House of Windsor Argosy Black

This is one of the best smelling aromatics that I have ever encountered. There is no possible way someone could smell this and not think of a pipe. It is THE classic black Cav. It burns cool, tastes wonderfully sweet, and draws a crowd of female admirers better than free cash handouts. This will bore you to death quickly if you focus on it too much,which is why it is a perfect all day long, no brainer smoke. It would take a devious person indeed who would complain about this baccy.

I just opened the small tin of Argosy that I bought as part of the HOW sampler a couple of years ago. From what I've read HOW is no more, so I guess my review is more academic than useful.

I used to smoke this occasionally in the 1970's, when pipe smoking was still relatively popular. I used to smoke large freehands back then (Ben Wades,etc.) and everyone seemed to comment on the great room note. I used to also mix it 75/25 with (75%)Half and Half, and really considered it a good smoke.

Objectively, Argosy has a very mild, flavorful taste of chocolate and sweetness. Nicotine content is higher than expected. As an all day smoke, for myself, I prefer unflavored burleys, Half & Half, the Prince and others. But for a change of pace, Argosy can't be beat. I smoked a couple of bowls in a Kaywoodie quarter bent, and I found no goop, or excess of wetness. Very surprising with such a flavored mixture. Drying out for a couple of years improved this tobacco's performance. If it were available locally, I would keep a tin on hand, but not worth the premium price I paid plus the shipping. However, all in all, Argosy is great nostalgia.

I bought this partly due to the reviews on the aroma (yeah, I do that sometimes...) and partly due to the awesomeness of the can! (Flimsy reasoning, but I HAD to try it! Look at it!) Thank goodness I wasn't disappointed. That was one large can.

The aroma when I cracked it open was heavenly, but I didn't find it smelled like tobacco at all. If you've read other reviewers state that they almost wanted to eat the tobacco instead of smoking it, then you have the jist of Argosy Black.

Initial smoking of it was very pleasant to say the least, and not only did I feel my nerdy reasons for buying it were vindicated, but I thought I had found THE blend. The one that I was going to get hooked on. Unfortunately, I found that after a while I did get slightly bored of it. It just didn't have THAT much of a taste, despite the outstanding aroma, and I had so much of it to go through. I hope that doesn't sound as negative as it feels writing it. It's just the truth. What is also the truth is that since I've been out of it, I've wanted to find it again. So that's why I had to give three stars instead of two.

I found this blend to be a little too mild for my personal tastes, and no vanilla was detectable in the flavor. Very poor HoW blend.

**Update 12/07**

I think that I might have received a badly sealed tin of this, hence my 1st review. I recently tried another tin of Argosy, and very much to my surprise. the vanilla flavoring came through in both taste & aroma. While still not great, now I can honestly recommend this.

I concur with most of the other reviews on this page that this is an overlooked tobacco that is good and fairly priced. My addition is that the nicotine might be overwhelming (it is to me!)

Update: While still a great no frills smoke, the inconsistancy of availability and recent hike in HOW's prices have led to this being removed from my rotation.

08/22/2006 I purchased a 10 ounce tin of this on the recommendation of my local Tobacconist. I am so glad I did! Argosy Black is an honest, no frills all black tobacco, with a rich chocolate flavor and exquisite aroma of a creamy vanilla. Think roasted marshmallow. It's sweet, but in no way cloying, burns exceptionally well, super dry, cool and clean. Unlike the experience of other reviewers here, it did not come overly moist out of the tin. The moisture content was just right for me and I prefer my tobacco on the dry side.

It loads and lights with ease, tastes great from the charring light to the last pull and is very well behaved in all aspects. It burns down very clean, into a very dry fluffy mottled ash. It also has just enough nicotine content to satisfy. Everyone around me while smoking it has commented positively on the aroma and asked what it is. I just opened my third 10 ounce tin and while it is definitely not complex by any means, its flavor and aroma have been consistent and dependable from tin to tin. That happens to be a favorable trait in my book. A great smoke by itself and also a good choice as a blender.

I must admit this is certainly one of the best dark cased aromatics I have ever enjoyed. As a rule I don't like chocolate cased blends.

This is a mild flavorful chocolate/vanilla cased burly with a hint of anise. This tabac burns vary mild in a cob but is perfectly suited for a brier that is routinely used for aromatics. The burn for this tobacco is very mild with copious amounts of smoke. It is a purely fun tobacco to smoke and often complimented for its room note. I love to smoke this one in the evening on the veranda and blow smoke rings for the kids. It burns to a nice mottled grey ash and only has a small deposit of mostly dry dottle at the bottom of the bowl. This smoke is very moderately priced and available at most tobacco retailers.

This one is most certainly a 3 out of 4 blend in the aromatic/burly category. Hats off to the House for an outstanding tobacco!

I like this better than Captain Black. It's flavor is that of vanilla and cinnamon. Smokes cool but is moist, get it lit good. Aroma is to die for everyone loves it and asks what it is. It is soft on the tongue like all black cavs. This is as close to Black Clipper you will get. Damn I Miss That Tobacco!

An aromatic in every sense of the word. This stuff was so moist in the tin that I expected to find standing water at the bottom!It did load quite easily,did'nt smoke wet,stayed lit after it got going and had no artificial after taste.I would call it a grown up and refined Capt'n Black.The flavor was quite good, all-be-it a bit one dimensional.It smoked best in a medium sized bowl.It's characteristics may appeal to someone who needs a nice smelling blend to apease the wife/girlfriend or in a social situation.For lovers of more natural blends & english's however,keep looking...

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**Recomended for Aromatic Lovers** prep *****UPDATE***** Sept. 1st "04" I make a practice of leaving a tin of this at work and have been enjoying this blend almost daily.I did hear lately on ASP that the "House of Windsor" has ceased production.I do hope this is'nt true as this is one of the few aromatics that I enjoy...