Tabac Manil La Brumeuse

...Nothing quite like it...you bet! A first rate tobacco with no flavoring/topping...Very woodsy, leathery, and an interesting cigar leaf quality that I find compliments the underlying chocolate/floral notes...

I hydrate a little bit and find it smokes better that way...a good nic kick for those seeking such. A bit stout for an all-day smoke but a solid choice in the afternoon/evening.

Truly a one-of-a-kind tobacco and worthy of a try for those seeking artisan pipe tobacco...

...a pipe is to be savored...

2014-03-23: Started putting a dent into my brick from The Pipe Guys last week, and this stuff is still enchanting.

It's a completely natural, very dry burley. That's it. The tin note, while interesting, won't blow you away. But the room note and flavors are one of a kind. Also very easy, despite a healthy nicotine level; this won't sit on your tongue for two days like a good Lat blend will.

2014-01-17: I have only smoked one bouchon from Manil via transAtlantic mail (it was amazing), but just a heads up -- La Brumeuse goes on sale in the U.S. on Jan 20th thru Pipe Guys, LLC website. (Don't know why I'm telling you this... ;))

Reviews below capture it well. Semois = floral and terroir. Really unique and enjoyable stuff.

Excellent Kentucky tobacco produced only in Belgium.

No additives and no casing/topping. This tobacco is broad cut and a bit on the dry side (as it has no additives. But it is the way it is smoked and does not lose on the taste qualities at all.

The taste is very unique, earthly, leathery, spicy, woodsy notes throughout the bowl. Very rich and satisfying.

It burns easy, does not bite and tastes great throughout.

The Vitamine N dose is excellent and once finished, I craved for more.

This is tobacco at its best. All semois tobaccos are worth trying for those who seek a tobacco that truly tastes like tobacco.

The first time I taste this tobacco, I find it really strong and unsmokable ! But you have to smoke it in different way than the other blend. This tobacco burn really well, so you have to tamp it very strongly, and smoke it slowly. And then you will have all the good taste, and you will enjoy it very much !

PUR SEMOIS – VINCENT MANIL: One of the most natural tobaccos I’ve ever smoked! There’s nothing in it, not even water, just pure tobacco. Don’t listen to those who smoke it dry: tobacco must be hydrated otherwise it cannot be smoked. It burns like straw and has no texture. I would like to underline that this tobacco is not Burley, but an indigenous tobacco typical of the “Val Ardennais” in Belgium. I don’t know if it comes from Burley, from a common ancient strain, but it is neither Burley nor Kentucky. And that’s for sure. About the taste there’s not much to say. Ideal for natural tobacco lovers but only for them. Not suitable for everyone else. Cigar like? Let’s not joke please! The taste is slightly bitter and not so pleasant. In my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 6 and two stars (an average between the quality of this natural tobacco and the outcome achieved).

For those of you that are familiar with this tobacco "blender" you will know this is a unique experience. I have smoked this and Le Petit Robin and they are both in a category of their own. Neither are what I think of when I am thinking " I want a pipe", I am a cigar smoker that moved to the pipe and that said I do like these. The brick/jar note is very light, slightly floral, grassy and dry hay notes are what I get. This will be easy to review in the flavor department, so I will start with mechanics. This stuff is bone dry, as in crumbly, mash to dust dry, as such you need to pack this stuff super tight so it doesn't flash to ash in 2 seconds. I prefer large bowls packed to about the 3/4 point, I have a meer the size of my fist and this is the best it smokes in by far but large cobs and briars are best. This to me tastes like Macanudo cigars. Like a carbon copy to my taste. Earthy, vegetal, hints of leather. It is not very complex there are subtle hints of Turkish tobacco in here, woody at times. I'd say this is a steady Eddie from start to finish. It will get nasty if you puff fast so be forewarned. Very interesting and I work in in when I am craving a cigar but don't have time for a cigar. Worth a try for the cigar lover, one to avoid if you don't like cigars.

My girlfriend brought a hunk of this tobacco home as a gift from a trip to Belgium. It’s really one of a kind. It’s the only single origin tobacco commercially available, to my knowledge. Every pipe smoker should try it once.

Let's just get this out of the way. It has the best packaging. No room for discussion or differing opinion here. Its the best, agree or live your life lying to yourself. Now that I have spoken truth I can move on with my review.

This come out of the package very dry and crunchy, fear not it smoke great.this burley has you basic burley flavors that burley fan come to know and love, but offers a little extra nuance. Those cherished and time honored burly characteristics of nuts, coco, earth, spice, and coffee are present in this tobacco. In a very clean and distinct fashion. Each flavor is very crisp and easy to pull out. It never seems to get muttled. But this tobacco also offers a unique sweet herbal not that almost comes across as minty at times. This natural sweetness and the cleanses of flavors really sets this tobacco apart from other burleys. As you can guess I am very enamoured with this tobacco. In my opinion it is well worth the money.

As a side note cigar guys will love this!

This might be my desert island tobacco. I smoke this pretty much all the time. Its my all day smoke. Firstly, to call it a straight burly is misleading. Thats like calling a Rolex Sea Dweller another dive watch. This is very unique stuff and with a unique taste. It takes a bit of practice Ive found to find the right way to smoke it (for one thing, its very dry and you have to pack it down tightly and Id use a narrow chambered pipe). It can smoke hot if your not careful. But its got a fantastic clean taste, burns down to a nice white ash. And the flavor is more complex than you would ever expect. It can also be mixed (i might be one of ten people in the world who likes Deer Tongue and i mix this with 20% of C&D's Crooner...works well). Anyway, if there were five stars thats what I would give this. Try it...but give it a few bowls before you decide if you like it. It will grow on you.