Borkum Riff Mixture with Bourbon Whiskey (Bronze)

[Note: This is the same Borkum Riff tobacco as that listed as "Bourbon Whiskey."]

In the pouch, this fine-cut ribbon blend has the typically sweet cavendish aroma along with an unobtrusively natural bourbon scent.

This is a blend of golden virginia and burley cavendishes along with black (burley?) cavendish that is rather sweet without becoming excessively syrupy. The bourbon whiskey topping is credible and admirably plays the role of unifying agent.

A classic, Borkum Riff Bourbon Whiskey is a quietly elegant smoke for those who enjoy tobaccos on the sweeter side. This will ghost a briar and seemed best in narrow to medium gauge chambers.

I packed very light. Pleasant aromatic. Easy lite, with no tongue bite! Nice easy summer smoke for an otc blend. Can not pouch. Steady burn to the bottom. Surprised that I enjoyed it so much.

I've been smoking a pipe a little over a month now and I will say this is the best I've ever had. Being unexperienced I have only Prince Albert and Carter Hill (also Black Cherry & Vanilla aromatics but I don't count those) to compare to. I took a chance on this at the tobacco shop because I'm still experimenting and was hoping to find "the one". I own two very old Dr. Grabow's that belonged, one to my grandfather, and the other to my uncle, both around 50 years old. I can remember being very young and finding these on the bookshelf in the stand they've stayed on for years, taking them down and smelling inside the bowl. The smell was something so rich and sweet I will never forget it, and it's that particular aroma that I'm hoping to one day find and call my own. SO far this tobacco is very close to what I'm looking for. Along with a very pleasant smell it has virtually zero tongue bite. It's very "light" for lack of better terms, which is somewhat of a tradeoff to what I'm actually looking to find as a daily tobacco, since it is very light on flavor also. There is a hint of whiskey taste to it. If I could find a Brand with this same smokability but with more robust flavor, and keep the tongue bite out of the equation I'd be in heaven. For now, I'll try the Borkum & Riff Vanilla Cavendish next since I already saw it at the shop next to this blend, and keep Borkum & Riff as my favorite smoke.

So I am exploring the wold of aromatics after a lifetime spent smoking mainly flakes. I always enjoyed Players Whiskey flake (sadly long gone) and I have a soft spot for whiskey flavored blends. Borkum Riff gets a bad press generally, but I thought I would revisit it in its latest incarnation, (Black Cavendish taking the place of Burley) having tried it last in the 1990s. I was somewhat prepared to be disappointed, and was in actuality pleasantly surprised. On opening the pouch, I was met by an aroma reminiscent of Clan with an obvious boozy overtone and some implication of vanilla and sherry cask type sweetness. It is not a gloopy American style aromatic, but more akin to Dutch and Scandinavian mixtures. It needs little drying and packs easily. It lights fairly easily too and smokes down to a fine white ash. The flavour is sweet and has a tangy edge provided by the bright virginias, with a citrus note complementing that of the Bourbon flavour of the Cavendish. The room note is actually noticeable whilst smoking and is very pleasant and lingers a fair while. I enjoyed the experience overall and it makes a pleasant diversion from VaPer and Straight Virginias. I can see it biting the novice and unwary smoker, but applying the breath method will help keep it in check. This is premium tobacco and it is far from the firey demon that it is made out to be. Addendum:- I have decided to add another star for this blend. It has surpassed my expectations and has provided a great consistency from one bowl to the next. If packed with a modicum of care, it provides a very easy going smoke and it is able to maintain that barely lit smoulder that gives a cool smoke with plenty of flavour. 4*

I've been smoking this off and on since the 1990s. Mildly aromatic, but would not recommend for those who lean towards aromatic. It will bite and requires re-lighting often. Having said that; its the best smoke for me. Room note is OK, but thats not why I smoke a pipe anyway. Highly recommended as an everyday smoke. Although I like to try other tobaccos, I always come back to my Borkum Riff Bourbon Whiskey.