4noggins Bald Headed Teacher

Wow, the first tobacco I've smoked in 3 months that has got past the "WIFE TEST", she actually said," that tobacco smells good". I think it has a vanilla topping that lasts the whole bowl,it's just a hint of flavoring, not overpowering. As I'm not an aromatic smoker, this one I can take with me for those public places. It doesn't stay lit real well but it also doesn't gurgle or bite. The predominate tobacco is burley seems to smoke a little sour. Nice crossover tobacco with the hint of Latakia. I'll keep some around for when friends come over.

Back in junior high days, my eighth-grade math instructor’s name was Mr. Cletus Hinton. Although that was a lifetime ago, I do remember him quite well. It was hard to miss him you see as he stood about 6’-8”. He had that classic old school master look about him. Always dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt sporting a conservative tie, finely pressed dark slacks, and wing-tipped shoes with the thin laces, Mr. Hinton was the icon for educational orderliness and decorum.

About his solemn and serious countenance, one could survey his stark facial features, a lurking brow, Buddy Holly style horn-rimmed glass and a glistening bald head rising as if to touch the classroom ceiling. This somber man had a passion teaching mathematics and a love for basketball, a true Hoosier. Often, I remember goading him in to talking about his glory days as a player, a clever diversion to stave off the boring lesson of the day of course.

On his right hand he adorned a massive USA Olympics Basketball team ring, his pride and joy. A ring that I came to know all too well as many a time it came crashing down on the top of my skull for being the class clown. That is what he called me, you know, Mitchell the clown. Looking back, I deserved that and feel somewhat gleefully onery despite it.

Present day-post trauma, whenever I find myself grasping the jar of Bald-Headed Teacher, flashbacks to old Mr. Hinton seems to always come to mind along with the painful love noogies that were bestowed as part of his mentoring. As I unscrew and lift the lid, there is an autonomic head duck and wince in anticipation of the oncoming thump, a clear example of classic conditioning. Luckily, no stars have been seen today. Nonetheless, the purpose of the reflections that follow, are designed to impart the object lesson that this chrome-dome tutor must divulge concerning tobacco versus adding and subtracting integers.

From way out east, Connecticut proper, 4Noggins presents this original lively mixture the subject Bald-Headed Teacher. Despite my inquisitive research I could find no history or clever story in existence as to how this blend came to so uniquely badged. I am sure there was one however, the novelty of the namesake alone kind of goads one’s curiosity all the same.

4Noggins charters this hairless jumble as an old-fashioned Burley-based blend, although one could argue the mash conforms to the standards of the Aromatic English or American English genre, perhaps. The recipe itself presents the smoker with a classic bulk stew of domestic course cut white and dark burley leaves, complemented by thin ribbon cut bright Virginia, a lesser amount stoved Red, and modest snips of blackened Oriental Latakia. There is a vanilla topcoat applied to the mixture along with some mystery flavorings/casing that, at least for me, registers as a bracing tangerine note; sweet and zesty.

Baldy’s raw scent is not that old nauseating Hai-Karate or British Sterling fu-fu stank. Rather, initial inhales of the jarred mix present a colorful cologne of strong dark and spicy vinegar from the present Latakia, earthy Burley nuttiness, mildly sweet vanilla/soft chocolate pockets, and tangy influences emanating from the Virginia and or the allusive additive(s). Generally, it smells utterly charming given the goofy labeling.

Subsequent, the room fragrance produced in the burning is somewhat muted but exceptionally pleasant. The air is populated with the smoky essence of toasted nuts served on a wooden platter; A+ for imagination the instructor said. Seasoning the meat of this burly perfume, are swells of sweet-scented aromatic vanilla-tang notes, citrusy and malty in temperament.

The tobaccos themselves are just a tad bit moist so an average drying time must be observed for optimal consumption. Packing protocols are fairly straight-up and easy, but the clump of tobacco likes to spring up, raising a hand in hopes of being selected to answer the question asked by the clean noodled professor.

Now finding the area under the taste curve, grab your pencil! First, let me clarify that I smoked my official review tastings in both my treasured 1960’s Molina briar and my workhorse MM Country Gentleman. Although flavorful in both venues, the cob really magnified the depth of the blends taste nuisances significantly.

At first light the impoverish Latakia takes a brief strong swing at the problem on the board but quickly fades to the very back of the class, taking on a consistent buttery sweet-tempered mushroom face versus the standard intense smokiness; almost indistinguishable throughout the smoke. Coming front and center immediately, to show who is the real smarty-pants, is a delectable toasty Burley base with its warm nutty flair accented by pronounced sugary molasses and muted milk chocolate overtones. And although the sweet vanilla slices push through distinctly, it must be the effect it has on the native Burley and/or the mystery element(s) because generally I register darker cocoa tones on Burleys. This, however, is of a creamy milk variety that I consistently glean; different and very differentiating; nice!

Finally, used primarily as a compliment, the Virginias offer the usual spirited citrus mid-body and a subtle sweet woody stoved finishing. The portion of Bright in the soup of tobacco is a little more generous. Inherently that comes a higher sugar content and or potential for bite. Acknowledging that, it is best to smoke this blend in short, measured drawls. If you puff with too much vigor, then the dreaded raking starts to take root on the mid-tongue and upper palate. Not a grueling bite but a little annoying all the same.

Again, Bald-Headed Teacher consistently present me with a tangerine/orangey parting note that meshes well with the overall taste combination as described. Generally, I characterize this recipe as very satiating if not plain yummy. Some may argue the flavorings overpower the taste of the native tobaccos but personally I really like this mix. It does not sit in the top 5 of my preferred Burley blends but does find its assigned desk in my standard rotation.

Bare and tight on the top, this blend is genuinely a tasty all-day smoke. Burning cool and dry while offering a modest nicotine effect, Bald-Headed Teacher is genuinely a smooth and mellow experience. Not overly complex despite the actual noted recipe, the enjoyable mixture presents the piper with a very consistent flavor and burn throughout the entire bowl. Boldness is not in this man’s character, but the teacher does offer some nice depth to the flavoring with average richness and fullness.

So please set aside your pipes momentarily as we all stand to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to this fine example of tobacco blending 101. See you later in Detention.

I’m an occasional smoker - I usually smoke 3-5 times a week, and when I do I typically pick an English mixture. But right now, I’m sitting on my balcony in the sunshine on this beautiful winter‘s day, and I’m smoking a bowl of this in a beat-up old Stanwell, and damnit, it’s a perfect pipe smoking moment. There’s not a single thing wrong with this blend - packs well, burns well, not too heavy... I won’t give you any detailed tasting notes. There’s more refined palates than mine to do that. But this is a lightly aromatic, very old-fashioned, uncomplicated blend that tastes of nothing but pleasant, mild tobacco. Wonderful. This is definitely an all-day, every-day kind of smoke, if you are so inclined.

The burleys provide a nutty molasses like taste and the latakia adds a smokey background note. I really didn't taste the Virginias too much but when I did it was grassy hay like. It tastes like the old Walnut blend use to. It makes an interesting once a day smoke.

Smoking 4noggins Bald Headed Teacher is like eating just ripened fresh hazelnuts from the garden of your grandma. Recommended to the newbies as it is a nice intro to the Burley world.

Bald Headed Teacher is a wonderful smoke. I tasted the Latakia and sweet burley. It is a smooth gentle smoke with moderate strength. Let the other reviewers describe the grassy taste. To me it was a fine pipe tobacco that I would highly recommend.

When I first discovered this tobacco, I thought it was the perfect non-aromatic, mild, every day smoke. It did, in fact, replace my old every day aromatic smoke for a time. I ordered a bunch of it. After smoking it for a few weeks, I started to really dislike it. There's just too much of... something in it. Or the flavours bgin to clash after awhile. My experience with Bald Headed Teacher has resembled my experience of, say, a really catchy pop song that grabs you right away but lacks the quality and subtlety to keep drawing me back to it for a long period of time... or a sweet dessert that becomes a bit sickening after awhile. BHT is like a mixed slurpee. It tastes sweet at first but there is just a little too much going on for me. This is not to say anything bad about 4Noggins. They are fantastic! This blend just doesn't stand the test of time, in my humble opinion.

I can't get enough of this stuff! The flavor is nutty and wonderful. This is a great all day smoke. Not too strong and not too intense with flavor.

Since I do not have a highly refined palate, it's hard to describe tastes and flavors that I experience. I only know what I like and do not like. So here's my rating scale and a brief reason for the rating.

★★★★ = Excellent - Apocalypse blend, cellar worthy.

★★★☆ = Good - Not part of regular roatation but keeping a few tins/ounces is wise.

★★☆☆ = Fair - A smokable blend that is worth trying again.

★☆☆☆ = Poor. - Do not smoke! Trade off or give away to the unsuspecting.

Because tastes and blends change over time and depending on what pipe is used, I reserve the right to change my rating at any time.