Hearth & Home Old Companion

I am having a hard time finding some of the redeming qualities of this blend mentioned in some of the other reviews. This blend was hard to light, hard to keep lit and burned hot no matter what I tried to do. I may finish what I have already from the 2oz I ordered to try this but will not re-order.

King Albert, I met your more obnoxious, cheaper son. That guy's a jerk. He's been freeloading in my desk for like six months and won't leave. I don't have the heart to throw the guy out. Just thought you should know.

The description of Old Companion is right on the mark! This is a wonderful, smooth, cool burning/non-biting and nutty tasting blend that should appeal to even the most discriminating smoker. Old Companion is a must have blend for all burley lovers and a must try blend for all others?????.great flavor at a great price.

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this tobacco 9.8 out of 10.

Another blend in the "Hearth and Home Series" by Russ Ouellette available at pipesandcigars.com in bulk. This is a blend that holds true to its description. Simply put this is toasty-nutty goodness akin to the blends of days long gone. Very similar in quality to the Classical rough cut American blends like Granger and Blue Boar yet still having plenty of its own merits. For an all day smoke it's hard to do any better than this.

4 solid Stars!

Old Companion presents as a medium ribbon of light to medium brown tobaccos. Tin note is extremely neutral with some subtle parchment burley notes.

I'm having some trouble reconciling my experience with this blend to some of the other reviews, both the overly negative and the overly positive. Old Companion is a mild VaBur, leaning more towards the "Bur". There are papery, nutty tones here from the burley and just a touch of sweeter, condimental Virginia notes.

The tinned blend arrives at just the right moisture content (I can't speak for the bulk), takes a match well and burns evenly with minimal relights. The first third of the bowl, as noted in a previous review, is extremely mild and neutral in flavor. I think this rather tasteless first third is what causes the experience others have noted with hot, fast burn. I think some are puffing this blend too hard looking for flavor that simply isn't there. The patient smoker, however, will be rewarded with a light maple flavor by mid bowl and just a hint of aniseed.

Old Companion builds in strength and flavor as the bowl progresses and one is advised to watch one's cadence lest a bit of ashy tongue bite appear. The second half of the bowl contrasts interestingly to the slow and rather uninspiring start.

The burn is rather dry, leaving little mess on the bowl. The finish is a bit bland with some cardboard and sour notes.

Old Companion isn't a bad choice for an all-day smoke, but doesn't distinguish itself in this crowded field. Those looking for a bit more flavor in the "nostalgic burley" category may want to check out Russ's Angler's Dream for a more robust flavor profile. But I could name a half dozen better options for straightforward all-day smokes that would push OC towards the bottom of my list.

Objectively, OC lives up to its aspirations: a modern version of an old school pouch blend without the overuse of chemical humectants and preservatives so common among today's "drug store" options. In context, this isn't a bad tobacco by any stretch. Those seeking tobacco Nirvana will be disappointed.

The room note will be pleasantly familiar to anyone with a father, uncle or grandfather who smoked a pipe.

A classic. A good, old fashioned Burley Virginia tobacco, that takes me back to fishing trips with my grandfather. Smoked slow, it offers the nutty sweetness that is exactly what I look for in this type of blend. The room note is pleasant and sweet, just like the taste of the smoke. If you are looking for an aromatic flavor bomb, look elsewhere. If you like a smooth, mellow smoke with just enough character, then this is a fine tobacco to relax with.

I am a fan of many of Russ's blends but for the most part they always taste a little green to me so I always age them for six months prior to smoking them. This one was no different. It comes in a large tin size for the quantity of the tobacco as it is very loose and does come in the perfect moisture content to smoke right out of the tin. It is stated on the tin that it is an old fashioned style blend reminding us of the foil pouches tobaccos of times past. While I am of an age to have smoked many of those blends, I can't say it reminded me of any of them, but it is a good straight forward non aromatic blend that I did enjoy.

The tin note upon opening is slightly musty but fresh and sweet. It is very loose and loads easily into the pipe. The colors of the rough ribbon cut tobaccos run the full range of browns from light to dark. It lights very easily and produces a very pleasant, sweet favorable smoke that is great in a cob as well as a briar. It smokes down evenly with maybe a relight or two, and produces a steely grey ash and very little moisture or dottle in the bottom of the pipe. The room note does take me back to the aromas of pipes of my youth, and it is full enough because of the burly base to smoke slowly and sweet enough because of the Virginias to satisfy the palette. I enjoyed this blend a lot and am glad I bought several tins of it. If smoked too fast it does have a touch of tongue bite, but more than a lot of the old OTC blends did.

Overall, this is a very nice blend by Russ O and one I will visit often. I do recommend trying.

Man, as soon as I opened this bag of Old Companion, it took me back to my teen years. Back to the mid 70’s when I was sneaking around smoking my pipe filled with Prince Albert. If you had a family member back years ago that smoked Prince Albert or Sir Walter, you too will have that sense of nostalgia.

I’m not so certain that this will be any sort of main stay in my rotation, but I can see having a little now and again. It's kind of a "comfort" smoke because of the memories.

I did find it to be a tad rough on my throat. I may try some different pipes and see if I experience the same.

A short ribbon cut of mostly mid, caramel, browns. There is a very mild cocoa and anise tin note.

This tobacco packs and burns a treat. It produces a nice volume of creamy smoke.

Tends to burn on the hot side and can bite even when puffed gently. There is also some bitterness as the bowl progresses. This is a no nonsense simple tobacco that will cause the smoker no real problems at all. Not much to offer on the upside however.