Swedish Match Caravelle

Yet another brand that I vaguely remember from my earlier pipe smoking days, but apparently did not smoke enough back in the day to recall anything about (probably for a reason). Another victim of the EU tobacco policies, it's now called "White" instead of being advertised as "flavoured with rum" and just like Borkum Riff, maybe the rum is somewhere in there, but I certainly couldn't find it. In fact, the whole smoking experience in general is totally mediocre at best; the only thing that I can say about the taste is that it has a vaguely dusty side-note that I did not enjoy.

Never again, if there's an alternative. Poor swedes, having to make do with this and Hamilton as their main brands 🙁

Bought this in a small drugstore in Sweden since it was the only option. My pouch was very dry, probably from sitting in the shop for years. I had to rehydrate it. Much off the rum topping may have evaporated since it was so dry (unlikely, but possible) Nice thin cut, almost a shag, similar to Greve Hamiltons. No twigs in my pouch. Nothing tells me the leaf itself is off poor quality. Smells naturally and pleasantly off VA and Burley tobacco, but the smell is barely there. Neither is the taste, this is probably the most flat pipe tobacco I've ever tasted. You get some pleasant burley nuttiness. VA pops up from time to time. So does the rum topping, but it never takes over. Nice change off pace to get the creamier rum-sweetness as a contrast to the citrusy VA. If it had the same taste but 5x more I'd probably like this blend quite a bit. Mild in nicotine but it is there, it works for that purpose. It's easy to pack, easy to light and easy to keep lit.

This is not some sort off chemical goop OTC horror show that you would assume when looking at the price and packaging. It's not even bad. Just absurdly bland and boring.

If you have to choose between this and Borkum Riff, pick this. If your options are some Mac Baren blend(s), Hamiltons and Borkum Riff (common OTC tobaccos here in sweden) only pick this if you know that you dislike the particular Mac Baren blend(s) and/or want something milder than Hamiltons.

I can't really recommend it under any other circumstances although it is a decent smoke and I am enjoying it. There are just SO many other options out there that pull off mild VA/Burs while still having some flavour.

I got slightly more flavour when I smoked it in the only cob I have with me. Makes sense since cobs seem to "filter" less than Briars and meers, I typically get more and harsher flavour as well as more moisture in cobs (others report the opposite when it comes to briar vs meer vs cob YMMV). Could also be ghosting from English blends I've smoked in that cob.