Hearth & Home Sunjammer

(3.33)
A smooth and sweet blend of bright and red Virginias, Macedonian and other Orientals, smoky latakia and a touch of unflavored toasted black cavendish. A traditional Scottish-type mixture, a great alternative for the Dunhill 965 smoker who is looking for the same kind of medium bodied, slightly sweet latakia blend, but would like something a bit different.

Details

Brand Hearth & Home
Series Signature Series
Blended By Russ Ouellette
Manufactured By Pipes & Cigars
Blend Type Scottish
Contents Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Coarse Cut
Packaging 1.5 ounce tin, bulk
Country United States
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Mild
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.33 / 4
16

12

5

0

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 33 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 10, 2017 Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
The very smoky, woody sweet Cyprian latakia also sports a light mustiness. Competing for the lead with the latakia is the dry, woody, buttery sweet, slightly salty, and rather spicy Orientals. There are times one is a little more obvious than the other. The red Virginia provides some tangy dark fruit and earth, while the bright Virginia has a little citrus and grass, though you’ll notice the red a little more. They are mostly background players. The toasted black cavendish chips in with a little smoothness. The nic-hit is a step closer to mild than it is to medium. No chance of bite, and has no dull or harsh moments. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with a little inconsistency in its rich, deep flavor. Leaves a small amount of dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, slightly lingering after taste. Can be a all day smoke for the veteran smoker, and if it isn’t for the less experienced, it’s certainly repeatable. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks
13 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 15, 2005 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable
I have smoked a half dozen of Russ Ouellette's blends. All of them are very good, but of those I have sampled Sunjammer is, in my opinion, a world class blend. It puts me in mind of Fox's Campanile and Provost Mixture. The Virginia base is smooth and rich. The latakia is there to taste, but is not overdone. The main event consists of the oriental tobaccos, and I think the star of the show is the Macedonian which I peg as very close to, if not, Yenidje. If you like your Balkan mixtures without rough edges and with that oriental spiciness clear, distinct and not overpowered by latakia, you should enjoy this blend. This so smooth, biteless, flavorful and spicey, it could be an all day blend for those who must have a steady diet of Balkan. I would go a bit further and recommend this blend to any pipe smoker. When folks are raving about this blend years from now, you will know what they are talking about. I hope it ages well, because I intend to stock up. It is the type of English/Balkan that can consistently pull me away from Va. and Vapers. Pipe smoking just keeps on getting better. Highest recommendation. Paddy.
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 26, 2014 Mild None Detected Mild Pleasant
This is called a "Scottish" blend (whatever that is) but to me it's a light Balkan, and part of a continuum created by Russ Oulette in the Heart & Home series- the half pound cans of which I can't leave alone since I discovered the brand.

Just to sidetrack a bit, I'd like to say that this is the first summer I've ever spent smoking Latakia throughout. Some months (maybe a year) ago, someone wrote an article about how Latakia is smokeable in the summer if one opened his mind. And while I did retire Mt. Marcy in the spring, I did keep up with Daybreak, and that led me to American Heritage, and eventually Sunjammer. It's been quite nice! This all came from my abandonment of total Lat bombs to begin with, and since then I've not looked back.

I've not had Dunhill's 965, so I cannot offer a comparison on that account. However, I do find this to be a sister to H&H Daybreak. But where Daybreak is grassier, lighter and burns quicker, Sunjammer is more substantial, with more deep notes to it. Much more suitable while I'm reading at night, Sunjammer burns longer, perhaps due to the Cavendish or more Virginia in the mix. The orientals are there, but maybe not quite as much as in Daybreak.

Perfect balance and no tongue bite either, this could be an all-day smoke for those so inclined. Four stars.

8/15- Let me try to clear something up; those reporting sourness on this blend are not sourpusses or poor sports. It's happened to to me as well, and my theory is that it happens to bowls near the end which have been relit and/or tamped. I have a faithful basket dublin that the blend went sour in the other night. I'm sticking to narrow bowls with this for a while- after all, there's Virginia in it. My Peterson Rocky Donegal Lovat 53 showed off this blend very nicely. Don't let the sour stories scare you off; this tobacco is good most of the time, but it might have its quirks.
Pipe Used: Cobs, Comoy, Peterson
PurchasedFrom: Hearth & Home
Age When Smoked: new as per July 2014
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 04, 2015 Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I know that this one was made to emulate Dunhill's famous 965, but I think this blend really is stronger and more full bodied, too. I got the nutty, rich Latakia taste that I expected, but was pleasantly surprised at the strength of the blend and the lack of harshness, despite the fact that the tin I smoked was so fresh. I picked up several more tins to cellar and will certainly go back to Sunjammer in a couple of years. Great stuff!

Pipestud
8 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 22, 2014 Mild Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I am not the only person to find a sour taste with Sunjammer. Since I had some Dunhill 965 on hand, I did a comparison and honestly, 965 blows Sunjammer right out of the water. 965 is nicely made and can be quickly and easily packed in the pipe. Sunjammer has to be picked over for clumps, stems, and woody chunks. The poor physical quality of this tobacco makes me wish that I had an herb grinder to run it through. About the only thing similar is the tin note. But smoking Sunjammer is not at all fulfilling for me because it has a sour taste, burns hot, and is very weak.

Pipe Used: cob
PurchasedFrom: pipes and cigars
Age When Smoked: fresh
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 12, 2011 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
Sunjammer is a solid, somewhat rich English blend. I think there may be some McClelland tobaccos used in part of this blend. The moisture content is perfect and it burns cleanly. I would disagree that there is any simalarity to mm965. I actually find it closer to Magnum Opus also by the same blender. Those that like MO or McClelland English blends should give this one a try. Another well done tobacco by Russ Ouellette. Recommended.
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 29, 2020 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable
Hearth & Home - Sunjammer (Signature Series).

The name Sunjammer sounded like an aromatic, to me. A rather 'funky' name! But, obviously, it isn't one!

The coarse mixture does indeed contain some bigger pieces. Sadly, though, it contains twigs. Mine arrived dry but as this was supplied from bulk a sealed tin might differ? There are less black pieces than brown, far less. Let's get on to the smoke.

Hmmmm, nice taste but it behaves poorly. The tobaccos, apart from the black Cavendish, form a nicely balanced flavour; the Cav' is a minor addition. The lead character comes from the Latakia and Orientals. Although, the Lat' isn't inordinately smoky but quite musky and piquant. The Orientals and Macedonian give a herby, slightly floral, flavour with a touch of peat. With the Virginias I notice a tad more of the fruity reds than I do the brights. As I'd expected from the appearance it burns quickly and gets warm. But, I hadn't readied myself for the bite; ouch!

Nicotine: maybe above medium, at a push. Room-note: not the best!

Sunjammer? To me, considering EVERYTHING, two stars seems fair:

Somewhat recommended.
Pipe Used: Peterson #03
PurchasedFrom: Tobaccopipes.com
Age When Smoked: One month
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 03, 2013 Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant
I bought 4oz. in bulk. This is a great summer time blend, which was just what I was looking for.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 19, 2012 Mild None Detected Medium Pleasant
My review is from a generous 2 ounce tin sample with a recent order that was sent to me. A mix of browns and blacks without being overly moist. Tin aroma was very pleasant. It is interesting that I enjoy the smell of Latakia from the tin, but never have been a big fan when it comes to smoking it in a mixture. This one, however, was tolerable for me. I found it true to a more traditional blending tradition without the use of any flavoring agents, but relying solely on the various leaf mixtures. Loading and lighting was without problem and it smoked clean and dry in the heel. It had a subtle sweetness throughout which really made it a winner for me. What I did not experience was the excessive dryness in mouth feel that I usually experience with blends containing Latakia. That was a plus. For me, very similar to other blends in the genre. The pungent taste of the Oriental leaf (not the Latakia) made itself known from time to time - never taking center stage. Overall a tasty, but generic, tribute to Scottish blending. Recommended, and although not the normal fare in my line up, a very nice change of pace from time to time - similar to Balkan Sasieni for me, but sweeter and more enjoyable.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 12, 2010 Mild to Medium Extremely Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
My sample has a few months on it and has become a little on the dry side, but this has not damaged the review. Packed well and took to the flame like a pro. Being a little on the dry side actually helps it not to go out without regular puffing. Very nice tobacco, and to be honest I did not expect it to be at all.

In contrast to others who have stated this reminds them of 965, to me there is little similar between the two. Then again, I came to 965 after the switch, so it may be like the older blending.

Overall, a nice smoke and would happily take a bowl if offered. Recommend this to those who enjoy a middle of the road English with just the right amount of Latakia!
3 people found this review helpful.
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