Notes: Research has revealed that this blend was made for the Canadian market c. 1951-late 80's? (Thanks to JimInks and Jon Guss for uncovering the mystery!)
The tin which contains this blend is likely from the late 1960s. The moderately dry, very woody, earthy, floral, herbal, fairly spicy, buttery sweet Orientals take the lead. They remind me of the kind of Orientals used in Paul Olsen 7000. The very smoky, woody, musty, leathery sweet Cyprian latakia is an important supporting player. The nutty, woody, earthy, very dry, lightly sharp, savory burley provides a secondary role. The grassy, tart citrusy, dark fruity, lightly earthy Virginia is just above being condiment. The strength and taste levels just reach the medium mark. The nic-hit is a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium. Won’t bite or get harsh, and while it’s not really a smooth mixture, it’s not rough for the most part either. The mildly rough edges do not detract from the experience. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with some complexity and a light inconsistency in its sweet and enticingly savory, deep flavor. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste. Can be an all day smoke if you can manage to find a tin.
This is unbelievable and quite frankly I am distraught that I will never have it again. This is intensely flavourful even with sitting so long in the tin.
Pipe Used: A 1976 Dunhill
Age When Smoked: 50 plus
Purchased From: Not purchased but offered after the New York Pipe Show
Many thanks to Mike Di Cuccio for sending me a sample from those thrilling days of yesteryear . My first thought is that it strongly reminded me of Dunhill American Mixture which was available until 1980 . If you ;look at John Loring's Dunhill tobacco articles one states that American was not available inside or outside the U.S. after 1980 indicating that it was made outside the U.S. as well . It was also touted as a " cool " blend . My guess is that it was available in the Canadian shops as Piping Cool . This looks and tastes to me like a blend with many components ---- those being stoved Va. , burley , orientals and a condimental touch of perique .I could not taste any latakia but do not deny it's existance here . The piping cool strongly resembles American in appearance and tin note , as I remember . I think that the tobacco makers of the day did not think Americans had the taste or palate of European smokers and that the Canadians did not even have that . In a way , this is the theory behind mixtures like Spillmans that had a simpler , more palatable make up . As a tobacco , this is a complex smoke with lots of action that comes across mainly as a virginia - oriental . The burley gives it some sweetness . And …. it is cool . This review is only historical because no one is going to ever find another can of piping cool . it reminds us of that vanished world that men of a certain age still wish to visit .
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