Peter Stokkebye Norwegian Blend (No.80)

The Virginias are very tart and mildly tangy, citrusy sweet, grassy and hay-like as the lead components. The burley is mildly nutty, earthy, woody, toasty sweet, adding a little substance in a support role. The Orientals are smoky, woody, herbal, floral, rather sour and spicy, and are evident in every puff, but do not dominate. While the Virginias act as a base for the other components, they tend to take the lead more than the burley does. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the mild mark, while the taste is in the center of mild to medium. Burns at a more than moderate rate - being a shag cut - and should not be puffed at a fast pace, or you risk the presence of it burning hot as well as getting a cigarette taste. May come close, but doesn't bite. The flavor is very consistent to the finish. Leaves virtually no moisture in the bowl, and the lightly lingering after taste is pleasant. The woody room note is a tad stronger. Requires few relights. An all day smoke if you're so inclined. More of a two and a half star blend than a three.

-JimInks

Being of Norwegian ancestry, I was eager to try this blend. It comes dry and ready to smoke. A nice, smooth smoke, but a little boring to me. (No wonder the Norwegians hibernate in the winter.) I want to see some Latakia in there to flavor it up. But, then that makes it an English, and you'd have to change the name.

The spicy and earthy burley makes up the backbone of this blend and provides a noticeable nic hit on an empty stomache, but won’t lay you out like Haunted Bookshop. The oriental takes center stage and gives a great woody and herbal flavor. The virgina acts as the glue binding everything together and is more on the citrusy side and plays more of a background supporting roll.

This is a wonderful, natural tasting, all day kind of blend. Very versatile blend and could be smoked in any conceivable situation or season, and possibly even indoors without causing too much fuss. I bought a few ounces of this at discount in P&C “Battle of the Blends” and immediately fell in love with it. This and the recommended Newminster - Norway are now my go to blends when I don’t want to think too much about what I’m smoking and just need something to throw in my pipe and go.

Overall it’s very balanced and doesn’t fuss at all. Very easy to smoke and doesn’t leave much moisture. The burley gives some lush, satisfying plumes and the woody orientals create some nice intrigue without demanding your full attention. This blend is pretty straightforward and uncomplicated, which I like about it, but if you wanted to “spice it up” a bit, I imagine it would play very well with a slight touch of Perique. The leaf here is light enough that it would probably take well to any kind of condiment leaf, for example if you wanted to add a bit of Latakia to it during the cooler months. But it stands up well enough on its on that you don’t need to do that and it’s very enjoyable right out of the bag.

This is probably a good “next step” if you’re trying out different burleys and working your way up the ladder from something more basic like SWR or Half and Half. Probably a nice and gentle “mid point” before you get to the stronger, darker burley flakes or the likes of Haunted Bookshop and Old Joe Krants.

As for the “Battle or the Blends”, when compared to the Newminster, this seems more dry, light colored, and natural tasting. I can pick out the individual flavors more easily and the orientals are more noticeable and enjoyable here. The Newminster is darker and spicier, slightly wetter and more of a “blended” flavor and harder to pick apart. Both about equal in nic levels and equally enjoyable. I find I reach for this when I want something I don’t have to dry out. They both behave really well but I think the Stokkebye performs slightly better due to its dryness. I also have a suspicion that the Newminster is topped with something, but I couldn’t tell you what. I think the Stokkebye wins for me, but I have to say I like them both about the same. I’m a fan of both Newminster and PS for my bulk tobaccos, and you really can’t go wrong with anything the two make.

I had this in my cellar in mason jars marked 10/ 17 . About 28 months old . I have the ribbon cut for the pipe . The burley is nutty and earthy with a slight cocoa note .The Virginias are grassy and honey sweet . The orientals are mostly spicy and a little buttery. This blend is quite spicy really , the red Virginias may add to this . It tingles the tongue a little but hasn’t bit me yet . It burns a little hot and fast it is quite tasty though , kind of like a caramel nut coffee flavor . The smoke is over way too fast . May be good to add some latakia or perique. 2 stars / edit 8/9/20 I have been smoking this again and I think it is a 3 star blend . I don’t know why I only gave 2 ? If you pack it fairly tight you get a longer smoke with the shag cut and it does taste very good !

I bought an ounce of this and tried. Fairly good. Virginias and Burley play in concordance without overpowering each other. Overall, a constant, pleasant smoke all the way down to the bow. Not many relightings because I received the tobacco quite dry. It comes in small shags and cuts, so it burns fast not that it gets hot but it turns to ash faster than other blends. No bite or harsh tongue. Can be repeated during the day.

Another of Stokkebye's pipe/MYO blends, except in this case I really wouldn't recommend it in a pipe at all. It just doesn't have the body. For MYO purposes, I can put the flavor pretty succinctly -- Marlboro Red. I haven't tried a blindfold test, but I'm sure I'd have problems identifying the Norwegian from Phillip Morris' old stand-by.

This isn't a bad thing, as it carries all the same pluses, caramel aroma, creamy taste, good strength. However, it also carries the same minuses, mainly dryness on the inhale leading to a pretty scratchy throat. But, it's safe to say if you gravitate towards Reds when picking up pre-rolled, then Stokkebye's Norwegian is for you.

This blend works best for RYO cigarette especially when inhaled, it is mild, smooth tasty and creamy(as cigarette) however, if smoked as a pipe tobacco it is bland and tasteless.

One can get this tobacco and its kin for $20 a pound. It used to be marketed as a RYO, but has been redone as a fine cut, "multi-purpose" blend. There are certainly better pipe tobaccos by Stokkebye and other blenders, but what a value! I plan to try all of these. Lilbrown is the place to get them. The Norwegian is not elegant, and is sort of like a Euro Half & Half. It is good for blending, but I can enjoy it straight as well. Will I smoke it every day when I have the Luxury Flakes, SG/GH and McClelland around? No, but happy to have some in reserve.

Peter Stokkebye Norwegian Pipe Blend comes in bulk, golden, light and mid-brown short ribbons and bits that are easy to stuff and puff, right from the bag. Bag note is faint old wood chips, and the combusting scents and tastes follow suit, with “woody” being the dominant trait, supplied by the toasted Burley and the Orientals, along with meadow grasses from the VA, roasted nuts from the Burley, and muted, savory spices from the Orientals. The smoke is very faintly floral at times, and it is pretty dry. Burn rate is fairly rapid, and it’s consistent from top to bottom. It works best for me in a #6 billiard with a wide open draw. Strength is closer to mild than medium. Tastes are closer to medium than mild. Room note is pleasant. Aftertaste is the best of the smoke, fairly brief, like many Oriental blends.

I have no problems with PSNPB, and I can understand someone keeping it at hand for everyday smoking, but it so happens that there are similar blends I think are somewhat better, which makes PSNPB a 3 star blend for me.