E. Hoffman Company Spilman Mixture
(2.93)
The return of an old favorite, Spilman Mixture is a classically complex English blend of Virginia, Latakia, Turkish and cubed Burley that hasn't been available for 70 years! The reinvention of this classic tobacco took years of research and development. Presented in a detailed recreation of the original can, right down to the replica tax stamp, Spilman Mixture features the coarse cut favored by pipe smokers in the last century, and an honest, straight forward tobacco flavor. As the can says, "Discriminating Smokers smoke and recommend Spilman Mixture on account of its purity. Spilman Mixture is of incomparable Quality. The combination contains the choicest tobaccos. Its rich aroma is guaranteed to be Nature's own." Spilman Mixture is irresistible for anyone interested in trying what their great-great grandfather smoked.
Details
| Brand | E. Hoffman Company |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Burley, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Coarse Cut |
| Packaging | 1.5oz tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.93 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 25 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 03, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Spilman is a retro/nostalgia blend. I Finally decided to pop the tub that sat in my cellar for more than a year and smoked four or five bowls of it in the next two days.
You can smell the Latakia and the Turkish reeking off the open tin, but taste more of the Turkish when smoking. Funny, because it supposedly has more burley and virginia than latakia or Turkish. It must be the Turkish that gives it a cigarettish quality, I think, but the burley and virginia help to balance things. Or not, depending on your own opinion. And few smokers will receive a completely similar impression of this blend.
Comes wet. Had to dry it out on a paper towel for about an hour. Surprisingly mild nicotine component, considering all those ingredients. Consequently, nic lovers find it too mild for their taste, but is perfect for me. YMMV. It does seem to be something of an acquired taste, but what can I say? I still can't make heads or tails of this blend, but I'm liking it. Easy to fill, to keep lit, smokes smooth, yadda yadda yadda. As long as you take the trouble to dry it out a bit prior to smoking.
I think the danger with this blend is that its milder, non-bitey smoothness can tempt you to make it an all-day smoke of it, which it isn't. It doesn't smoke enough under the radar and conceivably could tire tastebuds even to its best qualities, at least the ones I've perceived, if smoked too often and continuously. That may be one of the reasons the blend fell out of fashion in the U.S. after being all the rage for many years. But it hasn't bored me yet.
My initial impression from just two bowls is very positive. Delectable flavor and a sidestream aroma that waltzes you in and out and around again. The first bowl recommended itself uniquely to my palate, with an unprecedented (to me) citrusy/sweet tang. Can't fully wrap my head around this blend yet; I have trouble finding any points of comparison, reference or similarity. Almost indescribable. Simply irresistible. (With apologies here to the late Robert Palmer.) Has a pungent, savory quality that blows through the leathery latakia and settles on the tastebuds, especially those on each side of the tongue. Yummers. Mommy.
Am I exaggerating here, reduced to spouting immature hyperbolic dithyrambs? Exaggerating, no. Reduced to spouting, yes. Ah initial impressions. The shock of recognition; or rather the surprise of non-recognition. I'm not compos mentis enough for balanced views or for sage and sedate evaluations. After all, this baccy has put me in The Zone in two and a half seconds flat.
Surprising, considering that it's just tobacco... And I don't drink...
Somehow it gives me a subtle memory of having smoked it once.... But I never smoked it before....!!!
Different from any tobacco I've smoked. And yet... and yet... at the same time... it is strangely familiar. But arcanely so... a contradiction in terms! A puzzlement, this tantalizing cognitive lacuna in my grasp. But gee willikers, this be some good baccy!
I want to repeat the experience over and over again. Let it haunt me and pursue me, but may it never turn on me.
And, oh yes, again: YMMV.
I smoked it in a large bowl, as someone recommended. That person was right.
You can smell the Latakia and the Turkish reeking off the open tin, but taste more of the Turkish when smoking. Funny, because it supposedly has more burley and virginia than latakia or Turkish. It must be the Turkish that gives it a cigarettish quality, I think, but the burley and virginia help to balance things. Or not, depending on your own opinion. And few smokers will receive a completely similar impression of this blend.
Comes wet. Had to dry it out on a paper towel for about an hour. Surprisingly mild nicotine component, considering all those ingredients. Consequently, nic lovers find it too mild for their taste, but is perfect for me. YMMV. It does seem to be something of an acquired taste, but what can I say? I still can't make heads or tails of this blend, but I'm liking it. Easy to fill, to keep lit, smokes smooth, yadda yadda yadda. As long as you take the trouble to dry it out a bit prior to smoking.
I think the danger with this blend is that its milder, non-bitey smoothness can tempt you to make it an all-day smoke of it, which it isn't. It doesn't smoke enough under the radar and conceivably could tire tastebuds even to its best qualities, at least the ones I've perceived, if smoked too often and continuously. That may be one of the reasons the blend fell out of fashion in the U.S. after being all the rage for many years. But it hasn't bored me yet.
My initial impression from just two bowls is very positive. Delectable flavor and a sidestream aroma that waltzes you in and out and around again. The first bowl recommended itself uniquely to my palate, with an unprecedented (to me) citrusy/sweet tang. Can't fully wrap my head around this blend yet; I have trouble finding any points of comparison, reference or similarity. Almost indescribable. Simply irresistible. (With apologies here to the late Robert Palmer.) Has a pungent, savory quality that blows through the leathery latakia and settles on the tastebuds, especially those on each side of the tongue. Yummers. Mommy.
Am I exaggerating here, reduced to spouting immature hyperbolic dithyrambs? Exaggerating, no. Reduced to spouting, yes. Ah initial impressions. The shock of recognition; or rather the surprise of non-recognition. I'm not compos mentis enough for balanced views or for sage and sedate evaluations. After all, this baccy has put me in The Zone in two and a half seconds flat.
Surprising, considering that it's just tobacco... And I don't drink...
Somehow it gives me a subtle memory of having smoked it once.... But I never smoked it before....!!!
Different from any tobacco I've smoked. And yet... and yet... at the same time... it is strangely familiar. But arcanely so... a contradiction in terms! A puzzlement, this tantalizing cognitive lacuna in my grasp. But gee willikers, this be some good baccy!
I want to repeat the experience over and over again. Let it haunt me and pursue me, but may it never turn on me.
And, oh yes, again: YMMV.
I smoked it in a large bowl, as someone recommended. That person was right.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 09, 2014 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Spilman is my 'go to' tobacco. I have to admit my first puchase was influenced by its pleasent retro-lable but, I have kept a tin or two around ever since. I find it well balanced (not too much latakia). I always enjoy a virginia/burley base and this one is just the right mix, kind of elegant, kind of homey. Sometimes I want a big nicotine hit. Spiman is not where I turn for that. It's just a nice, dependable smoke and that's a good thing. I don't want every bowlful to be a show-stopper, but I do want consistant, quality tobacco. Spilman just suites me that way.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
Iwan Ries
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from the tin.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 18, 2013 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Sturdy little all day English...Puzzles my as to why it went away in the first place...if the original was anything like this, somebody must have been asleep at the switch to allow it to be discontinued...If your looking for something less expensive and tastier than Squadron Leader, this is it.
Pipe Used:
various for testing
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Newly bought
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 14, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Very Pleasant |
I'm on my fifth tin of Spilman Mixture now, having first tried it about five years ago. This is a mild and cool-smoking blend that I can always trust to provide a reasonably-priced and consistently flavorful smoke.
While the tin aroma is rather musty but not unpleasant, Spilman Mixture when lit yields a sort of "red velvet cake" flavor, sweet but subtle and almost creamy thanks to the burley used. Along with that flavor, there's also a sort of antique furniture aroma, delicate, dry, and almost phenolic. Combined, these two elements provide a taste that's even and pleasant, yet shifts around elusively to provide a stimulating, intriguing balance.
The room note of Spilman Mixture reminds me of somewhat sweet and smoky single malts like Scapa or Inchgower.
While the tin aroma is rather musty but not unpleasant, Spilman Mixture when lit yields a sort of "red velvet cake" flavor, sweet but subtle and almost creamy thanks to the burley used. Along with that flavor, there's also a sort of antique furniture aroma, delicate, dry, and almost phenolic. Combined, these two elements provide a taste that's even and pleasant, yet shifts around elusively to provide a stimulating, intriguing balance.
The room note of Spilman Mixture reminds me of somewhat sweet and smoky single malts like Scapa or Inchgower.
Pipe Used:
various briars and meerschaum
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 10, 2016 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I received a sample from a pipe smoking fellow from Switzerland. The cut is coarse, with heterogenous cuts and colours from light to dark ribbons and cubes.
The smell is special as it is very distinctly peppery and smoky yet has enormous sweetness to it.
I took a small canadian Saint-Claude pipe I use to test Latakia blends in an stuffed it for my test drive. First puffs are of very sweet, sugary and irresistible high quality Virginias married to the smoky, peppery and velvety tones of the Latakia. The Orientals give some herb, spice and slightly floral hints to the mélange. The Burley? They give a nice round nutty and toasty taste to this beautiful mixture.
Light, utterly charming and an all day mixture which I highly recommend. One small issue is I believe it smokes a tad too fast.
The smell is special as it is very distinctly peppery and smoky yet has enormous sweetness to it.
I took a small canadian Saint-Claude pipe I use to test Latakia blends in an stuffed it for my test drive. First puffs are of very sweet, sugary and irresistible high quality Virginias married to the smoky, peppery and velvety tones of the Latakia. The Orientals give some herb, spice and slightly floral hints to the mélange. The Burley? They give a nice round nutty and toasty taste to this beautiful mixture.
Light, utterly charming and an all day mixture which I highly recommend. One small issue is I believe it smokes a tad too fast.
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 22, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Strong |
Spilman is advertised as a sort of "throwback" blend, something your great grandfather might have smoked. Well, it tastes and smells kind of musty and old and there's nothing modern quite like it that I've found. That's not a bad thing, though. Full English-style mixtures are my favorite things, but they don't necessarily make the best all-day smokes. They can fatigue your taste buds a bit. Spilman Mixture doesn't have a lot of Latakia; a musty Oriental/Turkish seems to be the dominant flavor, tempered by somewhat sweet Virginia and a little Burley nuttiness. It's mild enough to enjoy multiple bowls in a day, but complex and flavorful enough not to bore you to tears. I think it could appeal to smokers both new to and experienced with English mixtures, though it probably won't win you any new friends in the room, and might be a little off-putting to be a true crossover. I really, really like it, though, and plan to keep it in somewhat heavy rotation.
Turns out great grandpa knew a thing or two about pipe tobacco.
Turns out great grandpa knew a thing or two about pipe tobacco.
Pipe Used:
Briars, Falcons, Cobs
PurchasedFrom:
Iwan Ries
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 06, 2011 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I picked this up as a sample when I stopped by the Iwan Reis & co. store in Chicago. Great Town, Great folks and Great shop, what can i say. This mix was offered to me by Kevin himself on the basis of me mentioning Ruins of Isengard, and what a great match. Spilman mixture being a much more complex take on a non-aromatic, i hesitate to call this an English blend, but it certainly doesn't have any flavoring. It begins sweet, and has a familiar sweetness through out like Erinmore flake, hearty tasting but mild. the Latakia begins to show through midway in a more pronounced fashion, and finishes the bowl with the incense tones mixing with the sweetness creating a caramel swirl in the more mature flavors. it doesn't bite in is crisp and clean smoke with a lingering taste. this is a good one, like many tobies i try which i am not convinced i like I kept thinking of this later wonder why i wasn't smoking it. It is quite good- all day and all night really.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 17, 2011 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Pleasant |
I would smoke it every day, but I can't afford it. I usually make it my first bowl after dinner and then smoke straight burley for the rest of the evening. Very flavorful and interesting. Nice cut, burns well. If you like Connecticut wrapper cigars then this is the blend for you!
BTW, E. Hoffman Company is the predecessor to Iwan Ries & Co. and is now just their pseudonymn for reviving old brands for their hundredth anniversary.
BTW, E. Hoffman Company is the predecessor to Iwan Ries & Co. and is now just their pseudonymn for reviving old brands for their hundredth anniversary.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 20, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
An all day smoke for me. I like the natural taste of the mixture with the very nice room note. Natural sweetness with no after taste. I find this very much the mixture I smoked years ago when I was a student at The School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago. Then the shop was on the ground floor on Wabash and you could smell this mixture in the entryway of the shop as you approached the door. There were sample jars of many offering and many smokers were packing the shop everyday. This mixture brings back those old-days of the best of what I know of the Iwanries & company. Then came along Three Star but not the same now, too bad. I have a stock pile of this mixture. This is a wounderful smoke. Try it once you will buy again.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 11, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Wow, what a great mixture! Leather, rootbeer, and cigarish aroma. No topping detected, just quality tobacco. Never leaves a bitter aftertaste, even when I smoke it fast. I've always enjoyed the smell of a "seasoned" cigar & pipe smoking room and Spilman leaves that type of room note. There's very little bite and leaves a rich tobacco, almost rootbeer flavor in my mouth. This one is a keeper.
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