Peter Stokkebye Aromatic Dutch Slices (No.308)

This was part of my recent sampler purchase and I have now tried all four of the samples. My first choice has been luxury twist flake but this one is number 2. I am an old Troost Special user from the early 70s. When I recently became reaquainted with my pipes, I bought a pouch of Troost and was disappointed. Others have indicated that it is not the same blend and that might be true but this one really reminded me of the Troost I recall.

It was evenly medium in strength and had a very basic tobacco taste without any noticeale flavoring. I give it a good review and may be back for some more.

Calling this "slices" makes the title a misnomer, and I do not know what exactly makes something an aromatic (yes I do- casings, syrups; sweeteners!) but this doesn't seem like something that would please the typical aro smoker. It's more like an aromatic for people who don't like aromatics.

That said, it's a nice tobacco. I bought it because I read about it somewhere and thought it might be good to blend with- maybe someone recommended it for that. It's fine on its own and just a little sweet. I used it with another component to create a spin-off from the last iteration of my personal blend which I've been smoking for a couple of years now.

Unlike one reviewer or two, I did not find this monochromatic or anything like roll-your-own cig tobacco. but then again I have little experience with that other than to play with roll-your-own while doing demos from my smokeshop days. The texture is not even close, but maybe the taste is.

I didn't get much of a nicotine presence either, but I seem the odd man out there as well.

Smokes well and easily with very little dottle- could be an all-day smoke for someone. This is however monochromatic to the eye- no flecks of different color, so it doesn't "appear" to be a blend with multiple components. Hence some of the reviews might be what they are for this reason.

But don't be fooled, this is decent stuff!

I really like this blend, but the name is not so good. lol First off, it is not very aromatic and it is not presented in slices. But all of this does not take away from the fact that it is a very pleasant smoke.

I bought this as a one ounce sampler and it is very much with the tradition of several other European aros such as Skandinavik Full aroma cavindish and Sail Yellow. Very Virginia forward IMO. It is definitely not sweet in a syrupy way as the others I have mentioned, but rather a natural tasting tobacco with perhaps a little sugar added to amplify the component leaf. The Cavendish and the burley impart just the right amount of nuttiness to compliment the hay and citrus like Virginia.

This one likely won't knock your socks off, but it is a good smoke that may be a little bitey to the fast puffer. I like it better than the two previous blends I mentioned.

Despite the name "slices" this came as more of a thoroughly rubbed out flake. It has some flavoring incorporated but not gooped up or wet like American aromatics usually are. A good strong tobacco with a quality Virginia dominating the taste. The aromatic component is typical of Dutch-style aromatics. A mild flavoring. More smell than taste. No floral or soapy taste that I could detect. Can't speak to the Room note as I smoke outdoors. I would imagine the non-smokers would object as it is a fairly strong tobacco. It arrived with the proper moisture content, lights quickly and burns cleanly. No gurgle detected. I don't recall any tongue-bite but "proceed with caution" is good advice. (10/19/2004)

Update: After some recent bowls, this is a really strong basic tobacco. No Aromatic flavoring in the usual sense, but stinky like good, strong, natural tobacco. If you don't mind strong flavors and lots of "punch" give this one a try. Or if you want to stink-up the neighborhood and your clothing, give it a try. (12/04/05)

Peter Stokkebye - Aromatic Dutch Slices (No. 308).

Like many, when I saw the name Slices I expected a flake tobacco, but like the picture here, I received a broken flake/coarse ribbon. The next thing to perplex me was the other part: Aromatic?? Hey-ho, it's only a name!

The moistness makes for an immediate smoke from a fresh pouch. The overriding taste is a sweet Burley one; sort of like honeyed nuts. It's much sweeter at the beginning of a bowl. After about a third the sweetness subsides allowing the nutty character to overtake (it's around this point where the Virginia comes over more definitely, too). I don't think this warrants the title Aromatic, it doesn't taste anywhere near flavoured enough to give credence to the name. From start to finish it burns well, quite cool, with tongue bite only happening under force.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: pleasant.

Three stars seems right:

Recommended.