Kramer's Pipe and Tobacco Shop Blend for Cary Grant

Back in late February of 2014, I visited LA and Kramer's Pipe shop. The shop was interesting, full of memorabilia of the days of yore. The lady behind the counter was very friendly and allowed me to test drive as many blends as I wished before making up my mind on which blend to take home. I ended up buying all three of the one's I test drove, which were Father Dempsey, Danny Kaye's mix and the Cary Grant blend.

All three blends tasted similar to me, the only main difference between them all, in my view, were the strengths of the blends. The Cary Grant blend was the milder of the three, and, my favorite. It's an English blend with some mild aromatic qualities to it. Really, Kramer blends remind me of something you'd buy at a tobacco shop decades ago, they're really Old School type tobacco's rich and full, something you don't run into very often these days. I liked the taste and the richness, but I found all the blends really high in nicotine (Father Dempsey has a nic-kick that would satisfy just about any sea-dog out there).

So, if you're looking for Old School, like taste and fullness in a blend, these three from Kramer's are right up your alley. I'll give a solid three stars to all three of the blends, Father Dempsey, Danny Kaye mix, and, my favorite Cary Grant Blend.

Kramer's Pipe and Tobacco - Blend for Cary Grant.

My first one from Kramer's.

The blend is mostly a mid-sized ribbon, but there's a few twiggy bits that need discarding. The nose from the pouch is quite nice, it has a slightly stronger aromatic character than the smoke. I've had this pouch for a few weeks but when I had my first pipe last night the moisture was good.

On to the flavour: it's a smoke that's mostly composed of Lat', Oriental, and Virginia. The Cavendish sits more than a few rows back. The topping fluctuates: at first it seems almost chocolaty, but then develops an alcoholic sharpness. Cary Grant burns very well, but it can bite.

I find the nicotine medium, and the room-note pleasant.

I think Kramer's Cary Grant deserves three stars.

Recommended.

Kramer’s in Beverly Hills sometimes names blends after Hollywood Stars or describes which stars smoked which blends. It’s a bit of a shame that there aren’t many pipe smokers among Hollywood celebs that there once were as the names are from a golden era gone by. After Fr. Dempsey, I think that Cary Grant blend is my second favorite offering from Kramer’s of Beverly Hills. I think it is a great and accurate observation by thedstnguishdgntlmn below that this rough cut tobacco looks very similar to some of the Peretti blends. CG blend is a light aromatic that could be enjoyed by both aromatic and non-aromatic smokers alike. It is lightly sweet, but leaves room for the tobacco flavor to come through. It some ways it reminds me of Steven Book’s light aromatics of old. The flavor and body move toward the medium side of the spectrum as each bowl progressed past the midway point. CG can burn hot if pushed, but I wouldn’t let that be a deterrent as long as it’s smoked slowly. My wife loves the room note of this blend. All in all, Cary Grant is not a bad smoke from a shop that has been in business for sixty five years.

I love the toasty pouch aroma of this blend!. A bit of sweetness from the Virginias come through, and just a touch of botanical sourness from the Turkish if you inhale hard enough. The Latakia is done with a very light hand here. Comprised of ribbons of various widths and lengths, not very uniform. But doesn't hinder its packing ability. Moisture content gets two thumbs up.

No problems with initial lighting. Light, tamp light and settle in. This blend does have a bit of spring to it, so watch the top of your bowl.

First half of the bowl is a wonderful toasty, sweet flavor that's perfectly kissed with a touch of Latakia smoke. The Turkish add what the pouch note hinted at, a slight flowery sourness.

2nd half of the bowl the situation changes. Still a toast and sweet notes, but the Turkish comes forward a bit more, and the Latakia is noted more. Not only on the palate, but in the room note. Burns well down to a fine, powdery light gray ash, minimal relights needed. I would give this blend 4 stars had it not burned a bit hot on the 2nd half and caused some tongue bite.

Suitable for both indoor and outdoor smoking, but this blend really shined outdoors.

First off, I'm an aromatic guy but I do like a good crossover blend as a change of pace. Kramer's Blend for Cary Grant fits that bill nicely. In fact it's almost a dead ringer for my usual crossover, "Lane's HGL". That being said all the components in this blend work well together. The latakia is not over powering, the Virginia is mild, sweet and cool. The topping is almost inperceptable but it is there if you look for it. The tin note is pleasing and it leaves a pleasant and inoffensive room note. The only criticism I can give is that it is cut a bit coarser than HGL and can be a bit troublesome keeping it lit in a smaller chamber. But if you are looking for a good English/American old school crossover, this blend might just be the ticket.

I was looking for a cross over blend and gave this a try. I partial to heavy Latakia blends like Balkans and strong English blends. I've been trying to find a blend that's appealing to my wife's nose and my tastes. This is a difficult task. This tobacco comes close to fitting the bill. It's a little mild for my tastes but it has a good flavor. I really can't taste the topping but I can smell it. I hate aromatic tobacco because it tastes like chemicals and burns hot. This does neither.

So, now I know what Mr. Blandings was smoking. This is an interesting blend as it is what would be considered a crossover blend without the in-your-face sweetness of something such as “Shortcut to Mushrooms”. No, this blend maintains it’s tobacco flavor while having only the slightest aromatic touch by the layered in Irish aromatic. The Latakia isn’t as pronounced as what I’m used to while the predominant flavors are Virginia and Cavendish. Overall, this is a well blended tobacco mixture that is slow burning and enjoyable. While not anywhere near as appealing to me as Captain Earle’s Ten Russians, I would definitely buy this again. However, I should mention that it does carry a bit of a bite.

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.!

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.