Sillem's Musketeer

Shortly after I requested a review of this tobacco on this site, and while I was anxiously awaiting my first order of Musketeer, I was pleasantly surprised by the review posted by Brother K. and I was all the more excited to try this blend.

I was not disappointed. My tobacco was very moist but not at all soggy and was composed of black and gold cubes (mostly black) - the smallest cube cut I have ever seen. I did not wait for any drying time to delay the start of my smoke. It was quite remarkable! This tobacco lit with two matches and stayed lit to the end of the bowl in a Dr. Grabow Grand Duke Billiard - no filter. Gentle tamping was all that was required. Upon lighting, I tasted but a hint of that Virginia grassy flavor which soon vanished after a minute or two. It was one of the coolest blends I have ever smoked. I tested this one with hard and fast puffing, but I could not get this one to even hint at burning hot - let alone bite. It was delightful. There was a medium strength Burley taste coming through very nicely, not at all harsh, and mildly sweet throughout the smoke. The tin aroma did not smell like vanilla to me. It certainly smelled sweet, but more like apricots/honey if I had to name something. Although I tasted none of the casing while smoking, I am sure its presence accounted for the sweet taste of the tobacco. It's very enjoyable exhaling this one through your nose. There was never a gurgle, and I was left with dry, medium gray ash at the end of the smoke. It is truly the only aromatic I have ever smoked that did not give me even the slightest of problems. Smoked it next in a Savienelli bent sandblast and it was even sweeter! I have even mixed some of this with Sillem's Black for a very satisfying experience. It added a tad more sweetness to the Black which was to my liking.

Not a typical aromatic by any means. Well tempered Burley, medium in flavor. If I had to voice one negative, it would be that it seems to be available only in 50gm tins and is a bit pricey at $10-11 a tin, but in my opinion, well worth it.

This was my first experience with both Sillem and cube cut - am fascinated by both.

Am a bit unsure as to best packing method for cube cut and, as a result, pipe required multiple lights.

While there was no bite, there was considerably gurgle at mid bowl, which eventually dissipated, but which did produce obvious (and sour) moisture in the churchwarden stem (Vauen Nobile) despite the 9mm filter.

Will dry the cubes prior to next smoke and provide an update.

I want to like this - very much - and not just because of the tin and wonderful cube cut.

Another winner from Sillem's. It's been awhile since I've smoked a cube cut (not sure what the curley cut description is), and my first time with one being an Aromatic. The vanilla adds some sugar, but the tin aroma for me has a great leather, men's cologne thing going on as well.

Loading a pipe with cubes requires breaking tradition, as I was told you do it loosely without much packing pressure. The long burn instead comes from the density of the cube pieces which had a great amount of moisture. The first few puffs were very pleasant and not on the candy side of the Aromatic dial, moreso they were savory and deep without being harsh or nicotine heavy.

If you have never tried a cube cut or Sillem's quality production, then it is time to don your feather hat and sword and enlist as the fourth Musketeer.