Hearth & Home Freight Train

The burley is very earthy, nutty and kind of smooth, and dominates the other ingredients without being harsh or ashy or relegating them far in the background. It does offer a mild rough, sour edge that doesn't distract or turn bitter. The lightly tangy dark fruit sweet red Virginia underscores the flavor without rising to compete with the burley, as this blend isn't very sweet. The woody, spicy dark fired Kentucky is less obvious, but adds a base note of strength. I can taste just a bare essence of the black cavendish if at all, because I think the sweetness mainly comes from the red Virginia, and perhaps a very mild topping. The perique is plum and raisins, and adds a nice spice taste to perk it up. It's savored best in a pipe with a big bowl to experience the various flavor components. They say this is a very strong tobacco, but I find it medium strong with a deep, full flavor. It burns at a reasonable pace, evenly, cool, clean and dry, leaving little moisture in the bowl. Requires few relights. Has a medium level nic-hit. No chance of bite, though there is a rough edge or two. Has a strong, lingering after taste and room note. Not an all day smoke, but it is a filling one.

-JimInks

Blind test blend #4 and deemed by myself as the best of the test. Gnarly looking ribbon with some choppy chunks and a bag aroma of mostly nothing but with an underlying spicy scent. Almost mildly cinnamon-y, but not exactly. I noticed some black in there with the earth tones but couldn't smell any latakia.

Taste-wise, this also seemed like a C&D blend, but more to the Tarler side than Runowski (I never guessed this was an H&H blend). It was hugely spicy and nutty with a bare hint of sweetness that, as I puffed, I decided was a perfect amount. Any more and it may have ruined the blend. The flavor was stellar, with this almost juicy, stew-like quality where everything just meshes perfectly. I noted just a hint of a tongue sizzle, however. It wasn't enough to detract too much but it did force me to slow down, as I was puffing like a dehydrated person drinks water. The blend tasted that good. When I slowed down, it of course improved. I smoked all 5 bowls back to back and I need to put in an order for a few pounds. This one is strong but not obnoxious, not terribly complex but hugely flavorful and satisfying. If you like a ton of flavor with no harshness and you're not shy about nicotine, give this one a whirl. Rounder than a straight burley, spicier than most straight virginias and less rough than a predominantly Kentucky tobacco, this one just works on every level. A masterpiece!

Blender Russ Ouellette told me about Freight Train a few years ago at the Las Vegas Pipe Show. He knows of my love of strong tobacco with a lot of Burley and said he'd created a blend that I might like. Russ was right! Freight Train even has more than the typical Burley flavor and the Perique, thought far off in the background, was masterfully created to enhance the sledgehammer like effect one gets from smoking it. I took an opened tin to a recent pipe club meeting to let everyone sample. We started the meeting with 15 members and left with 3. I think all the others are still on the floor.

Summary: an American version of the English flake formula, this complements Virginia with Black Cavendish for an intense, lasting flavor.

The British formula is to mix Dark Fired Burley and Virginias in a plug. "Freight Train" compares very well: it moderates the Virginias with Black Cavendish, raises the intensity of the Kentucky with Burley, and spikes the result with Perique to create a sublime, powerful smoke. A gentle sweetness melts like summer fog and reveals the strong tryptych of Burley, Kentucky and Virginia creating a flavor like barbecue with rich dark bread, calling to mind the amazing Dark Fired Kentucky Burley that C&D uses sometimes. Perique bubbles up with a sweet and sour flavor that adds some spice but mostly depth. The flavor lingers, as does the high-intensity dose of Nicotine, making this a perfect smoke for adventures deep in the forest or mind.

Thanks to Death Metal Underground member "Paul Warkin" for this sample.

I've read several reviews on this blend stating that it was an ass kicker. Can not say that I had that type experience. In fact I find it rather mild and to be an all day smoke. It lights and stays lit. I like that! The aroma is wonderful.