Milan Tobacconists Chartwell

Milan has always been a class act, and their customer service cannot be beaten by anyone. When did such integrity in tobacconists become so rare?

The review below by Taste Buds, likening Chartwell (plus 2% Perique) to the late and much-missed Brush Creek got me to try this blend.

I must say that I could not taste the similarity; nevertheless, that is not to say that Chartwell does not have its own worthy charms. This is an outstanding Burley-Latakia mixture.

Slightly sweet, smooth, and top quality, it is a blend any pipe smoker who appreciates quality tobacco can enjoy.

A commendable crossover blend.

Latakia is dominant in the pouch, but actually plays a very peripheral role in the taste. This blend is delicious. Never chemically or artificial…just sweet deliciousness. Sort of plumy, but with backbone. That flavor is barely detectable at first, but it picks up as you get town the bowl, and makes itself really known in the final half/third.

I was just smoking it in a public market place, tonight, and received rave compliments from passers-by. This is the kind of room-note that leads anti-smokers to pick up pipe-smoking.

I first had this in a cob, and thought it burned way too hot; but, in other bowls, I haven't had the same experience, so it may have been just the cob. It's warmer than I prefer, sure, but not unreasonably so.

This tobacco wants to be sipped gently and slightly. You'll lose the flavor if you just suck on it. Draw in ever so slightly and gently and shortly, and direct the smoke to the back corners of your tongue--like, between the back of the sides of your tonuge and your cheeks, if that makes sense: for some reason, that's where the plumy flavor is best experienced.

Not the world's greatest tobacco, but worthwhile.

P.S. This blend is remarkably similar to Dr. Bradley by Iwan Ries. They strike me as slight variations on the same blend.

This is an excellent introduction for an aromatic smoker looking to get into latakia blends. It has a good, smoky latakia component, which develops with ageing. Ribbon cut, easy to load and smoke to the bottom, mild, almost no bite. The plum topping is very noticeable to an "English" smoker, but is pleasant enough and would be delightful to an "aromatic" smoker. 3 stars as a "crossover" tobacco.

This too shall pass.

An acceptable blend when you want to lay back and ponder the day's work. I notice the Latakia right away, but it does not take away from the blend. I will definitely order more.

It's nothing special but that is what makes it good. Chartwell is real good tobacco to smoke when you don't wanna smoke your Virginia Flake or when you are packing a bowl for a friend.