Benjamin Hartwell Evening Stroll

There's more than just Virginia in my tin... A Black Cavendish that has been soaked in some kind of alcohol (tastes like cognac). It really perked up this one nicely. The added flavoring is not very strong but is noticeable the most at first light and then settles by mid bowl. I took it on down to the bottom with pure pleasure!

Pipestud

This tobacco disappeared for a little while but it's back. It is only sold in bulk now. It is not your typical Sutliffs style aromatic. At least not this new version that's out now. From reading the other reviews it seems that the original release was a wet heavily cased mess. That is not the case with this one. It comes out of the bag a little moist, not too bad. A half an hour dry time is all it needs for it to be a nice flavorful dry smoke. The bag note is intoxicating and the room note is just wonderful! The taste is very well done. It is sweet and boozy along with a caramel flavor. The tobacco has a very nice presentation, short ribbons with light and dark brown leaf along with rough cut black cavendish. My family loves when I smoke this blend. This is a perfect after supper smoke enjoyed with some Twinings Afternoon brand tea. Very relaxing with a great taste and mouth feel with a therapeutic aroma. If you like Captain Black and Country Squire aromatics you will love this! Another plus, the nicotine is noticeable in this reincarnation.

This is probably my favorite aromatic. I discovered it years ago in the tin, and after a few years of not smoking I was glad to rediscover it. To me it tastes like an improved version of Captain Black or RLP-6. Black cavendish is the predominent tobacco in this blend, but I do taste some of the Virginia as well, however slight. Lots of flavoring added, so purists may turn their nose up at this, but I like it.

This blend is perfect it has all the calming and satisfying ascents ones needs for a good smoke. Also my wife loves the room note (big win)

For those who know me you know that Virginia tobaccos and I are not the best of friends,this tobacco happens to be the exception. This tobacco was given to me by a friend who knew about my aversion to Virginia tobacco,he removed any thing from the tin to let me know what it was. From first light I thought this is is going to bad but after a few puffs the what I swear was that Virginia turned into something divine! The smoke billowed around my head and the aroma was that of,well lets say it reminded me of a funnel cake with a REAL whipped cream spiced and flavored with vanilla and the smells of summer at grandma's. Not once did I have any bite nor did it burn hot.I don't know how long the tin has been opened and if the tobacco was dried out or not but this tin had some pretty dry tobacco. After smoking this and dying to know what it was my friend produced a brand new tin and needless to say I was mortified and surprised at the same time,mortified that I smoked a Virginia tobacco and surprised that I did indeed like it! The tin that I did buy was rather moist and did need to dry out because the first bowl I smoked from it left me with a gurgling pipe and a few nasty wet surprises in the bottom of my pipe. Over all I do enjoy this tobacco and buy it on a semi regular basis and anyone who like a very pleasant aromatic this is for you. If you don't enjoy aromatics don't even bother.

**I Just received an email from my contact at Sutliff (formerly Altadis) and she said they do not offer a bulk Evening Stroll so i am not sure who is supplying Cup O Joe's but it is not the Bulk Evening Stroll...**

This is bizarre, I could have sworn I reviewed Evening Stroll ten years ago when the BH series first came out... anywhoo this was IMO the best of the BH series and one of the finest aromatics I have ever smoked. The strength is much too low for me to not cut with 5 Brothers or another strong Burley but when mixed it creates the finest smelling aromatic. ES is a vanilla / alcohol topping a traditional Cavendish mixture that is extremely mild and does not contain any nicotine whatsoever. Marketed by Altadis but I do belive these were all manufactured by McClelland, at least the other two of the series were (based on them having the McClelland Vinegar nose that I love). A real gem here with beautiful tin art and a delightful short story about Benjamin Hartwell in the Victorian time period. The room note, quality and presentation all add up to my favorite aromatic, and it has been since 2004 or so, just remember that it does not have any strength or tobacco taste so make sure you cut it with a plain Burley or strong Virginia Flake unless you are a new pipe smoker. Great blend for someone new to smoking a pipe and wants something that smells like what you would expect a pipe tobacco to smell like.

Well, just when I thought I had sworn off aromatics I find this blend. To start, let me say I do not care for the tin aroma much on this one. But, I didn't buy it to smell it....I bought it to relax with after dinner or on a nice fall evening. Truly, this is my new favorite aromatic blend. Mild, no bite, great scent when it burns. I also noticed that it left absolutely no residue in my pipe other than some nice even carbon. The bowl even smells great after the smoke.

Pick this one up!

Thank you Mr. Hartwell! I have smoked tin after tin of this great blend and have been satisfied and impressed with each. The burn is great and the room note is very pleasant. My lovely bride remarks every time that I smoke this blend that it smells like vanilla and cookies baking in the oven. The taste is very pleasant and the smoke is cool. I suggest medium bowled pipes for this smoke. The taste is not to sweet or goopy with a hint of vanilla and maybe honey. My friend Mr. Dean Maglavine and I, enjoy this blend after a nice meal from our favorite Italian restaurant Uncle Chucks. Very smooth and satisfying. This blend is in my rotation at all times!

Rather than debate the qualities and deficiencies of aromatics versus virginias and English blends, I prefer to simply comment on what's in front of me at the time. As a matter of course, I smoke aromatics about a third of the time, and am particular about which ones I smoke. Evening Stroll makes the cut because, in my opinion, it is what an aromatic is supposed to be: flavorful, pleasant to smell, and relatively fuss-free.

This blend, as per most aromatics, is moist. However, it stays lit better than many non-aromatics, and certainly better than most others of its category. The thick smoke will impart the flavor of this blend on anything it touches, and that, if you like the way it smells, is a good thing.

I best like to smoke this blend around the holidays. It's the kind of pipe tobacco I imagine being ideal for enjoying after a large, home-cooked Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, surrounded by family and memories in the making. I'm always told by my in-laws how great it smells as wisps of smoke waft through the crisp air.

Don't make the mistake of buying a tin and thinking it's going to be the reincarnation of your favorite blend. It's really nothing special when compared to other blends. In fact, as many others have said, Evening Stroll is not much more than a superior version of Captain Black in the white label. Take it for what it is, and you won't be disappointed.

Initially, I intended to give this blend three stars. However, my sentimentality and fondness for the holidays and this blend's special role in enjoying them has persuaded me to squeeze in that barely-deserved fourth star.

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