Missouri Meerschaum 150th Anniversary

I bought five tins of this blend as soon as I saw it, opened one immediately and am still experimenting with it. Missouri Meerschaum 150th presents as an attractive umber chocolate brown block of slightly mottled layers that are easy to rub out. From the moment you open the tin, you know that it is an aromatic with vanilla tones. This aromatic element is noticeable in the top third but does not interfere with the blend's smokeability. What was noticeable to me was a relatively weak taste and aroma that continued through the top two thirds of the bowl. Only in the bottom third did it smoke with some strength. That didn't last long and we soon finished off in a very ordinary manner. I don't think that MM 150th is a bad blend. I do think that it is a weak blend and that's my problem with it. Just as I was glumly contemplating a two star review for MM's brand new blend, I began to use it in micro blending. Wow, this stuff has an alter ego! Every blend I inserted it into seemed "improved" and this has continued unabated to this moment. I feel that is worth another star and recommend it to the reader at three stars.

Simply stated, this stuff over-promises and under-delivers.

Upon opening the tin, one is greeted with a very pleasant and somewhat strong aroma of vanilla. The presentation of the crumble cakes is very nice and the cakes rub out easily. The moisture level seemed to be a bit high, but nonetheless the tobacco lit and burned easily and only required a couple of relights, and those were due to my inattention.

And therein lies the problem: 150th Anniversary simply didn't have enough going on to engage my senses. The flavoring is very light, but in addition to the lack of flavor, there is also a lack of body. This was very much like smoking Prince Albert, albeit a bit sweeter and without the very pleasant nuttiness of PA. Given the tin note, I expected a bit more oomph out of this blend. In the end, I was just underwhelmed.

This could easily be an all-day smoke, but I think one could get better value for money and a more rewarding smoking experience by simply buying Prince Albert or the Hearth and Home version of that blend, Prince Andrew. I give 150th Anniversary 2.5 stars.

The advertisement stated that the added vanilla was slight and that a non-aromatic smoker would like it. It is a shame that the tin that I bought and opened was far too strong for my liking in the vanilla department. However, I must say that the tobacco is high quality and, somehow, its flavour comes through the vanilla. It is easy to break up from the crumble cake and to load it into a pipe bowl. It burns reasonably well without much coaxing, and provides a satisfying smoke.

Although I have given it two stars, I would have given the blend three stars. However, the vanilla interferes too much with the tobacco taste. Russ, can you please make a blend that is similar to this one, without the vanilla? This pipe smoker would be very grateful.

Update:

I decided to lower my rating to only one star. The ghosting is too much with the vanilla.

This is my first Crumble cake. The tin aroma is that of quality tobacco and vanilla. It is sweet and earthy. The cake comes at the perfect moisture and ready to go. It packs well and takes a light well. I had to re-light a couple of times, but that could be because I am not used to packing this type of stuff. The aroma is full and has a definite smell of vanilla. I mean the natural vanilla sort and not the ultra sweet vanilla candy smell. The taste is more of a tobacco taste with hints of sweetness. The smoke is rich and full. The nicotine level seems moderate. The wife only tolerates the aroma. As the bowl continues, the flavor mellows and the Burley takes over. The ash is fine and just a little clumpy. The word for this blend is balance. And I mean that both the sweetness and fullness are equal. This is only the second of the MM tobaccos that I will give a full recommendation. The others were good, but were a little too mellow. The other one I fully recommend is American Patriot for the same reason; the flavor was full, but in a very different way.

Tin note of vanilla, sugar and spices. Tobacco is a Krumble Kake of marbled brown, dark brown and black with a little tan mixed in. Moisture content is ok. Some pipe smokers will want to dry it a bit. Burns slow with a few extra relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. Flavoring is mild, with notes of vanilla. Flavoring stay mostly in the background. Taste is mild to medium and mostly consistent, with notes of vanilla, peaty tart vegetation, orange peel, molasses, grassy, herbal floral hay, toasted bread, earthy, spices, sugar, zesty lemon, slightly spicy, wood, a mild vanilla and semi-sweet nutty background note, and a peppery retro. Burley is leading with Cavendish, Flavoring and Virginia supporting. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is good.

Missouri Meerschaum - 150th Anniversary.

The smell from the tin is lovely. Sweet vanilla. The kake isn't whole, there's a few slithers. Mostly they're dark in colour, with some lighter pieces flecked across them. My moisture made the blend good-to-go, so it could be crumbled, loaded and smoked straight away.

Unsurprisingly vanilla comes over straight away. Just like the tin-note, the vanilla is very sweet tasting; almost like there's the addition of honey, too. However, the smoke is flavoursome, not gloopy; it doesn't have a sticky mouth-feel. To my palate it's the Burley that leads the tobaccos. Rugged and coarse. There's a sharpness from the bright Virginia, but not any Va fruity notes. The black Cavendish softens the flavour, it gives actual weight to the smoke. I find the burn good, very reliable, and although quite well flavoured the smoke doesn't bite.

Nicotine: a little above mild. Room-note: lovely.

150TH Anniversary? I've a soft spot for vanilla aromatics, this is a great example of that genre. Four stars:

Highly recommended.

To start, I could see why tobacco connoisseurs out there may give this aromatic a lower rating. If aromatics aren't your thing, then this tobacco is not for you. I kind of see this as the "comfort food" of tobacco blends. While I know there are more exquisite, complex, and exciting blends out there, this 150th Anniversary Crumble Kake has become one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Upon opening the tin, you are greeted with a beautiful, sweet vanilla scent. It kind of hits you the second you open it. The Crumble Kake was an excellent touch. It rubs out very nicely. I smoked it in a Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman cob pipe (I also always take the filter out) and it tasted so good, in my opinion. There is no complexity at all, but sometimes it's the simple things you enjoy the most. The taste of vanilla is prevalent, and this blend is dominantly black Cavendish with a bit of sweet Virginia and nutty Burley in the background. The taste is mild and can be enjoyed as an all day smoke. Normally, I am pretty picky about what I smoke, but sometimes even multi-Michelin star chefs enjoy some fast food every once in a while. This tobacco blend will either bore you or, like me, you'll love it's simplicity. Also, I must mention that this blend has one of the most pleasant room notes that I've ever experienced. Everyone I've ever smoked this around, smoking or nonsmoker, has complimented the smell of this aromatic. I highly recommend this, and I also recommend that you age this tobacco blend in a jar for a good while. Makes the experience even more enjoyable.