Sutliff Tobacco Company Man's Best Friend Blend

I know this blend was created to imitate the flavors of the old Barking Dog blend. Frankly, this one is better due to the strength (which I appreciated). It has been years since I smoked Barking Dog but I sure don't remember that blend being as sweet as this one and the rum flavoring is easily detected. The content's cut also makes for an easy pack/smoke. Hey folks, I believe this one is a blue ribbon doggie!

A few weeks ago, I Emailed Altadis to let them know I'd made two requests, 4-6 months apart, yet I'd never received a free promotion "non-aromatic" tin of Sutliff pipe tobacco. I received a reply the very next day, saying Altadis had had problems with the Pipe Auction promotions and they were going to do them on their own Sutliff website from now on. With an apology, I was also informed I would receive "complimentary samples" via UPS in a few days.

My box from Altadis arrived yesterday -- four 1.5 oz. tins of assorted non-aro Sutliff blends. Of course, I had to open one! I am a Sutliff virgin LOL. I chose the Man's Best Friend (MBF).

MBF is supposed to be Altadis' match for Barking Dog, a House of Windsor blend, which, like HoW itself, is long gone -- so long gone, in fact, that I really don't remember Barking Dog much at all, thus I can't compare the two.

Popping the tin of MBF, there's a potpourri of colors -- black, yellow, a few shades of brown -- and a potpourri of scents as well -- latakia, burley, rum, spices. The tin note is so pungent, I first thought this MBF was actually an aromatic, and while quite pretty in appearance, this MBF was mistakenly included in the non-aromatic samples I had specifically requested.

The MBF blend is course cut and this tin is just slightly moist, so I let a bowlful dry about 10-15 minutes. It packed easily in my Group 4 Pipa Croci dublin using my preferred drop-feed method, and the charring light/true light was non-problematic.

The rum is there, upfront in the first few puffs, but it mellows out, though never totally disappears, as the latakia's smokiness comes in play. This is an "American English" blend, similar to Walnut, but with more complexity. While certainly a mild blend, MBF delivers a very tasty smoking experience. The nuttiness of the white burely is there, and also helps cool the smoke. The bright virginias -- definitely playing a condiment role here -- adding some lemony goodness.

With all the stuff going on here, MBF, IMO, verges on being a crossover blend, but I say that because of the rum, which, as noted, is prevalent in this blend. Otherwise, it's a mild English. It smokes cool, stays lit with few if any relights, smooth, zero bite, and the very pleasant flavors hang in there throughout the smoke, burning completely to a light gray ash with no dottle.

I like this MBF a lot. I'm on my third bowl of this stuff since I popped this tin yesterday afternoon. I'm thinking this would be a very good choice for someone looking to expand their horizons from aromatic blends who wants to try a mild, flavorful American English. An added plus is price: The 1.5 ounce tins cost just over $6 and the 8 ounce cans of MBF are about $16 on line.

Many rum-topped blends are (for me) too sweet, burn too hot, are bland under the topping, or any combination. The rum is lightly applied here, and the Latakia balances it off nicely, nor does it burn too hot for me. The underlying tobaccos are also pleasant to puff through.

Bow-Wow! I'm wagging my tail over this treat. I'm again surprised by such a fine tobacco coming from the Sutcliff line of Altadis. I was a bit apprehensive about this blend upon ordering it. I have previously tried their Revelation knock-off, and while I enjoyed it as as representative of a nice "drugstore blend" of the past, I rarely smoke it as it tastes too "drugstore" and I have so many blends available that are tastier. I never had the opportunity to smoke "Barking Dog", but the name alone may have made it seem an unattractive choice to make when selecting a tobacco for purchase. Because of having no experience with the blend "Barking Dog". I can't offer an opinion on if the copying effort of Altadis was successful. However I can tell you that in my opinion this tobacco is simply a pleasure to smoke. Pop the tin and you will be greeted by a salad composed of a variety of shades of tobacco ranging from gold to black. The cut is kind of chopped, so salad is a apt description. The aroma is a sweet smokey, raisin like scent shared in common with many blends featuring similar ingredients. The moisture is on the slightly sticky side, which actually I prefer. It helps with packing and lighting a pipe in the Frank method. It does light up easily and will burn through your smoke very nicely. Now the flavor, marvelous. The tin aroma is matched by the smoking flavor. slightly sweet, nice smokey but not overpowering Latakia, a tasty Burley cereal flavor adds a nice touch and the you get a bit of Virginia tongue tingle. I don't register any noticeable rum flavor but perhaps the noted rum topping contributes to the overall mild sweetness. In some regards Man's Best Friend is reminiscent of a less rich milder Benjamin Hartwell Chesdin Mixture also made by Altadis. This a very tasty American Latakia mixture that could be for some a regular or all day tobacco. Most highly recommended.

I don't understand some of the negative reviews, while this is not a full English blend, it is not meant to be. Latakia jumps up front upon opening the tin, with a pleasing touch of burley and sweet Virginia to round the senses. I did not detect an overpowering flavoring of Rum, but is sneaks it's way in later during the bowl with a delightful smoothing, just enough to keep you wondering, or was it a different flavor? anise? almonds? Whatever it is it works for me. No trouble lighting or keeping lit. No bite at all. This would be a good start for someone to ease into English blends. Can be smoked all day. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Update: finished the tin and ordered the 8 ounce

This is Altadis/Sutliff Barking Dog Match . I cant say wether it's a great match or not , being the last time I smoked Barking Dog , was probably more than a decade or more ago . It is a very good blend and I have to say I was very suprised . I've thought of Altadis as an Aro blender only . I've read reviews of Fox and Hound being just so so . I figured not to get excited about their non aros and " English " style blends . Big mistake . This blend has little chunks of burley , lat and Va . It has a slight top note of rum but I wasnt sure it was there till I smoked it a little . The cut is chunks , cut strands and thin flakes [ not pressed flake ] . As any blend with burley chunks , it takes a little doin . Once well lit , the Latakia is there up front with the burley and Va behind it .The rum is kinda there in a ghostish way . This dosent last long ... after a quarter of a bowl it all melds into one flavor . All the componets are there in unison ... I really like when a blend does that . It's a cool easy smoke that builds at the end some . It never got hot or funky and the bottom of the chamber was dry . It is a medium blend in nicotine and flavor . When the blend reached the " sweet spot " , about quarter way down , my eyebrows popped up and I said .. wow ! It did this each bowl . Many times blends will have flavors side by side as the bowl goes down , which is fine ... this stuff " blended " just right and I really enjoy it . I'm picky about blends with Latakia . Theres a bazillion out there and not often does one jump out at me over my favorites . I'd dare say that SG SL smokers might enjoy this blend being it's a medium blend like SL though different .I will be smoking this stuff during winter ... and enjoying it !