Drew Estate 7th Avenue Blonde

I'm a lover of natural tobaccos and my favorites are aged Virginias and VaPers. I thought I'd mix it up and add a little perfumed bacca to my smoke arsenal. The only aromatic I own just so happens to be another Drew Estate (Central Park Stroll) and I've learned to really appreciate the blend so I thought I'd give ol' Blondie here a stroll around the block.

I'm pleasantly surprised. Upon opening the tin I found a blend that resembled an English style mix like Squadren Leader. Several colors of brown to Dark Cavendish are mixed in with bright Va. If you couldn't smell a thing you would think you were about to smoke Hearth and Home Black House or Squadren Leader. Purchasing this tin I had a least 3 assumptions that proved to be not true at all.

1. I expected a tin full of straight black cavendish coated in Vanilla flavoring. Not so. There is a nice variety of leaf and colors represented here.

2. I expected to be bombarded with a strong over the top Vanilla smell. Not true. When I cracked the tin the fragrance was decent but not over the top or overpowering.

3. I expected Vanilla, Vanilla, Vanilla. Not true... Actually, "Caramel" dominates first then Vanilla and maybe a hint of something like pineapple. When I asked several people what they smelled, they said Caramel not Vanilla. When I said, "It's a Vanilla blend" they thought and then remarked, "Yeah, I can see that."

The loose cut packs great. The tobacco lights super fast and easy without a lot of pre-lights. The fragrance is great for me and everyone around me. Though this is an aromatic I do get my fix of natural tobacco here and there, as they do sometimes shine through. I'm impressed. I'm glad I purchased this tin. Blondie is coming home with me.

Almost didnt get this blend from tin to pipe based off tin note alone-it is by far the most OBnoxious over-the-top note ever! How bad was it you ask?

Within 30 minutes of opening the tin in our great room, the better 1/2 ordered it sequestered. [Thats a first btw. The fact that I wholeheartedly agreed was also a first]. I ended up placing 3/4 in a sealed pint jar, and aired the remainder outdoors for 6-8 hours fluffed up in the open tin....this did the trick, although the porch note effused cheap inscence.

The now toned-down scent was one of vanilla-caramel, possibly maply/rum like, but not medicinally like before. Initially it was Glade Plug In unbearable.

Its a motley crew of leaf this stuff, very light blondes to black cav and many hues in between. I cant easily define the cut-hence the "motley". The blonds are actual flat leaf, rather large chunks. There is shag cav, but there is broken flake i think as well.

Following sequestration,.the bowls pack well, not too tightly due to the blending, at most a mid sized Meer only required 3 lights to blackened ash, a MizzMeer only one from char to finish.

Their is vanilla in 7th Ave., but fine tobacco flavor too. Virginias and Orientals? come and go throughout, but always present is smooth french vanillas. Smooth, copious amount of creamy smoke with sipping -the only way to respect aromatics is to sip. Very good mouth feel and taste.

Its my first vanilla aro, but like G&H Top Black Cherry, it'll likely be my only one :). Only reason I dont give it 4 of 4 is that the wife hates it, even the toned-down porch note is offensive to her. That and the obnoxious initial odor. I will order more. Current Rotation- Solani 633, Dunhill Nightcap, Davidkff Scottish Mkxture, and now this 🙂

Purchased two tins today for 7.49 with an additional 10 percent off from JR's. Opened one up right in the lounge. Smelled of very light tobacco. Light french bean flavor come out of the tobacco. Is dry and easy to load in my pipe. Strike a match and the tobacco races to the match. The French bean is stronger almost like a Starbucks coffee. Tamp it down and it stays lit. No relight is needed. Grab my coffee smoke, drink and b's for over an hour. Has little room note. Light smoke almost like a fog or mist. Taste changes about half way down. Becomes more mellow and drawn down. By the end it is bland and in need of a pick up.

After having one of Drew Estate's pipe blends already, Central Park Stroll, I decided to give another one a go. Ordered this one from smokingpipes.com along with a number of other blends.

It's actually on the drier side when you crack the tin open. There's absolutely no need for drying time at all with this blend.

The tin aroma is that of vanilla, much like Mac Baren's Vanilla Cream. There's also a sort of fruity hint to it.

It packed very well and took a light nicely. The burn was even and to a nice white ash. Clearly a quality leaf.

As far as flavor goes it's mostly the vanilla casing and some sweet Virginia. I didn't notice the Oriental at all. There is a bit of a fruity undertone to it at times.

It didn't bite me at all.

The room note was pleasant. I was complimented on it by those I enjoyed a bowl around.

Overall it's a good blend. If you're an aromatic fan it's worth giving a tin a try.

I was sent several samples of Drew Estates Aromatics and was pretty impressed overall with all of them and this one was no exception. A great tasting aro against a solid tobacco. The topping and the tobacco work together to offer a very pleasant smoking experience to the aromatic smoker and maybe a nice change of pace for the non aromatic smoker.

I really couldn't pick a particular flavor that screamed out to me as to what sweetness I was tasting. All I can say if you enjoy high quality aromatics like Peterson, Solani or Larsen, you should like this tobacco. In personal preference of the DE lineup I would put Meat Candy and Grand Central above this, but the differences are minor and I am sure that every person would line up these blends differently per their own palatial differences.

Tin note of vanilla, spices and sugar. Tobacco is a Ribbon cut of tan, dark brown, black and dark brown. Moisture content is great. Burns moderately with few relights. The strength is mild and nic is mild. Flavoring is mild to medium, with notes of Vanilla. Vanilla flavoring flares up in the initial light, then moves to the background where it remains. Taste is mild to medium and mostly consistent, with notes of vanilla, sugar, fermented sour, savory, marshmallow, dark tangy fruit, peaty vegetation, spices, herbal floral, tart citrus, bitter, acidic, a sweet woody background note, and a peppery retro. Cavendish is leading with Burley, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia and Flavoring supporting. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste is good.

7th ave is a perfectly good aromatic tobacco. While the flavoring is a bit strong, but it works with, and doesn't mask the tobaccos used in this blend. The more I smoke, I find a mildly sweetened black coffee/tea flavor overtakes my palate. I've decided to smoke much of this blended with PA. I'm no master blender, so feel free to disregard this idea as heresy, but this really has worked for me. As I allow 7th ave to dry a bit and mellow with the burley in PA, I enjoy each smoke more and more. A fine tobacco, but likely not the best 🙂 Too flavored for me, but pleasant all the same.

I like a milder vanilla aromatic at times, and this one does not overpower you with the topping. Burns well, smokes light and is very pleasing as an all day blend. Not my favorite of the Drew Estate line, but one that I would recommend you try.

This is a Vanilla based blend that seems to improve as the tobacco dries out. I think the proper approach to this tobacco is to open the tin and leave the cover off for at least 30 minutes the first time it is smoked. It has a lot of flavor, but the added flavorings can seem strong initially.