Wilke Pipe Tobacco Mettowee

To date I have reviewed 12 of Carole's wonderful tobaccos and Mettowee is the first that has added up to less than three stars. P&W offers a very unique Cavendish, unlike any Cavendish I have ever tasted. It is simply terrific. However as the star of this blend, it is so mild that it doesn't carry enough interest beyond the few bowls I have tried. It's very, very mild in taste and flavor with zero complexity. To be fair, it sets out to do exactly as described. For me, it would make a great addition to spruce up other blends, but not as a frequent aromatic smoke, especially since IMHO Carole produces other outstanding aromatics.

This is a great blender. In fact, this is the Vanilla in blend 191, which is the most popular blend they sell. That blend is far more complex offering a much richer smoke. This can be a little boring. It is mild, mild mild, in every respect. One might say bland. As a mixer it can wake up some lazy blends, but alone it is just OK. This blend might be a good first smoke for the beginner.

In my search for the "perfect" vanilla aromatic, I was glad to find this from Wilke, which is available locally from Old Firehouse Smoke Shop.

Mettowee comes in two versions. The common version is topped with a light vanilla. Sometimes John Brandt has the a version which is not topped, or at least not as much. This is a review of that version.

This is a very easy smoking aromatic. What I enjoy most is the way the tobacco flavor dominates this version. You clearly taste the mild Viriginia cavendish, which provides the base, and very light, vanilla flavor, along with some grassy notes. More prominent is the burley, which adds character by providing a unique cocoa quality to the smoke. Black cavendish provides a very smooth, thick and lightly creamy smoke as well. While the untopped version doesn't have much vanilla flavor, you do get much more of the tobacco flovor: a nice change of pace in an aromatic.

The tobacco comes ready rubbed, with small chunks of a dark brown and black color and a light vanilla aroma. the topped version has a layer of sugar crystals, but in my experience neither version burns too hot.

Burns fairly completely with no dottle. The topped version is much moister than this plain version. I am not sure how often John has this version, but I was glad to find it and try it.

This would be an easy and enjoyable all day smoke. It has a very plain, direct personality, consistent through the bowl. Like a neighbor who you know in passing and gives a friendly wave, not much to this tobacco, but it is easy to like. Definitely a good tobacco, but only great if you are really looking for this unique version of an aromatic. A solid 2 stars.