Ferndown Red & Black

I recently meandered my way through the Ferndown tobacco lineup and actually, kind of liked this one. Good Virginia base and a subtle sweetness from both it and the Orientals kept me satisfied as a change of pace.

It struck a chord of comparison with McClelland's Black Shag, although the two could not be more dissimilar in the looks department. (Or, the cut, for that matter.)

A warning to Latakia lovers; you won't satisfy your cravings with this particular Ferndown leaf.

This is a very stringy ribbon cut blend of mostly Virginias and Orientals. There may be just the hint of Latakia, although, I don't notice it. The tin aroma has the sweetness of Virginia and the mustiness of the Orientals. They blend into a rich, mild, yet a smooth consistent and very mellow creamy flavor. The flavor remains consistent throughout the bowl. The fine cut can make this a fast burner, but the Orientals keep the Virginias from biting. It is light enough to be an all day smoke, but rich enough to remain tasty. This could be an excellent move up from cigarette smoking. It has a mild nicotine content. It can be inhaled without knocking one out, and it has a pleasant sensation when blown out the nose. It burns to a white gray ash. I find this to be a very satisfying blend that I can turn to at any time in any pipe. I plan on always having a tin of this around.