Dan Tobacco Hamborger Veermaster

I have to say right up front that I really wanted to like this tobacco. Everything I've heard was very positive. Many people claim Hamborger Veermaster to be one of their favorite Virginia tobaccos. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same.

Upon opening the tin the aroma of Hamborger Veermaster is wonderful, very figgy, like fruitcake, with a background hint of chocolate. Very enticing. The flakes were moister than I like, but after a day of the tin being left open, they were perfect for my liking. The flakes did not lift out of the tin uniformly, so I treated the tobacco as a broken flake, roughly rubbing them out, and loading the bowl with small "chunks." I rubbed out a little bit very thoroughly as tinder for the top.

The tobacco lit easily, and the flavor of the top 1/4 of the pipe was terrific. Very sweet and flavorful. However, I found that as I smoked further into the bowl the tobacco changed flavor and became very cigar-like. The sweetness departed, and I never got the rich depth of Virginia flavor that I look forward to when I smoke Virginias. I can say without ambiguity that I did not enjoy the second half of the pipes I smoked of Hamborger Veermaster. I tried a variety of pipes dedicated to Virginias, from a Bosi with a tapered tobacco chamber, to a small Connoisseur I use for flakes, a small bowled Stanwell bamboo, Ferndown bulldog, a couple different McCranie pipes (made by Tonino Jacono) and a large Pipa Croci. I found that the sweet Virginia flavor lasted longest in a wide-bowled McCranie pot/chubby billiard and the Ferndown. Perhaps this tobacco needs a broad bowl to achieve it's best flavor.

I should add my tin is 2+ years old, and I experienced no tongue bite whatsoever. I did find the end of the pipe, especially in tapered bowls, to have a bit of a nicotene punch. Not a lot, but noticeable.

I enjoy this monochromatic tobacco because it makes me introspective. It doesn't change over the course of the bowl too much and sometimes, when I'm focused on a project or working at home, it's exactly what I need.

The tinge of sweetness is reminiscent of kissing a striptease dancer after she'd sipped a chablis of white wine.

I think that the other reviewers have represented my thoughts rather well. The hamburger beermaster is really pretty good. I actually find myself agreeing with the pros (tasty if smoked properly) and the cons (can become bitter through the bowl), and even the comparison (to Orlick GS). OGS seems more consistent to me, personally, but I do like this tobacco as well. It will work its way into the rotation with pleasure.

Update: The cons seem more pronounced, and this one is finding less time in the rotation.

A soft flake which rubs out with no effort, with a sweet natural honeyish smell in the tin. It burns well, slow and even no matter if you smoke it whole or fully rubbed out. A bit wet just after opening, but dries easily (if you don't, expect to have to pass a cleaner during smoke). It's a rather mild (taste-wise, not in nicotine) bright Virginia flake, with a taste that can have some similarities to Orlick Golden Sliced, but slightly richer and better. It has some sweetness, and some toasty notes, but there are tastier Virginias, and the second half of the bowl can be a bit "watery" (especially without drying the tobacco a bit) or slightly bitter, especially after some relights. Maybe there's some burley? A positive note is that this tobacco does not bite at all. If you like Limerick or MacBaren Navy Flake, try this one too: you should like it!

First impression: a mellow blend, very well done, but nothing more. Yet as you keep on smoking it, the blend gradually reveals itself as a rich, plentiful Virginia, oscillating in between the naturally sweet and the tangy-sour registers, exceedingly smooth, very well behaved and easy to smoke. As you progress down the bowl the undertones of this tobacco are enticing and absorbing. There are red wine notes, a bit of a toasted nuance, a trace of wooded aromas and, of course, a rounded Virginia tobacco flavor that captivates as well as sooths.

I have been smoking this in a brand new Savinelli "Bing's favorite" smooth. There is such an understanding between pipe and tobaco, that I get the feeling that I am just participant (nay, an instrument)of a secret ritual.

The flakes in HB come indeed moist, but IME (in my experience) they are perfectly smokable. I was amazed at the ease with which you can roll them into the bowl. They took to the light with no problem and the burning qualities were excellent. Equally interesting is the fact that there is no tongue bite whatsoever, and the aftertaste is mild and zesty (quite similar to Bjarne?s Flake de Luxe, though the latter is sweeter). A wonderful tobacco, rich in flavor, mild to medium in strength, that can be enjoyed any time, any where. IMO, a real Virginia winner. It should not be missed!

This is a tobacco that I found needed to be aired out in order to be smokable. Smoking a bowl immediately upon opening delivered a significant nasal burn. This was substantially reduced by letting the tobacco sit. In my case that was about two months, but I suspect that a week or two would be sufficient. My tin was unaged.

This tobacco is packed as a thick flake, about two inches long. It rubs out nicely. My practice is generally to rub flakes out to the point that they are soft strands, which may not be to everyone?s taste.

Initial flavor is fairly bright, but with a slightly nutty character. After a short DGT, the middle of the bowl grows in the intensity of flavor, but also startsto get slightly bitter/tarry. The bottom of the bowl continues this trend and becomes somewhat distracting.

It is possible that some of the problems that I experienced had to do with smoking too quickly as a result of the full rubbing. I plan to give this another try less rubbed out to reduce the burning speed to see if this makes any difference. I will add to this review at that point.

November 2002

Age: not more than a month old

First 10 mins: Grass, Hay, light citrus, wood and bread. It does leave some vinegar notes on the palate Retrohale: mild to medium pepper

10-25 mins: citrus notes are more profound combined with earthy woody notes. Mild acidic/vinegary taste persists on the palate Retrohale: medium pepper with slight vinegar

25+ mins: citrus notes, more acidic with persistent woody notes Retrohale: Retrohale: medium pepper with slight vinegar

Burns slow and cool. Left a little bit of moisture and dottle for me.

Will definitely improve with age. Current rating 3.0/4

I bought a can of this tobacco by mistake and when I first smoked it I discovered that it had actually been a success. A smooth Virginia, ideal to be smoked as the first pipe of the day, perhaps in the morning, but tasty enough to be smoked with pleasure the rest of the day as well. In my ignorance, I would compare it to a Tordenskjold Virginia Slices devoid of Perique, with the same touch that is vaguely reminiscent of a hint of chocolate. It comes in stacked flakes and with a level of humidity that allows it to smoke immediately after removing it from the can and rubbing it, although it can also be left to dry a little.

An interesting tobacco for a novice to start with Virginias...

A great Virginia that's on the sweet side. Burns, smokes and behaves with excellence. Quality you should expect from Dan Tobacco. My only complaint with this tobacco is the difficulty in it's availability. That should tell you about it's popularity. Four stars!