4noggins Bald Headed Teacher

This is a reincarnation of the old Barking Dog if my taste buds serve me correctly. Perhaps a little more power in the strength department. A cool burning blend with a touch of something extra (perhaps the Virginia component?) that makes this blend more than just a little special.

Out of about three dozen tobaccos I've smoked over the last fifteen plus years, this is my all time favorite. I used to worship at the alter of Sam Gawith, but now, it's 'Sam who?'

This weed is good any time of day in any weather, inside our out, when you need a lift or just want to sit and cogitate. I can also smoke it when agitated without over-dosing or burning my mouth.

Before I ran into this I was sure I was an Old Virginie, latakia and Perique smoker or nothing. I figured burley was for beginners starting out with drug store stuff or old coots who got their baccy off the back forty. I was wrong.

I also really like that this stuff has awakened the Thoreau in me, as I don't have to be messin' with all kinds of different blends to keep interested. Simplicity=BHT, my one and only.

I find this tobacco tough to classify. It really isn't an American style English, but doesn't fall solidly into the typical aromatic catogory either. It's somewhat sweet, but it burns clean and dry. I mainly smoke English/Balkan blends but I find myself coming back to this fine smoke as a wonderrful change of pace. One would really have to puff along to pull a tongue bite out of this fine blend. Like many of Rich's blends, this one's a winner.

Hello, my warm greetings to the whole community.

This is my first posting. I am just starting in the world of pipes after a long cigar-exclusive period.

It all started in Turkey. I was strolling in the lush Sultanahmet neighborhood in Istabul (as a backpacking explorer in my college youth) when I noticed a peculiar corner store with eye-catching white pipes inside. I have never seem the like of them, and as I always buy a legitimate craft item from any of the (29 now) countries I visit, I opened the door.

I was told by the vendor that those were meerschaum pipes and that they were a very special type, made with a rock that is almost exclusively found in Turkey. Among the hundreds of impressive pipes, I chose a half-bent standard type decorated with small holes in different diameters. I loved the way it looked.

Before leaving turkey for Greece, I bought Captain Black Gold, the most expensive tobacco in a nearby shop. I smoked it in a cool night at the upper deck of a huge ferry taking me to Crete. I liked it, but it didn't ring any bells.

Then a 16-year pipeless period passed. Until a couple of months ago when my cigar tobacconist advised me to try a pipe with Dunhill's 965. 965 really opened my eyes. It was more complex than even my best cigars. It gave me a nice oral-fixation pleasure. It required attention to smoke properly and brought me to a profound contemplative state. I was hooked.

So, with the help of Rich from 4noggins, I started a battle with the sinister, unfair and ruthless Brazilian customs. Together, we won and now I have a world of interesting blends to explore.

Starting with BHT: I am not a fan of burley-heavy blends, but BHT is an exception, because it is so balanced. I get toast, a delicate, refined sweetness, and some misterious complexity from the nicely measured latakia. It smokes cool and I managed the humidity with a wood filter. Highly recommended.

Happy bowls for all,

Renato

Really nice tasting smoke. The Burley leads for most of the bowl, but the Lat gets stronger as it progresses, nearly catching the Burley by the end. The Virginias provide a background. The vanilla topping is very noticeable in the first half and fades just a little during the second. The second half of this is very nearly sublime. Wonderful stuff.

Mild to medium in body. Medium in taste. Flavoring is mild. Burns very well.

This is my first review.I'm a relatively new pipe smoker.I have tried many of the recommended tobaccos on this great site.I may not be able to verbalise as you experts but I just have to say that this is a great smoke,by far my favourite so far.A wonderful nutty flavour,the only other tobacco I've tried that it reminds me of is Dunhill 965 I live outside the US but that's no problem to Rich - his and Gloria's personal service is second to none.I'm sure he'd send a sample if you ask.

The burley is most noticeable, nutty and refreshing, with a super mildly sweet finish that's enhanced by the darker tang of quality Virginia. I love that the latakia is used so sparingly! Just the most barely detectable undercurrent of woodsy smokiness. I don't get the vanilla flavor many reviewers mention...there's definitely a pleasant sweetness, but more akin to molasses than fruit or vanilla. I do not detect a topping, unless it's used as sparingly as the latakia is. A mellower, more refreshing sort of American style English that I can easily enjoy in the heat of summer! And with the room note, I can just as easily smoke it indoors as well...wife approved. I do not agree with others who complain this is an aromatic. There is little to zero topping, and far too much natural tobacco flavor present for this to be the case. That being said, don't expect it to punch you in the groin with balkan/English harshness. That's not the kind of tobacco BHT is or tries to be. I find performance and flavor to be better in cob than briar. Less tongue bite, as well. Great job Rich, a classic for me and permanent member of my rotation.

This is one of my go to blends any time of the day or night. The pouch note is captivating, the pack is easy, the charring light lets you know you are in for a wonderful experience and the pipe no matter how big, is never big enough once this magnificant blend gets going. Two thumbs up from pouch to ash at the bottom of the bowl. I highly.. highly recommend you try this.

I really can't add much beyond what other have already written. You have read the reviews, so go and try this blend. I am a fan of several 4noggins blends, and of the store and owner--really wonderful service and great products.

This is a good all day tobacco, and for those wishing for an introduction to blends utilizing Burley and Latakia, I think this is a great one to try.