Kramer's Pipe and Tobacco Shop Blend for Cary Grant

I loved Father Dempsey and Danny Kaye Blend. This is somewhat different.It is a light/medium English with some type of old fashioned non-aromatic AROMATIC! VERY PERETTI like in all its qualities. A little heavy on the Virginias and light on the Latkia for me. Room note is tolerable. A bit of a nicotine wallop too. Good for the Virginia crowd branching out into English mixtures. A Good smoke for when you need a little flavor and do not want to devote too much attention to your pipe.!

Well aint life funny sometimes!

After hearing wonderful things about Kramers Father Dempsey, I just had to give it a try. While I tend to believe (nothing scientific here, and probably all in my head) tinned versions of blends tend to be slightly better than bulk versions, I rarely pass up the opportunity to grab a trial run of an ounce to decipher the need to stock up or not.

While I was buying Father Dempsey.......ach, why not? What is a few bucks for a few more blends to try? So Carey Grant and Danny Kaye also paid my pipes a visit.

Much to my surprise, I believe this Carey Grant is my favorite of the bunch, and the strangest thing is....I am not sure why I like it so much.

A ribbon cut tobacco of mostly medium to light colors. The moisture when I got the sample was just right. The bulk bag note is led by the orientals and latakia. I am not sure I really pick up the aromatic type topping in there, in fact I am pretty sure if I did not know they were there I would not notice them at all.

This is a great smoke because of its subtlety. It is a super non obtrusive smoke, and that is a compliment. It burns so well, is very easy going, and based on my personal preferences, I should not like this. I am mostly a VA/VAPER/VABUR smoker, and don't spend a lot of time with english blends. That said, when I do smoke english blends, I like latakia to be very up front and in your face. Often times, the middle of the road blends that people rave about I find a little....plain. The truth is, I really really like this blend. There is something about it. I feel the aromatic topping does add to the smoking experience, but not in an overt way. Oh and, what even is the taste of irish mist? Whiskey? Blended shamrocks?

I also found in my exploration of this lovely little blend, that it really shines in smaller deep bowls, in fact, I have a smaller Dr. Grabow Omega that I almost never smoke, but for some reason, this blend just sings in it.

Give this one a shot.

All real life fans, please direct you ire elsewhere, other than recognizing the name, I have no clue what movies Cary Grant did. I'm just here to smoke his namesake.

This was the first time getting a Kramer tin and not just buying it bulk - I was quite happy they now offer a tin option at a very reasonable cost for long term storage. The tin opening revealed the same inviting 'sweet' English Aromatic infusion I've found in their other "Irish Mist" blends. The spongy ribbons were bouncy and made for a soft pillow (at the time of the review I was half asleep, but in truth it would've been a sweet spot to nap). Fired up like a champ, releasing a mild/medium, slightly sweet and spicy, approachable English, without a Latakia punch.

It was easy to smoke (though the tin aroma was much nicer than the smoke taste), and won't scare off any English virgins that haven't cut their teeth on a traditional Latakia charcoal stove. IT was fine, but for my money, just get some Danny Kane.

Kramer’s Pipe & Tobacco: Blend for Cary Grant, 2 oz. tin Temperature/conditions on opening: 65 degrees F. (indoors) Packing method: Frank Pipe: Peterson Kildare (Billiard, ¾” chamber) Light: Peterson soft flame Smoking style: The breathe (or breathing) method Hair: Parted right-to-left, and with just enough Vitalis to appear English and well-groomed… j.k.

Speaking of which, this tobacco; a well-groomed and tasteful take on a traditional, American old-school tobacconist version of an English blend. Entertaining, refined, and with a few surprises for smokers disciplined enough to sip.

I am impressed (and feel somewhat fortunate) to be able to enjoy a blend that in some sense “belonged” to someone whom I am aware of, more so than, for example, smoking a blender’s take on what he or she thinks a fictitious ship's captain might have smoked, “…during his fateful voyage to blah-blah-blah...”. The fact that this blend is documented and preserved, rounds out the tasting, adding historical context to the experience.

In any case, no “blahs” here. It's a ribbon cut, some stems, not many. Moisture content was a little on the damp side right out of the tin. The top of the pull-tab note is HONEY. The tobacco in the tin, again honey, smoky-sweet, with the Latakia. Once lit, it compliments the Virginias providing the citrus and wood fire flavors. This Cavendish with its molasses/honey note, makes itself known occasionally throughout the bowl (more so during the second half). The Latakia is certainly present and earthy, but not the “Star”. The Irish Aromatic (Secret Sauce of the blend?) was not coming through much as a separate flavoring; and did not overstep the sweeter flavors of the cavendish. The Oriental and Turkish leaf adds herbal notes and some spiciness. Its strength was medium, and it burned very well to the heel without heat blasting the bowl, or my tongue; there was no charge of unwelcome goopy sweetness during the smoke, just that occasional callback of honey flavor, imparted by the cavendish.

Nicotine is mild, and the flavor is medium. Room note is nostalgic, warming; very pleasant.

This is my first review here as a new pipe smoker (less than a year). As of now, I have been smoking Peterson 965, Nat Sherman 536, MacBaren’s Solent Mixture, Newminster English Luxus, and good old HGL. I would put this in my regular rotation. It is not a busy or complex tobacco, but there is enough going on to hold the interest of a smoker, its history aside. Three and a half stars.

Smooth blend named for one smooth actor. Mostly Hay like citrus Virginia with some attributes of the Cavendish(semi-sweet), the Latakia is mild and a bit woody, the oriental/Turkish adds a wee bit of sour to round out the tobaccos. Says it has a light topping of Irish Mist, and it is light, most noticeable in the pouch nose and on the initial first third of the bowl. Well done indeed! I feel that this is what an aromatic should really be, not to overbearing, just a taste. A solid Americanized English that is suitable any time of the day.

If you are put off trying this blend by the presence of an Irish Aromatic, don't be. The Irish Aromatic component nearly kept me from trying this tobacco, but I had to know what Cary Grant smoked. I am glad curiosity got the better of me.

This is a light English in which the grassy Virginia plays nicely with the fresh, spicy, and mildly tart Orientals. The Latakia lends its expected smokiness. The Cavendish adds some body and smoothness to the smoke. The Irish Aromatic is always noticeable, but its flavor rides alongside the flavors of the tobaccos rather than running roughshod over them.

The strength of the blend in terms of taste is mild to medium. The nicotine level is just barely above mild. This leaf nipped at my tongue when I sipped too quickly, so a slow cadence is recommended. A slow cadence is facilitated by the easy-burning nature of the tobacco.

All in all I would say Mr. Grant had good taste. This will not be a regular smoke for me, but I intend to buy some in bulk to keep around for the occasional change of pace. Blend for Cary Grant is a solidly three-star smoke.

Preparation & Burn: 9/10 Burns pretty well!

Taste: 10/20 Too sweet for me.

Mildness: 10/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. I barely detect any nicotine here. Perfect!

Total: 29/40

Smoking now.

An ounce bulk sample I bought in bulk a year ago and placed in a jar. The jar aroma smells faintly of Latakia and fruity Virginia and some earthy wood. I did not detect a noticeable top aroma.

Packed and lights just fine, moisture is perfect. Grassy Virginias is the base of the blend. The orientals are not far behind. The Latakia is the next thing I taste but it’s mild and not very strong in flavor. There’s an earthy woody spice quality to the blend more so than a musty leathery herbal one. The retrohale is more of that with some spices. I get some grassy Virginias in it as well. The cavendish I suspect tones the whole thing down. It’s mildly sweet and I can’t detect a noticeable top flavor although this is sweetened and flavored with Irish Mist which is a whiskey based liqueur. Would not recommend pushing this especially if you retrohale as it’ll make you sneeze and may get harsh. At a moderate pace it is enjoyable for its mild musty herbal Latakia and earthy woody notes, grassy Virginia, with some slight sweetness. Smoked and behaved just fine.

I recently purchased this since it was on sale and I don't have a lot of experience with English blends. I tend to gravitate towards aromatic blends and this is listed by many as an "aromatic English" so I figured it was worth a shot.

The tin notes a topping of "Irish Aromatic" but I don't pick any of that up (I'm not sure what it even is supposed to smell like); instead I get the familiar smell of English blends: wood, smoke and leather.

The blend packs very well and is of the perfect consistency out of the tin. Easy to light and no bite whatsoever. The flavor is a mild sweetness from the Virginia with spots of woodsy smokiness from the Latakia. There are moments of enhanced sweetness, especially through the nose, presumably from the topping.

Overall a pleasant and mild smoke. Uncomplicated and highly enjoyable. Perfect to watch the sun rise with a cup of coffee on the porch, but also works as an all day smoke.

Highly recommended, especially to those looking to try an English blend but isn't quite familiar with the genre.