4noggins Chipman Hill

This is an excellent blend with a good hit of Latakia. This will not be an everyday smoke for me but it will make it into my rotation of tobaccos. Well done Rich ! ( no affiliation, just a customer)

This is a well behaved English blend, fairly simple and classic in the flavors. The Virginias in it aren't overwhelming, neither is the latakia. The orientals add structure. It's got a bit of spice without being too much. Not sweet, burns clean and relatively dry. Somewhat stringy cut, almost shag. If left out will quickly shed moisture to the desired level.

I like it, but prefer other English blends from other blenders. From the same blender, I like Britt's Balkan more. (Balkan with vanilla overtones, yum...)

I received a sample in an order from 4 Noggins. Unfortunately, the gentleman that sent me the sample didn't realize Perique has an adverse affect on me. That said, it was a kind act indeed! Anyway, I can only smoke Perique in small quantities. The tobacco does pack and smoke very well. I gave this blend four stars because it is a superior blend, well balanced, and none of the flavors compete with each other. In fact, they work together in perfect harmony. I won't be smoking this one on a regular basis due to the Perique. But if you like Perique in a well balanced English blend, then this just might be the tobacco for you. A terrific blend from 4 Noggins! Well done!

The cut of Chipman Hill is pretty thin. Somewhere just over cigarette tobacco width. This also has to be the driest bulk I've received from 4 Noggins. Thats not a bad thing at all; I prefer my English and Balkans on the dry side.

The blend is a mix of mostly medium to dark brown and black tobaccos, with some light blonde leaf. This has a pouch note of fresh cut red oak and smoke, if you're a woodworker/carpenter like I am, you will understand!

Chipman Hill packs nicely and with little spring due to the uniform cut and moisture. Lights with ease and burns clean and cool down to just dark gray ash.

This Orientals in here are wonderful and stand up to the Latakia. Incense like, slightly floral but little spice. The Perique comes in as a small dose later on in the bowl. It mostly is detected on the palate with the clean and cool aftertaste.

Chipman Hill as a whole is woody (cedar and oak), earthy and barely a touch of sweetness. Void of the salty/savory/leathery notes I enjoy in an English, but I thoroughly enjoy this just as well. I don't think the room note is as off-putting as the description has made this seem, it's toasty and smoky like most English/Balkans.

I give Rich 2 thumbs up and a solid 4 stars.

A fairly bland smoke, doesn't bite, nice easy to use ribbon cut, no one component dominates, but,,, "where's the beef ?". I just don't find myself craving a benign blend. No real interest here.

I would put this in the "Davidoff Royalty" category, yes, it's tobacco, but for the English beginner.

PS , I suspect some 4 Noggins blending inconsistency as many respected reviewers have had a totally different experience

I won't say that this tobacco is bad, but I've found it rather tasteless. Of course you can taste the latakia, but not so marked. I like it (of course, I like all english blends), but it's surely not my favourite. It's good for whom wants to try english blends because it's not strong. For those like me who like marked latakia taste, it's not for you. Or just to try a new blend...

Just OK--too many starfish on the beach to buy again.

A nice well rounded English. I've noticed with my samples from 4Noggins that free tobacco tastes just a little bit sweeter than paid for tobacco.

Is it English, or is it Balkan? Enquiring minds want to know.

Finally found the right pipe for this blend: two of them; a Kirsten and an old Savinelli Roma that I usually keep for English and Balkan blends.

Chipman Hill starts out solidly, with a good blast of Latakia. The orientals come through later on and even out the taste. Too much Latakia on its own can be monotonous, but Chipman Hill has enough other ingredients to balance it out, and you can taste the Turkish / oriental periodically.

You could compare this to Nightcap or Standard Mixture Medium, and I will keep it on hand as a replacement for those two. Not quite enough oriental to be a replacement for Squadron Leader, but definitely a winner in its own way.