Peter Stokkebye Cube Cut (PS41)

I'll keep this really simple, as this is a wonderfully simple tobacco.

It looks like Grapenuts cereal, don't confuse the two. You will regret it.

I just dip my cob into the jar and what i capture in the bowl with a finger is what i get. Tamp it. Char it, and work SLOWLY. You will probably relight a dozen times, so keep that mini-bic handy. once it gets going and starts to soften up, grab the tamper and push the coals together to keep it going.

Don't bend over, or laugh while smoking......your clothes will hate you.

What does all of this get you? Smooth, earthy, nutty, toasty burley bliss. One of the best bargains out there and a great way to explore burley tobacco with out going to a goopy drug store blend. Also great for breaking in a new pipe and building some cake without a ghost.

I have been moving into burleys lately, Orlik's DSK, Solani's ABF, and McB's HH Old Dark Fired.

I sampled this at a Brick and Morter store and then promptly went online to order more.

The only way I can explain my attraction to it is that it is a very approachable blend: the cube cut is so easy to pack and it stays lit, the topping or casing is pleasant but doesn't overshadow the taste of the Bur/Va tobacco, and the burley definitely shines.

Regarding the topping debate on this one: I definitely smell something extra in the tin note. But I like it and, again, it's not over powering.

Maybe I'm in a phase but I'm on my third bowl and feel as though I could finish my mason jar stock tonight.

This is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine. I agree completely with most of the points expressed in the foregoing reviews. The tobacco is flavorful, has a bit of a tang, must be sipped, has a nice room note, has no noticeable casing, and is sometimes hard to get started. Where I differ is in the packing technique required.

When I first smoked Cube Cut, I used my customarily loose fill, practically a gravity fill. Had a devil of a time keeping it lit. Set it aside and nearly forgot about it. Saw a post in a forum I frequent that cube cuts require a firm pack to keep the ember progressing through the bowl. Tried it and it worked like a charm. I pack this tobacco far firmer than any of the ribbon cuts I normally smoke. Not only that, but I tamp frequently and firmly as the bowl progresses.

I've been rewarded with bowls that burn to the bottom with only one or two lights. Not only that but the pipe bowl never gets more than warm throughout and there are no flaming bits flying out if the bowl get jarred.

So, by all means, try the loose fill; it may work for you as it has for others. But if not, try a firm pack; it may work as well for you as it has for me.

One other thing; this is not a brainless smoke. There are better choices if you need something to puff on while stacking firewood or clearing snow from the drive. It takes some concentration to carefully sip this smoke and enjoy its flavors. If you get to puffing too hard, it will deliver a serious bite. I've found that it is best when reserved for those times when you can just sit and smoke without distraction.

YMMV

A mostly mid brown cube cut tobacco. It has soft cocoa and caramel aromas on the pouch note.

This is practical tobacco. No rubbing or drying; just drop into bowl and light. Might need a second confirming light after a minute but otherwise you are good to go.

This is basically a VaBur, with addition of PS 'Dutch Cavendish', which is sweet and pleasant but nothing at all like the Cav of OTC aromatics. I would not consider this an aromatic at all and the overall profile of the smoke is mild and neutral with a hint of sweetness and spice.

Excellent value and a true friend in the pipe.

I'm a big Peter Stokkebye fan and Cube Cut adds to the list of excellant tobac's that cost so much less than the competition.

Nice sweet Virginia's used along with a good nutty Burley. To taste i'd say the mix is 50/50 Va/Bur.

The Bite: This does bite a bit and towards the end of the bowl it also tends to smoke a little hot.

The solution: Smoke this in a bigger pipe. Think Dunhill grade 4 and above. It massively reduces any bite and smokes much cooler.

If you want a stronger smoke then pack this tightly. I've found you can press this stuff down very hard and it still smokes perfectly and also gives a fuller smoke.

For the money, definitely 4 stars.

PS Cube Cut is another bulk blend that's just blowing my mind! It's absolutely delicious. The toasted, mildly nutty, earthy Burley lead and meld with the sweet bready Cavendish pressed red Virginia. Mutted and smoothed notes of honey, dark molasses, cocoa, mild cigar and coffee develop throughout the bowl. If packed loose it can be a light smoke, or if packed more firm, a subtle but wonderful medium bodied edge comes out in the blend. This is like a dark nutty version of Superior Navy Flake. I love the Cavindish note in the retrohale. It has a faint spice if pushed hard. The nic hit is mild in a medium bowl. Rubbing out the cubes makes it easier to light. In the pipe it smolders but burns pretty steady. Lots of tamping and fusing will keep you lit and happily puffing.

What a cool tobacco this is! Pouch aroma is slight cocoa, with maybe a touch of natural vanilla.

Ill echo a few comments made below. Yes, this isn't a blend you pack, this is a blend you load. Gravity fill. Tap the side of the pipe a few times and load again. tamp slightly. Also, the cubes WILL fall out, so be careful after its lit.

Initial lighting takes just a few matches, once the top layer is ashed over, you do not have to worry much about relights. Especially if you smoke it on the dry side as I do.

Great flavors of a semi-sweet, less nutty burley than I am used to. A hint of cocoa as well keep this blend from becoming monotonous. This blend can get bitter if puffed to hard, so take small sips. Generous amounts of smoke, the room note is quite pleasant. Toasty and buttery aroma. Burns clean and cool, the remaining ash reminds me of an overnight burn of oak in the woodstove. Some gray ash remains, along with little lumps of charred cubes. This is one of my favorite blends to smoke in the spring while trout fishing the streams and rivers here in Michigan. Stays lit, with little attention while tying on a few dry fly. This is a perfect blend for me transitioning from cold winters smoking rich Balkan and stout Latakias.

Cube cut. Now that's interesting. This is a first for me, I think. It's literally a bunch of tiny cubes. Pressed flake that has been diced. Medium brown in color. Jar note is mild tobacco, pleasant, but unremarkable.

Seems like the best way to pack the pipe is to gravity fill, lightly tamp, and spark it up. Trying to pack this too tightly would lead to a big plugged off mess. It's not necessary to fill the pipe heavy anyway - it burns slow, like you'd expect a flake to perform. Moisture level seemed just right to me, but it does benefit from a bit of drying time. As for flavor, there's maybe a very light casing, just a bit of sweetness, but nothing you can put a finger on. It's mostly burley, nice and nutty. There's a good amount of grassy/hay Virginia as well. And that's about it. I wouldn't say it's one dimensional, but it's straightforward and certainly not complex. I haven't smoked Carter Hall in a long time, but as best I can remember, Cube Cut's flavor reminds me of a richer and fuller Carter Hall.

Burn is good, requiring an average number of relights. It makes for a nice long smoke, as it burns slowly like a flake.

Nothing outstanding here, just a nice simple burley with a good amount of Virginia. Not mind blowing, but quite good, and I think Cube Cut is an excellent buy at its price point. The Virginias taste young, and I'm curious and hopeful that this will get better with age, and plan to buy more for the cellar.

Deceptively moist tan to dark brown cubes with a bag aroma (1 oz sample) of mild chocolate and potting soil. Not the best scent. Then again my reference cube cut, Peretti's BPC, doesn't smell so nice either. Gravity loaded to about 4/5 to the top of the pipe bowl.

This isn't your average OTC-type burley, as it mostly eschews the basic nuttiness for a sweeter presentation, albeit a nutlike rather than a sugar sweetness. Reminds me a bit of Uhle's Blend 00, although not as rich in flavor. The Virginia adds some sweetness and there is probably a light casing as well from the Cavendish but I can't place the flavor. It may be simple sugar but that doesn't make it tongue-wrenchingly sweet. I gave this some drying time as it doesn't take the match easily and drying gives the flavor a nice forward push rather than trying to suck through the moisture. Once dried, it smoked without relights all the way to the bottom. Smoked slowwwwwwly, this one remained nice and calm, with a good burley/Virginia flavor that remained steady down the bowl. A nice "set it and forget it" smoke. A little richer taste wouldn't have hurt but this one seems to be made as an all-day affair. As with most PS blends, I find it good but not something I'd cellar.