National Tobacco Red Cap

Wow, apparently my personal tastes very a great deal from those of my fellow tobacco officianodos. (not sure on the spelling there) Honestly, I rather like this stuff and it makes an ideal, very inexpencive "filler" for blending with either stronger or more aromatic tobaccos like Perique or Smyrna. I think part of the problem here is that I like a very robust, perhaps even rustic sort of "tobaccoie" smoke myself ya know? I think maybe other folks who've tried this blend and found it unpleasant or otherwise unsatisfactory are looking for a milder, cooler burning, much more aromatic experience. I also think the total lack of casings or top flavorings is a problem for pipe smokers too, because it seems like that demographic is fond of heavily adulterated tobaccos like Cavendish. This is precisely where my tastes differ greatly from those who use a Briar or Meerschaum pipe. I strongly dislike the heavy, wet smoke produced by combusting "aromatic" tobaccos which have been subjected to casings or top flavorings such as the numerous varieties of Cavendish available. (I don't even like traditional vanilla flavored Black Cavendish 'cause it's so damp and tastes heavily of alcohol) Thus, it would seem that the very thing that other members of this site dislike about this particular blend is precisely what I do like, haha. I like my tobaccos to be in as close to their natural state as possible and that's precisely what Red Cap is...simple, air cured leaf without any chemical adulterants. I will however, concede that the label is a bit misleading as I really don't detect much flue cured tobacco in the blend at all. I honestly think this is a very good blend for the price, and even without the addition of a generous portion of my beloved Perique is a rather well balanced smoke. (again, for an uncased Burley product) There's a considerable degree of variation in the maturity of the leaves selected, ranging from alkaloid-rich foliage so unripe that it retains some of it's chlorophyl content to leaf that is a nice, dark chocolate brown indicating a late harvest and providing a nice amount of nicotine.

PS I was just recently looking over the product description for this cheap but dependable blend and noticed that it mentioned it containing "Kentucky." According to my sources, Kentucky generally refers to the dark, robust and spicy product of fire curing a Burley tobacco. While this type of leaf is commonly encountered in the form of moist snuff for those who like to chew and makes up a large portion of blends for hand rolling cigarettes known as "Halfzware" shags, there is certainly none of this kind of tobacco in Redca Regular I do however, suspect a hint of Maryland or perhaps another sort of uncased air cured variety with which I am unfamilier because there is a very distinct aroma to the blend before it is cumbusted that I can't quite describe.

Noticed this for cheap at a local gas station, figured I would try it out. Didn't go into it with high expectations, as it was an OTC from a gas station.

It smelled of robust natural tobacco, with not flavoring that I could detect. It was uniform in cut and color, with a ribbon cut. It packed easily in my bow, and was easy to light. Did seem a little on the dry side out of the pouch, but smoked fine. Had no trouble keeping it lit.

Does burn a little fast, and can get hot if you smoke too fast. All in all, it was a decent smoke. Not the greatest, but decent. Just don't expect too much. This is an OTC gas station blend. I believe that it is RYO cigarette tobacco that says pipe on the pouch to help avoid taxes.

I have some friends that use it to roll their cigarettes, and I must say it is rather more pleasant than traditional cigarettes.

Overall, I would say it is highly recommended if you are into RYO cigarettes. For a pipe, it is decent, and I would use it if nothing else was available, or if I was looking for a quick, uncomplicated smoke. Rather easy to obtain and relatively cheap as tobacco goes.

If you are looking for fine-cut, bone dry tobacco for rolling cigarettes, this is all you. It is just grade x burley. One can actually inhale this smoke if one were so inclined. Dry grass with a hint of button mushroom in the bag. (Just like cigarettes.) It is dry as hell, so you'd have to pack your bowl very tight to get any length on your smoke. The plus: it is cheap with a decent nic-hit. Tastes very mild with a bit of pepper on the tongue as it burns so quickly. Maybe a good alternative for a poor man's Bugle cigarette tobacco? Giving two stars as a cigarette rolling blend. As far as pipes go... One star for the pipe. I would only recommend this to someone who has a peculiar penchant for extremely dry burleys that taste a bit like dry leaves.

Uh, I'm not sure what to make of this stuff. Seems more like cigarette tobacco than anything else. Seemed a bit harsh in a pipe. Only tried this recently. Very dry and smokes very fast. I've had better. Lots better. Two stars because it's so cheap. If you're broke I guess you could do worse but not by muck.

This tobacco does seem to be more for rolling than for a pipe. The flavor of this tobacco is alot like carter hall. I would say not a terrible smoke, it is cheap and if you pack it tight I can make a bowl last 15 minutes or so. I would say if your straped for cash and need a straight tobacco, go ahead and try it.