Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation 1897

I found this tobacco intriguing!

First off, it comes in a 1.4oz circular tin, which is fairly rare. The packaging was dated and suggested the tin was around 6 months old and on opening, was reasonably moist - but the paper packaging exhibited dried "wet tobacco" stains and so it must have been a lot more moist at some point.

The smell of the tobacco is not really typical of vanilla aromatics. To my nose, this had the smell of something unique, but more at the pungent end of the virginia spectrum rather than the mild end of the aromatic spectrum.

It is a nice tobacco to handle, is not greasy and does not leave any residue on your hands and packs well. On first lighting, the taste and smell is really absent and it takes quiet a few draws before any type of character becomes apparent, but what emerges is a very agreeable mild, bite free experience that is much closer, at least in my mind, to dark virginia blends, than the sort of cavendish vanilla bomb that I had expected from a very cursory check on the composition of the blend pre- purchase. So the smoking experience matches the unlit aroma perfectly, but is perhaps not as strong as the aroma is pungent.

This is one to savour - the character develops and improves dramatically from the first couple of draws which are a non-experience to the the bottom of the bowl, by which time, it is "really smokin'" as they say!!!

The downside is the $26+tax purchase price here in Ontario for such a small ammount of Tobacco but it is much cheaper to mail order in from south of the border.

google you tube "cigars international 1897" for an interview with Peter Stokkebye talking a bit more about the inspiration for this tobacco (peters grandfather, born in 1897, a cigar smoker who liked the ocassional aromatic pipe). I think Peters' grandfather would have been very happy with this in his pipe, as am I!!

Read the reviews and the local gas station had it for sale right next to the cheap cigars. So I bought the tin popped it open and the aroma was sweetest thing I've smelled honeys vanilla floral sents. I went to put it in my pipe and it was goopy sticky. Thinking this was a waste of money. Loaded my pipe. Then to my amazement it tasted great I could taste the vanilla and a huge hint of honey and nutty taste. This was like smoking desert. And the dottle was not goopy it stayed lit with zero bite. Very pleased with this.

The tin note reminds me of very buttery Danish cookies with an added floral touch from the vanilla. The black Cavendish, Burleys and Virginias are all there. They ribbons feel a tad on the humid end but that's readily fixed with a few minutes of open air. The bits are pliable and the cuts consistent in size, all making it easy to sort and pack.

The pre-draw mirrors the tin note. The initial char may challenge you by requiring a few attempts but the bowl will burn nicely thru with proper attention. There's a touch of spiciness from the Burleys over the roof the mouth and upon retrohale. The black cavendish ensures a gratifying weight on the palate. The honey is there as you stoke it but, surprisingly, rather understated. The room note mixes the Burleys and vanilla with a hint of honey, giving of a muffin-like aroma. The overall mouth taste remains slightly sweet with the burleys' oakiness mixing in with the buttery and even fruity flavors. The bouquet from the tin note mixes nicely over the tongue. It's balanced in its flavors, remaining dense in umami through the bowl.

I really enjoy this blend. It gets better the slower you pace yourself. It's an aromatic that I could smoke all day: pleasing, rich and uncomplicated.

Of the aromatics I have had, which honestly is a quite extensive list of varying price ranges, this is by far the best. Tin note rivals W.O. Larsen, which always have heavenly notes out of the tin. It is very moist, and I thought about drying it, but I am glad I did not. It still lit and smoked well, and the flavor was wonderful. Heavy vanilla, slight honey at first, but lost the honey the deeper I got into the bowl. Overall wonderful smoke.

This is my kind of aromatic. it burns very well after drying for 1.5-2 hours and actually tastes-and doesnt just smell-like vanilla. has a nic-kick that other aros ive tried completely lacked. Tin note smells strongly of vanilla and a bit of honey. can burn hot, so take your time.

This is by far my favorite aromatic tobacco. All of the components are top quality, and are perfectly complimented by the sweet vanilla flavor. It burns without a problem, and the room note is sure to please even the most discriminating noses. No bite, no burn, just a great relaxing smoke. It is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for and it is well worth it.