Tobaccos Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) - Troost Special Cavendish

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	musicman (131)	2014-01-16		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Do not be fooled by the dreaded "C" word.

For many pipe smoker the word cavendish brings back nightmares of tobacco that only tastes like hot steam, your tongue feeling like you have held a soldering iron in your mouth, and a swamp in the bottom of your pipe. In fact for a lot of pipe smokers cavendish is where you start your pipe smoking journey, and soon move on to bigger and better things. The truth is cavendish can be a lot more than that sticky fruit parfait flavored black stuff in the large bulk jars in every tobacconist.

The dutch seem to do their cavendish differently. It is not a sticky sweet concoction, but a true respectable tobacco, and man does it have flavor.

I got this originally as a free tobacco, and it soon became one of my favorite blends. This blend is light colored, like a virginia or burley. It comes in a broken flake format, that at times can be a little bit of a pain to pack, but I do believe the small bits of flake really add to the flavor.

I cannot put into words the exact flavor of this tobacco. I can pick of hints of chocolate, and licorice. I can say that this tobacco I really like, and find myself reaching for when I want a flavorful smoke. I even hesitate to call it an aromatic. It does not have any of the burn or bite issues that most aromatics present. It actually burns remarkably well. The favor is a real tobacco flavor, just slightly nuanced by the topping. Even straight VA lovers should give this blend a try.

This tobacco is not mild like other cavendishes. It is rather full flavored and in my humble opinion really shines when paired next to a strong cup of good coffee. The coffee will not over-shine the tobacco and they really work in harmony.

What started as a free sample for me has quickly become a go to blend, and I have begun the process of stockpiling this little gem. Do not let the words cavendish scare you, and do not let the fact that it comes in a pouch drive you away. This is different stuff and really very good. Highly recommended and a true favorite.

Pipe Used: Grabow smooth billiard

Age When Smoked: purchased in 2012

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TK Pipe (101)	2011-02-10		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Troost Special… A (50g) pouch tobacco, containing coarsely rubbed out medium brown flakes. Some may consider this stuff a drug store blend, not so in my area, I had to get mine using the internet, and is my first Troost product of any kind. But as I always enjoyed Cavendish blends, and this one was on my must try list for some time. I'm glad I made the afford.

Pouch moisture was about perfect for most, but I prefer my delicate flavored flake blends dried "almost" brittle, I feel this helps eliminate some of the annoying steam early in the smoke, this may sound a bit zany, but it works for me. After an easy pack and light up, followed by several full draws, I found its taste reminds me of Sail Yellow in many ways, with Troost being a bit stronger (not in Nicotine which seems mild) but in taste, and with a noticeable but mild Perique like pepper presents, a nice surprise, you might even say it' a tad “special”. So… if a slightly aromatic and a somewhat peppery Danish Cavendish sound good to you, this is for you. For what it is. 3 stars. My personal rating 3/5

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2015-03-27		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I get a mild toasty Burley with hints of cocoa and a sweetness that might be honey. Too light to tell. I get some Virginia citrus that always, for me, gives the smoke a "fresh" feel. Mostly natural tobacco flavors here that taste pretty dang good. Not too complex, but that's exactly what I sometimes want. I think I'll keep some of this around to enjoy on occasion.

Mild to medium in body and flavor. Burns well out of the pouch. but improves with a short drying time.

Pipe Used: MM Country Gentleman, MM Diplomat Apple

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2011-09-15		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

It has been 47 years since I first tried this blend, back then they included coupons, collect 10 and they sent you a free pipe of your choice (basket quality). I still have a few that I smoke on occasion. Well, on to the review of my recent purchase, basically an upscale drug store blend. It starts with a slight liquorish citrus flavor, some sweetness from the Cavendish and I feel it has got to have some Burley, very mild. Now that Peter Stokkebyes is manufacturing this, it reminds me of a milder Orliks Golden. The next time you're in "Rite Aid" and you ran out of tobacco, try some, it's better than anything else they stock.

Oh, and if I remember correctly from 47 years ago, Troost Aro tastes and smells like cookie dough.

updated 12/1/12-I've had a sealed pouch of this in the cellar for over a year and just decided to smoke it, what a pleasent surprise.The light topping of liquorish citrus flavor is gone and all that's left is the natural smooth Virgina tobacco ( no Burley flavor). It is naturally sweet, an easy burning broken flake without any bite. I now remember why I used to smoke this. Bumped to 3 stars

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	doc'spipe (242)	2009-02-09		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I was always a fan of the pipey aroma of Flying Dutchman. However, it took a while for me to master the art of smoking FD since, at first, my tongue couldn't take the heat ! I like the way most Dutch cavendish blends smell and taste, and I've found that evident in Troost Special Cavendish; plus, it's readily more available than FD these days.

I buy it by the 5 pouch pack and generally add them to a glass tobacco jar. I keep the top off for a day since it has a tendency to smoke hot if too moist. Some have stated it is "dry" in the pouch already, but don't be fooled by this. There's enough moisture in the leaf to burn your tongue if smoked too quickly. I have no issues with moisture in my pipe, and the blend burns down fully to a fine gray ash. Upon lighting you are greeted with a subtle top flavor of chocolate. As you smoke it, there is a nice licorice (not anise, but straight licorice) taste as well. This combo of licorice/chocolate remains in the background of what is an exquisite combination of tobacco flavors consisting of Virginia and Burley, and very buttery I might add. In spite of the background flavors, this is no aromatic in the traditional sense, so purists shouldn't be disappointed. The room note has what I call that "pipey" smell, and I'll put my pipe down to leave the room - so that I can re-enter to that wonderful aroma. This effect is great for when I smoke in the car! The taste has a subtle hint of sweetness which I like - not overbearing at all. There is some good quality Kentucky Burley as there is a spicy note while smoking. It truly is a delicious smoke for me. The only difference I have found between Troost Special Cavendish and Troost Aromatic Cavendish is that the Aromatic version has a nice butterscotch flavor in addition, making for a solid smoke for those who prefer more of an aromatic experience. However, I prefer the Special over the aromatic as it is fuller-bodied and the Burley and Virginia stands out more.

Troost Special Cavendish is a solid 5 star blend and in my top 5 favorites - always a must have for me.

UPDATE 1-22-10: With regard to some of the more recent reviews of Troost Special Cavendish, I wonder if the comments are based on the same tobacco that I reviewed. I know taste is a highly subjective matter, but for me, Special is very tasty in the tobacco department with the licorice/chocolate in the background in a non-interfering way. Personally, I can chug on this like a freight train without the slightest tongue annoyance. Yes, it will heat up your pipe this way, but that heat never translated to my tongue or palate. One reviewer compared this to Sail Yellow. I can see the comparison, however, Sail Yellow always smoked hot for me and would bite if provoked - each and every time - so sipping was required. The way things are today with tobacco availability, Special is one tobacco I always have an abundance of. I would be very upset if I could no longer obtain it, or if it was discontinued. I have found Dutch tobacco blends the most difficult to tame for comfortable smoking, but when you do master them, they are a delight. However, I have found Troost to be "Special" in more than name only. My first encounter with Troost Special Cavendish goes back 30 years, and it was like meeting an old friend. There was never any adjustment period. Lucky for me, I guess!

UPDATE 9-18-11: I won several packs of Troost Special from the 1970s in a recent Ebay auction. Definitely the Troost Special I remember from my early days of smoking. Although I enjoy the new stuff (Peter Stokkebye), the original from the original blender is/was far superior. Smoked alone it is simply superb. One pack added to at least 3 of the new incarnation mellows the smoke very nicely. My jar smells like a walk through a beautiful barn - hay-like and wonderful. A simple smoke, with old-world flavor and aroma. If you like a simple, unadulterated offering that delivers pure tobacco goodness...look no further!

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Motoyoshi (68)	2014-07-08		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I was gifted a pouch by a friend that raved about the 5 dollar tobacco. There was a little more than 3/4 of this pouch when I received it and it's down to about a bowl's worth.

Opening this pouch, you'll see a mixture of broken flakes in a medium brown hue with specks of Khaki. They say black cavendish but I don't see that as the dominating leaf in this blend. Scent of the tobacco smells very natural, with a hint of sweetened nuts and honey. It just a little bit too moist out of the pouch (at least for my liking) and can use 5-10 minutes of drying time.

This tobacco packs very easily and burns just as well. My favorite way to pack this is find the bits of intact flake, round them up and pack them like you would a flake. Then take the little specks of tobacco and use it as kindling on the top.

Now, I can see where some people say this tobacco bites. I can only assume it's due to the flavoring that has been added. But puff it slowly and you can coax some wonderful sweet VA profiles along with some honey and even some lemony zests. It even reminds me a little of Amphora Full Aroma with a bit more burley profile coming through. Once in a while a cocoa/chocolate flavor comes across, probably the Burley.

I love using this tobacco to break in new pipes as it doesn't ghost and helps build a nice carbon cake. At 5 dollars for the pouch, there isn't much not to like about this tobacco. I could even consider giving it 4 stars considering the price tag, but all it in all a solid three.

Pipe Used: Cobs, Briars and Morta

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Imperial Tobacco Group, PLC - Amphora Red Full Aroma , Peter Stokkebye - Cube Cut.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	beaupipe (102)	2011-04-27		Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Troost Special Cavendish appears to be produced from a rubbed out flake. It's a sort of reddish gold color and is really quite attractive right out of the pouch. Its appearance, coupled with a mild and elusive aroma made me want to like it. It's tough to describe the smell of this blend, but it seems to be the result of a tug-of-war between some grassy tobacco scents and something lightly fruity. On occasion, I find light cocoa notes, too, but whatever it is that makes this stuff “Special” has been applied with a very light hand.

Reviewers here are almost unanimous in describing this as bland, unexciting. I confess that I developed pretty much the same impression from the first few bowls I smoked. But I also thought it smoked very nicely. So as an experiment, I decided to spend an entire weekend with Troost.

I came away from my little experiment believing that the real trouble with this is that it is so easily overwhelmed by most other tobaccos. People who frequent sites like this probably smoke a variety of blends on a regular basis, some mild, some intense. This is so mild that I think for it to come into its own, it needs great attention, complete fidelity. It's like a mousy date at a Clash concert. In order to hear her, you've gotta shout, “WILL THE REST OF YOU PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP!” You lean in close. You think there's something there, something worth committing to, and so you shelve those other lovers and marry her. One day a memory of a distant experience pops into your head and even though you can't remember the details, the intensity remains. You realize you've lost something. And so you cheat one day with a bowl of Escudo or Grousmere or, heaven forbid, Old Joe Krantz. It will be weeks before the Special Cavendish-ing provided by your little Troost will allow you to stop pining for that intense experience the event of infidelity provided. And so you run off into the Wilderness and lay down beside the 3 Oaks with each of the Three Nuns. One right after another. And you know them while Old Joe Krantz sits nearby taking notes. The relationship you have with simple, mousy Troost begins to unravel. You realize it was never more than boredom's own braid. Recommended, but only for faithful types who vow not to stray with other tobaccos.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-01-07		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I like my tobaccos to be non-biting, mild, easy to pack and light and not full of artificial flavors. While I am on record for liking my Captain Black's, I find that as I mature as a pipe smoker, I like to smoke my Captain's more on an occasional basis in lieu of the Dutch blends.

Troost Special Cavendish is another Troost brand that I really enjoy. It's been nearly 25 years since I smoked this blend, but thanks to a friend who brought back a pouch from Holland for me, I have been able to re-kindle many fond memories associated with this blend.

This is not a moist tobacco and once the pouch is opened it dries even more very quickly and if you don't keep it moist it will burn to nothing in minutes. The aroma in the pouch is slightly licorice which is absent in the room note but delicately reappears in the mouth as an aftertaste.

Lights easily, burns to the end, doesn't bite and has a mild ever so slightly sweet taste and aroma. Smoke is slightly on the dry side but very mellow.......yes that's the word to sum it up.....Mellow. Very little after-taste left in the mouth.

A very nice all-day smoke.

I give it a Highly Recommended!

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bluenoser (34)	2008-12-26		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Upon breaking the seal of the pouch and sticking my nose straight in naturally inhaling deep I was instantly transported back through time. I am walking through an old lumber mill, I'm maybe ten or eleven and Dad is holding my hand. I smell freshly milled logs,Red Rose tea steeping in a tin pot on a hot plate, and a seducingly sweet and pungent aroma coming from white dancing smoke of the millers pipe. In one breast pocket of his coveralls I see a plastic case holding pens and pencils and in his other pocket I see an orange and red pouch with the name Troost written near the top of the exposed end. This is an old school classic tobacco, once popular and available everywhere, enjoyed by many I am sure. Its smoke tastes the same as its pouch aroma. A true classic that I will not be without! It is not my favorite but it is the only tobacco I have smoked thus far that takes me back to those Saturday mornings in the mid 60's when I got to have my Dad all to my self, shopping for lumber, returning beer bottles for pocket change, or sitting on a wooden bench watching the train slowly steam through the middle of town. Nostalgic bliss!!

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tantric (321)	2017-01-03		Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Though it is now being produced somewhere in Scandinavia, this tobacco is all Dutch in structure, composition, and flavour. It’s a different type of Cavendish processing from the typical Danish or American Cavendish heavily cased aromatics. If anything this tobacco today is closer to the old Amphora original (or regular, brown pouch blend) than the new Amphora version itself (produced by the Danish MacBaren).

It was Eulenburg who pointed out the difference between spraying a tobacco, and casing it. This one is sprayed with a very delicate, almost imperceptible dark cocoa aroma. But unlike the cased aromatics, it retains most of its tobacco taste. I can certainly feel and taste the Burley and Kentucky nuances alongside the matured Virginia. Thus, it is a mild aromatic, with plenty of tobacco taste, which burns slowly and easily.

Warning: it is very mild so if you draw too hard trying to “get” the delicate flavour underneath, you may get tongue bite. But if smoked slowly, gently, it is a very rewarding tobacco. A very nice blend in the Dutch tradition: elegant, unpretentious, yet satisfying. Recommended for beginners and well established smokers who wish a change of pace.

Besides, the artwork always makes me smile.

Pipe Used: basket bruyere pipe.

Age When Smoked: N/A

Purchased From: Dean's fine cigars (San Francisco).

Similar Blends: Amphora regular (old version). Sail regular.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipepundit (168)	2006-05-14		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The temperature is 110 plus and the air ferociously dry. The usual diet of heavy English/Balkans and cooked virginias needs a change and one thinks of aromatics. Special Cavendish comes from the pouch as a dryish mixture of broken flake and loose ribbon, but does not smoke hot. The basic taste and room note are both tobacco. The flavouring marries very well with the tobacco, adding to the tobacco experience rather than competing with it, or diminishing it, as can be the case with shoddily put together aromatics.

This reminds me somewhat of the Amphora Golden Cavendish. Since I last smoked that some twenty years ago, my memory may be at fault, but this is purer taste of tobacco.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (305)	2001-11-15		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Brazilian and African tobaccos combined with Virginias but topped with a distinctive but unknown flavor. Looks like a pressed flake that has been randomly broken up and packs easily. Dry from the pouch for me as is typical of the Troost line which resulted in a hot smoke unless puffed slowly. Reminds me of the Amphora blends that are no longer imported into the States due to legal concerns. If you enjoyed them, give this one a try. Both the taste and the room aroma are of tobacco and not the flavoring.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokeKing David (134)	2013-02-20		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Nope. That's all that this blend deserves, by way of review. Hot and without a pleasant flavor. I wouldn't even take a free bowl of this very disappointing tobacco. Nope.

Govern Yourself Accordingly.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	wolfdreamer (25)	2012-02-01		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Mild	Tolerable

Disappointing...i read a review thinking this would be really good but i could hardly detect any taste from it as well as got tongue bite....now for me I found it a very strong tobacco ...I felt sick from the nicotine or something...the aroma in the pouch wasn't bad..the room note I'm not sure because I was nauseous afterwards. I have put this one away to age and hope to revisit with a better experience in future. I would not buy this again.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-07-25		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I have tried both the tin and the pouch.

Please avoid the pouch. It is not up to the wonderful tobacco contained in the tin.

The tin displays an outstanding broken flake of light and medium brown.

The tin aroma is of walnuts with a little sweet extra, maybe a bit of vanilla.

The tobacco is mild but rich, a real pleasure to smoke.

The tobacco is the pouch is dry and hasrh. Stay away from the pouch if you can!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-02-08		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I found this a little light on flavor compared to Skandinavik's Regular or Full Aroma cavendishes. The flavor I did get seemed more of the artificial honey that cases the tobacco than actual tobacco but it wasn't overly sticky or heavily processed. The taste of this Dutch blend was lighter than its Danish brethren, and I think that's mostly a good thing. However, the overall flavor was a bit too light for me.

I liked the cut of this and it smelled quite natural in the pouch. The taste was pleasant enough, but I prefer a bit more joie de vivre. Complexity was minimal, but that's ok - I don't think complexity is the point with Dutch-style cavendish blends. The taste was uniform top to bottom and this did not bite me. I can certainly recommend this to someone who prefers a lightly sweet smoke and doesn't want to be overpowered by flavor or nicotine. I won't buy more but I wouldn't turn down a freebie!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Clarkus (36)	2010-02-02		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Like "alfabet", I first smoked Troost in or about 1969 in pouch or slices (the slices were also in a pouch rather than tin). My usual tobacco was Old Georgetown, a local English blend. As a change I would smoke Schippers, Troost and Edgeworth slices. I don't know how it could have been but Schippers was my favorite of the three.

Last year, I bought a five pack of Troost based on these reviews and I'm very happy I did. I'm into my second five pack now.

It seems to be a VA/Burley blend with the VA up front and the burley rounding it out. The pouch aroma is very good. I can't determine the toppings but the topping seems to be rather subdued once lit. The pouch rates it aromatic 4 out of 5 but I would rate its aromatic quality a 3 at most. Scandanivic Regular is a close approximation but I prefer Troost and believe it to be a step up from Scandanivic even though both present tobacco flavor quite well.

This is my "go to" VA pouch tobacco. It tastes like tobacco, burns well down to a fine ash without gumming up your pipe with an unoffensive room note and comes at a good price.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	alfabet (3)	2010-01-31		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Back in 1969 as a freshman in college I picked up the pipe smoking habit. With a master pipe maker owning a tobacco shop in the small central Pennsylvania town, it was easy to get started. After going through the usual "drug store" brands I quickly found that virginia, burleigh and dutch cavendish were where I was most inclined. Somewhere around that time I became aware of Troost Special and, yes it was much more available- in pouches as well as half pound cans. Over the next 35 years, whether I "gave up the habit" or returned on a very sporadic basis, Troost was always my go to tobacco.

Most recently I returned to my off again, on again pipe smoking and bought a pouch, now only really available on the internet. I was not disappointed but either I have stepped into a different realm in my old age or the blend is not quite the same. The latter has been what I have seen on these reviews and I would like to believe that this this is the reason that it is no longer a favorite. I was also disappointed to hear that the slices are no longer available in this country or that these, too have been reformulated.

There appears to be so much good flake and ready rubbed tobacco which incorporates a virginia and burleigh blend that I find myself moving in that direction. Most recently I bought some samplers of PS luxury twist flake and SG best brown flake and I have been enthralld by both. I have an tin of Orlick golden still to open and it looks similar to the troost slices but that remains to be seen (or smoked).

I can still recommend the Troost Special. It just isn't as "special" as I recall.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-06-12		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I stumbled across this online and since I haven't seen any of my local shops carring this brand, I had to get some. When packed right, it gives a slightly sweet and nutty smoke with a hint of cocoa, that is cool and rich. I've been through two pouches of this and have not had a hot smoke yet in both filtered and non-filtered pipes. Reminds me of the old Amphora green. I bought a five pack of this and Im really enjoying it! A good tobacco, period! If you like Sail Green but find yourself looking for a littlle more kick and richness, Troost Special will satisfy the itch. Anyone who bashes this tobacco is either a rookie or doesn't know how to smoke a pipe! Dutch tobaccos are to be savored and smoked slowly to really enjoy them. They are naturally cased, and not confectioned heavily like their Danish counterparts. The tobaccos are always good quality. Better than the slop "Jar" aromatics!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Spike (296)	2004-10-18		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I hesitated to order this after reading the other reviews. I finally broke down and bought a 50 gram pouch over the internet. It is not sold anywhere around the Northwest that I have been. The tobacco is very coarse cut for a pouch blend. It was packed tight like a cake when I broke the seal. I like tobacs that are not too damp and this stuff was just right. I grabbed a pinch and rolled it into a loose ball and stuffed it in a bent bulldog. A very smooth fairly strong dutch cavendish type flavor. A pleasant surprise. Smoked a relatively long time and very clean. Definitely a one-note symphony of flavor but a very tasty smoke. No bitterness detected either. Not at all like the drugstore pouch tobaccos nor what Americans would call a cavandish. Highly recommended as a pleasant change-of-pace. I just wish we could get the Sliced version in the U.S. O.K. bring on the Amphora Red!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Planet Scott (66)	2015-06-09		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Not a bad blend really......I remember my father smoking a lot of this when I was a teenager. Lots of nostalgia here. Once it drys, it burns decent. Some caramel, nutty and toast flavors that do not over power. It does have some tongue bite, but puff slowly and this can be enjoyable. Not stellar, but a nice smoke when you are not in the mood for a super sweet aro, a super smokey lat, or a hot Va.

Pipe Used: Algerian briar, Castello

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: P & C

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-06-18		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This is a nice Danish style VA/Burley with practically no topping, if any really. I like this better than Golden Slices, but just a little. It produces a simple, monogustatory sensation, but very nice to just smoke and not meditate over as one might with a more complex blend. Very little aftertaste, clean and pleasant. This was a free pouch from the manufacturer advertised on this site and I'm glad I took advantage of the deal. This is a broken flake and packs nicely, lights well and produces a good volume of smoke. It can be a little bitey and burn hot if you get excited, but otherwise this is a good smoke.

Smoke in peace, brothers and sisters of the leaf.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2013-01-15		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

An orange pouch that says made in the EU. A Dutch style Cavendish that is so lightly flavored with cocoa/licorice that I barely consider this a light aromatic. The flavor is monochromatic with the flavoring showing up once in a while. The real challenge being of pacing yourself so that you take advantage of a genuine old school pipe smoking experience. If puffed too fast, you will be reminded to slow down by some light tongue bite. I do believe that I was lucky enough to get an older production pouch that would explain the light casing and the seasoned tobacco taste.

Virginia lover

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-05-05		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Along with the typical grass and wheat of virginia and burley leaf, this ready rubbed flake smells, unsurprisingly, like dutch cocoa.

In the bowl, the husky burleys and rich gold VAs are further smoothed by the cavendish process, which also adds a minimal touch of added sugar. There is a touch of dark fired leaf, which I will assume is burley because its contribution to the blend is subliminal to me, as is any turkish which may be hiding amongst the leaves.

Troost Special is the very definition of mellow. Its homogenous richness, without variance or interplay, is perfect for all day smoking for those seeking something both robust and reserved. This was best in narrow to medium gauge chambers.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ruffinogold (112)	2009-08-29		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I wasnt real excited about this blend.Burned a touch hot but not real bad . Everything about it seemed lack luster ... room note was o.k. Tobacco flavor was weak .With this being sold all over I thought it would be better . I'd rather smoke an IRC blend and save some money

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-03-09		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Update

Troost Special cavendish is tastier than Skandinavik full aroma. For beginners wishing to upgrade to something tastier, I recommend it as the next step to a tobacco similar to Skandinavik. I have now tried the pouch version and it is not as good as the tin version. All my pouches were partly opened. The tobacco was dry and I used it to cake some of my new pipes. If I can not get SC in a tin, then I will not resmoke it1

Original review 07/30/2008

A friend brought back for me a 100g tin that he purchased in Amsterdam this summer.

A bit disapointed at first, because Troost is readily available in North America, I finally gave into giving it a try.

I was pleased to find a nice ready rubbed tobacco slightly cased with what seems to be walnuts. The colours range from golden to medium brown.

Packs easily,smokes easily with the nice subtle walnut taste which does not overcome the pure taste of quality tobacco, I truly enjoyed this beautiful change of pace that smoked dry all the way down.

As long as you don't rush it, your tongue will be spared.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-16		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have slightly mixed feelings about Troost Special I would definitely recommend it to try.The only thing is the tobacco is so darn dry but that make be how they make it.Smoking it I found Special to have a strong spice to it,maybe a slight hint of anise and clove. However this approach works nicely for those who enjoy the taste of spices but the price per pouch is just a tad high.I will gladly admit though that Troost Special burns nice and slow:)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-10-26		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

SWEET, LIGHT VA TOBACCO

TROOST , smells great, burns HOT-HOT-HOT. must go easy with this, is not a cavendish as we know cavendish in the US. IT APPEARS AS a really nice VA, like Light flake or such, a good tobacco-dont let the pouch fool you. It is Booze I smell first, then undiscernable sweet. If you like GOLDEN SLICES (ORLIK) you will like this as much, and it is certainly as good at a much better price. I only give two stars as for me, I am seldom allowed the time-to take time, and it is a hot one... A must try for all VA lovers and Aromatic fans looking for a transition to a more natural tobac.

BETTER PICK: STOKKEBY LUXURY TWIST, OR ORLICK GOLDEN SLICES, OR MACBARENS VA'S (NOT HARD TO OUT DO THIS ONE...) RATTRAYS MARLIN FLAKE.

BETTER PICK: MCCLELLAND CHRISTMAS CHEER 05' OR 06

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-09-19		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

An enjoyable if unremarkable tobacco. Troost Special is a bit dry out of the pouch but not unduly so. Special packs and lights easily and smokes cleanly down to the bottom of the bowl with minimal re-lights. It smokes very mildly and I didn't find it the least bit aggressive respecting tongue burn. Probably the best "pouch tobacco" I've had, but that may be damning it with faint praise. I wouldn't turn a bowl of this down as it is an interesting change of pace but it's just doesn't have enough character to actively seek out.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-07-14		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

At the beginning, on my first bowl, I was a bit disappointed with this one, as it is rather dry and almost agreesive. However, bowl after bowl, I discovered that is is a pleasant smoke, on par with other favourites I have.

Give it a try.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mightysmurf8201 (28)	2020-10-02		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Pouch note was very pleasant, not your typical cavendish. Initial impression was of a fruity, grassy Virginia. Partially broken flake rubs out easily. Packs and lights with no problems. Flavor is bright and citrusy with a hint of honey. After several bowls, I had a hard time getting it to burn cool and not burn my tongue, despite some real effort, which is keeping me from categorizing it as “will buy again”, which is a shame because it’s really a high quality cavendish in the danish tradition. Will finish the pouch, but will be adding a bit of Perique to help ease the tongue bite.

Pipe Used: Briar, cob

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	King Weed (228)	2018-07-26		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Like so many of our reviewers, I have smoked most of this genre's blends. I started out with Flying Dutchman but wound up settling on Sail in the Ivory pouch. This all occurred in the early and mid 1960's before I discovered English blends. From that point on, they all disappeared until recently when I obtained a 4 oz tin of old authentic Van Rossems Troost Special Cavendish from an ebay seller. This tin was advertised as unopened; however, I could see in the single picture provided that the lid was absolutely flat and any vacuum gone. When it arrived I knew immediately that I was correct and the tin had been opened. The tobacco itself, however, was still somewhat moist with a couple of bowl fulls removed. I lit up and discovered that any bite once present was now long gone and the blend could be puffed at a moderate pace with no dire results. Then it all came back to me - there is a limit to how much enjoyment can be extracted from these Dutch formula Cavendish blends. They don't offend so much as fail to satisfy. Very monochromatic in the taste range; this blend smoked best in the top third of the bowl and I was happy with it, considering how old it was. In the middle third the taste began to fade and the bottom third saw an almost complete loss of taste. Not offensive or anything, I saw TSC as a two star blend all the way. Then, I decided to include it in my micro blending regimen as a background ingredient. This turned out to be the most interesting aspect to this blend. It softened and smoothed-out every blend I used it in and this caused me to raise it's rating to three stars.

Pipe Used: Ashton Old Church bent billiard

Age When Smoked: 40+ years old

Purchased From: an Ebay seller

Similar Blends: most of the other old Dutch Cavendish formulas that we old timers have smoked in our dim pipe smoking pasts.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bluesmoke (75)	2015-01-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Troost is pretty darn good! This mild to medium strength baccy is nicely sweet and to me there is no topping evident; if its there, there is no unpleasant aftertaste that I find with many topped blends. I really like the taste, but even more is the seemingly naturally sweet aroma which reminds me of caramelized sugar. The tobacco needed just a little drying time and then it packed and burned just fine. The price of this pouch was very reasonable and I try to keep a pouch around to intermingle with the smoking of my favorite English/Balkan blends. PLCHM

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-09-20		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

writeing this review im about halfway thrue the pouch, it grows on you. first bowl was nothing special, but the more you smoke it the more you discover in taste. didnt had any tonguebite and smokes easily down to the bottom of the pipe. for sure this will be in my baccy stash.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2011-08-16		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

Good ol' Troost.

I have had a pouch of this floating around my house since 01/06. For some reason I decided to dig through the drawer and pull this out. Nothing wrong with this tobacco, a good all day cavendish blend. Great for yard work, or putzing around the house. Even a good blend for fly tying, it won't give you the shakes from a high nicotine content.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-06-19		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Makes you wish the bowl would go on forever. It is only the second tobacco I have smoked since starting. First being Captain black white. To each their own. Capt wasn't for me. This smells good and just makes me wanna keep going. No tongue bite. Little pricey in NH seeing how the tobacco tax is 65% but was worth the price.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-02-02		Very Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

A very distinctive tobacco, Perhaps the definitive Dutch blend. The pouch aroma is sweet not unlike spring heather. The pipe should be packed using the Frank technique. This will minimize the number of relights and maximize the unique characteristics of this tobacco. Unlike the usual description of "Danish" blends, this technique opens an entirely new experience. The sweetness is not at all fleeting but is a strong deeper layer of taste to the rich muskiness throughout. A much under expected but delicious experience. Smoked in a medium meer is a rare and exceptional treat.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-02-22		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

It smelled nice in the pouch. I wish some of that came through the smoke. Frankly I get more taste out of SWR than this. It bit me. I tend to smoke more burleys that never bite me so I can huff and puff as I please. This one tried to peel the skin off my tongue and salt it down too.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-02-19		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Perhaps it was simply my pouch, but this was a rather bland and boring tobacco to me. It was rather dry in the pouch, and smoked much too hot, even with careful puffing. The taste was that of a standard VA to me, and reminded me a bit too much of cigarettes at times. I expected at least a hint of a sweet casing, but found nothing. I'll be giving this one away...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Cantrell (14)	2010-01-22		Very Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Tolerable

Tongue bite and lots of it, virtually no flavor. pouch aroma is about the only good thing. smelled like raisins and sweet cake.

I must say I expected more.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2010-01-20		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Even when this baccy is much better than Troost Black Cavendish, it's still far from good. Similar in taste to Sail Yellow (just a bit sweeter), it tends to burn hotter with a stronger tongue bite.

Not the worst drugstore blend, but quite unremarkable.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	k_pip_k (9)	2009-10-07		Very Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I really like this tobacco. It reminds me of a good Navy Blend. It is quite tasty, dries out nice and burns very well. There is not much room note.

The major thing with this blend is the Nicotine content. I must smoke it very slowly and I cannot smoke two bowls of this stuff back to back. I did a couple times, and my head was spinning. I'm a light weight I guess. :)

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CornCob (94)	2009-02-02		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I loved the pouch aroma as well as the cut, th looks like a very well made product. It packed well in the bowl and stayed lit the whole way through.But wow did it burn hot, i thought it was going to crack my briar! I couldnt detect any casing or topping, but when i smoke it a second time(slower)i began to like the blend, and i will buy it again.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Griswold (21)	2007-11-09		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I picked up a pouch at a tobacconist in Roermond, The Netherlands, when I was visiting the outlet center in that city with my significant other

Troost Special Cavendish is a classic Dutch Cavendish with a unobstrusive flavoring that can be smoked all day long if one's tongue is somewhat broken in and one keeps the puffing cadence down, otherwise it can bite a bit.

The flavor is pretty constant, not to say monochromatic. A simple, honest tobacco for the moments when one wants to smoke a pipe but has to focus his attention on something else.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-09-24		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

fairly hot noughat like va, with nice leaf, much better than say, captain black or borkhum riff- but its no mcclelland or orlik.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-07-02		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Loving the old Troost Slices, I once smoked my way thru a five-pack of Special Cavendish.

Special is nothing special. It's a somewhat pleasant smoke that I wouldn't buy again. This one defines the word, mediocre.

If you're looking for a substitute for the legendary Troost Slices, this ain't it.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-09-15		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I really wanted to like this, but it's just a bit too tame for me - most of the time. I tend to like the flamethrowers out there, and I just don't get much taste out of this. It's okay, when I want something laid back, with a pleasant aroma to it. Nuff' said.

1 person found this review helpful.