Two Friends Heritage

I approached Two Friends’ Heritage with the idea of finding out what it was that the late Craig Tarler liked enough to smoke it every day. Popping my tin (dated 02-14-20), I saw light to medium red-brown ribbons with some black chunks. The initial tin note includes rum and fruity, floral maple over moldering wheat muffin. The rum is not strong to start with and it abates with rest, toning down to maple and “rum sugars”, which are a lot like molasses, but more fragrant, assisted by the plum/flower thing. The tobacco handles, loads, lights and smokes down with ease. It took two weeks for me to get the best of this blend. My “advice” is to somehow get the VAs forward, to the extent of sacrificing a VA pipe for a while. Run the pipe in, also pack it fairly loosely, and take it slow. This accomplished, the combusting VAs smell like a more open, floral version of the rested tin note, with plenty of toothsome maple/molasses but very little rum well melded with the old hay-ish, wheat-y muffin, with a little fresh dried hay and meadow grasses over the top. The Burleys are present enough to take over this blend in some pipes, especially in the early going, with the effect of muddying things up, IMO, although when they’re good, they are very good, woody, nutty, and only slightly bitter over the VA sugar, and the Cavs hold back with only a little sourness and a trace of vanilla to add to their own contribution to the straight Burleys. This blend makes plenty of fragrant smoke, and it’s pretty consistent, top to bottom, if one takes it easy. Strength gets toward medium the way I smoke it, with the nicotine trailing, and tastes are also medium. Room note is better than merely tolerable. Aftertaste is a woodier best-of-the smoke. A tasty, fragrant, very relaxing smoke, once I got it down.

Notwithstanding Heritage took some “work” to develop, I give it 4 stars based on its best and recommend it first to experienced and more patient pipers who are not put off by this review.

Predominantly a Virginia blend with Burley and just enough Cavendish to add some sweetness. Tin note is good with the toppings being present, smells delightful! The Virginia’s are citrus and grass like and the Burley brings in a nutty earthiness. Like I previously mentioned the Cavendish pulls the two main tobaccos together, add a touch of molasses type sweetness to it. The toppings are mild but are noticeable throughout the smoke but do not deaden the tobacco flavor. This is a smoke for those who enjoy the natural flavor of the leaf. I am one of those folks. Packs well and takes fire like a champ. No burn or bite for me and the flavor is consistent throughout the process. Will buy more to cellar as I believe it will improve with age. Solid 4 here.

Two Friends, Heritage… My freshly opened tin aromas said this stuff could have been a aromatic blend. But after smoking a half dozen or so pipe full’s I am happy to report, I found this blend to be mostly dominated by it’s fine tobacco flavors, with only some slight but complementary aromatics coming through during the smoke. Not a very complex blend, as there is little change in flavor from light-up to ashes, which is just fine with me, IMO fine tobaccos require very little help. Smoking Heritage reminds me of a blend that could have been created in the old days, and is now talked about as a OTC blend classic. I’m enjoying this blend quite a bit, and I can see myself keeping a tin or two around from now on, and enjoying a bowl or so on a regular basis, I wish it was available locally. Easy light-up, satisfying nic level, no bite problems and mild/smooth enough to smoke almost any time of the day. IMO Heritage is well worth a try

the two friends blends have all been very tasty to me, and i haven't found a bad one yet. that said, heritage is my current favorite. this tobacco has a great pouch aroma, reminding me of hard apple cider. the appearance is attractive, too, a mottled look with brown and black flakes, along with some lighter colors from the lemon virginias. it reminds me of the leaves of fall, my favorite season of the year. firing up a bowl, the first thing you notice is a sweetness from the virginias, followed by the nutty taste from the burley. the pouch lists a "subtle and intriguing flavor", which i would guess is some type of liquor topping. whatever it is, it really compliments the tobaccos without becoming dominant. the mix of flavors stays consistent to the bottom of the bowl, and relights are minimal. the C&D catalog says that craig tarler and gregory pease decided to do a collaboration on the two friends blends over a bottle of fine single malt while greg was on vacation back in the fall of 1999. fellas, if you are reading this, it's time to get more good scotch and work on more blends!

This tobacco has a sort of weird sentimental value for me, but it really is very good. I always like lightly aromatic Virginia blends, and this is my favorite that I've tried. It smokes well and is perfect for social settings if you have an aversion to straight aromatics. Actually, most people I know who do not smoke prefer Heritage's room note to that of some of the aromatics I've had. This tobacco isn't anything groundbreaking, but it's a great everyday, default smoke that smells and tastes very good.

Like many have stated, this is the perfect all day blend for the VA smoker. Yeah I know that there is some burley/cavendish in there to, but the VA really takes charge in this blend. As a matter of fact I am smoking a bowl of this as I post. Greg and Craig you guys hit a home run with this one!

Very good blend. One of my favourite. 2 virginias, burley, brown and black cavendish. When you open the tin you can smell a sweet-scented dessert: sour-cherry - chocolate - cognac. 3 in 1. The aroma is not heavy but very pleasant. Tipically everyday aromatic tobacco for me. It was the competiton tobacco of the pipe smoking team world cup in 2007. Slow burning, easy to fill.

It is the best of both worlds. the great CD-style of quality and taste and it makes the car and hoome smell fantastic. I like the description "angel food cake" but alas, it is really not that strong of a topping just a hint so you do not gag. smooth, spicy a great american tobacco. also, I have been thinking about if this is kosher to put here in the review pr not but my "what the hell' side took over: - I live in the western side of NC where Cornell and Deihl reside and was extremely lucky enough to go for a visit and meet Mr Tarler. I had a wonderful time and my friend who had been there before, came again with me and we both would recommend it a tobacco destination for all who can get there. Why do i bring this up in this reveiw? Because with all the of the tobacco in bags, cans, and tins sitting around Mr. Tarler's Desk which is situated in the shop as a conductor before a symphony - he smokes this blend all day long. That alone speaks Volumes. Thanks to Mr and Mrs tarler for the experience.

I am a big fan of most of Pease's blends, so I thought it was high time I tried an offering from the Two Friends brand. I expected to like it, but I never expected to like it this much.

Good Virginia blends are among the most enjoyable tobaccos for me, and this is a great Virginia blend. There is a perfect balance between natural sweetness of the red Virginias and the tang of the yellow (lemon) Virginia, mellowed by the Cavendish. While there are many blends of tobaccos, from many brands, that I thoroughly enjoy, I have never happened across a blend that I could smoke all throughout the day, from dawn 'til dusk - until now.