Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Five Brothers

This is burley in the nude. As such, it does what burley should do. It smokes cool when packed well and tastes rather neutral,with some mild cigar notes and earthy overtones. Since the cut is so fine and the condition of the tobacco is dry, 5Bro will burn fast, so careful packing and gentle puffing are in order. This makes a nice, satisfying, quick smoke for when you don't have the time or concentration to spend on contemplation of a bowl of something more complex and you are not in the mood for something flavored, like PA or Carter. This is also good for cooling down hot mixtures. I blended 5Bro with some overly-mature Dunhill 965 that was harshly hot and the sting went right out of the mixture. When I have a bit of tobacco left at the end of a tin that isn't quite enough for a bowl, 5Bro is the perfect blending partner. I'd pay a lot more for this, but I'm glad I don't have too (at least until the SCHIP bill passes). I recently found a link to a book entitled "The City of Louisville and a Glimpse of Kentucky" by Young Ewing Allison, published in 1887. This brand, mentioned by name, was already a big seller for Finzer Brothers way back then. Five Brothers truly is a blast from the past.

This stuff is great. If you don't want to try a pouch tobacco, try Old Joe Krantz by C&D. I find it to be very similar taste-wise, but more complex and rich. However, I love me some Five Brothers!

The strength does not bother me. It's just nice. The flavor is smooth. Probably the most flavorful and complex non-aromatic OTC blend I've come across. Hopefully it's not goin' anywhere...

Update: I was astonished to see this tobacco in a large grocery chain in my area. I immediately bought another package. I am upgrading to three stars from my initial review. This tobacco really is growing on me. Hiccups and tightness aside, this stuff is tasty burley. I think a cob is best for this tobacco. I think I'll try smoking this tobacco while playing golf with antique hickory shafted clubs. (I'm not ready for knickers yet.)

I saw this tobacco in a little newstand while visiting. The clerk told me that one of her customers buys 3 packages a week. I was so astonished I asked if the customer was still alive. She told me he was at least in his seventies. So much for smoking is bad for the health. My grandfather smoked and chewed Five Brothers and Cutty Pipe, and he lived to 83.5 years old.

Anyhow, this is what men smoked in the early twentieth century. I filled a smaller cob lightly, and lit up. As others have said, not for the faint of heart. A harsh, bitter flavor initially, but faimtly, I could taste the nutty, mellow burley in the background. Although I tried to sip as slowly as I could, I immediately got hiccups, and later, my chest became tight. The nicotine content must be extremely high. I only get hiccups if I puff too fast on any other tobacco.

A pouch should last me a long time. Will smoke a pipe of this once in a great while. Well, in a nutshell, Five Brothers tobacco is a trip into the past, from a world long gone. When men were men, and women were glad of it.

I received a couple bowls worth from an acquaintance and was immediately taken aback with the cut. I have tried shags before but this was cut much finer. Reminded me of wheat-germ. I have read that this is uber-strong in nicotine content but I did not find it to be overpowering. I enjoyed it immensely. It does burn very fast so don't use it in a smoking contest. No relights, no bite, no gurgle. Just pure tobacco. Enjoy!

Well I didn't think this was bad, but I got a pack-a-day habit anyways so the nicotine kick wasn't bad at all for me. I opened the pouch, saw what looked like a cat fight crime scene and left the pouch sit for 2 weeks till I got curious. I used a MM pony and just crammed in a bowl sized pinch and lit. I thought it might catch the house on fire! The shag cut and the tinder dry moisture content made it flare up like a burning bar. It took all of 5 minutes to finish the smoke. Cigarish discribes the first quarter then it just got strong tasting, not bitter, not hay or grass like just pure burley cranked up to ten. I'm not gonna put this in my rotation, but I think I will revisit it once in a while.

I bought some to see what all the fuss is about. My recommendation....Buy some rolling papers and make it into cigarette. Don't inhale! Not bad. I don't advise trying in a pipe unless you have a really small bowl. In a pipe it burns much too fast and becomes harsh. I probably won't buy any more unless I take up R.Y.O. cigarettes. Not likely.

P.S. How on earth are you supposed to chew this stuff?

When I saw the legendary 5Bros at the drugstore I couldn't resist. This turned out to be a fine cut (US term) dark fired tobacco - something that goes back to the colonial era (barely) and was very typical until say WWI. I was suprised that the blend wasn't hot though it burned quick. In a straight pipe I found no strength to speak of, only in a large bent do I feel it, sometimes having to lay down. If you really want something strong try Cotton Bol. Its ALOT stronger. The dark fired a friend sent me made the cotton bol seem like candy. There is a certain thrill in smoking a truely strong tobacco, one that actually makes you feel that tobacco could be a drug. 5Bros isn't it. Still its a very historic blend, and should be the first choice of reenactors. It is lightly flavored and slightly smoothed but a crude, rude vapor eminates from the bowl. This is not a refined tobacco. The taste is fairly mild but with repeated smokes the 'tang' builds in the pipe. This is characteristic of dark tobacco, and air-cured Green River shares this quality. It has its charms, and is worth trying. I'm not sure I'll get it again. When I want something like this I want much, much more strength, and a cut that can be blended with other tobaccos. String cuts are real hard to work with.

Highly strong. Burley has notes of fleural. Superb blend. Would recommend. This was quite illegal. We have evidence.

the smell before smoking is great, like a mix of raisins and fresh leather. the smoke itself is great. very high nicotine content, my girlfriend took a couple of puffs off my pipe and was a little in over her head. the taste itself is very full and the smoke is fairly thick. Its like smoking a campfire mixed with one or two peppers in it and a raisin. the tiniest bit sour with the tiniest bit sweet but mostly just a nice fiery blend.