Hearth & Home Old Tartan

This was my third blend with Deertongue. I had high hopes for it since I like Burley blends and deertongue. It started nice- I could actually smell the room note myself. Taste was kinda- And forgive me anyone that may get offended- Like Prince Albert with a light vanilla haze. It was a real treat. Then I hit midbowl- It kinda got harsh and bitter. Now I know burleys tend to do that...So I pressed on....by third part of bowl I was headed for the ash tray. Disappointing to say the least. I tried another pipe (first was a big Prince of Wales freehand)- A bent apple with the same result. Sorry to Pipes and Cigars- Could only go 2 stars on this one.

My experience with Old Tartan was akin to an aging, leg-weary prizefighter who loses his punch. Old Tartan lost its punch after the first quarter bowl: the flavor, taste, mellowness and zing that was there in the beginning of the smoke slowly began to dissipate and became a ?hot air,? bland smoke with no flavor or taste as I progressed down the bowl. This happened repeatedly over several weeks in many different pipes. I can?t explain it nor was I ill so my taste buds were in working order. This tobacco does not DGT well, either. I am a big fan of P&C blends but this one just didn?t do it for me.

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

I rate this tobacco 6.5 out of 10.

As a fairly new smoker I simply love this tobacco, this is my go to blend when I can not make up my mind. It is hard to put a finger on exactly why this is so, this is something I find myself smoking all day. I really enjoy how well all of the ingredients in this blend play well together, nothing really comes to the front and grabs you, it is all a beautiful symphony of flavors playing softly in the background allowing you to just enjoy. I will be ordering a BIG bag of this to have around all the time, it is that good.

Anyone who has been following my reviews on the Hearth and Home series is probably wondering if I am on the payroll at Pipes and Cigars because all my reviews are four stars. The answer is simpler; they get these reviews because they are excellent tobaccos. Old Tartan follows in that mold.

In the pouch this tobacco has several different hues of brown from the burleys, some black flecks of cavendish, and sparsely scattered among these are little pieces of deer tongue. The pouch aroma is slightly sweet, no doubt from the influence of the deer tongue and cavendish.

After loading and firing up a bowl (I packed with the Frank method) the first flavors sensed are the subdued nuttiness of the burleys, along with the smokey Latakia flavor, all overladen with a sweetness from the deer tongue. It is a delightful taste, one that could easily be smoked all day. As the bowl burns down, the deer tongue fades a bit without ever going away, and the Latakia and burley come to the forefront. They are almost perfectly balanced, with one never dominating the other. This was my first deer tongue blend and it was a pleasant experience. I prefer this tobacco to C&D's Crooner, which also has deer tongue. The tobacco burns down to the bottom of the bowl, leaving only a little blackened dottle. Relights are also kept to a minimum, and a lot of the credit for this has to go to the cut and packing method.

Old Tartan is only sold in bulk, which may put some smokers off who prefer tinned blends. Take my word for it; this one will hold its' own with any tinned blend. Considering the quality of the tobaccos used, the price is reasonable, too.

As for the scores on Old Tartan; taste- 17 of 20 points; lighting and burn- 9 of 10; value- 8 of 10. A total of 34 of 40 adds up to a solid **** for Old Tartan. And the winning streak for Russ Ouellette continues.

This is my first review and I haven't been smoking for that long.

That being said, I bought the sampler pack from pipesandcigars and one of them was Old Tatan and I really like it. I seem to be liking English/Balkan blends which this isnt realy like that but I like it alot just the same. I have reached that smoke "nirvana zone" state with bowls of this several times.

The base is a really good quality burley I think. There are chunks of it and some cube cut and ribbon in the blend. The deertoung makes it a little sweet on the humantounge. The latakia makes it a little Englishy. It is very smooth yet complex. 'Pretty consisitant down the bowl. This is the best/easiest packing blend I have yet experienced. Lights Easy. Just the right moisture content. I could smoke this all day as it has never bitten me.

I am with the first reviewer here...I'm going to buy a big bag of this!

Well well, this is an unusual one. I've had a sack of this around forever and it never seems to run out. Could be because I rarely smoke it. Here's what happens when I do:

Since it's in crispy condition (entirely my own fault), I'll gravity feed a bowl to the top and blow through the stem till gets pliable, then tamp it down. Top it off with a little from the bag and off to the, um, chair.

I always think straight off, "why don't I smoke this more often?" The first half of the bowl is Great. Burns fine, no bite, quality leaf, fer sure, fer sure. Dan-o's chai tea comment is dead on as far as flavor goes, owing I guess to the deer tongue.

Trouble is, it burleys-out on me at the half way mark. I do like Burley, but it doesn't like me. It always goes stale on me somewhere, regardless of quality or maker. So, I can only give this two stars, even though I don't think there's anything wrong with it. There must be something wrong with me, instead. (But you knew that already.)

p.s. I think they should call this 'Bambie's Lisp'

This tobacco is a unique and delightful surprise. It does not taste anything like the most popular and highly rated English, Burley, or Crossover blends. The Latakia is very mild and condimental, just the right touch to mellow and enhance the plain tobacco flavor. The burley is buttery rich and smooth with semi-sweet vanilla leaf (deer tongue) on top . A satisfying smoke all day long, all year round.

This tobacco is a masterpiece. I have aged mine for over a year. Upon lighting up I was rewarded with a burst of flavorful tobacco that was nothing short of magnificent. Needs to be smoked correctly to avoid the bite of Mr. Burley but when done so will reward you with a medley of flavorful tobacco which pleases from start to finish. Stays lit and burns to a nice gray ash. Russ O has proven again that he is truly a master blender who only uses the finest of tobacco's and has a knack for blending them consistently for our smoking pleasure. 4 stars and TOP NOTCH!

This is another truly unique blend from the pipers at Habana. Even though it has latakia in it, the "wife rating" is pleasant. My Mrs. does not particularly like the smell of latakia tobacco, but the room note of Old Tartan is mellowed out by the deer tongue. It smells similar to fresh cut grass or parsley; it has a fresh greeness aroma to it. The burley adds a slight buttery taste. It lights easily, burns well, and is gentle to the tongue. All in all, this is a very well-rounded tobacco. I give it a 4-star rating.

6/20/2007 I revisited this one again after several months in the cellar. It smelled and packed the same, however it scorched my tongue! Downgrading it to 3-stars.