Dan Tobacco Independence

Like Pipestud, I too reviewed this blend under the CAO entry. My tin has the CAO logo but, unlike the description of the entry in TR, there's no mention of any leaf other than the "finest grades of Virginias" (made in Germany). Go figure.

It so happens that in doing some late-spring cleaning I came upon the same tin I opened 7 years ago, some of which contents I sampled for my review. I never really could finish the tin. When I opened it, I was expecting to find not tobacco, but tobacco dust. Well, believe it or not the remaining contents is still moist. Unfortunately so is the sickly perfumed aroma that all those years ago made me sick.

I don't know if this thing is still in production (either under CAO or Dan Tobacco's name). But in all good faith, I honestly cannot recommend this concoction. Not even my LSW would dare use this cheap, odorous perfume!

I am somewhat confused (a normal state for me.) I reviewed this as a Dan Tobacco manufactured blend. But it is also listed here separately as CAO and spelled a bit differently. Oh well...

In retrospect, I should have put the tin in my cellar and scheduled its opening for the year 2050. I'd of been dead long before then. This is a perfumed leaf that is shockingly bad.

I absolutely concur with the esteemed P. Tatum on this one. When I opened the tin, I first thought this could be similar to Bjarne?s Flake de Luxe, or even to Smith?s Old London 100% Virginia, only with a more pronounced aroma of prunes/dried raisins. After a few puffs, however, I realised this is like Dunhill?s Three Year Matured?gone bad! In other similar flakes the natural aroma of red, mature Virginias does not carry on to the smoke, except as a tangy insinuation of the natural sugars. In Independence the aroma and taste are bloated. More than an aromatic casing, this is sickly perfumed.

I should have suspected something was wrong from the strangely high degree of moisture in the tin, which suggests some form of casing or deep spraying with a substance that could easily be cherry, strawberry or Chanel N° 5. It really is a pity, because the broken flake is visually very attractive, and I presume at one point, before its industrial processing, the leaf was of very high quality.

The Virginias offer plenty of tart and tangy citrus, grass/hay, vegetation, sugar, bread, some sour lemon, and a pinch of spice as the lead components. The sweet black cavendish is just above being a condiment.The Cyprian Latakia provides a very small under current of smoke, earth, wood, floralness, and a hint of spice in the background. The very floral, perfumy, acrid, tangy, moderately sour fruity toppings also have a small tinge of licorice as they dominate the proceedings. The strength is a step past the center of mild to medium. The nic-hit is a slot behind that. The taste is medium. Won’t bite or get harsh, but it does have a few small rough notes. Burns cool at a reasonable rate with a very consistent flavor that extends to the lingering after taste. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires a couple more than an average number of relights. The room note is tolerable. Not an all day smoke. While the tobaccos are choice, there are too many drawbacks to recommend it.

-JimInks

It is rubed out flake. I would like to be able to distinguish this scent. Nice but unknown. It contains different kinds of Virginia and I believe that Virginia lovers will enjoy smoking it. I was not impressed though. It burnt my tongue a bit; therefore I will not have it again. The signing of the final plan of the Declaration of the Independence of the USA was celebrated with this tobacco!?

I have no words that can describe this blend better than has been done above. What were they thinking?

Oh ***, why has though master blender forsaken thee? I won't use the Lord's name in vain here but, this blend sure made me want to. This stuff is like Evening Rose dancing in a hypnotic state at the electric coolaid acid tests, of the mid 60's. Truely a heavily perfumed, psychedelic monster that will leave you screaming, "ohhhh please make it stop!!!!" Just let me for warn ye brothers of the briar, it wont stop, you'll be reminded of this dispicable blend for many bowls after you through the tin away, (most likely just after the first light!) If you decide to try this blend, please do so with a throw-a-way corncob. Your coveted briar beauties will breath a sigh of relief to know that they will be spared the torture of a permanent perfume branding. On a more serious note, the conent of the tin does display a mix of bright VA, and darker cavendish/latakia. The tobacco was of high quality prior to its' perfume tainting. The blend is down right wet with moisture and would require a lenghty drying period, prior to packing. I didn't taste anything like tobacco in this blend, only that wretched perfume. Well, you get my point by now. This stuff is terrible. I'm really adventurous about smoking different blends but this one just rubbed me the wrong way. C.A.O. should consider this blend a total loss and demand a mandatory recall on every tin of this stuff and, apologize to the pipe smoking community for even letting this monster out of the factory.

* Bad day at the CAO blending plant is all I can figure. I can and will try almost anything but man, oh man, what the hell were these guys thinking? This blend even beat out Stokkebye's Evening Rose in terms of aromatic weirdness. If someone should ever offer you a tin of this stuff for free--run... really, really fast.

Upon looking at the tin one sees a picture of the Founding Fathers of the USA drafting the Declaration of Independence . After finally finishing this massive work and changing history , one would be led to believe that the fine men of that time would reach for a bowl of their favorite tobacco . I'd say the patriotic thing would be a local Virgina blend. Having never heard any input on this tobacco I was sort of expecting something of the sort . I was horribly mistaken . On opening the tin my sinuses were attacked by what reminds me of the perfume my third grade teacher bathed in . I took me a month just to work up the nerve to smoke it after opening the tin , and only then did I smoke it in the name of science . It was truely horrid . No tobacco flavor what so ever , just volumes of cheap perfume , ack . Even worse was the fact that it tainted my pipe , and even now heavy latakia blends have no flavor , just perfume . I would only recommend this to people who enjoy walking through the department store perfume department and getting sprayed by sales girls with free samples .