Stanwell Vanilla (Sungold)

Usually I'm not a huge fan of otc tobbaccos, I find them common and boring. I love the over saturated special editions that bloom with flavor and exaggerated notes. This time I will make an exception. After opening the pouch the aroma is proper, although not very vanilla-ish. However after lighting and first few puffs the vanilla is very articulated. This tobacco is incredibly full of vanilla - wonderfully rich and scrumptious. Room note is quite pleasant, my more significant half scored it a 4 out of 5 (which knowing her is outstanding). I will definitely go back to it. A very, very good tobacco indeed. Small issues with getting the right moisture content right, but that happens from time to time.

This is the 1st Stanwell for me and the 1st really great vanilla. Upon opening it was just what I wanted. Not a sickening sweet vanilla but a real vanilla. Not sticky, not hot but just right to get again and keep in rotation.

I honestly expected a stronger vanilla smell/taste with this tobacco. I had tried Melange a couple of months ago and loved it, so I thought I'd try a vanilla. Smells sweet and nice in the tin, though, as I said not very vanilla-y. Tastes great though it does bite if you're not careful, especially in a smaller bowl. But to me it tastes like Melange without so much apricot flavor. Of course I still have not learned to taste properly, maybe I have really dull taste buds. I still can't taste any the flavors my peers claim to taste at wine tastings, and I've been drinking wine for decades. Anyway, I do know what I like, and this is a good tasting tobacco, though probably I will stick to the Melange when I want a sweet smoke.

This stuff compares to Captain Black (no offence intended to CB fans) as fillet mignon compares to leftover mulligan stew. One bowl of Stanwell Melange or Vanilla and you can never go back to OTC crap.

There is something in the blend in addition to vanilla that makes it a bit more complex than other vanilla blends. A previous reviewer suggested it might be a hint of nutmeg. Whatever it is, it makes this stuff luscious.

The vanilla taste is so strong, that it leaves the chemicaly bitter taste in your mouth. May be will give it to someone who will like it.

Do you like tobacco? If so, you will not like this! This is identical to Skandinavik Vanilla in appearance, smell and flavor. It is a bit sticky, overwhelmingly sweet and the casing tastes almost unnatural like diesel exhaust.

I love a good quality aromatic now and then. This is not one of them. This is generic fruit flavored candy with some salt, habanero pepper, lots of sugar, bus fumes and maybe a drop of butterscotch. Enjoy!

Tin smells of chocolate and vanilla. It is a bit wet from the tin, best to allow it to dry a bit - keep this bit and cellar the rest for a few days.

Dried and/or cellared, this is a beautifully tasting vanilla aromatic. Burns very cool, easy, stays lit for as long as you need. Room note is chocolate smelling, doesn't really even smell like tobacco to many non-smokers. Definitely one of my favorites and in my regular rotation.

I picked up a tin of the Stanwell Vanilla recently at my local tobacco shop. I found the tin in a clean up the shelve basket marked down a bit. Although I truly am compelled to smoke an entire tin or more of any tobacco prior to comment; I must say I was impressed! The tobacco was a perfect moisture content, had minimal twigs in the blend, burns well in a couple of lights and remains lit with only a few tamps along the way. The delicious vanilla actually came through in the taste notes, as opposed to just a room scent. The room notes were pleasant, without being overbearing. Most of all, the taste remained consistent through the entire bowl (and yes I smoke to the bottom). I simply don't jump up and down with every tobacco I try; but this one is really a wonderful blend that I'd strongly recommend to the newbies out there! My only regret is not trying this blend many years ago.

Well, I tried this fresh and I tried it after almost a year.

The tin note is good, and that’s about it for me. The flavor is not vanilla in the mouth, it’s sour/tart tasting with the retro being quasi-vanilla. If that’s what was intended - nailed it. But, that’s simply not for my taste buds. It’s probably going in the trash, but I will first let some new pipers try some of it.

Room note is nice though.