Japan Tobacco Condor Plug

Condor Plug, same as any other Condor but in plug form. Nice and tasty. Perfumy, floral, and sweet at first. Casing vanishes about half way thru the bowl (though not completely) and leaves you with a nice Virginia glow, with a hint of leather.

Enough nicotine to satisfy. Does ghost a pipe fiercely, so try it in a corn cob pipe before smoking in a briar.

Oh, and I don't know who the crack head/meth addict is who writes descriptions on this site, but it is NOT a plug of latakia.

Ahhhhhh... what can I say about Condor Plug? You ain't lived until you've had it and you ain't really had Condor until you've had it in plug form. Sure it's similar in flavor to the Long Cut & Ready Rubbed but you also get flavors from the dense plug that you just can't get from other cuts, it's the perfect form of tobacco and I wish we would see more hit the market but I'm afraid the opposite is happening... Plugs are disappearing from the market. In this "quick fix" age we live in, it seems most people can't be troubled with plugs, it's a crying shame. This is an all day smoke for me and the nicotine level is just above medium so it's incredibly satisfying on all fronts. The flavoring is just as strong as it is on the Long Cut but it's not as heavy handed as the Ready Rubbed. I slice a few flakes off, rub them out and let them dry for no more than 15 minutes, this is one of the few tobaccos I like to smoke with a decent amount of moisture. I'm putting this review under both the Bar and Plug listings as there is no difference and I'm not sure why there are two listings for the same tobacco. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go slice a few flakes off my plug.

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL!!!

Describing the flavor of Condor in any great detail is difficult to do. Condor is a unique, complex, and mysterious blend. Soap, flowers, perfume are commonly used descriptors, and I, too, find them applicable. I also pick up some grassiness and dark, tangy fruit from the Virginias, though this part of the experience mainly comes through during the back end of the retrohale. The smoke is smooth, creamy, and cool. I expected more spice (there is some), but I am happy here with the smoothness, as it balances the power of the topping.

In terms of nicotine content this blend is near strong. The taste experience is full. This blend has never given me any harshness or bite. Preparation takes some time. I find that slicing off thin flakes and breaking them up a bit works best. This does require more relights than my usual high average.

I strongly recommend Condor Plug. That said, the Condor I have smoked predates the shift in production away from the Ballymena Gallaher's factory. I have heard that the flavor of Condor has changed somewhat in the current production. When I have smoked fresh Condor I will update my review.

Condor Plug is my first experience with this style of tobacco. It is a singular experience that some love and some hate. I love it! The taste is a very powerful floral, musty, licorice, dark fruit experience. It reminds me of potpourri, old books, damp leaves, prunes, raisins. The tobacco taste is sublimated by the topping to be sure but when the topping is so good, who cares? The nicotine is present but I don't think it's as strong as some say. It has a satisfying amount of nicotine for me and I'm a former cigarette smoker.

It requires a fair amount of relights and as a true plug (made from whole leaf, not ribbon cut) it requires both more time to prepare into shavings and some drying time. If you are able to get your hands on this you will not be disappointed.

Upon opening the small cellophane packet one is confronted by dark brown to almost black diminutive plug of richly scented tobacco. The immediate aroma is extremely floral, not a high floral note but one which has considerable depth with a piquant vinegar note that can be detected in the sinuses. Unlike American style plugs, of which most seem to be 'crumble cakes', this is a true plug with whole leaf tobacco layered together before pressing. The depth of color indicates that this plug was most likely hot pressed. Although dense by the standards of plug tobacco I find this is somewhat softer and easier to prepare than say, Dan Tobacco Salty Dogs or Peterson 3P's, although a sharp, sturdy blade is a vital piece of equipment here. My usual preparation is to slice small flakes from the plug, cross-cutting through the layers of leaf and then to subsequently rub those flakes out into a coarse ribbon. This will require a small amount of drying time before packing. Both the charring light and the true light release plentiful plumes of dense, white smoke, with the floral toppings considerably sublimating the taste of the underlying tobacco. As one settles into a rhythm however, the underlying flavors of the tobacco come more to the forward, but are always accompanied by the topping, yet more balanced than one may imagine with a tobacco of this style. A rich, almost cocoa like flavor along with hints of smokiness and a mild, sorghum type sweetness sets a base, with a rounded grass note interplaying with the toppings at the high end. The smoke in the mouth is full and rich; if one retrohales, one is privy to an intense and satisfying experience. I found that no matter my smoking cadence this would not bite although the flavor can become slightly rough around the edges with the retrohale developing a sharpness that, while not unpleasant, takes away from the experience. Mechanically this will require a few more relights than average due to the inherent coarseness of the rubbed out tobacco compared to say, a Dunhill style ribbon. However when lit the tobacco burns at a steady pace, giving the smoker a longer smoke than might be anticipated. Progressing to the heel of the bowl a small amount of dottle is not uncommon, along with some moisture. Nicotine strength is strong but depends on ones tolerance. I have been taken aback on occasion but partaking in this tobacco after a reasonably sized meal will temper this strength. In conclusion I find Condor Plug an extremely satisfying smoke, dense with flavor and heavy with aroma but more nuanced than one may imagine.

This plug is top-shelf, and of the strong, dark, hot-pressed variety. It's an almost black, extremely compressed and uniform plug, not unlike Peterson 3P's or War Horse Plug. Similarities to those plugs end there. Condor is a supremely smooth and strong smoke, with a mild top flavor that I believe to be Irish Honeydew. This flavoring isn't quite as strong as what's found on dark flakes from J.F. Germain or Gawith-Hoggarth, but it is noticeable.

When thinking about its flavor profile, the word "bold" constantly comes to mind. It's reminiscent of J.F. Germain R.D.F. in that it's has that very rich taste of Virginias that have been hot-pressed. There's a mild floral essence present in the smoke—just strong enough to ghost your briar. Although Condor is bold, it's not overwhelming. Both tongue bite and harshness are entirely absent. There are many wonderfully savory and subtle flavors lingering in each puff, and these flavors stay throughout the course of the bowl. The nicotine content of this plug is medium-high.

My final words; Condor is the best plug I've ever had, period. Fresh and right out of the package it's delicious. This isn't one of those plugs that you sample and say, "Oh well, maybe it'll get better with time", or any hopeful commentary. The first time I smoked it, I started prepping more for the next pipe.

FOOTNOTE: My favorite reviewer JimInks has pointed out that Condor has changed production to Poland and has changed in a bad way. I have no way to confirm the origin of my plug, but I know it was purchased from a retailer somewhat recently. My experience with it seems to mirror his review of the original, which is confusing. Perhaps I just don't know what I'm missing!

Back around the year 2012, give or take, I purchased a single 25g plug of Condor. I knew Gallaher Limited produced some quality stuff, so, I purchased it at a cost of one dollar per gram + shipping. I might have purchased something else along with it but can't say for sure. It had years of aging but I don't remember how long or how old it was when I purchased it but I'll just say it had long since been out of production. It did have a very good flavor, to me anyway, with tantalizing floral notes & was a strong blend... one I'd still buy today if it were available.

I whittled on this little brick for a few days and was able to acquire enough to fill my bowl about ten times & then, all of a sudden it all went up in smoke & was quickly gone. Didn't last very long as the tiny brick was only about an inch square. I really missed the flavor but moved on expecting never to be able to obtain another sample & as it turned out, I never did.

OK... so, I'm unable to explain in detail all of the subtle tastes & nuances of each varietal within the mixture. All I can say is I liked it very well because it sort of reminded me of St. Bruno Flake... one of my all time favorites & I'm glad St. Bruno is now back in production. It was a short-lived experience that I feel fortunate to have undergone because I thought Condor Plug was excellent.

Back around the year 2012, give or take, I purchased a single 25g plug of Condor. I knew Gallaher Limited produced some quality stuff, so, I purchased it at a cost of one dollar per gram + shipping. I might have purchased something else along with it but can't say for sure. It had years of aging but I don't remember how long or how old it was when I purchased it but I'll just say it had long since been out of production. It did have a very good flavor, to me anyway, with tantalizing floral notes & was a fairly strong blend... one I'd still buy today if it were available.

I whittled on this little brick for a few days and was able to acquire enough to fill my bowl about ten times & then, all of a sudden it all went up in smoke & was quickly gone. Didn't last very long as the tiny brick was only about an inch square. I really missed the flavor but moved on expecting never to be able to obtain another sample & as it turned out, I never did.

OK... so, I'm unable to explain in detail all of the subtle tastes & nuances of each varietal within the mixture. All I can say is I liked it very well because it sort of reminded me of St. Bruno Flake... one of my all time favorites & I'm glad it is now back in production. It was a short-lived experience that I feel fortunate to have undergone because I thought Condor Plug was excellent.