Wilke Pipe Tobacco High Hat

I have smoked High Hat on and off for the last decade or so. It is an amazingly flavorful American English that has a delightful combination of smokiness from the Latakia and Kentucky, sweetness from top shelf Virginia's and a wonderfully spicy finish from the Perique. The Nicotine strength is right on the money which for me is an unusual bonus in an English blend. I also love the fact that I can smoke a recipe that is over a 100 years old and has stood the test of time allowing one to share the experience that folks in the late 1800's enjoyed. Pricey but worth every penny due to P&W using the very finest leaf. Try some of Carole's blends while they are still available!!

An English with a lot of flavor. Reminds me of a middle range Dunhill blend, only smoother, and with more flavor. No harshness or excessive heat. As someone else said, it could well be a replacement for 965, 965 smells good to others, and this one tastes good to you.

Over a year and a half and no reviews of High Hat?

Wow.

Took a Wilke tour with a 4 blend sampler including High Hat.

It rocks!

In the same ball park as say Artisan's blend. Syrian lat and perique seem to go very well together.

But what sets this apart IMO is the notable bright VA profile which gives a very nice high note and sweetness to the smoke. Digging through the blend I find a good size helping of soem of the brightest flue cured VA I've seen.

It's a blend I smoke when I want some Latakia substance and satisfactory strength, but not in the mood for a dark heavy smoke.

I smoke a lot of Burley and I don't think of this as a burley blend. I know it's in there and can sense the body it brings but it doesn't stand out and shout "BURLEY".

The cut is a familiar mixture of longer ribbon of various widths; some almost bordering on shag. It loads, lights and burns like a champ, with zero issues. It burns a bit fast, but not hot at all.

I'd guess it would smoke well in just about any pipe but I've found my Sav 320 eats this stuff like candy. So I can attest that a wide shallow bowl does it some justice.

I like all the Wilke blends I ordered but this is the only one that was different enough from the crowd to make it a reorder candidate. I bet I'll loves me some me in about 10 years when I stumble on a big mason jar of this stuff in my closet.

Highly recommend you give it a shot. It's special

High Hat is the first American English style I have tried with Burley. Must say, I really do like this blend. The tobaccos are of high quality and meld together in harmony and give a rich, smooth smoke. Lots of smoke, easy to keep the bowl lit and a pleasant finish - what's not to like? I find this blend is not very similar to Nightcap, being a bit smoother and creamier. The latakia is not overbearing, but allows the other component leaves to come forward at times. There is a bit of sweet, tart, smoky, earthy qualities that all come together well. IMHO, the addition of burley and absence of orientals in this blend are what does the trick. John & Co. hit a home run with this one. Four stars and then some! High Hat warrants stocking up. Highly recommended.