Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Five Brothers

The appearance of this tobacco is that of a cigarette cut with birdseye flecks of the leaf stem. I have rolled this into a cigarette, and it makes for a very tasty smoke. It is not overpowering in this form due to the smaller surface area of a cigarette as compared to a pipe.

In a pipe, this is a very powerful and strong tobacco. The taste and room aroma are very cigar like. It is definitely one of the strongest tobaccos that I have ever tried. In the pipe, it is a pure nicotine hit. If you are trying to cut down or quit cigarettes, this will help. It is not necessary to inhale to get a full dose of nicotine. In fact, it is too strong to inhale unless you want to knock yourself out. If you smoke cigarettes, there will be no need to reach for a cigarette after smoking this. There is nothing esoteric to this blend. It is a pure cigar like nicotine loaded power bar. If you make it to the bottom of the bowl, you will find nothing but a dark gray ash. It is inexpensive and may be worth sampling to see how powerful, and strong a tobacco can be.

This is an interesting tobacco. I’m not sure that it’s my favorite codger blend, but I never see myself not having some on hand.

There isn’t much room for error with this blend. Packed well and smoked with care, it’s actually a mellow, pleasant tasting burley with a satisfying vitamin-n boost. Puffed quickly or packed sub-optimally, it burns hot and turns acrid. It took me awhile to figure out the best way to load my pipe, but once I did, I found Five Brothers to be quite rewarding with nutty, earthy notes and a subtle, sweet spice. This, and its interesting history and low price, keep me coming back.

It’s a surprisingly versatile tobacco, as well. Historically, Five Brothers was advertised as making a good chew. Out of curiosity, I tried it—I guess it works, but that’s not something I would normally do. Likewise, out of curiosity, I rolled a few 5Bros cigarettes to puff on without inhaling, and found that to be a delightful and convenient way to smoke it—I don’t inhale smoke and would rather load a small pipe, but I’ll keep this option in mind, as it was far more interesting and flavorful than some of the little cigars I’ve had. Five Brothers also makes a good blending addition to enhance nicotine strength without changing flavor too much. And, once again, its low price is quite conducive to experimenting.

All told, I was really surprised by Five Brothers. I love aged single malts, craft beer, fancy coffee, and exotic pipe tobaccos as much as the next person, but sometimes I crave the unrefined, blue-collar qualities that can only be found in cheap bourbon, beer that won its blue ribbons in the 1800’s, gas station coffee, and Five Brothers shag.

All the scary reviews on this weed are really needless if you take it for what it REALLY is. Straight, nicely cut Burley that should be smoked for two reasons: A piper who enjoys straight Burley, or otherwise to cut other blends to give them some oomph. Think of it this way, why would anyone smoke straight Perique? Get the idea? I will admit the reviews on this one are certainly the funniest and most entertaining! The dying plastic flowers in the house comment by another reviewer was uproarious!

Now, from the start, you need to know I’m a burley lover through and through. It's a dry shag quite suitable to hand-rolling if you do that sort of thing, but is a fine pipe tobacco. It's definitely dry. I don’t feel the need to hydrate it, but I prefer my tobacco a little on the drier side, so your mileage may vary there. Nutty. Woody. The aroma is nice. A well-appreciated dose of vitamin N when I’m looking for it. My 5 bros have never even hinted about biting. This isn't boutique tobacco. It isn't my favorite by a long shot. I think it's a little pricy for what it is, but you can catch it on sale. My favorite application of this is to blend it with an aro to moderate its flavor strength and add some punch. Wait, no, my actual favorite application of this stuff is to get an equal amount of D&R Three Sails shag VA, and blend the two 50/50, then pack it tight in a cob. It's worth trying. I think it's worth having around.

Straight, unadulterated shag cut burley. Tinder dry in the pouch. Smells of good tobacco, a little earthy and nutty. Pack your pipe full and tight, smoke it slowly and you're rewarded with a pleasant, good old fashioned straight tobacco flavor. Nutty and woody with some natural hints of cocoa. Burns down fast, even when smoking it slowly due to the squirrel-hair fine shag cut. Room note is nutty, slightly sweet but sharp like a cigarette. Nicotine is similar to smoking an unfiltered hand rolled cigarette, on the higher end of medium to strong. The bowl tends to finish with a hot, ashy flavor. Overall this is good for what it is, I'd rather smoke this than most OTC blends. Can be a mixer to add body and strength to other blends. Solid 3 stars for a very inexpensive, uncomplicated but good quality straight tobacco.

this really isn't a 'review'--five brothers has been reviewed enough here--just an observation or two-- it is Burley--no thing but burley--it's strongish, full flavored and you don't need to analyze it-- if you like burley and/or burley blends you may want to give it a try-- i had smoked this several years ago--seeing this review page i decided to re-visit five brothers--after almost six years in a jar, it was still the same---i liked it--i wouldn't choose it as my only or favorite tobacco--(that honor goes to Old Joe)--a couple of bowls a month will do me-- i smoked it in an old, but lightly used cob--only loaded up half a bowl--moisturized it by breathing into the bowl before the light--i got about 20 minutes out of half a bowl--i sip very lightly with very little fire--for my tastes this provides more flavor, no matter what the tobacco-- slightly above moderately high strength and full flavored--nic level wasn't all that high, but then again it is about six years under glass-- i think i may get a sleeve of it from P&C and use it to amp up some blends that leave me wanting a bit (or a lot) more

I'm on a pouch/ drugstore blend kick now, and trying to find a good daily smoke to change up with Prince Albert. I got this and some John Bull to give it a try. There is definitely a reason it's called pipe tobacco!, the exclamation point is justified haha.

It's smells good in the pouch. Nutty and a bit spicy. It's a very fine shag cut, almost like a tangle of hair. It takes some work to pack it evenly, as it comes out in clumps. If you get it right it takes fire very well, burning to white ash quickly on top. The flavor is delicious, bit spicy and nutty burley flavor. It burns fast and hot if you're not careful. No Dottie, no moisture left in the bowl. I've got to say I'm enjoying this one more than I would've thought.

That being said, this manly stuff here. Even still, not for beginners or those sensitive to nicotine. It made my head spin, which is saying something. I tried it in a slightly larger than medium pipe and had to let it go out the first few bowls. It's better off in a smaller pipe I think. Also, it is good for stepping up a weaker blend a bit.

When asked to give advice to up and coming actors, John Wayne said, "Talk low and slow, and don't say much." When I smoke Five Brothers, often while breaking in a new pipe, I feel that something similar could be said. Something along the lines of smoke slow, and careful and don't inhale. A big bowl just doesn't seem to work, so I try and treat it like a flake. This is one of those, I-wish-I-could-quit-you tobaccos for some people, but for me it is more a utilitarian sort.

Yes you know it is straight pure tobacco without any intention to take you off that path. A somewhat nutty flavor in the front of the mouth, a bit ash-like at the back of the throat. Sharpness on the retrohale. I'm not a nicophile, per se, so I purposely chose a slow cadence to try and get the most out of the overall smoke. Very different, to me, than Semois (Manil), which has a different depth and flavor nuances through the smoke. Through the bowl flavor from FB got a bit more rounded out, without some of the initial sharpness. Seems like it would be a good one to blend down and add an edge to some higher-flavored aros. A little could likely go a long way. Interesting experience, it delivers a straight tobacco experience, with no BS. 3+ for being real.