John Patton Storm Front

Like so many before me, I started off with a 2oz sample to see what all of the fuss was about. I love Cool Hand Fluke, I love burley, a bajillion rave reviews, yadda yadda yadda....eh, time to give Storm Front a go. Brother lemme tell ya...if you LOVE burley as much as I do...hell, if you even remotely LIKE burley you gotta try Storm Front! I could sit here and gild the lily some more, but then I might delay you from high tailing it over to 4N and ordering this one right now! That reminds me, I gotta get another pound!

Not much more to add...Smokey sweet flavor. I suspect the cigar leaf adds the sweet finish. Gravity filled...Lightly tamped my Stanwell 45. One light and the bowl burned all the way down with no relights. Just enough nic to relax.

Got a bit of this in a trade with Blackhourse...Bought a pound the next day. This is in my top three tobaccos. Mr. Patton did well with this one.

Storm Front is remarkable in a sipper pipe but best in a cob. I have smoked pounds of this and I can tell you it is my favorite all day tobacco. It is best right when you get it in the mail from 4noggins.com. I think I read Patton has specific instructions of 62% humidity (?) which is just perfect for bringing out the best in his burleys. If I had one tobacco to smoke the rest of my life, this would be it. This is the best tobacco I've ever smoked and has singlehandedly made me into a burley fan. Legendary.

What a great Cigar leaf blend. I love cigars, but I love my pipes as well. It's nice to get a pipe blend that doesn't try to be a cigar. A solid burley blend with an occasional hint of cigar. The cigar is no way overpowering, and is blended in a balanced proportion. This blend is great for DGT. I did notice the cigar note became more noticeable when it is DGT. Still not overpowering. I am giving some of this to my buddy that is still on the cigar more then pipe, I bet his pipe usage picks up with Storm Front.

Very recommended for those who like cigar tasting cigar blends. Great smoke. PS mixing this (50-50) with fully rubbed out Dominican Glory Maduro (Mc Clelland) gives also a GREAT blend.

This is what they say about this blend:

"Two cube cut burleys combined with cigar leaf. Meaty,sweet, and smokey. This might be John's favorite blend yet!!

Now when I first tried this tobacco I found it a little harsh on the throat to be honest so I let it sit for several months and forgot about it. Then one evening on the chat I was discussing tobaccos with the fellas and Storm Front was mentioned. So I thought I would revisit it and give it another go. Well time has certainly mellowed this tobacco and turned it into a smooth and earthy smoke. At no time was it harsh or did it bite. The cigar leaf was evident but not overpowering, blending in well with the burley added. I did not taste the sweetness but if you like a good tobacco and cigar taste then this might be the one and I highly recommend it. It burns nicely to a grey ash and only needed a second relight. This is a wonderful full tasting smoke and will satisfy the diehard cigar leaf connoisseur so do yourself a favour and give it a try, you won't be dissapointed

I find Storm Front to be a solid all-day smoke even if it is on the high side of medium as far as strength is concerned. It’s not very complex but it is tasty. Lots of Burley goodness as other reviewers have mentioned, woody, nutty, even smoky with the cigar leaf adding an extra dimension and an underlying sort of drying sweetness. I also get spices, sweet and more peppery at times. Also there is a tactile tickle to the tongue which many might find interesting, sharpness I could also call it which could be said to balance the sweetness of the blend but for me it’s a little too pronounced.

As I said I do not regard Storm Front a very complex blend and I consider it an all-day smoke, not one to sit back and contemplate. As an all-day tobacco however it’s a little too strong and sharper than I’d wish. Still very enjoyable.

Disclaimer up front: I am, unabashedly, an aromatics guy. However, as with most other pipe enthusiasts, I came to a point where I wanted to branch out and try other styles. After reading the reviews of John Patton's Storm Front, I decided to purchase 2 oz. and see what the hullabaloo was all about.

Now, I am neither a "professor of pipeology" nor a "tobacco troubadour." I just know what I like. And brothers, I LIKE this stuff! I have burned many a bowl of everything from Boswell's aromatics to Officer's Club. (like I mentioned, an aromatics guy) Some have been great (I'm looking at you Blue Note), some "meh", some just downright nasty. Like, scrape your tongue with a cheese grater and gargle a bottle of Listerine nasty.

Storm Front is my first foray into the wonders of the non-aromatic world. Nothing like hitting a home run on your first at-bat. It's everything the other reviews said it is...tons of rich smoke, meaty, nutty, and an ever-so-slight spice that complements but never overpowers. The vitamin N is definitely there, but leaves you with a smile, not green. I gravity fed the bowl, slight tamp, and sprinkled a bit on top. Lit well, no gurgle, 2-3 re-lights. Sat back and enjoyed a little bit of heaven here on earth.

Yeah, it's that good. Purchased 4 more ounces and am already looking at picking up some more to put away for a rainy day. In a word...sublime.

IMO, John Patton’s Storm Front is a terrific blend, and I daresay, if it stayed throughout as it presents off the match, it might be the most popular blend on this board. This is not to say I have any problems with it as-is; quite the contrary. For me, the increasing effect of the cigar notes only adds to its appeal.

In the bag, SF is nothing special. It looks and smells like a nice OTC, with a prominent plum and/or berry topping. Mine came fairly dry, but IMO it doesn’t hurt to dry it some more, as this avoids problems with the topping in the end. When I load it loosely into an old Comoy’s 4-5 that I use for cigar leaf blends, it lights with ease and smokes down quickly and evenly, typically within 15 minutes. Initially, it’s all about delicate flowers, grasses, faint nuts and herbs over rich-but-subdued, very smooth, “woodsy” Burlys. If I take it slow and easy, the cigar leaf – along with its spices - rises gradually to take center stage, and the initial aromas and tastes step back to form the chorus. The tannins also increase, but just barely. Strength is just over mild. Tastes go from mild to medium the way I prefer to smoke it. Room note is surprisingly pleasant for a blend that includes cigar leaf. Aftertaste is in accord with the smoke, and care with prep and slow smoking minimize the burnt topping.

I heartily recommend Storm Front to anyone who smokes a pipe, providing they are OK with the “mild” constituent tobaccos.