Fribourg & Treyer Golden Mixture

I am usually not a big fan of writing reviews about tobaccos I did not particularly enjoy. However, I will make an exception for F&T's Golden Mixture since it is generally held in high regard. Why? I really couldn't tell. True - with straight Virginias I favor flakes and "brown" VAs in general (for what the term is worth). But still - what I have just smoked (several times) I consider simply an insult to the tobacco world.

The first thing that gets me ranting is the tin note. Come on folks, I could accept a subtle topic but this one is reminiscent of my worst aro dreams. Trying to overcome my prejudices, I put the tobacco (which is quite nice to loot at to be honest) in my pipe and light up only to be disappointed once again. There is not much taste here and the little bit that is, is so much out of balance to me that there's hardly any enjoyment to be found. I am convinced that it must be me. I try different pipe shapes, different pipe materials, I smoke it in the morning, in the afternoons, with a cup of black tea with milk, with a cup of tea without milk, with a cup of coffee, it just won't work for me. So finally I give up and light a pipe of McClelland Matured Virginia #22 instead and recognize that all along I was not suffering from a bad cold that wouldn't let me enjoy the subtleties of a fine pipe tobacco but that F&T's Golden Mixture was to be blamed for the lack of enjoyment after all. The quintessence of the whole story: Well, first of all, if you like F&T Golden Mixture then you certainly have a very different palate than I do. You shouldn't be worried, though, but probably not follow any of my advice on which tobaccos you should try. And secondly, what a cleansing feeling it is to write a review and indulge in a good old rant every once in a while. It's second only to a great bowl of baccy I guess 🙂