Peter Stokkebye English Oriental Supreme (No.306)

I love English blends. After trying many, I was surprised to find myself repeatedly measuring them against this inexpensive bulk blend. It has something about it that others just don't have, or fail to deliver as well. For me, this is as good as it gets. A smooth easy smoke, but with lots of character and delightful flavors in each bowl. IMHO, this English Oriental truly is Supreme. The fact that it is such a great value is just an added bonus! Way to go Peter Stokkebye.

This tobacco receives a 9 out of 10 rating from me.

I am quickly becoming a fan of Peter Stokkebye tobaccos. As a relatively new pipe smoker I have been trying several different blends and of all the ones I have tried my two favorites that I have settled on so far are Peter Stokkebye 47 Dansk Black (for aromatic) and this blend Peter Stokkebye 306 English Oriental Supreme for an English blend. These two blends have allowed me to have trusty fall back tobaccos that I KNOW I will enjoy at any time which now gives me the freedom to branch out and try other new blends! And something must also be mentioned of the fact that Peter Stokkebye bulk tobaccos are much easier on the wallet than some of the other premiums I have tried (and not liked as much). That's a definite plus for me!

I found this blend and chose it from off the shelf by Divine Providence at one of my favorite pipe shops, Old Towne Tobacconists in Historic Downtown Fredericksburg, VA. As a Pennsylvanian relocated in Florida, this sits conveniently along the route I take home twice or thrice yearly, and is a real gem of a shop. Lovely Virginia has more of these shops than any other state I have ventured through, having a very rich tobacco heritage.

English Oriental Supreme is one of two Stokkebye blends I have smoked, the other being his Optimum, which I couldn't bring myself to finish an ounce of before it dried beyond use. Oriental Supreme has a similarly boastful title, but backs up it's pomposity with truth. This is a Supreme smoking mixture, one fit for royalty.

Being an experience novice, this is only my second English blend I have smoked, the other being the much milder Early Morning Pipe from Dunhill. This one, to my understanding, is closer to the classic English, though it includes both Black Cav and Burley, with are apparently not welcome to some.

This blend, to me, will be a repeat purchase. I will likely acquire 3-4 ounces on my next visit to Virginia over the Holiday season. The first description that comes to mind is 'smooth'. The complexity of it's contents makes for an ever expanding flavor experience, ranging from the smooth and nutty (from the burley), the decadently brassy (the Black Cav and the lovely lady Virginia) to the almost cinnamon spice of the Latakia. Having been smitten with Latakias fierce venom early in my smoking career, I am fearful of the flame, so to speak, concerning Latakia blends, which has slowed my introduction to English weeds. But the complexity of this blend keeps the fangs of the Orientals at bay, allowing for a very balanced and most enjoyable smoke.

I highly recommend this to anyone, but particularly to the new pipers out there, looking to experiment with a wide variety of fine toebaks with a goal to broaden ones palate. This one is sure to do the trick, and leave you with no regets, bowl after bowl.

Note: Smoke it slow. You can pound this one, since it will never once bite, but it's most enjoyable when sipped, and the flavors become new like the morning on each relight.

This is a very nice English Oriental available at an attractive price. There's a background sweetness and hay tastes presumably from the Virginia. Then there's some spice from the Orientals. A small amount of Latakia - enough to be noticed, but very much a background player. Seems to be nicely balanced. I enjoyed smoking this, and my first 2oz trial order disappeared quickly. Have already ordered 8oz and I suspect this tobacco will always be one that I'll want to have available - it's just a very nice English/Oriental, easy enjoyable smoking. Leaves a pleasant slightly sweet aftertaste in the mouth. This tobacco shows that you don't have to pay top prices to get a quality smoke. No, it's probably not the best tobacco in the world, but what it gives is a very enjoyable and satisfying smoke at an attractive price, and for that it deserves a solid recommendation.

Very pleasant, balanced blend. Nice spiciness on the retrohale. No one component dominates. Good blend that doesn't wear out, even when enjoying multiple bowls during the course of a day. Pleasant aftertaste, burns down well, without the need for multiple re-lights.

Some English tobaccos are simply Latakia dumps. Some are produced with only the gentle palate in mind. English Oriental Supreme is none of the above. When you open the bag, the tobacco smells smoky and looks like any other English on the market. It is Cavendish cut and there are many different colors to enjoy. Because of the cut, I'd recommend the 3 stage packing style. That is, the first little bit is placed and packed softly in the bottom of the bowl as though a child were doing it. The second stage consists of a little more tobacco being placed and packed in the bowl with a little more force as though a woman were doing it. The final stage is where the bowl is filled as though a man were packing it. The final pack should be harder than the first two. Anyway, the packing is nice and the stuff takes to a light very well. I do confess, however, that I do occasionally have to tamp and re-light the tobacco. But when it's going there is no stopping it. The first thing to note is that the tobacco tastes of wood and not smoke like most Latakia based blends. I think that this is due to the mixture of Virginia and Cavendish tobaccos. The taste is unique within this genre. Don't get me wrong, there is a fair amount of smoky goodness in this stuff, but that taste only adds to the "wood" feel of the weed. This taste does not change much all the way down the bowl. Now, if you forget yourself and puff too vigorously, there will be the slightest of tongue-bite. When you slow back down, you can get back to business. The burn is cool and the room aroma is like a fireplace. Note that I said a fireplace and not a camp fire. A camp fire would imply more smokiness than found here. The wife hates this stuff as much as any other English, but any real pipe smoker will appreciate the unique aroma this one puts out for an English. The ash is evrything you've come to expect from a fine tobacco. The pipe is left clean and dry. I don't know how Peter Stokkebye does it, but even with all of the Burleys and Virginias, the Nicotine level seems pretty tame. And, a full pipe of this stuff can last up to an hour. If you have never smoked an English tobacco before, start here. And, if you are used to stout English blends, stop here for something unique in the genre. I will definitely purchase this again. All of this at a great price! Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!!

I initially got this because I couldn't get a hold of some other superlative Oriental I had fallen in love with. First couple of bowls and I was like, hey - this is good! Couple of more bowls and I had built some familiarity...so much so that when I got my order of the Oriental I was waiting on, I found that the Stokkebye's was actually the better smoke!! I'm a little spoiled on this now. There's a couple of other reviews on this tobacco that say that they judge all other Orientals by the Stokkebye's and I'm going to have to concur. This really is an Oriental to use as a springboard to gauge all other Oriental blends! Truly, this is a classic. Classic.

Summary: a new take on the ancient discipline of the English blend.

People are divided over Burley in Englishes and especially Balkans, the variety of Englishes with a higher proportion of Oriental leaf. In "English Oriental," the Burley broadens the flavor and gives it a bit more fullness, raising the contrast between the other ingredients. While the Virginias form the basis of this flavor, a light and sweet cheerful taste, the fusion of Cavendish with Orientals translates the flavor of Latakia from dominance of the blend into a background influence, so that a smoky molasses flavor emerges and takes the edge off the Virginia sweetness, ending up with an overall taste to the blend that is a lot like hazelnut. The Burley winks from behind with its nutty, grainy warmth, and this allows the Orientals to dominate without dominating as their isolated flavor. Light in nicotine, and with a gentle but powerful flavor, this blend makes an easy introduction to Englishes and a comforting, all-day smoke, but it must be smoked slowly to avoid some sizzle from the Virginias.

First of all I must say this is one of my favorite tobacco. The taste is so complex I have not experienced anything like this in case of any other English blends.

No bite, not harsh, no nicotine kick, but deep, creamy, complex taste.

Highly recommended for English blend lovers.