Peterson Connoisseur's Choice

Wow. My initial impressions could not have been more wrong upon smoking even my second bowl. This is a good aromatic!

The tin greets you with a distinct fragrance of Sedgwicks Old Brown Sherry with added fruity tones. It does remind me a bit of Sunset Breeze, yet the fruit components are the key focus as supposed to the amaretto. It packs easily, my tin was exceptionally dry though. The taste really reminds me of Sunset Breeze, yet it isn't half as sweet. The cavendish is quite noticeable, it does overpower any other tobacco within the blend.

This tobacco did however shock me in two fields like no other have before. The room note and it's ability to stay lit.

I nearly ruined my sinuses by smelling the room note like a bloodhound. It is absolutely stunning! It resembles in no way any components of the tin note nor taste. A magical fragrance I can't relate to any other!

As for the lighting capability, this tobacco burns like a hurricane lantern. I made no efforts to sustain the ember, yet a cool draw greeted me every time I took a sip. It does produce a curious amount of ash I noticed.

An aromatic I took joy in like few other. Definitely recommend!

This was my first tobacco ever to learn how to smoke pipe. It was recommended to me by the experienced pipeshop owner so I took it. I immediately liked it from opening the tin. Wow, that nice smell! So I began. I must say that this tobacco taught me a lot. I’ve smoked the whole tin and only after that I tried different tobaccos that were also non-aromatic. From that time I still remembered the nice smell and wanted to get back to it once again. In the meantime I’ve learned a lot about tobaccos and tried all kinds of stuff. I started to like english blends and straight virginias. I also smoked cheaper aromatics. One of them I liked, one of them not. The one I liked was Alsbo – Black, a cheap OTC aro blend. It was very similar to this one, but I always thought that this one is a level higher. Well, yes and no.

After like 2 years of smoking experience I can finally rate this tobacco in all honesty. Connoisseurs choice is great, but it is one hell of a struggle. The smoking experience varies every time for me. Everything matters. The way you stuff it, the constellation of stars, the date, the temperature, your mood, the place (I found out that this tobacco performs well on big open-air metal festivals, especially when I’m drunk :D), simply everything. One day it’s best thing you’ve ever smoked, cold, tasty, works like a charm, and the other you only get pissed off with it because it burns hot, tastes weird, burns poorly etc... That’s why I will give it only 3 stars, because it’s hard to manage. Also, it would probably help to age this a bit and/or open the tin to let it dry out. It’s not somehow damp (rather sticky) but it seems to help for some reason.

Next time I’ll buy the Alsbo – Black, because it’s 90% the same, it’s considerably cheaper, but with complete autopilot – no matter what you do or how you smoke it, it’s consistent and without any problems whatsoever.

But yeah, it’s good for beginners, because you learn a lot how to tame it! Question is whether that’s what you want...

Very satisfying aromatic tobacco indeed, good smell, balanced taste, easy to smoke... Perfect choice for aromatic fans. Once you open the tin, the promising fruity smell really fills your nerves and after a few puffs the taste accomplishes the pleasure.

I was introduced to CC in Dublin at the Peterson pipe/tobac shop some time ago by a kindly old gent ... it’s a gem.... I’ve been a pipe smoker for 40+ yrs & find the CC an everyday choice, along with the Mac Barens Symphony...the fruity aro is pure sensual in taste & aroma, I pack it moderate to light & attempt to “sip” & prolong the smoking pleasure, thus avoiding any B I T E, which occurs if one draws too hard or frequently...this is an aro to be savored.....

It is fruity and tasty, I admit. A real hint of rum and tropicals, for aromatic pursuers, who I am not, it would be a great choice which stays in top of your list for some months.

In general I have no fear of mixing it with stronger tobaccos and I found the result much better. I suppose this would be better if Perique be added. BE BRAVE AND DO THIS. I recommend this to be mixed with English blends.

This blend seems to favor warmer weather to be fully enjoyed, I just don't seem to enjoy it during cold weather. With that being said, it is a high quality blend with solid cavendish and VA components and as such gets 3 stars... Every Peterson blend I've tried is high quality and worth a try. The fruit essence is genuine and seems to be apricot, one of the few aromatics that tastes the way it smells. A pleasant aftertaste and wonderful room-note. Perhaps smoke this one indoors where it's nice and warm during the winter, or enjoy all summer long with a nice light ale.

Cheers, Glorfindel

Mom's Christmas fruit cake is what came to mind when opening the tin and stiring the contents about on my tobacco plate. I do this with all my tobaccos. Like to let them breath. Chunky mixture, packed well and took to the match equally well. Fruity, nutty and spiced rum flavorswafted through the air and in my mouth. While the treatment is grand the tobacco quality is equally grand. If you are an smoker of aromatic blends you need to give this one a go.

It was my first Peterson blend that I bought when I got into pipe smoking. Being relatively new, I was still trying out aromatics. Although I have now moved away from aromatics, I always keep a tin of this blend just in case I want a change of pace from my usual flakes.

Its quite light and fruity, but in a very pleasant way. Its the type of blend you'd smoke if you're doing work in the garden, or in the workshop, when you just finished a bowl of something stronger and just wanted to smoke something just to keep your mouth and palate busy.

A pleasant and enjoyable smoke.

Okay, it's Saturday night and I've one last evening of full-on unadulterated fun before I have to start putting my head down at 10pm in order for my alarm clock to start ripping me from my dreams at 5.30am each morning for the workday week ahead.

I have candles, coffee and am just about to fill up my Peterson Darwin B42 with some of this blend. Could there be a better way to round off Saturday?.....well, YES! I'm also watching Pink Floyd's "Pulse" 2 x DVD set, a wonderful gift I received from a dear friend last Christmas.....surely no better way!

So, dear reader, I've set the scene so now let's get to the actual tobacco.

The tin aroma reminds me of rum cake, a most joyous welcome to the world of CC for this nose. The feel of the tobacco is quite moist and I have already given some a twenty minute drying-out time....fingers crossed it'll pack well and burn with minimal steam and tongue bite (quite common, so I understand, with cased aromatics) and no gurgle!

I use the three-pinch method to pack (it has thus far served me well with other blends) so here goes..........

After a charring light it burns quite well. The initial aroma is sweet. The maple is definitely there, right up front, and there is also a hint of vanilla. The flavour reminds me of pecan pie. It burns quite hot, so sup and don't be tempted to chug....no matter how sweet the taste (I got steamed during this smoke!).

About half way down the bowl now and I'm getting a nutty flavour with the maple and vanilla jumping around on my tongue.....however, I'm not really getting the rum.

I rate this as a three out of four. For those of you who know the "Pulse" era Pink Floyd you'll be fully aware that a certain Roger Waters was absent from the band during these times, and CC is a bit like that; satisfying but there is always a sense that a main ingredient is missing.