Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Sail Authentic (Sail Natural)

I recently came across 1/2 pouch of this which I bought while on vacation in Amsterdam 10 years ago. I haven't smoked any in many years, but the pouch has been properly stored and the tobacco is in good condition, so I'm smoking it right now. It brings back fond memories of the city in which I purchased it. This pouch was manufactured by Theodorus Niemeyer; I don't know who might be making it now. It is a very pleasant VA/Burley/Cavendish mixture with the traditional slightly chocolate aromatic essence. It lights and burns nicely. Unfortunately, as with most Dutch cavendish blends I have tried, it gets a bit caustic half way through a medium sized bowl. It doesn't burn overly hot, it is just abrasive. The flavor is pretty consistent although it gets a bit more flavorful towards the bottom. I will not purchase this tobacco again as it is just too sharp for my palate, but fans of traditional European cavendish blends will probably enjoy it.

This is another classic in the pipe smoking world despite the simple presentation in a pouch, without any pretense. But this, as well as Green and Yellow, cannot be considered as drugstore tobaccos; the high quality of the leaf and smoking properties cannot be associated to blends as Borkumm Riff or Captain Black.

As described, the uniqueness of Sail Natural is the addition of tobaccos from India and Indonesia. I will be damned if I can identify those tobaccos against the Burley and Virginias. The pouch aroma is of natural tobaccos. A pleasant background of natural almonds is identifiable as well as a faint sweetness that could be characteristic of a well aged virginia. However, the result is a semi-rich and tasty experience if a minimal attention is dedicated on the smoker's part.

The taste is of pure tobacco which alternates between a subtle sweetness, some smokiness (the Latakia, I would guess but it is difficult to identify any significant proportion)and the nuttiness of the burley. The intensity will increase slightly as the bowl progresses and the nicotine level is satisfying at a minimal level for my own liking. Considering the competitive price, it is hard not to like it very much.

SN smokes well all the way and leaves a nice dry bowl at the end. This will become part of my regular rotation along with S Green and my other favorites.

Colleagues, this tobacco came as a complete, unexpected, pleasant surprise. This is my first venture with Sail Natural.

SN is more of a ready rubbed mixture than a broken flake. Medium brown leaves with some golden tones. This mixture is definitively one of natural tobaccos. But it is rich, tasty, unveiling a discreet sweet undertone and a decent nicotine level. It burns nicely and dry.

I am not convinced that the burley is the major component because it does not taste like so. And it does not matter. This is a very nice blend, different and unique.

Definitively recommended

I am smoking Sail Natural as I write this review. I still have some from a 20 year old pouch (when it was still being manufactured by Theodorus Niemeyer). It is very smokeable as I keep all of my tobacco in a controlled climate environment. It is a typical, basic cavendish blend. I do like Dutch cavendish style tobacco and have learned to smoke them properly over the years as they all have a tendency to smoke hot. I always enjoyed Sail Natural since it is a simple, basic tobacco, mild in taste - yet spicy - and leaves that "old world" pipey room note. I will order some to see if the resurrected blend now being produced by Orlik is similar. Unfortunately, many of the older tobaccos now produced by other companies these days bear similarities only with regard to their pouch or tin art and not in the smoke. 3 solid stars for the original Sail Natural.

UPDATE 7-25-11: I finally purchased a 5 pack from JR Cigars. Same presentation as before, however, lighter in color as my original was very well aged, resulting in a darker colored leaf. A mild tobacco aroma from a newly opened pouch. Not damp by any means and easy packing/lighting. The overall verdict is a fairly weak tasting mix with the mildest hint of Latakia. Definitely not a strong blend and very little in the flavor department. I do not like the newer version of this much at all. Excepting for the slight mustiness from the Latakia, this is fairlt tasteless. Since I'm not a big fan of Latakia, I won't be re-visiting and downgrading to 2 stars. I'll try to salvage the remaining 4 pouches with some molasses and see what happens.

I wanted to try this blend, basically so I could wright how bad it was... but I can not do that after trying it. It has a very nice, yet mild, tobacco taste. It is primarily a burly blend that much like Middleton Walnut has some quality tobaccos added in small amounts to add "value" to consumers. There is no latakia taste and very little Oriental. The VA is questionable. I did like how well this blend burns and the fact that it did not bite my tongue. By the last third of the bowl though there was little taste left, and that really kept me from loving this blend. Well atleast I tried it and hey I did not hate it like I thought I would.

I smoked the original Sail Tobacco back in the 70s and started smoking it again about a year ago. However, now that it is manufactured by Orlik, I find it to be nothing close to the original tobacco. I bought three pouches and will be throwing two of them in the trash. It is harsh with no redeeming values. Same goes for the Sail Regular.

Sail natural has been in my regular rotation for years. This is definitely not a blend for someone new to pipe smoking. This blend is said to have Burley,Viginia,Oriental and Latakia. I feel the amount Latakia used is very small and only makes itself known in the back round. Sail natural must be sipped slowly like a fine wine. If you push it it will bite!! I guess what I really like about Sail natural is it is not flavored and it is a simple blend. I have smoked this in every size bowl however, I find it better in large bowls. Take your time and give it a try. I give this three stars.

If this is a combination of Virginias, Burley, Orientals and Latakia, I must say that I only taste the first two, and then a bit of Cavendish.

For a Burley mixture, tongue bite is high and it isn't as tasty as many tobaccos of the same genre. Not bad, but there are many better.

I picked up several of the 12 ounce tins of these for five bucks apiece on clearance at a local cigarette store. At that price, it was hard to go wrong, even if just to try the tobacco. I can honestly say that, were it not for the bargain price, I would have never bothered with Sail Natural, as it is normally a far overpriced tobacco in my book.

Opening up the can, one is faced with a plastic bag filled with long, dark strips and pieces of partially rubbed out tobacco. The aroma is dry and musty, reminiscent of the old Drum cigarette tobacco. There is, otherwise, nothing remarkable about the aroma or appearance of this blend. Despite the tin's claim of all the different tobaccos that go into it, it smells pretty monotone.

The tobacco was the right moisture, and it packs and lights easily. I find that, as with many MacBaren tobaccos, I must light carefully to avoid a scorched tongue. However, once lit Sail Natural behaves pretty well. There is a slight pepperiness to the flavor, and ocassionally I can detect a bit of sweetness. But overall, it's just a mild tobacco mustiness, punctuated by the natural spiciness. It's actually rather pleasant, as long as it is puffed at a leisurly rate.

So do I like it? This makes a good morning smoke for me, and I truly like it for a wake up smoke. There is something very 'clean' feeling about the way it smokes, and it has a fair nicotine punch. And this stuff does not interfere with the flavors of my morning coffee, even seems to compliment and heighten the flavors in my Kenya AA. I find that the tobacco is far too monotone for my normal smoke, but for that first morning pipe, it does a good job at waking up my palate.