Borkum Riff Mixture with Bourbon Whiskey (Bronze)

I bought a pouch of this for the sake of trying, was a while ago, but on rare occasions I (usually) smoke it in a cob. It doesn't really deserve all this negative press, even if it's hardly the best tobacco ever made.

It is quite strong, which surprises me a little. I can detect the burley and a faint taste of bourbon (more like a hint of sweet-corn after taste than anything else, which does intensify somewhat further down the bowl). Can't sense any virginia in there, though it is probably in there somewhere, if you look hard enough.

It treats my tongue well, but I guess it'll bite if you tempt fate (what tobacco doesn't?). At worst a small tingle on the false light. After that it burns without any problems at all. It is very thinly cut, almost like loosepacked cigarette tobacco, which makes packing a breeze. This makes it burn pretty fast also, for better or for worse.

Should you try it? Who knows, you might like it.

As far as I am concerned, I probably won't buy another pouch of it, but on the other hand, I don't regret buying the one I have now.

TOAST, WEAK GOLDEN RAISIN

This is not quality, but is easy to obtain, very inexpensive. It is light, flat, mild, a little toasty.Weak raisin like-toast... Unilateral and no suprises. BETTER PICK: GL PEASE BARBARY COAST, TROOST

BEST PICK: Dunhills Light Flake, Orlik Golden Slices

I think everyones being kind of hard on this tobacco, sure it is not the best in the world, but it is not the worst in my opion. I find it to be enjoyable on occasian.

An o.k. tobacco for newbies. I wouldn't smoke it now unless it was all I had left.

I purchased this to give some variation to my other tobaccos. I too had no problem with the stickiness or goopy residue although it does tend to bite the tongue if you are not careful. I am learning to smoke slower than I used too and have gone from a staight to a full bent pipe. Havent decided if that changes much other than the way I hold the pipe. It is kinda ashy tasting near the end but overall, not bad for a cheap store brand. Not a bad choice if out and about in the countryside, but not for relaxing on the back porch. My wife said it didnt smell bad, but I have to smoke outside anyway.

I am surprised at negative evaluation stated above. It is certain that this blend is not of so high quality, but I think this is not so bad blend in consideration of it's price range. I used to smoke this regularly when I was a novice. And I bought it once this year. It's simple flavour is suitable for novices. But if you expect the flabour of aged Bourbon Whisky on reading the description on the pouch, you will be disappointed. Yet, this blend has liquor like sweetness and a little sourness, it is true, and it burns regularly in cause of good component of Virginia and Burley. I think it's Burley makes capable of cool smoking. In a word, it is easy to deal with. It is worth mentioning that this blend contains no Black Cavendish. If you are tired of black Cavendish, this might be pace changer. In Bolkum Series, I prefer Champagne, which has more refined flabour. Now I smoke Champagne on occasion.

This was one of my first regular pipe tobaccos some 30 years ago. Being in my teens, I liked it better then my step-father's Half-N-Half. I do remember it being goopy and it did smoke hot, however, my puffin' cadence was quite rapid in those days.

I have tried on several occasions in the last couple of years to get reacquainted with this blend but find it very difficult to even finish a pouch of it. I think that once a smoker departs from this blend into the English and Virginia's, this blend seems very "tart & sour" tasting.

I have a co-worker that smokes this blend by the pound!! Apparently he's not by himself as this tobacco is on every shelf in the country.

If I was grading this tobacco 20-30 years ago, I would have probably given it a very high rating. Now after exploring the tobacco world and tasting and testing what it has to offer,..... I can't go back.

There are usually three Borkum Riff's available anyywhere in Sweden where tobacco is sold, no matter if you are in a large city supermarket or at a petrol station in some backwater village; vanilla, cherry and this one. I find this to be the most agreeable of that lot.

It still burns a bit too hot and fast for my liking, as with the other offerings; when it does, it will taste a bit ash-like.
With a tempered cadence, taste is at least tolerable; where the other two try to overwhelm you, this one will not go beyond a slight note of whiskey.

The tobacco itself is not exactly top quality; you will not taste much else beside the whiskey aroma.

2 stars merely for being a little better compared to the other commonly available Borkum Riff; if you are limited to the narrow selection of pipe tobacco that is endemic for Sweden, and you do not like/cannot obtain Greve Hamilton, go for this one.

I think this is one of the better current OTCs that is available at non-tobacco stores today. Here's the problem with it (and Captain Black too): You can order less expensive stuff that is way better. The only reason you should buy this is if you have no local tobacconist, and shipping to your location is illegal.

Borkum Riff: $9-16 pouch=$6-10 per oz

Sutliff SPS 2007: bulk=$2.50 per oz

Sutliff bourbon street: bulk=$2.50 per oz

Cao Moontrance: $10.70 tin=$6 per oz (same price, and this is metal tinned)

Super Value Bourbon (same quality as BR IMO): $4.29 pouch=$3 per oz (though some of my local stores mark this one up too)

And more...

You can usually buy 3-4 times as much tobacco for the same price, and most of it is definitely better. If I were selling a new car for the same price as three or four other new models, if it's not tremendously superior in some regard, you would not buy it. Why do we do that with pipe tobaccos? In my opinion, its a rip off and they are capitalizing on the availability of their distribution, which most people can easily work around by just ordering online or buying something else (that's better) from a local tobacco shop.