Sutliff Tobacco Company Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend

Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend has been incorrectly described above. There is no cavendish or black cavendish in this tobacco. According to Paul Creasy at the Sutliff Tobacco company, this blend consists of burley, Virginia, and a minute amount of latakia (those are the tiny black flakes). And no grape juice. Robinson himself had a hand in the blending, working along with Gordon Sutliff.

Edward G. Robinson is not an imported, expensive boutique blend; tobacco snobs will be disappointed. That said, it has a very pleasing aroma when lit or unlit, and it is consistent down the bowl, never turning bitter. I've never, even after repeated bowls, had it bite me. It creates a room note that everyone around me finds enjoyable, and as a burley lover, it hits the spot for me everytime. There is a slightly sweet element along with the natural tobacco taste, with the quiet smokiness of the latakia emerging now and then. It's delicious.

This is straightforward, nostalgic stuff, from an era when a celebrity's face on a tin of tobacco was not uncommon. Its most famous fan is Shelby Foote, the great Southern novelist and Civil War historian, who smokes bowl after bowl of this tobacco throughout the day. Jon A. Jackson, the well-known mystery novelist, also claims Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend as his personal favorite. Give it a try--for a pleasant, uncomplicated, satisfying smoke, you could do a lot worse than this.

This is a strange tobacco. I suppose I can see why so bizarre an accusation as its being flavored with grape juice could arise, given that it is a blend so off the beaten path and, generally rather obscure. Even the plastic container it comes in is strange.

It is a burley and Virginia blend, though it doesn't taste like any example of such that I have ever before encountered. There is a fruity, piquant sauce moderately applied that makes it taste much like many Asian candies I have come across. There is also a bit of Latakia, though I have no idea why. I could barely smell it before lighting and could almost never taste it. There was one evening of smoking for me with my rusticated Kaywoodie Gold Series billiard and a small private label English billiard where the Latakia, for once, finally came through and that was quite nice. Rather like a good Scottish style blend. That was the only time, however.

Edward G. Robinson's is also a fairly cool smoking tobacco and leaves no lingering flavor in the pipe, which is nice, I suppose. For once, I am almost at a loss as to what can be said for this particular smoking stuff. I went through an entire twelve ounce can of it rather quickly and I cannot say that it is at all bad. It's just?well, strange.

Regards, A. Morley Jaques

I was given a sample of this blend to try to see what I thought of it. I pretty much smoked only aromatics for a long time only the past 6 months have I branched out considerably in my tobacco's focusing on VA's and VA/Per's with some mild Latakia blends thrown in but still gravitate to an aromatic once or twice a day.

I took a good whiff and was surprised about some of the comments on grape juice and such as all I got was a light toasty note reminiscent of walnut or nut of some type.

The tobacco packed easily and lit nicely and stayed lit throughout the smoke needing one pass with a pipe cleaner which is very good for an aromatic as some can literally take more of your smoking time using the pipe cleaner than actual smoking.

I had the feeling of warm honey on the palate turning to a bit of the nuttiness I smelled upon opening the sample, the nasal note was more nutty and tobacco to me.

This is a nice, refreshing, easy to smoke tobacco that anyone who smokes aromatics would really like, it is old school in that it reminds you of the old way pipe tobacco smelled and smoked but well worth having in your tobacco rotation.

I acquired a 1 oz sample of this in a trade. I have wanted to try it for a number of reasons. I am a fan of old school OTC blends. JimInks likes it and has tastes reasonably similar to mine.

I smoked it in a number of pipes initially and then settled on a Savinelli billiard to finish the sample. The blend benefited from a dedicated pipe, and I think I had a better appreciation for it after 5 or so bowls in the Savinelli.

The latakia is a very light touch. I have to be paying attention to notice it. The topping is a mild alcohol with some fruit. The best I can do on the fruit is plum. It is said to contain black cavendish, but I do not get the musty, thin flavor that black cavendish sometimes gives a blend for me. There is none of the common vanilla that comes with black cavendish.

It is not a challenging blend to pack or smoke slowly. It burned cool for me. It was at a good level of moisture and burned well with a consistent flavor. It was not what I would term a "gooper." The tobacco taste is all mild burley - slightly sweet and a little nutty.

This is a 3 for me. I could smoke it all day, but blends like the Mid-Town Derby Club and Chestnut come at a better price point for this OTC category and are just as pleasant and satisfying.

This is indeed a superbly blended, mellow and mildly flavorful aromatic mixture. I enjoy the taste of this tobacco quite a bit.

Almost embarrassing to admit, smoking this conjures up memories of the days when I used to sneak away from the house with a few of my older brother's Djarum kretek cigarettes. Those were great times.

The flavor is pleasant, and I get a touch of honey and plum on the tongue, as well as a distinct hint of clove in the side stream. The latakia is so light that it almost goes entirely undetected, save for small hints here and there mid-bowl down.

Edward G Robinson's burns even, smokes fairly cool and it does indeed have a wee-kick to it. I do get somewhat of a bite from this, as well a sting on the lips, so it needs to be smoked slow and dried out a bit before hand. I found that it smokes really great in a cob.

Also, I love the story behind the revival of this mixture.

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.

This is such a mild old time smoke, reminds me very much of Kentucky Club for those who may remember that one. Yes, it can be a tongue biter for those who puff furiously. According to Hacker's book it has been around since just after WWII. Another one of those mild early morning smokes that goes well with your coffee.

I was anxious to try this after reading many of the reviews. Not too bad, but nothing too special for me. I purchased a 1.5 oz tin. Upon opening, the tobacco was dry - not crunchy dry - but totally dry to the touch. There wasn't much in the way of tin note, either. Deep inhalation brought out a subtle sweetness with a very (and I mean very) faint berry-like smell, and if I didn't read the descriptions before-hand, I wouldn't have managed to come up with that. Loading and lighting were pretty easy and there was no difficulty keeping it lit. What I got, taste wise, was the subtle "wine-like" note described by others and an overall mouthfeel of mild mustiness, but not in a bad way. I attributed this to the presence of Latakia. I couldn't taste the Latakia per se as you would in a Dunhill mixture, but its presence was made known to me. It burned a little hot and I experienced a bit of bite in a way that I experience when I do smoke a predominately Latakia mixture.

Personally, I give this 2.5 stars. Summing up...a nice codger blend, but a bit too pricey for what you get .