Wilke Pipe Tobacco Wilke No. 191

The second blend I ordered from P&W, and arguably, my favorite aromatic of any custom blender. I smoke this primarily in a blasted Tanganyika meer or a well-loved Jobey Stromboli Extra bent apple briar, and it has never disappointed. It is a dedicated smoke in a fine old one-knuckle bamboo-shanked funnel meerschaum that is an old pal of mine.

Folks, this is what real aromatics are all about, and if more aromatics were like this, quite frankly, there'd be more English-blend devotees out there smoking aromatics. The blend is deep without being harsh, smooth (with earthy bottom notes), and VERY satisfying. Carole is a MASTER at pairing toppings with tobaccos. One of the best qualities of this fine blend is that, while it is very aromatic, it does not in the least smoke "wet." I attribute this somewhat to her use of powders (primarily) rather than liquids as casing. There is no chemical or "propylene glycol" taste, and I find the nicotine level just right. Although the flavor develops different attributes as one progresses through the bowl, the STRENGTH of flavoring is consistent from charring light to last puff...without even the slightest hint of bite at all.

Upon lighting, the honey is in the forefront, without being cloying in any way. Although honey is widely used in aromatics as a flavoring agent, I find that the true taste of honey is often overwhelmed by other, stronger flavors in some blends. Not so with this one. The rich taste of honey, although it takes a backseat to the tobacco flavors starting round mid-bowl, is present to the very last. I have recommended this to smokers of more mundane aromatics who are "scared off" by the heavier English blends. This is a decidedly easy foray into "real tobacco" taste. The quality of leaf Carole uses is very high...I myself can "feel" the difference when filling my pipe. Cavendished tobaccos can be overused at times by some blenders, but the toasted cavendish is married perfectly with the brightness of the Virginias and the good, solid taste and burning qualities of the Kentucky burley in P&W's #191. It's one of the qualities that make the flavor of this aromatic so rich and earthy. I am reminded of the taste of a good, dark stout, slightly sweet. As a matter of fact, I very much enjoy pairing this with a pint of Guinness draught...but as a testament to its versatility, I like it with Sam Adams' cherry wheat, as well. It's a very nice compliment to the pronounced "cherryness" of that brew, and a good pairing since I myself am not very fond of cherry-cased aromatics. WmZiggy said this was "right in there with a brandy and soda," and I know what he means...it pairs well with one of those, too. This one smokes clean and dry, to a dark grey ash, right down to the very bottom of the bowl. The room note is absolutely delicious...heavy, but not overly so, with a rich tobacco aroma that is enhanced but not overpowered by the honey and vanilla scents of the casing. The girlfriend is a confirmed anti-smoker, but even she requests that I smoke this because of the room note.

I can't say enough good things about this blend. I give it a solid four out of four stars, and heartily recommend it to aromatic as well as English fanciers. If you are of the latter stripe and try this, you may find yourself reaching for this one as a pleasant alternative for the palate.

Hats off to Carole for this wonderful smoke...small wonder this is her #1 seller. This truly is "a tobacco for all seasons." Try a few bowls and you'll see why.