4noggins Weybridge

Weybridge is an example of a blend that I thought had a lot of promise but ultimately failed to deliver.

The pouch note is exactly what you'd expect from a VaBur with a hint of perique. Sweet, nutty, free of discernible topping, and maybe just a half-a-hint of depth and mustiness (in a good way) from the perique. Dark brown and black ribbons with just the right amount of moisture straight right from the start. It packed very easily, and took the flame like a champ, and smoked consistently throughout.

The quarter or so of the bowl was pleasant enough. The promise of sweetness and nuttiness in the pouch was found in the smoke, although somewhat subdued. The volume of perique was small enough that it added little (if anything) to the taste itself, although its spicy character was present in the sinuses. If the bowl remained exactly like this for the duration, I'd say that Weybridge was decent, inoffensive, and straightforward (if not a bit monotonous).

Then things began to go south.

Of all of the bowls I smoked, only a very few (two, maybe three) didn't take a turn for the worse during the middle portion of the smoke. The monotony left the smoke underwhelming, any sweet nuttiness gave way to a smoke with very little taste and seemed rather ashy in nature. The final quarter of the bowl either continued in the same vein (at best) or turned rather bitter and unpleasant (at worst), with the same ashy/muddy qualities of the mid-bowl.

For what its worth, I think Weybridge benefits from a corn cob in a big way. the VAs are a little more noticeable, and it gave me the best chance of avoiding getting mired down in an undesirable smoke late in the bowl.

All that said, I openly acknowledge that - while I am a smoker of burlies and not averse to the leaf - I'm not a great burley enthusiast. Burley lovers may have a better time with this than I had. It does have the benefit of being straightforward, easy-burning, and on the weak side of medium in the nicotine department, so it could easily be a true "all day blend" for those who enjoy it.

To my tastes, it was closer to a 1.5 star blend, although the first quarter of bowl (judged apart from the rest of the smoke) could be in 3-star territory. True burley lovers should probably give it a try...but casual burley guys will probably not find this worth their time.

For my money, if I'm looking for a no-nonsense VaBur/Per that does (what I think) Weybridge is trying to do, I would still put McClelland's Grey Havens at the top of the class.

Given some of the rave reviews here I have to wonder if my 2 oz. bulk purchase was somehow tainted. If what I received is at all representative I would urge caution: this will be an acquired taste. The aroma in the baggie was most unpleasant, like stomach acid (and other bodily fluids I won't mention). The smell was so worrisome it took some courage to finally load it up in one of my cheapest cobs (I didn't want the risk of it skunking any of my good pipes). Fortunately, it did not skunk the pipe, nor did it taste anything like the foul aroma. The taste was predominantly honey-wheat bread, rye whiskey and some Connecticut cigar.

Next I tried it in a better pipe, a meerschaum, to get a good neutral impression of what it was all about. This time I did pick up some acidic overtones, as if something in the flavoring had gone rancid. Fast forward a year after this has sat untouched in a mason jar, now in a vintage Hardcastle briar. The good news is that most of the really off-putting aromas are gone, though there are still some strange aromas and tastes that are just not my cup of tea. Nothing like the molasses-cased Burley that I originally expected.

I'm not sure what's going on with this one but I'm done trying to puzzle it out when there is so many other delicious blends to enjoy. Maybe if you like rye whiskey with a little funk on the side, otherwise I urge caution on this one!

Meh...I found it rather bland. Light, fluffy tobacco (as are all of the 4noggins I tried). Not bad but far from great. All 4 of the ones I tried tasted very similar to one another.

For me, this blend misses the mark somewhat. The flavor is good, but I get a bit of mouth fatigue. I'm not sure why in that I tolerate many other blends from other blenders just fine with similar ingredients (xref Hearth & Home, Cornell & Diehl) but most 4noggins blends just don't work for me. It's a shame as they seem to be high quality, taste good, and burn well...

I had received a sample of this with an order some time ago and as I remember I thought that it was not great but pretty good. After reading the reviews here I ordered some with my next order.

I am afraid that I regret that decision. The tin(bag)aroma was clearly vinegary and this smell completely overwhelmed any of the tobacco smells. I hoped that this would not be true of the smoking when I set match to it in my favorite Pete, but that taste was indeed present in that first bowl as well as a bitter aftertaste. I tried it in several other pipes over the next 2 months, hoping that I might find some improvement from my initial bowl experience, but I just cannot get pass that McClelland vinegary taste. In this sample it is quite pronounced. I have cellared the balance hoping that time might make a difference. If it improves I will re-post, if not I will toss it.

Either way, it is just not my "cup of tea" and I will not be reordering. I must say that the rave reviews of this blend here makes me at least concerned about 4noggins quality control.