This punchy, zesty, deeply rich straight African Virginia blend provides a wealth of earth, wood, tart and very sour citrus, vegetative grass, floralness, smoke, mild tangy dried dark fruit, spice, sugar, peat, cigar, light tea, bitter acidity, and a distinct sour, savory quality among the sweetness. The nuanced, natural flavors from the Virginias are very consistent from start to finish. There’s no topping, and very little casing. The strength is a step past the center of medium to full. The taste is a slot past that mark. The nic-hit is a notch behind the overall strength level. It won’t bite although fast puffing may introduce a small harsh note to your experience due to the minimal casing. Has a fair amount of roughness. Burns very clean, and slightly warm with a pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is tolerable. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires few relights. Not quite an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. Would make a good mixer as well. Three and a half stars.
I've been smoking pipes only for about 4 years now at the age of 30 this blend is of the most pleasant house blends I've smoked.
I tend to keep to Samual Gawith, Peterson, Borkim Riff and Holland House.
Reason for this is that the house blend tend to stand in jars for too long. I like something fresh from a sealed tin.
To get back to the Rhodesian blend, it is rather pleasant to smoke. Very easy to keep lit and does not lead to tongue-bite. I feel it has a mild to sweet aroma. Reading the other reviews, I'm not familiar to cigarette smoke so I cannot compare. But it is light and goes easy with a smooth whiskey, something less spicy. Or a dark roast coffee.
I would recommend this blend to new pipe smokers and those that do not like a heavily flavored mix. It is also conversation friendly as people don't mind me smoking it in proximity.
I like this blend for the pure reason that it is enjoyable.
First smoked in my corn cob and was a pleasant taste. Second smoke was in a brier and the taste was much better. I would recommend it and the only negative was that it smoked hotter than the other tobaccos I have smoked. Definitely recommended.
Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum (Corn Cob) & Lorenzo Spitfire
Overall, a very nice no-frills tobacco. As is said below, it is very close to cigarettes (which I prefer being a previous cigarette smoker).
The tobacco is easy to light and stays lit without much effort. I've only smoked this outdoors and had no issue with it burning too fast or hot in the wind (more a mild breeze).
It has a lovely tobacco smell, nothing sweet. And no mixture of tastes, just plain enjoyable leaf.
I really like this blend. Turned out to be quite a pleasant smoke. Very cigarette like taste which stays the same all the way through the bowl. I've tried this before but did not care for it much but second time around it was a bit dryer which made for a very nice smoke. Burns very easy and stayed lit in the pipe. This batch was bought about five months ago and stored in a jar without humidification. A nice clean tobacco and a very nice all day smoke.
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