Peter Stokkebye Amsterdam (No.83)

Light and airy smoke that reminds me or fresh mowed summer grass, sweet Lemmon rind, sweet straw, and a light peppery finish. The tobacco came fairly dry in bulk packaging, smoked quickly but focusing on slowly working through the bowl I did not experience any tongue bite.

I would not consider this blend having depth or complexity but for a predominantly Virgina blend I enjoyed several flavor notes playing off each other through the bowl.

Peter Stokkebye - Amsterdam.

Quite a 'to the point' smoke, with nothing pretentious about it. At the risk of sounding sexist, it conjures up the term Manly!

The only low thing about Amsterdam, from an objective point of view, is the cut; as it's fine and shag-like this can cause a rapid burn that's too hot. Take it easy with a bowl! The smoke has a higher proportion of fired Kentucky flavour compared to Virginia: smoky and nutty. To my taste the Kentucky takes on more nuts from its Burley roots as the bowl progresses, and the fired note abates. Subjectively speaking, it bites hard; this, obviously, I don't like!

I find the room-note a little unfriendly, and the nicotine strong.

Not my cup of tea, so two stars it its result!

Somewhat recommended.

I love these ribbon cuts. Loading is a cinch, although it is possible to overpack this stuff, and that, as we shall see, may have consequences.

Lights as quickly and easily as expected, though the crown was quite unruly and wanted a good firm tamp to settle it back down. Didn't really need a true light; this stuff burns quite readily, though not, surprisingly, all that quickly.

The taste off the first light is cinnamon and wood smoke, and that's what you get for the remainder of the bowl. The cinnamon is the only flavor on the retrohale. Spicy and simple, simply spicy, in a way that feels like perique but doesn't taste like perique. That's the Kentucky, I suppose, and though I'm not a fan of perique, I like this even less. Less character. Sipping gives you wood smoke, tugging gives you cinnamon.

And then, yes, there it is... ladies and gentlemen, Nathan has been bitten for the first time in his short but enthusiastic pipe-smoking career. Unpleasant. I had to "reset the pack" with the poker on the Czech tool and slow way the flip down.

Back to the dominant flavors of wood and spice. Because I smoked too hard to begin with, I got a little bitterness, but that fixed itself as I corrected my cadence.

Good nicotine level, though my rating on this particular smoke is probably skewed by an empty stomach. This is an uncomplicated, quality blend that doesn't ask much, except for a light pack and an open-drawed pipe. It's an oatmeal sort of pipe tobacco. Nobody loses sleep waiting for a breakfast of oatmeal, but when you haven't the time to fuss about with complicated preparations or the inclination to sit and ponder nuances of flavor, a bowl of this honest, uncomplicated leaf will suit quite nicely.

This essentially Bali Shag the RYO tobacco only in pipe tobacco form. It's good if you're a fan of Bali Shag! Very nutty and spicy!

This is a good tobacco, good flavor. That being said, its a little to zesty for me. After being cut with some milder blends, it's real tasty

I admit I am not an expert pipe-smoker. Rather the opposite. I tried this Virginia based tobacco as it brings me back to my earliest smoking attempts (full of mistakes) in my twenties. Overall it is not an easy smoke (it burns quick and the risk of tongue bite is high for a newbie like me). The taste is mild, liquorice notes are clearly present. It needs to be smoked very slowly. Overall not exactly my favorite, but in any case the Amsterdamer is a classic to try once in a while. Could be interesting with a pinch of added Burley (in fact I think there is a variety ike that available).