Boswell Pipes & Tobacco Railroad Station

Pouch aroma is slightly sweet, earthy and smoky. The blend doesn't have the aroma of a typical "lat bomb"

Thin crinkly ribbons with short choppy bits of latakia. More than the average amounts of stems in this blend. Packs easily enough, no difficulties.

Initial lighting bring forward toasty notes, very earthy, medium amount of smoky Latakia, and next to zero sweetness. Burns extremely well and even, minimal relights. Thick, chunky, voluminous amounts of smoke with little effort. The further down into the 2nd half the Latakia comes forward, but can get a bit acrid if puffed to hard. This is a great morning blend with coffee!

Bag note is very woodsy slightly sweet earthy Latakia. Ribbon cut with a few stems. Moisture content is perfect. This is a straight English blend no toppings whatsoever. I would consider it a medium English Stronger than Northwood not as sweet as either magnum or Northwood. All pure tobacco flavor. All I get personally is the Latakia and the cavendish. I know there is Virginia in this but its way in the back. Its fairly close to being a Latakia bomb and I would suggest smoking in a pipe used for Latakia and outside. Nic hit is middle. Burns a bit warm. Between the Latakia and the black cavendish lots of full smoke. I suspect with some age this will mellow a bit, and be a bit sweeter as the Virginia ages. If you like unflavored unsweetened blends with Latakia as the main flavor this would be a great blend for you. I would probably add some more light Virginia to this myself as it can bite if puffed hard.

Well, now…this is closer to a true English than is common in American blends, even Northwoods. Latakia is ever-present, but not overbearing. Smoky like a campfire, earthy, herbal. Pleasant.

Burns slowly and cool, but I hasten to add that it is not for everyone. I do not think, for instance, that I would choose Railroad Station for my morning bowl, although I do like the blend. For me, an evening pipe with a single malt or a double shot of espresso.

In the Boswell family of blends, I like the Northwoods and Countryside favorites, but I do not rank or compare Railroad Station to those, either. For me, this is as close to the English blends of years past without Perique, which I cannot tolerate.

Of note: I ordered a 2-oz tin with a Boswell pipe. When I opened the tin some five hours ago, the tobacco was too dry. I live in the desert, and I do not know how long the box had been in my mailbox, nor when the tin was sealed by Boswell. At any rate, I am now nearing the end of my first bowl, and this review is subject to change after the tobacco is rehydrated to a proper level. I will probably add this blend to my Boswell orders going forward, but I will buy in bulk. Film at eleven.

Smoking now:

Bag note is a big sour herbal smoky ketchup smell. Seems heavy in Latakia. Packed and lite just fine. Had high hopes off the aroma.

The taste is heavy Latakia. Herbal, smokey, woody, vegetative, with a dry mouth feel. The Virginias offer a slight tangy ketchup flavor. The cavendish might sweeten this a tad but this is far from north woods or the Boswells aromatic English blends they do. The Latakia is very heavy, unsweet and dry. It had the same mouth feel I get from smoking burley tobaccos. That is to say it does not agree with my ph. This dried my mouth out and left a vegetative and unpleasant after taste in my mouth. The retrohale is herbal, vegetative, with some tangy Virginias. It’s the best part. I like heavy Latakia blends but didn’t work out for me. Some rough spots and mouth tingle. Smoked to a fine ash. Will try in a different pipe.