John Middleton, Inc Walnut

This stuff was one of my favorite English blends as a new pipe smoker. I got gifted a bunch of pipes from my parents that came in a box they bought from a yard sale. I cleaned them all up and put Walnut into my Oom Paul and boy was this stuff amazing. I don't remember much of how to describe the blend as I do not think my pallet was refined enough to really discern all the flavors, but I knew I liked it and that is all that matters. This one needs to make a comeback in my lifetime as I think a lot of people are missing out. If you can find a retro tub that is still sealed, do not hesitate to buy.

Don't let the price fool you - this is good stuff.

Like the previous poster, I have been a pipe smoker for over forty years and had never heard of this tobacco. I too am primarily a burley smoker and smoke PA a lot. Also, I've been a big fan of English/Balkan blends since I started smoking but have become tired of the Latakia assault on my senses. Anyway, because of these reviews which were all over the board, I became curious and ordered a tub.

At first, I was put off by the bite and the flavor was very one dimensional. Eventually, I put half the tobacco on a platter and set it in the sun for about forty five minutes, stirring it frequently. I let it go till it was dry to the touch but still had enough moisture to keep the spring in the tobacco when I packed it.

Evidently, this was the ticket. The tongue bite was gone and the flavors came through quite well. I smoked it more and more frequently over the next three or four weeks and now it is my favorite tobacco. No one tobacco dominates in this mixture, which I consider the primary quality in a "mixture". The burley gives it good bottom end and fullness and the other various tobaccos create a wonderful taste with an underlying sweetness from the tobaccos and not casing.

Now I've got all these tins of the "best" tobaccos along with jars of tobacco shop bulk tobacco that, in my opinion, don't offer the pleasure I get from Walnut.

I am surprised but I'm sold on Walnut and very happy I took the chance and tried it.

P. S. Whisky compliments this blend very well.

Update 8/19/13

I'm still smoking this and I'm still liking it. Very balanced burley based English blend not overpowered with Latakia. I've continued my lifelong search for an everyday tobacco and haven't found it in tobacco shop bulk blends. Maybe they just try too hard but they all seem to be just too much of something. Oddly, I'm having a lot more success with the simple American burly blends I've mostly ignored for the past 35 years. I suppose I should have paid more attention to blends that have been around for 100 years. I was a beer snob for many years and now have come to prefer simple American Budweiser - I suppose the same thing is happening with tobacco. Update: 6/5/20: Thanks to Match, I’m enjoying this great blend once again.

Ahhh...Walnut.

Takes one back to Philly waiting rooms when doctors and lawyers would still affect a pipe...and were expected to.

An American English? I suppose so. A nice comfortable anytime smoke that burns well if packed well. I don't detect Columbian figs, 3.6% Syrian latakia or anything beyond value for dollars spent.

Sometimes the day and experience are simply about firing up a pipe and there is where Walnut shines.

I have smoked Walnut off and on for 50 years and still do at least twice a month. I always have a can around for my monthly Walnut fix. I'm originally from Phila. and can remember the amount of wealthy pipe smoking businessmen who were totally loyal to this blend. Without question this is the finest product Middleton makes and distributes.

Mixed colors. Mixed cut, mostly small broken ribbon. Moisture level is absolutely perfect for smoking. Burns extremely well, minimal relights. Nicotine level is mild. No surprises at all so far - pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a Middletons OTC burley.

I've heard Walnut referred to as an "Amercianized English blend." I don't like that label; for one, I don't really like the "English" label at all, as its meaning has become mangled and clouded over the years to make it practically meaningless; and for another, because it's inaccurate. Walnut, to me, is an American drug store burley style first and foremost. Mild burley with a tiny hint of sweet-ish topping is its base. There's enough latakia there that it's easy to pick up, and you know it's there....but this is definitely not a lat bomb. It's the perfect amount, IMO, to add a hint of smokey earthiness. The label claims that Walnut is a blend of the "world's seven finest tobaccos"....and I guess I believe it, but it is kinda hard for me to pick them out. Virginia? Yeah, there's a hint. Orientals? Maybe....I'm not versed enough in orientals to say with certainty what's there and what's not. What else? I don't know. And I don't care! All I know is it's damned fine tobacco. And it's quite a shame that it is no longer available.

originally reviewed 11/28/2012

I received a tub of Walnut recently and was impressed right away. The quality of this tobacco is top notch and the flavoring is perfect. I favor burley blend that taste like tobacco and not so much like a candy bar. Walnut does the trick for me. OTC vs boutique blends is rapidly becoming a non-issue for this smoker because it all starts as a leaf anyway. This blend quickly made its way to my top Five. Get it and enjoy!

I chose Walnut for my first review because I feel it reflects my overall philosophy; as much interested in performance and reliability as pedegree. Forget that it is an OTC, Walnut is a darn good tobacco, and far better than many more expensive blends. I do tend to favor aromatics and I do note a little bit of casting (Carter Hall like) when I open the lid. But it is not bad, just adds to the flavor. For me it has just the right amount of Latakia and Turkish to boost the burley. It can burn a bit warm if you puff too hard (Virginias) and that does not help the flavor, so go accordingly. The only real drawback is that the finish is a bit hollow, if you know what I mean. Sort of like a red wine with good to excellent flavor and characteristics, but a bit weak on the finish. Still, overall an excellent experience. Between three and four stars, I'll give it four. I always take a big baggie of it when I travel.

From reading the reviews here I knew I wanted to try Walnut but didnt know if I should buy it especially since it only comes in 12 oz tubs. I'm actually suprised at the amount of latakia in this blend, there's more than I expected although its not a lot. It is like others say an american style burley and not an english blend. The compexity is not comparable to english or balkan blends but I would not call it bland or only hitting one note.There is a few suprises in there and theyre all pleasant. At some points i can almost taste the topping applied to prince albert, and I dont mind that as I am a fan of PA as well but I think Walnut has surpassed PA and Carter Hall in strength, taste, and room note. I sure am glad I took a leap and bought this. It will be great when the season changes and the temps are cooler. Highly recommended... cool tub too!