E. Hoffman Company Spilman Mixture

I got to chance to try E. Hoffman Company's Spilman Mixture at our last meeting thanks to the generosity of our members. It was described as a mild English blend. Mild English blends are my favorites so I had to dive right in and try a bowl. The tin is described as "complex English blend of Virginia, Latakia, Turkish and cubed Burley" by the manufacturer. I don't smoke a lot of blends with burley in it. I think I may be missing out and may need to expand my horizons. Mild English is a very appropriate description of this tobacco. More accurate would be a pleasantly mild English tobacco. The Latakia, Virginia, and Burley tobaccos are very well balanced to create a tasty smoke that reminded of toasted nuts and summer campfires. The Turkish is the one component that was almost lost in the background. This might be a good thing, as too much Turkish would upset the balance already achieved in this tobacco. This may not be a smoke that completely knocks your socks off but it makes for a great all day, anytime smoke. I can't wait to try it first thing in the morning with a nice cup of coffee. Overall 4 our 5 stars. I will be ordering a pound or two to add to my cellar.

Spilman Mixture by the E. Hoffman Co. brings back, after 70 years, a heirloom tobacco that perhaps your great great grandfather may have smoked in an early sandblasted Dunhill (my fantasy). It comes complete with a can that captures the original to the last detail, including the tax stamp. It is an Air Cured blend of Burley, Virginia, Latakia and Turkish, and is presented in the can as a rough Broken Flake. This latter point means that flavors are occasionally released in the bowl explosively as one component presides over the other. Spilman Mixture in my book represents an American English blend. Although I am no great fan of Burley this is somewhat compensated by some fine Virginia and Latakia leaf. The Turkish provides an additional overtone. I would have preferred however less Burley and more Latakia and Virginia, but I guess then it wold not have conformed to the original recipe. I give it three stars because of the Burley, but it should be sampled as it may suit some more than others. Cheers,

E. Hoffman Company - Spilman Mixture.

The blend comprises mostly cumbrous ribbons. I see a few leafier pieces but it's prominently made of coarse ribbons. It includes, roughly, an even amount of each colour leaf, smells like an 'old school' English, and has an impeccable amount of hydration; for me. Some might find it too moist but I like my tobacco that way.

For my smoke this morning I wasn't too enthralled; I like a 'breakfast English' to be more formidable. But, as an afternoon/evening smoke I enjoy it. I find it a milder English which has quite a 'soothing' flavour. The Latakia doesn't hog the profile. It leads, but doesn't completely monopolise things with an acrid smokiness; instead it gives a sweet tasting flavour. The Orientals take a definite support to the Lat'. The Burley gives a perspicuous and certain ruggedness, but the Virginia sits RIGHT at the back. Mechanically it performs well; even, steady, quite slow, giving a cool smoke. Another bonus is the lack of bite; to my palate.

Nicotine: below medium. Room-note: old fashioned!

Spilman Mixture? Even though I don't 'love' it, I like it; quite a lot! Three stars:

Recommended.

Spilman Mixture is mild English with some uniqueness that keeps me interested and always looking forward to revisiting. The tobaccos all work well and the flavor is consistently good. As the Retro Label states, “Without a bite or regret”, and I agree. There must be some type of topping present that enhances the creamy quality of the smoke and coats my palate and teeth with a uniquely enjoyable taste.

I come back to Spilman Mixture again and again as a nice change up from my typical routine. It works well in all size bowls and burns to a clean ash. I give this one a 3.5 of 4 and recommend it to anyone looking for a good, solid and enjoyable English with a hint of Balkan. Our Great Grand Fathers had a good thing going and, thanks to some hard work to research this historic blend, now we can enjoy it too.

Happy Smoke Trails to you!

Not much to add to what already said. This is a mild, enjoyable, good-quality English mixture, very cool burning, with enough Latakia and some mild sweetener which could be liquorice. I like it. The only hook is that it comes quite wet, so it is hard to burn and tends to go out often. I ground it with a marijuana grinder and the burning improved. It's a shame they don't export it to Europe apparently. Recommended.

Very nice.

Sweet and light English mixture with little to no fuss or drama.

Perfect all day English, maybe even a summer English should you want one.

The star of the show is the sweetened Lat, the back-ups are there but nudge gently.

Can find nothing wrong with it, nice for a bit of old-fashioned piping.

Not special or loud enough to enter the 4-star region.

One of the coolest burning, if not the coolest burning tobacco I've ever smoked.

A pretty well balanced blend, no one component really dominates... the burley is an ever-present base and latakia is in the middle to back, never out front, but definitely there. Flavor does shift some throughout the bowl. Has a good finish that for me didn't really seem to linger.

This blend does have a little different taste that pokes it's head out from time to time, and it took me quite a few bowls to put my finger on it, because just when I almost had it pegged, it would subside back into the profile, or disappear altogether. At first I thought it was vanilla. Then I thought maybe the particular turkish / oriental they were using created that taste. Figuring out this flavor became an obsession (I even actually ate a little bit of this tobacco...gosh) over the course of several bowls, and then it dawned on me... licorice! I think this blend, or at least some of the leaf in it, may be lightly cased with licorice. Or maybe I'm nuts?? YMMV.

Overall a decent and flavorful blend. Don't expect it to be a typical english. Not quite as much nicotine as I usually like but a good change of pace.

Ok I know some of you will think I am off my rocker but I found

that mixing half Spilman Mixture with half Old Gowrie makes a great all day pipe, just love it. If I want to smoke it as is

I do but really like the 50/50 blend.

Purchased the larger can from an online retailer and cracked open over a year ago. It came very moist. Coarsely cut with an hearty tobacco aroma. Does best with some drying time and in the largest of pipes. This blend is extremely well balanced and made of quality components. Very medium and middle of the road in flavor and strength. Not a powerhouse if that is what one is looking for. Just consistent flavors that meld well. Believe a smoker of C&D's Old Hollywood would like this very much. Smokes cool, but will sting if puffed to hard. Good to have in the rotation when one wants something a bit lighter than a med heavy English, but isnt inclined towards aromatics.