W.O. Larsen Old Fashioned

Purchased at P.G.C. Hajenias in Amsterdam (you gotta go to this pipe smoking Mecca). Nice toffee-like flavor to it, but this one bites, burns quite hot and typically leaves unburnt tobacco in the last 1/3 of the bowl. I really wanted to like this tobacco as the flavor and quality leaf appealed to me, but the fussiness due to poor smoking performance and too much humectant killed this blend. I went so far as to buy a meaty Stanley Colonial 9mm filter just for this blend in an attempt to kill the dragon, but that briar was not a good match, would not pass the flavor and the dragon reigned on. Really a shame. Great leaf, flavor, but poor smoking performance despite drying sessions and slow sipping. Heck, I left OF to dry for 5 hours and it still left wet dottle!

I was given this tobacco by “Perris”, confirming my opinion that W.O. Larsen tobaccos are overestimated. A flat smoke containing Virginia, Burley and a light taste of caramel. It causes tongue bite. One of its positive elements is that it leaves a nice room note. For me, this tobacco is classified in one of the last positions of aromatic mixtures

Ugh! What's the point of this blend? It burns hot and has no taste at all. No matter how gently I puffed all I got was tongue bite.

Yet many other reviewers like it, so I think it's an example of different strokes for different folks. Although its definitely not for me: awful. Another tobacco that I will give to my wife to use as potpourri.

Nice tin.

Otherwise, 100 grams of mediocre leaf cased with flavorless chemicals that smokes hot.

I feel tricked by all the positive reviews for this one.

Nice tin, though.

Don’t bother with this one. While the tin aroma is amazing, it’s the bite I can’t deal with. I wouldn’t recommend this in any way unless you want to be challenged to smoke incredibly slowly and to pack this perfectly in all the right conditions after multiple attempts.

The bite is sour and harsh despite the mild and pleasant taste. There’s no way this is made with the finest tobaccos as touted because you wouldn’t ruin fine tobaccos with such a sugary sweet bite.

I tried it somewhat moist, in long stemmed pipes to avoid bite, I smoked it slowly slowly and still ruined every part of my mouth from the tongue to the roof.

I hate to say it but I don’t know why this tobacco is still around.

I bought 3 of W. O. Larsons blends around Christmas time in 2019 that were on sale. I opened the 1864 Perfect Mixture back then and just opened the Old Fashioned some 4 years later. I have the Signature that I may open on Christmas Eve. I opened the tin and was greeted with a mild sweet note that I am not really sure what it is. The back of my tin says the aroma is of maple and chocolate. Maybe that is it. In honesty I have only smoked about 4 bowls but unfortunately for me that is enough. I am not sure if some of the taste evaporated after 4 years or it is just a mellow tasting blend. I just couldn’t get much taste out of it and it is a biter and left my mouth and the back of my throat telling me that this blend is not agreeable. Somewhat like a few Mac Baren blends that I have tried and are known for their bite. I didn’t find it a scorcher but I just can’t see putting my mouth through this ordeal and trying to smoke 100 grams of this stuff and not having a pleasant experience. It is resting comfortably in a jar and will wind up no doubt in my estate sale. Even from my brief experience smoking this I cannot recommend it but I am sure there are others who love the stuff.