D & R Tobacco Rimboché A.P.

I like Rimboché S.J. I have smoked quite a bit of it over the years. On one order for Rimboché S.J., I mistakenly clicked the button for Rimboché A.P. instead. It was a fortuitous mistake.

Rimboché A.P. has the same characteristics as Rimboché S.J.--the smoke is full, the mouth feel is pleasant, the nicotine level is adequate (in the upper reaches of mild to medium). Rimboché A.P. is a bit spicier, though, and I really enjoy that difference. I consider both to be excellent smokes and recommend them. Rimboché A.P. has become a daily and (almost) an all day smoke for me.

This one is tasty, but it does not last long enough. That could pretty much be my whole review. I really like the flavor I get from this. It is exactly the flavor you seek in a VaPer. Sweet and slightly peppery. To me, it really comes out after you smoke the first third and carries through to near the end. No problem there.

The problem is, depending on the pipe you choose, this may only last about five to ten minutes. The wise choice is to pack a very large bowl, but then the nicotine will work into you to much. (at least it did for me) I can't fault this too much as the tobacco is coming to you at the perfect moisture level and perhaps, I should just be packing it tighter, but I really don't like packing my bowls tight. This is probably the reason that all my favorite Vapers come in flake form. It slows the burn down and allows me more of that wonderful flavor for a longer amount of time.

But, make no mistake, this one is a winner.

D & R Tobacco - Rimboche A.P.

The blend has a coarse appearance, but includes a couple of twiggy bits. Sadly mine arrived crispy to the touch.

The Perique dominates the smoke. The Virginia only offers a speck of flavour, it's the tangy, fruity, Perique which is the most prominent taste. Because there's a large amount of Perique it requires a gentle technique to keep it in line; with too much force the smoke becomes vinegary, a tentative technique means the Perique doesn't 'run riot'. The burn from Rimboche is quite fast, but in all fairness the condition it arrived in can take responsibility for that. I get no added flavourings, it seems natural to the core.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: not the best!

Rimboche A.P.? I'll remove a point for the dryness, but the flavour's still worth a recommendation:

Three stars.

3rdguy

I really enjoyed this blend and just finished about 6 ounces of it. Comes dry so it is an easy smoke to just pack it tight and light her up. Enough to keep me interested with a peppery retrohale and a good solid Virginia base. On sale you can find this for $20 a pound which does not hurt it either. Burns to a clean white ash, no gurgle or relights.

I will not cellar it deeply but I will always keep some on hand. Highly recommended to at least try a tin.

The tin note is dark dried fruit, a bit of floral, and perhaps a hint of bbq. It’s very pleasant, especially after aging a bit. A bit dry perhaps, for some, but perfect for my tastes. Burns at a moderate pace, not too hot, few if any relights. Sports a harsh note here and there but nothing unpleasant. I taste the VAs up front as grassy with a touch of citrus. I can’t well distinguish the perique-processed dark fired from the hint of Latakia, but I taste some smoky bbq. There is a bit of nuance here that makes focusing on the flavors over the course of the bowl fun. I enjoy the aroma, some may not. The nic hit is mild to medium for me, may be stronger for some. 3 stars, but considering the affordability, maybe it deserves 4.

A quality blend, to be sure. However, the Acadian Perique is a bit spicier and "in your face", compared to Rimboche SP which is similar except using St. James Perique which is less spice and more figs and prunes which, to my palate, is preferred. VaPer lovers have a nice assortment of D&R offerings to experiment with. Give it a try!