Peter Stokkebye Natural Dutch Cavendish (No.301)

The flue cured Virginia is a bit grassy with some tart citrus, light floralness, and a bit of spice as the lead component. The nutty, earthy, woody burley is also a little toasty with a touch of molasses in a supporting role. The Virginia cavendish offers tart citrus and honey, and noticeably melds well with the other varietals. The spice is a little tongue tingly, so I recommend a slow to moderate puffing cadence, or you may feel a little bite and a harsh note. Has a few small rough edges. The topping (honey?) is hard to define, but is a little sweet, and doesn't detract from the tobaccos. The strength and nic-hit are just past the center of mild to medium. The taste level is a step past that mark. Burns slightly fast, requires very few relights, and has a very consistent flavor as it easily burns to ash. Leaves almost no moisture in the bowl. Has a short lived, pleasant after taste and room note. Not very complex, but serves well as an all day smoke.

-JimInks

The third is a series of reviews on Peter Stokkebye's more naturally flavored tobaccos, the other two being Cube Cut and Aromatic Dutch Slices. No appreciable aroma other than that of fine tobacco, and like the other two previously reviewed tobaccos, NDC was easy to load and light. The overall smoking characteristics were outstanding and similar to those already mentioned. This one, for me, was more Virginia forward (but not hay like) and had more of a spiciness/sharpness while exhaling through the nose. A very naturally tasting smoke and very appealing. A bit more tingling on the tongue than the other two but no bite to speak of. Smoked dry to the heel, without moisture or dottle, and maintained a very nice, pure tobacco taste throughout the smoke. Solid smoking experience and for me but would have preferred a more, fuller tasting Burley in the mix. A good set it and forget it type of smoke and along with the other three, very affordable.

Rather suprising that a bulk dutch style cavendish of this sort has some appreciable nicotine. It's a bit closer to medium than mild in this regard. Dutch style cav's are generally very light. In fact, it seems to me despite the description that there must be at least some lighter dark fired leaf in this blend, slight smokiness in there. In line with dutch style it is very light in flavor with a very mild chocolate-like casing. The cut is a ready rubbed caked tobacco along the lines of the old Amphora, perhaps a bit chunkier. Moisture level was just about perfect with no noticable humicants, no bite. This should be a good mixer.

Stokkebye’s Natural Dutch Cavendish doesn’t offer much in the way of scent in the pouch other than a light sweetness. It’s fairly dry to the touch verses a black Cavendish. In the pipe it is very straight forward offering no complexity but then who expects that from a Cavendish blend? It is mild, and sweet, but not overly sweet, rather just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. I think that JimInks description of citrus and honey comes closest to what I taste. There is no bitterness that I can detect and if there is any artificial flavor like those found in OTC blends, I can’t taste it. It burns cool and leaves no coating in my mouth like similar blends that I have smoked. I also like the fact that it burns pretty dry not leaving much in the way of moisture in the pipe. At the current price point, this is a far better offering than any of the OTC blends like it that I have tried. Nothing fancy here, but good all the same!

Update--I submit that this is the cheapest "natural" tobacco you can buy that is any good. By "any good" I mean a tobacco which will satisfy those used to natural premium blends with little or no flavorings and little or no PG. Do not be fooled by the word "Cavendish".

This has a very subtle sweetness and aroma, from the Dutch Cavendish process, and a nutty burley presence with a decent amount of body.

It's lack of pretense and straightforward flavor without off tastes are quite attractive. The main downside for me is it must be taken slowly or "breath smoked" or else it can get bitey.

Peter Stokkebye - PS-301 Natural Dutch Cavendish

Star Rating = 3

Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst

Pouch Note = 8

Room Note = 8

Flavor = 8

Bite = 8

Burn = 8

After Taste = 8

Raw Score = 48

Rated Percentage = 80%

Comment = Smooth, Mild, full Flavor, slight After Taste

A quality natural tasting burley & Virginia based tobacco that is perfect for a quicker, slightly sweet & pleasant smoke. Reminiscent of blends like Mac Baren Mixture Modern & Davidoff Danish Mixture, the Virginias are grassy with notes of citrus peel, honey and toast. The cavendish & burley add backbone, depth and a bit of spice to the mix. The nicotine strength is a notch below mild to medium and the overall flavor strength is a tick above that. As a few others have mentioned, the thinner straight cut sugary leaf presents a potential for bite, so pack this one a bit on the tight side & take your time. That aside, this is an enjoyable mixture with a sweet tone, fairly pleasant aroma and good balance between bright and dark tobacco flavor.

Comes ready to light, straight from the tin. On the mild side, flavor wise and nicotine. Some plum, nuts and straightforward tobacco flavors. A little peppery spiciness. No bite, burns great. Quite tasty and enjoyable

I agree with earlier reviewers who compare this to Sail. This is light to mid brown tobacco, a fairly short, fine ribbon cut. It would probably make a good RYO tobacco for those so inclined.

It has a neutral tobacco smell in the bag, with some sweetness of a molasses/raw sugar/maple type character. Once lit it also has a (not disagreeable), almost funky, vegetal smell. This is, literally, a one light tobacco.

Overall, a light and sweet smoke with a fair amount of sourness, giving it a decidedly top note character. Aside from the earlier mentioned funk, there isn't much happening in the mid and bottom range of this tobacco. Like Sail, the acidity is out of whack for my palate and I found it harsh in the mouth. YMMV. On its merits a 2, but for bargain hunters, a reliable 3 stars because it comes at a very good price.

Edit November 2017. After nearly 3 years of smoking this tobacco it has settled into being a regular for me. It is an absolutely dependable, no fuss, no nonsense tobacco. Upped the rating to 3 stars. The faults mentioned in my earlier review strike me now as nitpicking.