be one of the most polarizing blends, I decided to buy a tin.

I can see why....Or should I say taste why. I understand why some may not like it. It is different with it's blend of tobaccos and unique topping. I can also see....I mean taste why some really like this as well. It is fairly balanced, is just sweet enough to not gross you out and it burns relatively well.

I did not get tongue bite, but I suppose if one really puffs away, it's there. The latakia is VERY subdued. Had I not read it had some, I may not have detected it.

I'm still warming up to it, but I have smoked several bowls to provide initial feedback.

Just a pinch more latakia would work for me.

I tried to like this, I really did. I wanted to like it. I have nothing against a rough, manly smoke...but the more I smoked this, and it hasn't been often, the less I was able to talk myself into giving it a break. It's good, I suppose, to have stashed away in case of extreme emergencies - but honestly, if you're paying good money for tobacco, you can do better. Yes, it smells good in the package and while burning - but, yes, it does burn your tongue, and yes,it does taste terrible. I'm sorry. I love the packaging, I love the history and that Sutliff tried to bring it back...but, man oh man it's really low rent on the mouth. Listen - buy the Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard. You want a great tobacco, try that out. For the same amount of money you will have your socks knocked off. I love the packaging and the idea on this one, but the tobacco itself is dog puke...and dog puke that burns, at that.

First, the tin note is floral, lavender, vanilla. Very nice scent.

Smoking notes of nuts, light vanilla sweetness, lightly floral. The Latakia is far in the background and adds a bit of warmth, smoke, and woodiness. Just a drop of booziness.

This is a very calming and fulfilling smoke which covers an array of natural flavors. Although it is an aromatic, it's nowhere near the goopy and wet blends, but is blended with great balance.

Added to this balance is a beautiful change throughout the smoke from light and sweet to stronger and smokier towards the last third of the bowl, as to satisfy every kind of smoker. Can be an all-day smoke for a dedicated and happy smoker.

Coarse and ribbon cuts, perfect moisture out of the tin, easy to pack and smoke. Minimal relights and as always, smoke slow to get the maximum flavor. No tongue bite either way.

Medium in body, mild-medium in strength. Pleasant room note.

I have to admit that I was skeptical of this blend before smoking it. But it turned out to be a fantastic smoke. Unlike other old over-the-counter blends, this one covers it all. Great added flavors with natural tobacco, change of strength throughout the smoke. Comparing it with Prince Albert, it has much more dimensions. Comparing it with Half & Half, it is far more balanced and brings out the Burley, Virginia, and Latakia. If you're a fan of the old blends and/or of aromatics or Burleys, and even if you're none of those - get a tin of Edward G. Robinson's Blend. I bought the 12oz tub the first chance I got after smoking the 1.5oz.

If I had to choose one blend for the rest of my life - this one would be a strong contender.

I love this blend! I have had this in my rotation for some years, and am well stocked. I remember this one from the late 1980’s and then it seemed to have just disappeared. It supposedly has an alcohol topping which I myself have never detected. I also have only ever detected the Latakia at the later half of the bowl. (And a very light detection at that) This is a mild and tasty burley blend. It’s described as an aromatic and I would agree. Hardy english pipers will probably not find this interesting. It's been a great pal for me. -BTW - I am a nicotine wimp, and this my regular smoke and find it very mild in this area.