Sutliff Tobacco Company African Queen #500

Sutliff Tobacco Company - African Queen #500.

The mixture has no problem with moisture and it's been well rubbed, so there's no messing about needed where crumbling any chunky bits or drying are concerned.

Initial thoughts: it's not that bad, there's a slight added flavour that's not too powerful, and the tobaccos taste pleasant enough.

One minute later: what the hell is this casing? I can't pigeonhole it as a specific ingredient but whatever it is, the smoke quickly develops a heaviness that's most unpleasant. This also lingers on the palate when the smoke's over and done with.

The topping becomes a bit chemical-like shortly after this point, and that's when I abandon a bowl.

The nicotine's mild, I don't like the room-note, and it bites me like crazy.

Not recommended....horrible.

To start, this tobacco is misleading. It is not bad, however; first impressions are everything. The description is not indicative of what this tobacco is. This is not an English style blend by any means, it is not designed to act as an intermediary for aromatic smokers to English and vice versa. It is an aromatic, with hints of cocoa, almonds and other silky top notes. It is wet, it hisses and pops and crackles in the bowl. The aroma is quite nice. Unfortunately it burns rather hot. I think of Bogey and Hepburn every time I smoke this pipe. So all in all I recommend. However, the description is misleading, either someone mixed something up and gave a wrong description, or he/she is highly imaginative. The description is trying too hard in my opinion. In any event, cool name, worth a try.

Edit: It has aged a bit. It has mellowed in flavor and become a bit more harsh. Bite is always there, I am forced to run a pipe cleaner through it every time, its starting to become a bother. What's up with the bite all the sudden? It was not there before.

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.

One man's trash is another man's treasure. I liked this one. It has a great aroma and while aromatic, not overwhelmingly so. I found it mild, non tongue biting and very pleasant taste. It burned well and stayed lit. It did not gunk up my pipe and it had a very sweet flavor, I think anise flavoring which I find I like. I think this is one of Altadis's better blends and will smoke it some more. An English does not have to have Latakia in it. It would ruin this one.

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.

A different tobacco with various leafs. I like it for the difference. Enjoy it straight and 50/50 with Night Cap to stiffen it up a little. Have also added Chocolate Mousse which chages it considerably. After a few months I'm' finding myself ordering more. It's not English, not really an Aro. I may stop to smoke it and find myself smoking three or four bowls. Will be keeping some on hand.

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.

I use to buy thid at Mom's Cigars in NYC in the 1980's A good English blend a little on the full side. Packs well and burns easy. Has a very full Oriental scent in the bag. A good english blend at a very good price. drys out quick so smoke the whole bag fast.

The description was just baffling enough to make me curious enough to buy some of this. Then I was dumb enough to try to smoke it.

An aromatic blend without Latakia? Imagine that. After all, isn't Latakia a staple in aromatics? Yeah, right. Well, hats off to Altadis, that was actually what made my buy it. The flavor when I tried to smoke it is what will keep me from ever buying it again.

This is some pretty foul, over cased tobacco with a very unpleasant flavor that will leave your pipe goopy and put your tongue in the burn ward.

The room note is actually pretty decent. If you're in to suffering for the enjoyment of those around you, stock up on African Queen.

Should have listened to other reviewers negative comments, this is pretty bad! Don't let the description lure you into thinking that maybe there is something there to be enjoyed, it's only positive merit is that it produces a pleasant aroma. So heavily cased it made my throat hurt.