Wilke Pipe Tobacco Surbrug's Best Make

Sopwithcamel has this one pegged about right, though I'll add that I do find Bestmake somewhat complex, but not to the extent of High Hat, 72 or 193. This blend is grand even in the most unforgiving pipe and folks around you that cringe over other Latakia blends will simmer down and leave you be because it smells so good.

I would say this is a must try blend. This is the kind of stuff that keeps me smoking pipes.

Presentation is a ribbon cut of light, medium, and dark brown, with a touch of deeper black.   Pouch note is well-balanced, with a hint of sweetness amidst the smokier Latakia aroma and more neutral burley notes. Bestmake arrives at just the right moisture level and may be smoked right out of the bag. 

The charring light brings just a touch of sweetness, followed by a hint of smokey Latakia surrounded primarily by a distinct burley nuttiness.  As the true light progresses to the first third of the bowl, this blend lives up to its description: rich and mellow.  I would add: consistent and balanced. The constituent tobaccos are perfectly proportioned here, with each distinct flavor profile noticeable yet blended into a harmonious whole. No one actor is the star of this show, with burley, unflavored Cavendish, Virginia, and Latakia each expressing their unique flavors in each sip. 

This is a consistent blend, unlike some others that offer distinct changes in flavors as the bowl progresses. The balance is maintained through mid-bowl and the final third with little change in flavor.  There is, however, a very slight cocoa note and some saltiness that emerges by mid-bowl - not a flavoring, but rather the natural taste of good burley. 

While the blender describes this as a medium English, I would characterize it as a full American-English.  The distinction is important in that long-time English and Balkan smokers may find this blend on the light side of their Latakia fetish.  As an American-English, however, this blend is in a league of its own and, as such, is awarded four stars.  Superb, and my favorite blend of this genre. Nobody does American/English blends like Pipeworks & Wilke. 

This blend is so good that I'm truly surprised there are only 7 reviews.

Edit 2016: I still can't believe there are so few reviews of this spectacular blend. This is one that I always add to the samplers of Pipeworks & Wilke tobaccos I send to my pipe smoking friends. And it's always adored. Gentlemen: pull the trigger on this one. You won't regret it.

Bestmake Delightful. opening the Pouch smells delightfully, and i smoke a bowl full a non biting mixture, Virginia and Burleys are mixed with a non-aromatic Black Cavendish tobacco and topped with a generous amount of superior Latakia creating a traditional taste and with some liquorice delightful. burn cool all the way down to the bottom of the bowl, if you like Virginia and Burleys this is the tobacco for you. i love it I'am puting This in my tobacco cellar,

I smokes it consistently in any pipe,I Love This Tobacco it is charming

It is hard to get bit by it unless you really puff it. traditional medium strength English charming tobacco.

A.) I like it's complexity.

B.) I like that it's not biting.

C.) It is easy to smoke, and enjoy a all day smoke.

D.) The Bestmake lasts and lasts. the aroma in the room is delightfully,

this is a wonderful tobacco, and i give it 4 star

The blend is reminiscent of Sutliff's Mixture No. 79, with sweet aromas of anise, licorice and vanilla. I don't have a bad impression of Mixture No. 79, so the sweetness here was a favorable one. In summary, the sweetness of the Mixture79 is toned down a bit, giving the overall blend more depth of flavor. Maybe if you don't like Mixture 79, you'll like this blend; I used 79 as an example, but it's definitely not as aroma bomb as that blend. The sweetness has the smoky contours of Latakia, and there's a bit of spiciness from the Burley and Virginia. Still, the mellow, sweet smoke is consistent and I recommend it to pipe smokers who prefer this kind of simplicity. Of course, I like it.

2020/12/07 - In repeating the rotation of the Wilke blend I have on hand, it turned out to be a blend that I realized I had to add to my cellar along with Lizzie Blood Red Virginia. I'll be buying more.

2020/12/14 - As I repeatedly smoked this blend, I was wondering what to compare the sweetness to. I used to quote Mixture 79, but now I associate it more with the aroma of hot milk. Or is it the Royal Scot used in Wilke's blends? I don't know.

I am not a taste bud genius, but I can say that this is a very pleasant smoke, not too strong, but full of flavor. More complexity comes out of it as you move down the bowl. Just slightly sweet. I could see myself smoking it every day. To me, the Latakia is just a condiment level.