Ashton Smooth Sailing

Smoked this as a beginning smoker in an English briar Estate. Thought the fire company was going to have to be called to put out a mouth fire. I could not detect the flavors others have mentioned, all I could get was heat. The only good thing I can say is the aroma was OK. I was lucky someone just let me try a bowl and I didn't have to buy a tin. Will leave this for the more hard-core smokers, can't recommend this one.

EDIT - 17 July. I'm just totally retracting my original review in disgust, because I've now had altogether too much experience with this blend. Bear in mind now that this is coming from a guy who likes aromatics.

You see, I cannot get this stuff to not bite. Doesn't matter what size bowl, how careful I am with cadence or draw, packing it, lighting it, or drying it. The worst part is that it slow-roasts me to where I don't even realize just how bad it lit me up until the next morning. No matter how good it tastes or smells, this just ain't worth it. Not only will I never touch Smooth Sailing again, but anything Ashton is now totally off the table for me. What do you think of that, Ashton? Not recommended unless you have a masochistic bent.

I was afraid this aromatic would be dripping with sticky stuff, since the description listed a ton of flavors (maple, chocolate, caramel, coconut, etc.), but was pleasantly surprised with a fairly gentle tin aroma. In fact, any sharp flavor notes began to evaporate days after opening the tin, leaving a mild sweetness and hints of chocolate, coconut behind. As for any maple flavor, I couldn't find it. For that I would stick with McClelland's Town Topic.

I found the smell of dark chocolate Mounds Bar to be quite pleasant. The mix of dark brown ribbon and light tan fruit pebble shaped flakes, had a good moisture content, and I was excited to dig in.

At first things were going well and I enjoyed the closest thing to real coconut flavor in a tobacco. Then trouble began. There was a wonky air flow, some relights, spittle in the bowl, and a sharp tongue bite developed (though all of this could be from user error).

This was my first and last attempt using an Ashton product. My initial gut reaction was to give it 2 stars for the unique flavor, but as I got to the end of the tin, the flavor just left and everything turned bland, gross, and felt cheap.

Starting from the tin note, this blend did absolutely nothing for me. The tin states that "...this aromatic mixture is slightly nutty, boasting flavors of maple, coconut and dark chocolate. None of these flavours manifested when I opened the tin. Indeed there was virtually no aroma at all. Nor was there anything aromatic about the smoke in terms of the room note. What I got and tasted during the smoke was a bland, characterless mixture that just burned along without any doze of 'nuttiness' nor coconut nor dark chocolate. If I thought the 'fault' was with the first pipe I used, a Falcon Coolway, the second smoke in a Butz Choquin A Metz Origine yielded the same drab result. Let me end on a positive note: at no time did I get 'tongue bitten'. And perhaps it will taste better with age or when mixed and smoked with other aromatic blends.

The cut is definetly not broken flake - broad cut ribbon - yes. I am not a devotee of aromatics, but ocassionally like a flurry. I was not impressed and the combination of flavors was simply overpowering. A light casing or top note is one thing - this is something way over the top. It burned very quickly, but the ribbon cut did keep the smoke relatively cool. The melange of flavour additives didn't produce a stickey residue, which was surprising; however, while the flavours combined well together and were complimentary - there was absolutely no tobacco flavour whatsoever. The cut and flavour reminded me of Fox's 'Aromatic' (produced by K & K).

I should give a prefix that I tend to not enjoy aromatic tobacco.

This stuff is genuinely one of the vilest, most horrific blends I've ever had the displeasure of trying.

It was purchased for me as a gift from James Fox (with others that were better thank goodness). The jar will remain at the very furthest recess of my cupboard until I feel like I really must be punished. If I ran out of everything else maybe I'd try it again, but likely it will remain where it is until I decide to throw it away.

The tin note is simply 'sugar'. Practically identical to a (freshly bitten into) Scots 'Macaroon'. This is a kind of chocolate bar (traditional to Scotland), filled with sweet candied coconut paste (which apparently contains potato) then covered in sickly chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut.

The smell is powerfully overbearing. It smells not unlike an old sweetshop (well stocked in the above confection).

Tastewise, I couldn't really place it. I tried sipping it, I've tried going slow. I am unable to smoke this stuff without having to rest from smoking for several days until my tongue becomes usable again.

I could not, in good conscience, recommend this to even my most hated acquaintance. It is truly godawful.

If you like Bounty chocolate bars and you want to effectively smoke one... maybe this is for you.

I tried this tobacco at the recommendation of the salesman and was told that smelt awful by my fiance. Needless to say that it will likely not be in the regular rotation at home.