Rich's Grandpa's

I ordered this after reading the reviews on this blend. Started out with 4 ounces and I will definitely be ordering more.

Absolutely stunning. Creamy smoke that has a chocolately taste that is not cloyingly overly done. Definitely tastes like tobacco. The pouch aroma is so yummy you will be torn between eating and smoking it. My recommendation is smoke it!

The tobacco burns well and burns to a fine white ash. There is no bite and the flavor is consistent throughout the bowl. I detected a nuttiness that makes itself known as one progresses through smoke. Wonderful.

I am falling in love with these blends by Steve Books - and I highly recommend this one. Take a bow friend.

I have been told that all tobaccos are aromatic by definition. It is the common usage in the pipe smoking world that aromatic takes on an expectation of experience. Having back-to-backed Grandpa's and Classic Burley Kake as well my taste buds tell me these have more in common than not though the devil may be in the details. As with the other Steve Brooks Merlin-esque elixers (they are) balance is foremost. Both blends have managed to infuse their respective flavors without casing or topping in the usual 'wet' (ppg) sense but rather, for lack of a better taste descriptor 'dry melded'. Classic Kake burley is just a wee smidge edgier (burlier?) with flavor forward. If the price were the same I would smoke either with abandon. As it is Grandpa's is spendier. They are both wonderful and personal taste will determine your fave.

I'm certainly not qualified to do this, but as a resident of the Portland area for 60-plus years, I feel responsible for holding up the Rich's banner for all to see and admire. And for cause, for in addition to being perhaps the most expensive blends in the known world, they are also arguably the finest. They present smokers with a broad range of styles that embody nuanced and delicious blends made by the hand of a true Master Blender (Steve Books) with a depth of knowledge and style that will no doubt be gone with his generation. There are recreations of lost classics, burley-based balkans, VaPers to make you weep with joy, aromatics that are at once flavorfull and subtle and (among others) olde tyme (sorry) blends to take you back to grandad's day. This is one of those. It has been compared to Classic Burley Kake, Guy's Favorite, Bluegrass Melody and Old Fashioned. All are apt. I've tried each of those, and liked them especially as a summertime treat when the heat is on...and find them a great change of pace from other summer treats like Nut Brown Burley, Old Master, etc. But this one is the GRAIL! It seems to me that the flavor of those others are somehow...well, not 'muted' but perhaps a little 'muddy' whereas Grandpa's has a clarity and the addition of the interplay of tobacco flavors usually found in far more complex blends. But then, as always, you get what you pay for. I don't know what this one goes for now (I need a new fix so I'll update with the current damage) but I picked ONE OUNCE of Msr. Books cigar blend, Royal Havana and discovered it was over $16! Others vary by the cost and availability of the leaf contained therein. I think of it this way: you go to McDonald's and the food is utterly predictable and will sustain you even though it's about as far past yukky as Mars is past Venus...instead, at Rich's you get the personal attention of literally - one of the world's last standing Master Blenders. Like a chef in the finest New York restataraunt, Steve has the knowledge and execution that few even approach...and has used that expertise (and the recipe of his Grandpa)to design what I believe to be the finest blend of it's kind available. It's like this...there was a place in Juneau, Alaska called "Belize A La Festa" (Beauty and the Feast) that made a Chicken Marsala to die for...pan sauted using a good wine and an actual cream reduction. Each order was a creation, a work of art. That was a long time ago. Today I go into a restaraunt and ask for Chicken Marsala and I get this cheap brown sludge that's made from Cream of Mushroom Soup, I'm sure. Grandpa's is the cream reduction. If the Mushroom Soup stuff is going for $5 I'll surely pay $8 for the creme!

The great master blender, Steven Books, put together this blend in honor of his father in law. He characterizes it as a "natural aromatic" and that is an apt description. It is not the least bit wet in the bowl, has no black cavendish for flavoring, smokes cool and complete, but still has an aromatic very light nutty taste and aroma. It is perfectly blended for all day, every day smokers because it is light enough to sustain frequent smoking yet tasty enough to keep your interest. Grandpa would be proud.I give it my highest rating!

I was surprised how expensive Rich's blends are relative to the tinned and other bulk blends I smoke. That said, I purchased four blends from Rich's and each one is unique and absolutely superb. Grandpa's is definitely a step away from my usual English favs, but it's been such a long hot summer, something sweet sounded like a nice change of pace. Grandpa's arrived a tad moist for my tastes, so I dry it for about an hour or so. The excellent short cut makes packing easy going and this blend burns extremely well (almost like PA!). The smoke itself delivers some real tobacco taste and is very easy on the tongue. The room note is elegant and unoffensive. I can highly recommend Grandpa's to newbies and mature smokers who are seeking a mild, excellent burning blend for the summer months!

Another Winner from Rich's! Just for everyone's edification- THIS IS A FULL AROMATIC! It is however, not goopy ,wet, or heavily cased.Let me give a succinct review.This is a WESTERN interpretation of Hearth & Home "Classic Burley Kake" I have been smoking these back to back for 3 days and they are similar ,yet distinctly different. This has a Brown Sugar taste whereas the Kake uses chocolate. It is smooth, sweet and luscious and creamy to boot! A solid 3 star aromatic!

Made up of several Burley's and cased with brown-sugar, Brazilian coco, and I believe a little splash rum. Smells almost like baking cookies to those fortunate enough to be around while you're smoking this. However, this blend is not super sweet in the mouth. The nutty flavor develops in strength down the bowl, but always mild. Wonderfully nutty with a little sweetness. Smokes cool and very dry all the way down to the bottom. I will add, as always, that smoking slow really brings the toasted flavor out. Smoking this blend too fast makes is bland and almost unnoticable.

The blender (Steven Brooks) says he learned this recipe from his grandfather. This really IS an old fashioned blend!

A very pleasant blend. I do not detect any casings, yet it has an almost light aromatic feel to it. I hope that comment doesn't mislead; Grandpa's is NOT an aromatic.

If you enjoy "Old Fashioned" or other natural tobaccos from Affordable Pipes (such as "Bluegrass Melody" and "Guy's Favorite"), then you should consider trying this great blend. Grandpa's is in that type of tradition. Although not a codger blend, lovers of those tobaccos should also give this a whirl.

Quality leaf that burns nice and cool, too. And the staff at Rich's Tobaccos is friendly and really helpful. I got a sampler from that shop and will be reviewing my other Rich's blends in the near future (Yes!).

Govern Yourself Accordingly.

An absolutely delicious smoke. It truly does take you back to the days of sitting with Grandpa and talking about the good old days. Perfect for the morning, and equally perfect for dessert. Easily my favorite tobacco blended by Steven.