Fribourg & Treyer Blackjack

Fribourg & Treyer's Blackjack is a good Virginia tobacco and it definitely improves with age. I'm currently about three fourths through a two ounce tin that had at least four years' age on it before I broke the seal on it. The first time I tried this tobacco was several years ago and it was a fairly new tin; on that occasion I did not find it to be a real memorable smoke. Aging this makes a substantial difference and while I still would not consider it to be a "desert island" tobacco, it certainly has turned into a very enjoyable full-flavored, well-behaved Virginia. At first light, the flavor is a bit sweet and grassy; I generally rub the already "ready-rubbed" out even more so that I can more easily fill my pipe. It lights well and burns readily; once I've gotten past the first light and have relit, the flavor becomes a bit sweeter and richer, with occasional bursts of spice and faint hints of lemon. As I get deeper into the bowl, typically into the bottom half, the flavor looses the spice and lemon and becomes sweeter. I particularly enjoy smoking about a third of a bowl in the evening and then finish the remaining two thirds the next morning with a cup of Earl Gray tea; I also very much enjoy the sweet Virginia aftertaste left on my palate once I've finished the bowl. Typically I am able to smoke this down to nothing but dry white ash however I've learned that in a dublin type pipe bowl I'll sometimes end up with a wet dottle. I believe that if one were to age this in a sealed tin for about eight to ten a superlative smoke would be the result.

My Ebay-won tin had the old name on it, and makes a curious addition to the tin collection in my garage, though I will most certainly hide it if I ever show my collection to any African-American friends! The new name isn't quite right either, since there is nothing black about this blend-it's a tasty, mild red Virginia. I got no bite from it, even though it was one of those Virginias that make me want to puff like an overheated furnace. The tin aroma is one of those sweet yet natural scents one likes to experience in a mild Virginia, and this carries over to the smoke.

FRIBOURG & TREYER has turned me into a demanding smoker.

BLACK JACK has not fulfilled my requirements and of course it does not compare to VANNERS MIXTURE which is incredible.

In Europe it can be found as Negrohead, a name not accepted in America, so it appears with the name BLACK JACK. Orange and red flakes of medium thickness that can fill any bowl (big or small) easily. Sweet VIRGINIA and aroma of citron. It can be smoked dry until the end and it generally shows that it is a good and honest tobacco, like all FRIBOURG & TREYER.

I opened a tin after almost three years of aging. This Virginia tobacco had a good tin smell and a good flavor when smoked. I thought I was really going to like this tobacco, then the tongue bite began. I smoke enough Virginia tobaccos to know about their propensity to bite if smoked too fast or puffed too hard, but no matter what I tried to reduce the bite it was still there. It may be my body chemistry just doesn't work with this particular tobacco. If I could stop the bite, I would rate this blend as four stars, but because of the bite and seemingly hot smoke I have to give Blackjack only two stars.

This is my third blend from Fribourg & Treyer. I beleve they can't make a bad blend. Appearence..Not BLACK... red, and blonde Va...pure, and simple. Aroma....natually sweet, grassy, pure Virginia leaf. Pack, light,and burn could not be any easier. Light, fragrant smoke abounds. Fribourg & Treyer is one of, if not the best at Viginia blends. If Va. is what you like you can't go wrong with any of thier blends. Rate * * * *

My experience with this fine tobac reflects exactly that of Colonel Panic.

Those who enjoy Hamborger Veemaster will feel right at home here.

I purchased a tin of this kind of on a whim - actually because of the name. I love dark VA and with a name like Blackjack I figured that this had to be good. Having never smoked any F & T before I was not sure what to expect. After a half dozen bowls of this I am excited to se what F & T's other offerings are like.

Blackjack has a grassy tin aroma and a fairly bright appearance. I expected a stoved VA but this is not what I would consider a black VA at all. Perhaps other tins (that I will certainly be securing for the old tobacco cellar) will appear differently. At any rate, this smokes lightly sweet and dry all the way down the bowl -start to finish. I really like this stuff. It has the spicy and sweet aroma you often find in VA types. I like to smoke this in the car while commuting since I seem to get some good side-stream smoke that way.

Highly recommended. I'll give this about 4.5 out of 5.

The blend formerly known as "Negrohead" (and still called that, if you care to peel the "Blackjack" sticker off the tin) strikes me as a somewhat gutsier version of F&T's Golden Mixture.

Not dark in any way but flavor, it's a red and golden hued rubbed-out flake that packs and burns easily with minimal tongue-bite. It also burns somewhat rapidly, but not as fast as Golden Mixture. It's sweet, but not as sweet as GM. It strikes deeper notes than GM, but I'd still classify it as a light Virginia overall. A pleasant, refreshing smoke. If it didn't burn so durned fast I'd call it an all-dayer.

This tobacco is mostly uneventful for me . A more experienced VA smoker might find it more entertaining . It's good , I like it , but it doesn't satisfy any of my major smoking urges . I may have to revisit this review later though , as I will smoke it more in the future .