Sutliff Tobacco Company Barbados Plantation

Okay, a brief story. 27 years ago my wife and I got married and honeymooned in Barbados. I loved the place. It was, at the time at least, covered in sugar cane and they make Mount Gay rum there. While there I developed a very strong affinity for the stuff. The resort where we stayed had the pool right off of the beach and there was, of course, a pool bar. One of the first days there I met a particular bartender, a native Bajan whose name escapes me. I couldn't decide what I wanted and he offered to make me his specialty. A frozen banana daiquiri. Don't roll your eyes, this wasn't a girlie drink made with bottled mixers and rail brand rum. Everything was fresh and it tasted amazing. I developed a standing appointment everyday just after lunch with this bartender.

I tell you this to give context to the review of this tobacco. I was intrigued by the name. Upon opening the tin I was greeted with the definite aroma of rum. Not ordinary run-of-the-mill rum, not rum flavoring but island rum. Barbados rum. Visually it was an interesting mix of light and dark ribbon cut tobacco. It was moist but not overly wet. It packed well but the initial bowl did take a bit of effort to light and keep lit. Subsequent bowls were a piece of cake due to a little drying time after the opening of the tin. I don't think I'd let it dry too much though or you may risk losing some of the flavor.

Smoking this was heaven. I have had trouble tasting some of the flavors in other aros. Not this one. I tasted everything. There is first and foremost the Bajan Rum, sweet and wonderful. Underneath that is a subtle hint of vanilla. I detected another flavor in there. It took me about half a bowl but it finally clicked. I honestly don't know if it's truly there or if my mind has been playing tricks on me but I swear, it's banana. Not overt. Not overpowering. But a hint of it. Every bowl so far has whisked me back to that poolside bar in Barbados and the amazing taste of that fresh all natural banana daiquiri.

This is great in briar and it is heaven in a cob. For some reason it was a bit flat in a meer. About the only thing negative I can say was that it did leave a bit of that burley cigarette taste on my tongue after I smoked it but that is so minor when I consider the pleasant smoke I had up to that point. If you don't like aros you're not going to like this. It is definitely an aro. And it's one of the best aros I've had.

Sutliff Tobacco Company - Barbados Plantation.

The words on the front of the tin would do as a review: Sweet Barbados rum, smooth and rich!

I've found, with this style of tin, a lot of the time when I open it what greets me is a dried out blend, due to the circulating air inside. But Barbados Plantation, if anything, was a bit too much the other way: nearly damp. In the tin-note the rum is a fairly certain addition.

With the smoke the black Cavendish outweighs the other tobaccos, being sweet and vanilla-like. To me, the rum tastes a lesser addition than the vanilla, giving a sort of molasses note, rather than a loud alcoholic one. The Virginia, and Burley are much further back than the Cav', the Virginia more-so. The burn from it's cool, and there isn't a bite in it.

The nicotine: mild. Room-note: scrumptious.

Barbados Plantation easily deserves four stars:

Highly recommended.

I found this to be a nicely done tobacco. It balances very nice and the flavoring is not over done. It allows for a cool smooth sweet smoke. Has a great room note others will certainly enjoy. Smoked it fresh out of the tin. Didn't have a wet or goopy smoking experience and only needed one relight - Although looking at it in the tin and based on other reviews, I was expecting it. It was a little on the moist side. For as strong as the tin note reflected rum, it didn't have any harshness and remained mellow and tame throughout. The tin note is amazingly good on this one. Overall a very enjoyable smoke that I'll definitely enjoy outdoors this summer among company. Probably my favorite rum based smoke yet. If you are looking for or like sweet, this one's in the wheelhouse. If you're relatively new to pipe smoking and your trying various aromatics, I'd highly recommend this one. If you're not into aromatics and sweet, sit this one out.

Some of you may be aware of The Rum Project where we review rums, whisky and tobaccos. It is fair to say that we know our rums very well, not least the fine Barbadian style with which this blend is alleged to be flavored. Until recently one of my favorites was McB's Navy Flake. No more.

This blend supplants it, and not by just a little. The tobacco all seems to be of good quality, and blended well. Visually it seems to be black cavendish dominant, followed by burley and then virginia, but that's just a rough guess. Some have called the blend too moist, but mine was not. With minimal drying the number of relights was not at all excessive. Used a standard 3 pack in my cob, and it was off to an extremely pleasant experience.

You will read of this blend's aromatics of rum, over a touch a vanilla and one poster even mentioned a light banana. I agree. t just so happens that Bajan rums do in fact display elements of banana (as well as the classic rum profiles of leather, vanilla, medium and deeper fruits). Thus this blend's casing may well be quite authentic insofar as a gentle Barbadian rum is concerned. But don't get me wrong. In this case the aromatics in no way overwhelm, but rather are in perfect balance with the burleys and virginia in this blend. The rum is entirely authentic in this light aromatic blend.

All the elements - tobacco and aromatics - can be distinguished, although they remain in near perfect harmony and balance. No one component dominates in any way, and that is a real gift. Indeed as the bowl progresses the tobaccos strengthen and move nicely forward, yet the modest aromatics are in no way lost, just slightly less evident.

This kind of balance and development is what I believe all such blends of its kind should aspire to. Lovely light, no burn, cool, rich, smooth and balanced. And to me, completely authentic. Love it!

I am as picky as aromatic smokers come. I need for an aromatic to deliver beyond just a nice tin note...I need to smell it, taste it, and share the aroma around the room. Barbados Plantation has become a very consistent go-to aromatic for me. The flavor is simply fantastic. The rum overtone is nice and mellow, with a sweet flavorful base providing just a delightful experience...every single time. I've lost the taste for a lot of other aromatics with this one...it's THAT GOOD.

Just the right amount of rum and vanilla without tasting too sweet or artifical. A great everyday smoke if you like aromatics. This is one fo my favorite blends.

Beautiful Stuff. Sweet with rum and a bit of Vanilla. My new favorite!

A great blend with a base of Virginia, burley, and Black Cavendish though I really didn't detect the Virginia. Rum is the primary flavor with a hint of vanilla. Give it a little drying time and it won't burn so hot. Everything about this is great from the room note to the taste and after taste.

Purchased a tin of this on a whim and am glad I did. A very good aromatic topped with vanilla and rum, both of which predominate the flavor...the vanilla a bit more so than the rum. A little moist from the tin, typical in my experience with Sutliff aros so dry it a little but not too much or lose the flavors. I can't pick out the Virgina, but sometimes you get some burley taste. A great aromatic if rum and vanilla are your thing, good for bowl after bowl.