Boswell Pipes & Tobacco Northwoods

Nice aromatic English blend. If you smoke aromatics and want to delve into English, this is a good cross over blend. Not really my cup of tea, the Cavendish sweetness is too strong in my opinion. I get a chemical type note especially if puffed too hard. I also got some tongue bite. Nicotine is not very strong.

Northwoods is a blend that is unique in its flavor profile and sort of defies categorization for this smoker. Cut of the tobacco features lots of large black pieces mixed with smaller pieces of what I assume is the Va component.

A little air time is necessary as I find too moist. Medium to large size pipes preferred. Thicker cut allows this to burn well outside for me.

The Latakia flavor is very much just a smoky undertone in this blend that is really softened and rounded by the sweetness of the Va and Cavendish components. Mid Bowl like sweet and spicy BBQ sauce as I believe another reviewer mentioned.

I'd hesitate to call this an aromatic simply because it has highly sweet aspects to me. I also hesitate to compare this to compare this to other English blends as I find the Latakia component to be robust , but not full spectrum. Northwoods is a great blend that equals more than the sum of its parts. The flavors jive and mix well. It is not super complex, but it is full and satisfying. It does not require your complete concentration to derive enjoyment.

It really captures a vibe that others have mentioned. It is like that autumn time where the sweet smells of summer still mix with the notes of leaves changing color, and nights are getting chilly. In summary, one to keep in my rotation. A great outdoor tobacco for the cooler months. Not one I'm gonna reach for all the time, but recommended.

WOW. As one of my few foray's into "English" style blends, I have to say that this one was very enjoyable. I don't get the incence flavour or smell that others have noted. I get a pine smell with hints of earthy mushroom. And as the name suggests woodsiness. I associate a lot of my memories and nostalgia with the tobacco smells. Growing up in Northern Ontario, aromatics bring me right back to the local bar where my Grandfather would spend his time with his old Bush Pilot crew. This one brought me right out to the forest and the woods of Northern Ontario where I grew up. I'm an aromatic lover and take the odd step into stronger English blends occasionally and this one is a winner for me.

This one was NOT for me. Not trying to be negative,,, but love alot of their other blends----this one though ,,,All I can say is --Yuk !!! Taste like your smoking a stick of incense and pine needles. No thanks.

I can't say that I really enjoyed the first bowl I smoked. The incense like aroma that other reviewers have commented on was rather odd to me.

The more I smoke it the more I like it. After almost 2oz I am totally hooked. May never go back to aromatics.

Love the smoky Latakia flavor now.

I would highly recommend this for someone wanting to try an English blend.

I'll definitely order more..

Northwoods is frequently compared to Shortcut to Mushrooms; so, this review will simply be comparison/contrast. That may not be fair to NW, but it's the best way I know to review it.

A friend and I sat down together and packed a bowl of each, trading pipes back and forth a number of times, for comparison's sake.

For starters, the pouch smells of NW and STM are nearly identical to each other.

As for the smoke:

NW has a more exotic flavor profile, and produces more billowy smoke.

STM, on the other hand, is a tad sweeter, a tad stronger, and is to me a tad more satisfying. Others have picked up on an “incense” like flavor in NW. Yes, that is exactly right. If you're familiar with that unique, exotic scent of incense as used in liturgical Christian churches, you'll catch hints of it in NW. This becomes more noticeable after about a third of the bowl, and it's pretty consistent from thereon out. Quite enjoyable to me.

I doubt that incense-like flavor is from the latakia—it must be from something else. I think I catch more sweetened latakia in STM. Whereas I catch more of this incense profile in NW.

Both are good. If NW pushed that unique incense profile more robustly, and with a bit more sweetness, it would be even more distinct from STM than it is, and more enjoyable in its own right.

As it stands, though, it needs a bit more robustness and sweetness to stand out; so, despite bringing something good to the table that STM does not, STM remains slightly preferable to me.

I'm giving NW 3 stars, even though it probably deserves 4, just because STM has the slight edge to my personal tastes.

Wow Northwoods!!! What i can say? Is Top 1. It's a perfect english blend that J.M. Boswell did. Full Body, Long Finish and Complex. For me, to beat this tobacco is hard. try smoke now! 4+**** STAR

What a smoke! All blends well in every draw and the Latakia actually stands out but not overwhelming in middle of the distinct flavors of the Virginia and Black Cavendish... Love it... another good one from JM.

Sampled this tobacco in my one and only Boswell (at the time it was my one and only). Not sure I can say what hasn't already been said. Love this 'woodsy' and 'creamy' blend...it's the best way to describe it, 'woodsy'. Very delicious! The smoke is silky smooth and creamy with a very deep and rich campfire type attribute with almost a hint of citrus/floral, probably from the latakia. I will be ordering more (and have since the original review). Top notch stuff!

On another note, The Boswell's, hands down, have the best customer service I have experienced yet in the pipe world. I will be a life-long customer of theirs due to my experience with purchasing a pipe and tobacco from them!! Not to mention how well the pipe's I've purchased smoke and how how excellent their tobaccos are!