Peter Stokkebye Norwegian Blend (No.80)

In all sincerity, I am a celebrated enthusiast of the Peter Stokkebye brand, which is most certain. Subsequently, there are more than a few splendid blends from their collection that stand as regulars within my preferred rotation as a result. So needless to say, simple curiosity about this one in particular had me optimistic about the notion of an exploratory trial. Much to my chagrin however, the process of discovery that ultimately unfolded, did reveal this one to be somewhat obscure, or better yet, “confused and dimly non-committed” I guess one could say.

As an explicitly mild combination of mixed Virginian, Burley, and Oriental strains, Norwegian Blend presents itself as a finely coiffured ribbon-cut assemblage of varying tans and browns. On the top it appears to be fairly even keeled in the individual letdown ratios of the recipe’s respective tobaccos. Given its more delicate bodily state, this bulk mixture proves to be easily amendable on packing uniformity. The pouch nose is more than common, in that the standard endowment portrays a reduced sweeter blushing of dominant grassiness, guarded earthen/herbal spices, minor tart/sourness, and a general woody disposition.

I must state that when the assessment dust had finally settled, Norwegian Blend proved to accrue merits that were essentially a tad better than average at best. In specific, its usual performance relating to the appreciable tiering of a flavorsome profile, individual leaf properties, and genre tributes is middling in nature. Fundamentally, what you have here is a relatively light, mild-medium bodied Virginia-Burley that vaguely entertains a bit of passive Oriental coloring. Not to be harsh with my terms here, it is intensely mundane in the general presentation.

Moreover, just when I had resolved that the blend really had natural constraints by way of an engaging personality, the flavor took an impressively bolder and more determined stride forward but only for a few steps. And with that, clearly this specific Stokkebye mixture standardly tenders with a degree of inconsistency in its taste rendering. Infrequent and random flashes of brilliance yes, but natively limited in complexity and reliably developed character.

In summarizing the experience, the forward profile features a sprightlier tangy voice from the constituent Bright Virginian strain, which is largely grounded by the overarching woody quality of the three remaining components. The trueness of a perfectly regular, well-balanced VA/Bur seems to occupy the bottom and lower middle band of taste. Primarily you encounter a bigger note of combined woodiness that is rather monochromatic in appeal. Although at times, a lively run of related native leaf spice and zestfulness uproars a most interesting push, thereby serving to redeem the slighted ordinariness of flavor. Still, for the most part this tobacco bestows an all but complacent representation of the vital top-level band of flavoring and stimulated accenting.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge that a flash of nuanced movement does in fact come to call but that is exceptionally minimal and definitely short-lived. Do not get me wrong, Norwegian Blend brings a nice mellow even-tempered experience, it is nonetheless, challenged in the promotion of charisma and memorable savor. And I did note a subtle sweetener hiding in the woodpile that resembled the diluted caramel sugariness of what acclaims to be most likely a dark corn syrup influence.

The substance of the tobacco’s consumed essence approaches insignificance in that it is remarkably light in girth, which could be a plus in some sectors. What emits from the thicker clouds of smoke is a gentle sweet air that endows an undeclared aroma of general citrus, indistinct herbal seasoning, and diluted whiffs of neutral wood.

Mechanically Norwegian Blend can feel a little rough with respect to texture while surfacing an occasional stint of front tongue sting. Yet it does seem to manifest admirable qualities in relation to burn characteristics, smokiness, and manageable temperatures. The resulting nicotine element is most probably medium by popular estimation.

Key points of the assessment:

Mild-Medium strength/intensity: Tends to lean more to the milder side and frequently lacks distinguishable weight.

Baseline: Red Virginia/Burley. The meld of the assorted streams are generally well stewed and tightly fused. In practice, the Red leaf and White Burley tend to fluctuate on their notes of importance whereas the Dark Burley steadily forms the established and perceivable depth of the registration.

With the Red strain, the waving remarking shows an inclination for greener sapling-like wood and a tinge of a tart dilled floral. The white Burley lends minimal toasty impressions of a blanched pecan nuttiness bundled within the bolder stream of the Dark. For the Dark, it personifies in a loosely sweetened herbaceous woodiness and an earthy almost cigar-like garland of progressed spice. What is more, reasonable notations of rich molasses and deeper tannins earmark its more discernable nuances.

Forward mid-band taste: Bright Virginia leaf leads the primary notation on every drawl of the pipe. Its magnitude is characteristically more relaxed in tone as opposed to being outwardly assertive. With that you do record a lighter tang spooled with some lemony citrine hay/grass projections. This strain is perhaps the strongest and most constant factor in the meagered registration overall.

Accenting: The reduced capacity of a mixed mesh of Orientals provides a registerable trace of highlighting on the extreme top peripherals but again is kept well in check by the blender’s intention. I do suspect possibly Samsun or Izmir given the non-invasive character that was transferring through. Mainly a modest spicey almond nutty-wood appeal seems to fit the essential embellishment. The undertone of the profile brings a decided sweet-sour vegetal feel like the terpenes of fallen pine trimmings, earthy tendencies, with amusing bits of minor tea and softer pungency.

• A simpler tobacco with minimal complexity, given the associated recipe.
• Makes for a basic, uniform indulgence for day-long enjoyment
• Might be a reasonable introduction to VA/BURs or possibly the influence of Orientals
• Definitely more entertaining through a simple cob pipe
• Cost is nicely affordable and is readily available in bulk

Scoring: Objective scoring 2.62 WAVG at 143/188 in total. As to the three categorical leaf varieties within the blending, the Virginian seemed to be the most compelling trait earning 87% at standard, where both the Burley and Oriental leaves were dead-center median. I judged it perhaps more sternly on the category of Flavor at only 65% simply because the blend was lacking or at least shy to commit on flavor presence, fullness/depth, and tiering development. What is more I find the achieved blending quality completely average, sorry Peter. And as I previously alluded, the actual feel of the experience is marked by some degree of discomfort on the palate. Although it may genuinely appeal to others who prefer a conventional eased smoking encounter, as to my personal sentiments, I awarded this precise Stokkebye entry with 2.7 Pipes. But as always, light the fire yourself to determine if this Norwegian wood does grant you the warmth of smoking pleasure.