Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Five Brothers

Different than the past..

I last smoked this in the early 00's and recently picked up another pouch. While it was never a regular in the rotation I smoked quite a bit of it and can offer a few observations between the old & new.

Appearance: In the pouch this appears as a light brown/tan, shag cut "birds eye" very reminiscent of cigarette rolling tobacco. It can work as well for those purposes if one chooses to smoke it that way. Quite dry with no noticeable pouch aroma, just natural tobacco..but more on that below.

Packing: Simple 3 step will do as this packs easily due to its cut. I would pack this a bit on the tight side. If you pack it too loose it will burn fast & hot.

Smoking: Five Brothers takes to flame very easily no doubt due to its low moisture and cut. You will most likely clear a bowl without any relights needed in fact. Straight burley taste here with no surprises except as follows. The version I smoked in the past was produced by Pinkerton and their version had no hint of a topping. It was very pure tasting and quite cigarette like. This new version most certainly has some type of sweet topping on it. Not overdone, it's very very slight not goopy like a typical aromatic. It's barely noticeable but it's there. After noticing this I smoked the rest in a brand new cob to ensure I wasn't picking up ghosts. Nope. It was definitely there. At any rate it smokes the same as before, mostly bite free if you don't over puff and can develop an ashy taste as it nears the finish. The nicotine doesn't seem as strong as in the past but these days I'm immune.

Conclusion: I'm left with the same impression of this as I was back then. It's a good but not great blend that I wouldn't stock in a cellar but may occasionally buy a pouch and I certainly wouldn't turn down a bowl if offered. The STG version of this is no better, or worse, then the Pinkerton era..just different..if ever so slightly.

It would be interesting to track down of Finzer Bros era pouch to compare the differences between the three..

As advertised, this is a strong blend when it comes to nicotine. However, smoked slowly in a small bowl, it is entirely manageable.

I very much enjoy the lack of fussiness in this blend. The shag cut and dry nature of it make an effortless smoke. The flavor is not complex, but that doesn't present a problem if you like the simple flavor presented.

I find this to be a very satisfying, after lunch, weekday smoke when there isn't much time to sit and ponder a bowl of VA or English tobacco. It is also a favorite of mine for breaking in new pipes when I want to pay attention to the flavors of the briar itself.

As mentioned, this tobacco is very dry, it has a simple burley flavor, and it packs a punch. If this sounds unappealing, this is not for you. But for me, I'm saved the chore of drying it, I get a straightforward burley flavor, and I can face the non-smoking world a little longer because of the strength. 🙂

This is not nearly as strong as say, a 1792 flake, or even some of the stronger C&D blends out there. I'd take the advice of other reviewers and pack this one more tightly than you'd pack any other tobacco. Also, it does blend well with lighter fare.

This is not my favorite burley, but I like it for what it is, and it is more natural than any OTC smoke I've tried.

This straight Burley in shag formation has received a hefty endorsement from reviewers, which prompted my purchase. The tobacco arrived in an attractive though simple pouch, exceedingly dry and densely packed. My first smoke nearly killed me and I had to put the pipe down. It was then that I swore never again, and promptly set the pouch in my little graveyard box reserved for those tobaccos I have no intention of smoking unless the horrible day should come in which pipe tobacco were banned and they are all I have left.

I recently had a change of heart, and this happens often with these blends, thinking I might have missed something. That box is strangely alluring, and I keep thinking a genie might pop out of it granting all my wishes, but usually I end up throwing the thing back in its place, overwhelmed by disappointment and wasted effort.

This time around I fired up a bowl, in a small pipe (the small pipes are a recent addition to my already crummy selection of overly large and very cheap pipes). They are surprisingly useful, these small pipes, and had I realized their utility early on, I might have avoided several nicotine induced panic attacks over the years. Immediately I could taste the Burley and it reminded me of the cigarettes I smoked before exclusively moving to the pipe. Not bad, but certainly not a flavor I want to encounter on a daily basis, particularly in my zeal for avoiding a return to cigarettes.

And in this mindset, I can see the popularity here for those switching over, who may be desperate for a nicotine fix and a similar flavor profile. Yes, the strength is enough to quell most any appetite and 5 Brothers works well as a pathway to more complex blends. Adherents have also put 5 Brothers forward as a blending component for bolstering those weak blends you may have on hand. It's relatively flavorless enough that I can understand the mentality here, but I will warn you that the shag cut does not mix well with many of the ribbons out there and you may screw up the burn rate, as this tobacco fires like kindling.

With that, my experiment had ended. I have little doubt that 5 Brothers has a place, but not in my smoking cabinet. Back in the box you go!

Well, this was certainly a different sort of pipe tobacco experience. The shag is pretty fine and my pouch was properly sealed but the tobacco was pretty darn dry. I'm hydrating it now. The tobacco burns quickly, the flavor is good and it is great to have for when you just got to have a quick nicotine boost. I also think it is good kindling to use to get a heavy flake going. I expect it would make a decent cigarette tobacco, especially considering its very low price. I had to order twelve pouches to get that good price and I'll smoke it all over time I suppose but probably won't buy it again.

The nicotine makes its presence known but it isn't killer. The tobacco is not harsh in the least and there is a decent sweetness to it I may mix it in with some underpowered but flavorful tobacco I have; I don't think it will harm the flavor of other blends.

The room note is cigarette but not in a bad way. You may want until you find it in a store so you can get a single pouch to try.

My guess is that this is what Huck Finn smoked.

20 Aug. 2010

After a few months, I think I will update my review. I had a dozen packs of this tobacco and my initial impression was so-so. I sent two packs to Steden and had one open leaving me with nine more to contend with.

Hydrating didn't improve the tobacco; it made it worse so I think it was meant to smoke rather dry. I didn't have much success blending it either so I started smoking my way through the rest. By the end of the second packet, I had begun to actually enjoy it. I found it a good tobacco for a quick smoke. It burns too quickly for sitting back and relaxing but it gives you a complete tobacco experience quickly. By the end of the last pack I was ready to order more. It isn't the kind of fine tobacco we enjoy but it is a tobacco I will want to have around. Steden occasionally furnishes me with two "common" Italian tobaccos that are rather strong and moderately quick burning. These are my favorite tobaccos to have around for a quick smoke but the price and availability of Five Brothers suffices to fill that need. I am giving it an additional star.

my oh my its a burly blend (and it should be considered as such, so no big hopes should be anticipated). the blend is dark in color and the tobacco is some what dry, yet as the description claim it delivers nic like no other burly blend does! taste is slightly different and it reminds me of dark birds eye blend although the latter is viginia! it comes in shag cut which makes up for easy pack and low maintenance fast smoke. the bowl is dry and very fine ash is the result by the end of the smoking session. as expected the smell is not friendly any time soon but the price is right! goes well with black coffe as it have a proper punch to start the morning with.

The bottom line first: neutral Burley taste and aroma in a non-aromatic blend.

The details: I opened the pouch and found a tangled nest of dry, ultra-fine shag. I fired it up cautiously because it looked like it could flare-up and singe my nose hairs and eyebrows; but it lit up OK and stayed lit right to the bottom of the bowl. It produces good smoke volume and is smooth despite its strength in both taste and nicotine. It burns about twice as rapidly as most other tobaccos.

4 stars if you need a quick tobacco fix, say, on a work break, etc.

3 stars if you're sampling Burleys: old-timey but unique.

2 stars if you're a Burley-phile seeking the best.

1 star for beginners and persons in search of complexity, nuance and sophistication.

The STG version is not as good as the Pinkerton USA made version from not so long ago.

The current STG version is similar to the old blend. I find it slightly less dry, less sweet, less flavorful overall. Also the STG version has quite a lot of stems in it, big ones, which is a pain because they should be removed, which I do.

Like before, Five Brothers is an unadulterated, stout, pure Burley. It's one dimensional, and the current version is not as compelling to me as the old. Most pipe smokers need not bother. Burley lovers may enjoy it, but the GH shags are a much better option vs. this current iteration.

Strength ????? aye right ! I suppose if you arnt used to burly then perhaps. Maybe i got a dud pouch.

Hay like , burns quick and has a sweet almost peanut taste at times.

Very simple blend it must be said , no complexity at all. Easy enough to review.