Planta Anno MMVII (Black Mixture)

Probably the best of the Planta - Anno series. High in Cavendish the tin smells opened like a chocolate cake soaked in blackberry juice.. and that's what it smokes like. Rich and fruity and a nod of chocolate. Deep undertones of overly ripe, dark berries with sugar and chocolate sauce. Truly amazing aromatic. Probably the best tobacco I've ever had. Smokes cool. A churchwarden pipe adds a level of depth as it cools it down a few degrees. This would be the Macallan 18 (1987) scotch of tobaccos.

That being said, it's very strong in flavor and might put off someone not a fan of aromatics. This would be great for beginners who were interested in trying something decent other than Captain Black Cherry (harsh). It's very smooth and ages decently. It is a bit too fruity for most, but I love it.

As a pipe smoker I must defer to the nose of my wife as far as the room smell. She loves it. She will even come into my office to read telling me that she loves the small and it relaxes her. Taste? Great down to the bottom of the bowl. Nice white ash with no bite. A bit of a wet gobble in the bottom of the bowl, but after letting a bit sit out that was gone and I was able to enjoy the full bowl. All in all, a great smoke and very relaxing.

I'm convinced that you can not fairly review a tobac after one or two bowls. I feel you have to journey with it for a while. That's why I spent the day with this. I loved it! The room note is sweet but no so as a cased tobac. There's an earthy-ness to the experience... As I went to mid-bowl there was a nice uniform white ash and that also tells me you are getting a fair bang for your buck. (how much have we wasted in the bowl by not getting a thorough and complete burn)The unburned arorma is "odd" but you must not judge it by that. This is a tobac that you can spend the day with or use as an end of day smoke. If you respect the lit ash, you will not experience one iota of burn. This is a nice, nice discovery. I'm glad I found it.

Received it and smoked it straight ahead, no waiting. Lucky me, it's a great aromatic Cavendish.

I love this tabak - picked up a tin at The Briary in B'ham, AL while home in the States. YUMMY! (My Honey loves the room note.) I continue to marvel at the news that lovers of aromatics are somehow immature. Shucks, I've only been a pipe smoker since 1958 and a collector since 1960, am goingn on 67 years old, have over 300 pipes (specialize in antiques). I mean, SHOOT-A-MONKEY... WHEN WILL THE POOR BOY EVER "MATURE"? Really now.

But... I also love a new blend from David Barnes and friends at B&B Tobacconists in Asheville, NC - another FINE shop I visited while home. They've developed a knockoff of the extinct Dunhill 965 and named it "Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard" - a protest of sorts against Dunhill for canning their tobacco lines for silk scarves and wallets. At our Saturday 18 April meeting of the Pipe Club of London, I handed the packet of B.O.L.B. David had sent me to Bill Ashton-Taylor. All eyes were riveted on Bill as he poked his nose in the bag, gave it a big sniff, looked up, brightened, and declared, "THAT'S IT!" So, in addition to aromatics, I am quite able to appreciate a fine English blend as well, but I don't figure by the time I (if I) reach 85 I'll have "matured" out of aromatics. Call or write Dave for a sample of "B.O.L.B.". 828-253-8822 Hey... if it's good enough for Bill...

Johnny Long, Webmaster - Pipe Club of London www.pipecluboflondon.com

The Dude of aromatics! His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

Blubbery.. yummy!

my favorite of the smell goods, my wife calls it blueberry X-mass. Tastes like it smells!