Theodorus Niemeyer Flying Dutchman

I first tried Flying Dutchman nearly 30 years ago. As a medical resident I was attending a conference and the speaker (chief pathologist at the hospital) came in smoking a pipe. When the aroma hit me it immediately brought back the memory of what my great grandfather's pipe smelled like when he smoked. I wanted to know what the blend was so I passed by the speaker's office after the conference. I spied, literally, dozens of 50g tins of Flying Dutchman stacked up against one wall. He could have been a wholesaler for all I knew!

I bought my first 50g tin at a Rite Aid, I believe. The tin aroma had the most subtle hint of what I perceived as vanilla, unlike any other vanilla blend I have ever experienced before or since, as well as another sweetness I can't seem to place. It was fresh and consisted of a thin ribbon cut tobacco with the tiniest curls of tobacco I have ever seen. I assume those were the oriental curled tobaccos used in some Dutch Cavendish blends. As a novice pipe smoker of a few years I was in for a trial - by fire. It burned fast, hot, and my tongue was sore for I don't remember how long! I was determined to tame this beast (that's how good the room note was at the conference), and it took me a while at that! With this blend I learned the gentle art of sipping while I smoked. I would liken it to a lion tamer working with his animals. One needs to be prepared once the cage door closes behind you.

The 50g tins seemed to be the freshest of all its packaged forms. The 14oz can (in a twist-tied plastic bag) was a bit drier, and the pouch was always totally dry as straw - and I have been through many a pouch. There was always a pleasant, but subtle tin/pouch aroma of tobacco and that ghost of vanilla in all three varieties. Pleasurable to smoke, and with slow smoking, I would on occasion get a whiff of that wonderful room note. Very much to my liking and to those around me.

With the passage of time comes change. Along with a change in the package art, Flying Dutchman has limited availability, and when available, only in the 14oz can. I don't feel the need to hunt it down. Troost Special Cavendish has now taken its place; in room note and taste, but without that hint of vanilla. Flying Dutchman gave me many pipe bowls of smoking pleasure over the years, and for now, the nostalgia of pleasant memories. Who knows, perhaps one day the Dutchman's and my path will cross once again.

UPDATE 12-10-21: Well, the Dutchman's and my path have once crossed again. I recently purchased a 10 oz sealed tin of Flying Dutchman from our friend Pipestud. I haven't had this since the 1990s and anxiously awaited its arrival in the mail. The tin had its tobacco stamp seal intact. Once broken, I opened the twist can top to find a densely packed bag of baccy, twist-tied tightly. The tobacco was a lot darker than what I remember it to be, firm to the touch, and by no means dry. There was that faint smell of vanilla and for my nose this time, anise. Both very subtle. There was a nice, not over the top aroma of fine tobacco. Loading and lighting were easy and the predominant taste while smoking were the Orientals and in a way not remembered. Surprisingly, this did not burn hot nor was there any appreciable tongue bite - only an ever so slight tongue tingle. Very delighted with finding this again, and one I will savor over time.