Stanwell Classic

Encouraged by my first encounter with the Stanwell series - "Green & Indigo", which I actually found quite agreeable, even to my own surprise - I decided to give Classic a chance. After all, plum would be one of my favourite flavours in tobacco, if done tastefully.

Unfortunately, here it isn't. The pouch note already is way too artificially sugary and fruity, and the smoking experience is once again that of cheap aromatics; mediocre quality tobacco literally doused with added flavours, giving a mild but, at the end of the day, mostly uninteresting smoke.

Bit of a disappointment really and whereas G&I was a solid 2 approaching 3, Classic only just makes the 2-star mark. Not something I'm dying to buy again and recommended for fans of light aromatics only, everyone else should stay well away as this surely is not the blend to transform you into a friend of aromatics.

As someone who doesn't eat enough fruit, I can't tell ya' what I am smelling... apricot, grapey melon, plum perhaps, who knows... it is something fruity though. The flavor doesn't overpower your nose (like some cherry aromatics might), and does melt into the smoke once lit.

The depth of tobacco taste is a bit shallow, and may come across a bit cheap. A sentiment reinforced by the quick burn time, from a mix that wasn't too dry to cause this issue. The fruitiness was lost within a few puffs, leaving an unassuming smoke I didn't love nor hate. The strength was mild enough, but at times seemed to creep up a tad, possibly due to drawing on it like a cigarette, since it acted like one.

I've enjoyed trying many of the Stanwell blends so far, but the Classic here was nothing I would revisit.

Maybe my pouch was production mistake in factory, but I've got a strong smell and taste of vanilla. Tobacco burning hot, but without tongue bite, leaving some moisture at the end. Regular drug store mixture, nothing special.

This blend taught me that I don't like plum in my tobacco. The plum smell is medium strong and probably pleasant if you like taht kind of thing.

As a new pipesmoker, i could be wrong in everything said about this tobacco since i had little experience of other tobacco to compare with.The smell from pouch is very enticing, I was amazed with the dryness and cut of it, as I had the fewest re-lighting needed with it than with other baccy. But it scorched my mouth pretty fiercely. As I said, I have little other experience to compare with, but it does bite, especially during smoke. The burn dissipates the next day though, unlike the continuous tongue bite sensation I had after smoking Captain Black gold, which could last two days or more. I found room note somewhat pleasant, but gf found it too strong. It does leave a ghost in the pipe, so I keep smoking it only with corncob. As nice as the pouch smell, I guess I wont restock.

this is an aromatic by definition..which means it is a cased tobacco (flavored)but i really doubt it was topped in purpose of making it a friendly smelling tobacco! it packs right and the taste is consistent through the bowl with the taste of burly, cavendish and little virginia is apparent have fruity mild sweetness taste to it. the room note is strong but sadly not pleasant. a decent tobacco but not an all day smoke for me at least..especially not when in company of non smokers.

This tobacco does have its good sides. For one, the aromatic components aren't annoyingly strong, it is noted in another review that the top flavor is overwhelming. It is true (for me) that the plum flavor is much more evident upon the first light and onwards to the second third, but I usually find that particular feauture of this tobacco very enjoyable. The plum flavor moves to the background the further down you go, sometimes I've noticed it has a tendency of going a little back and forth, moving from back to front in the taste department. It does keep you alittle on your toes, which for me adds, in a positive way, to the smoking experience. If you take apart the components of the tobacco alittle, to its disadvantage, it mostly feels as if the tobaccos are in fact only a way of having a base for the plum aroma. The baseblends never really show themselves, they are just there, but they don't really do anything, which I find a little disappointing when you look at it at a broader perspective.

If you want plum, it delivers plum, but sadly not much more.

This is a low-maintenance tobacco with good burn capabilities, it won't burn your tongue if you use common sense when smoking it. If you're prone to aromatics, give this one a shot.

Stanwell are very able tobacco blenders, and this blend is no exception. It has a rich aroma out of the pouch with that plum note on top. It smokes well and does not cause any trouble. I'd smoke this everyday, but not all the time as it does become a bit ehm, je ne sais qouis?

Classy blend from Stanwell.

Superb opening aroma, yet not sweet and sickly like some aromatics I've tried over the years. It was very firm and a little dry and I found I had to tease the strands out, a slight rub and then load. The tobacco again looks standard for this type, predominantly brown strands shot through with darker tones.

It claims to have brandy, plum and coffee flavours and I can see why, but with my diminished taste buds I can only get the coffee, together with something grassy and sweet. It's certainly not as sweet as Larson's Danish blends, more akin to Savinelli's aromatic.

Goes dry very quickly indeed, even though it came in a round tin. The smoke was clearly of quality tobaccos with a topping that stayed very much in the background. A really pleasant yet unremarkable smoke. not a million miles away from their Melange blend.

Well worth trying if you like aromatics.