Sutliff Tobacco Company African Queen #500

I smoke mostly English tobacco. I really don't care much for aromatics. However, this is one that I could get used to smoking. Though aromatic this may be, it is not too overly powering than most aromatics I've tried. It has a nice mild aroma with very pleasing taste. There's one drawback though, since I prefer a "full bodied" smoke, it would've have been better if Altadis made the strength a little bit stronger. But then again, that's just my own preference.

*** UPDATE: 12/12/10 - To date, I've finally finished a full pound of this tobacco. Having compared it to a few blends, I can more or less make an "educated" update to my previous review.

Well, the verdict is in. I do find that having tried different blends, AQ lacks the depth and complexity that other blends have. Although, the aroma smells great in the bag, it does do not translate to flavor when you smoke it.

This blend is quite one dimensional. It lacks "something". Could it be that I'm just too much of a Latakia lover that I'm missing it on this blend? Honestly, I really don't know. Whatever it is, it's not there.

Looking at it as objectively as possible though, for an English blend not to contain any Latakia and still be “smokeable”, that is something worth considering. I still do maintain (as originally stated) that it is not too overly powering and has a nice mild aroma. Compared to some aromatics, it does have a somewhat of a pleasing taste.

With that being said, I am downgrading my recommendation to two (2) stars.

An interesting concept and an interesting blend. First and foremost however this is an AROMATIC, English smokers need not try. While the natural tobacco flavours do come through, it's overshadowed by the sweet casing.

The orientals aren't bad, kind of an interesting touch to an aro. When I started smoking it it wasn't bad, but after a while it got more and more boring until it was downright unlikable. The casing also disappears after half a bowl, becoming just some oriental and Virginia's. That wasn't particularly enjoyable.

Try this blend once, enjoy how unique it is and then never buy it again.

I tried this on a Lark. It is kind of an English (that's how Sutliff markets it), although it doesn't have Latakia and does have a bit of something aromatic. I loved it at first and couldn't wait to find it again. Devoted one pipe to it. Now, I find it OK. Maybe I'll buy some again because after a while I'll want that particular flavor. I didn't find it overly hot like other reviewers. Maybe it's the Smyrna that gives it the different flavor palate. I got it from Ford & Haig, where it was renamed. I've also found it at Faders under its own name, although the person who waited on me didn't want to admit they hadn't meticulously blended it themselves.

This is a surprise from Sutliff. When this arrived, I had thoughts of it being a sticky mess. It's not! Yes, it is highly moisturized, but it doesn't have the stickiness I have found common with most Sutliff blends. That's a good sign.

Description states this is an aromatic, but no flavoring? Boloney. or Bologna. Either way, its a lie.

Pouch note has some alcohol aroma, along with sweetened butterscotch/vanilla type addition. Not one single leaf variation is detectable under the topping. appearance is mostly dark brown to black leaf, with a few specks of lighter leaf. The chunks of black leaf are quite large.

Initial lighting took about 3 rounds of light/tamp/light. I always took caution to not over heat this blend, as most Sutliff offerings will sear my tongue without much provocation. I packed this in a pipes reserved strictly for aromatics.

This kind of has that Captain Black Royal aroma if I had to compare to anything.

First half of the bowl is pleasant! That vanilla aroma definitely follows through to the smoke. Balanced, and rounded. I can sense this wants to strike, but I keep the puffing to a minimum.

Second half, the flavor starts to fade just a bit. This blend requires a lot of attention. Not because of burn issues and relights, but it will sizzle. If you puff too hard it will start to taste like burnt sugar. It's not a terrible taste, but I assure you not what is intended. Burns to a deep dark gray ash. Of course there is moisture it the heel, so I stop short in my smoke to avoid hitting that wet tobacco. This is an interesting tobacco for sure. I would love to smoke this without all the PG added to it.

A mild sweet tasting blend that combines the natural aromatic Smyrna with a light topping ( in the bag I thought it was rum, my wife guessed vanilla) to make a very pleasant and familiar taste. Light bodied, if you are used to big clouds of smoke you may be disappointed. Evokes Lane 1Q but sweeter and more natural tasting with less zing.





A comfortable smoke when nothing else seems right. And you cigarette smokers may recognize the aroma of the smyrna.





PS: Back when Istanbul was Constantinople, Izmir tobacco was Smyrna. "A rose by any other name..." These tiny, top-grade tobacco leaves from mountainous Western Turkey across from the Island of Khios have long been prized as the most aromatic of all Orientals.