Tabac Manil Réserve du Patron

Wow. The 100g compressed block of Belgium's finest cut shag arrived wrapped in gold foil paper, ribbon-tied. It had a smell like no other tobacco; it didn't seem like it would go well for me at first glance. The smell was weird, the color was weird - dark, almost to gray. Not pretty. It smelled weird and wasn't pretty. What would you expect?

Easy fill and an easy light; doesn't call for relights. Even with plenty of moisture this springy fine cut tobacco wants to burn quickly if you don't uber-compress it and sip. Taste? It tastes great if you like, say, perique +5. Until I learned that there is one small area in Belgium where tobacco has been grown for over 100-years I guessed this leaf was from Africa or Asia or St. James Parish, Louisiana.

Semois river tobacco from the Ardennes region of Belgium is unique and, to my palate, very enjoyable. Spice-like with a serious nic-kick I smoked this happily from a smallish group-2 briar. Not too hot and not too much.

It has the classic characteristics of a Tabac Manil offering, a dry tobacco with a herbal smell and a cut suitable for a Pot shaped pipe. A tobacco that smokes fast but with proper packing in a large bowl, it can be slowed down. The nicotine level is gradually from medium to medium to strong especially by mid bowl.

Flavor wise, I get hay and earthy, musty truffles for the main profile. It smokes very mellow even when puffed fast but then I get a mineral flavor akin to ammonia and salt. So sipping is in order to get the maximum from it. The body is very cigar like and so is the aftertaste.

I' m not a Burley smoker, but I like European Burleys a lot as each country offers enough variety in taste to keep it interesting.

Virginia lover

Dry as a bone, but don't despair. Pack it very tightly and sip gently. It is lovely, but strong stuff. I get all Maigret whilst smoking it, but I do have to take care. The pipe I have dedicated to this blend is very small and that's more than enough. Smoke it sitting down as it does pack a bit of a punch.

Everyone should try one of the Semois blends, they are so different. I'm not a fan of straight burley. But this tastes like a cigar, not a cigarette. While it is more expensive than other tobaccos, it is VERY dry, so you're not paying for Belgian moisture. Be aware that this dryness translates into a faster burn rate. Obviously, it burns dry, no residual moisture at the heel. Try to sip slowly. The taste is earthy, somewhat mineral-like. I truly believe I am immune to nicotine, even when I inhale, I get absolutely nothing. No tongue bite experienced.

Smoking now:

The pouch note is a vegetative tobacco smell. Earthy, woody, hay… much like La Brumeuse it’s light on the aroma and pleasant of you like tobacco. Thin ribbon cut that is very dry. Packed tight into a clay pipe.

The taste of this is far more mild than La Brumeuse which I thought was over whelming. Grassy, herbal, tea, wood, wet leaves. There’s that mineral and mushroom flavor but it’s subdued this time. Toasted bread… It’s much more balanced for me than La Brumeuse. It’s void of sweetness and very stout but the flavors are pleasant and very interesting.

Mushrooms on toast! That’s what this reminds of. Which is a wonderful British dish. I enjoyed this. Not something I would smoke often but something I will and have smoked again. I’m thankful for the experience. The nicotine level is last medium to high. Burns easy, would recommend keeping this slow. A fascinating blend. Semois is not a burley, it’s not a Virginia, it is its own thing flavor wise at this point. Unami mineral mushroom wet leaves and wood. Very interesting. You’ll love it or hate it.

See my take on La Brumeuse which has a stronger Semois flavor.

Once I opened the brick and put it in a jar I was able to smell it. Some sweetness and citrus notes super dry need to be packed tight in a smaller bowl. burns a bit hot for a burley. Defiantly a burley lots of smoke some light coco with some very lite citrus on the retro hale. More coco flavor as you progress through the bowl a bit of sweetness some hay notes and some muskiness on the retro hale. The flavors are more prominent if you puff super light. The cigar tobacco make it a bit strong in strength. Nic hit is medium to strong. Not an all day smoke but a nice change occasionally. 3.5 stars