Iwan Ries Gourmet English

This is truly an English blend for the gourmet and not the gourmand. There are so many fine English blends out there, and the differences among them are often subtle. There are the giant latakia blasters (Nightcap, Abington, Old Ironsides, Westminster), the more oriental and virginia forward variety (My Mixture 965, Old Dublin, Frog Morton) and the crossovers (Bald Headed Teacher, Dr. Bradley's Mixture, Britt's Balkan). This blend is best described as balanced: solid, satisfying, plenty of taste,just a little spicy, and a unique overall smoothness rarely found in a full English. Every English devotee will enjoy it. It deserves all four stars in my galaxy!

This fine English offering from Iwan Ries is truely gourmet. Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with a deep, rich and lush looking blend of weed. Another reviewer described this as a buttery smoke and I must agree. The smoke is smooth and full and burns cooly with no bite. The Orientals and Virginia's play a large role here, yet they don't totally dominate. There's more than a hint of Latakia that serves to round out the blend very nicely. This blend does arrive on the damp side and I would suggest letting it dry out for at least a half hour or more. Highly recommended!

Old time Iwan Ries taste, great flavor, and room note, a real delight, gave a few puffs to a cigar smoker in the front room at Iwan Ries who doesn't smoke pipes and the next time he saw me he was still talking about how great it was. As of now my daily favorite when I'm out of the home. Rich, complex, spicy, smells as good as it smokes. Truly a gift for tobacco lovers everywhere. The more I smoke this blend the more interesting and seductive it becomes. Non-aromatic Latakia, Oriental/Turkish and Virginia blend (all the right types of each). I cannot keep enough of this around.

Got some today. Was expecting a very good tobacco. This stuff is fantastic. Very English maybe the best including Dunhill. A cool long lasting smoke. A bit damp out of the pouch. You must try this.

First, a disclaimer. I've been smoking for a month. Not just a pipe, but at all. Started at age 56. Glad I waited, but wish I had started sooner, if that makes any sense at all. Pipes are cool.

In the short time I've been smoking a pipe, I've acquired quite a variety of tobaccos, wanting to find what it is I like. I probably have 15 different varieties. I figured that I'd like the aromatics to start. Most importantly, I figured they'd placate my wife, even though I will never smoke in the house. Well, they're just OK. Taste OK, smell better. VaPers are OK, too, but I think I like burleys better.

Hands down, this Iwan Ries Gourmet English is by far my favorite. It's the only tobacco I've smoked that hours later, I can still remember the complex, delicate flavors and smells. Most other tobaccos I enjoy only before and during smoking. Honestly, this has been quite a surprise for me. I LOVE bourbon, but don't like peated Scotch very much. This blend smelled like a bottle of Islay Scotch to me. Not good for me. But in the bowl? Heaven! Man, I have a lot of tobacco to burn before I can load up on 8 oz of Gourmet English! Gotta find takers for the Borkum Riff.

This is a top-notch English blend, no doubt about it. Somewhat sweet in taste; the latakia weaves in well, not overpowering, yet present. The Virginia's give it a slight edginess. I will tame this one to reduce that feature by decanting it in a mason jar for awhile (I believe this blend will age well).

Some reviewers have compared this to Boswell's Northwoods; but, other than the English aspects of Gourmet, I don't agree with that comparison—the last time I smoked Northwoods it gave me a "pine" jolt I didn't like. Gourmet does not have that going on for it so, really not much of a comparison. English blends are among my favorite pipe tobaccos, and Gourmet ranks right up there with the best of them.

I really enjoyed this one!

Keep on Piping!

I am a pipe newbie, however I've been smoking cigars for over 20 years. I dig flavorful tobacco. This stuff is the bomb. I'm not good at describing the flavors but it seems buttery, nutty and sweet at times. Burns long. I dig it.

Ne Plus Ultra. The search is over. Intriguing, beguiling. Discovered thanks to this site last October.Will never be without. Have a pound in a humidor. 2 Dunhill #4's dedicated to this blend. Merci, Ivan Reis for this treasure

Another reviewer recommended letting this blend age for a year or more. The sealed tin I received from Iwan Ries last week was dated 1/2008, more than 1.5 years old. The scent of the unsmoked tobacco in the tin is wonderful, but very light. The leaf is a thicker, visually pleasing, coarse ribbon cut and packs quite nicely. It seems very moist right out of the tin, and I was concerned that it would burn hot and not stay lit - I was mistaken. One charring light, and then another match, and the entire bowlful burned and smoked smoothly, with billows of smoke, right down to the bottom - leaving nothing but a fine light gray ash. No goop. No dottle. No bite. No foul taste at the end. The word that comes to mind for the flavor of the smoke: "smoothe." This tobacco certainly lives up to its name. It is definitely one of the finest English blends.