Iwan Ries Three Star Gray

The toasty, nutty, earthy, woody, dry burley is the lead component. The grassy, citrusy, lightly floral bright Virginia also sports a slight honey note as a supporting player. The spicy, raisiny, plumy perique is almost a secondary star. The smoky, woody, earthy, incense-like Cyprian Latakia is virtually equal to the perique in terms of effect, though it occasionally recedes a hair below the perique. The mildly sugary, toasty black cavendish is a step above being a condiment. The very light topping appears to be anise and (mostly) vanilla, and mildly sublimates the tobaccos. The strength is a couple of rungs past the mild mark, while the taste is a slot past that, falling short of the center of mild to medium. Presents no harshness to the smoker, but it may tingle the tongue if not puffed slowly. Burns warm and clean at a slightly fast pace with a fairly consistent sweet and spicy, slightly savory flavor that translates to the short lived, pleasant after taste and room note. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and doesn’t require many relights. This is an all day mildly aromatic English blend. Three stars for the flavor, two for the bite potential. Two and a half stars rounded down to two, though we were allowed five stars, I would give this a three.

I prefer the Blue and the Gold, as they have a bit more taste, but Gray is good. All are light, blue the fullest to me.

Slow down, puff slowly and gently, and you may enjoy this.

The description notes, "Balanced tasted on the subdued side with just a hint of aromatic." I found it most subdued. The minimal taste and flavor was apparent at first light and for a short way down the bowl. After that, the taste disappeared, i.e., became bland, and ?the nip? creeped in. I really can?t find anything positive to say about what I will call 'Two Star Gray' and that may be a bit generous.

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this tobacco 5.5 out of 10.

I prefer this to Blue because it doesn't have the bite that Blue has. It is softer on the palate too, and can be enjoyed several times a day.

Like most of the other 3-Star series, it does not contain latakia or heavy orientals, and burns down the bowl cleanly. If you want a different sort of flavor without being overwhelmed or bitten, this might just be what you're looking for.

I tried all the three star blends about 35 years ago when I was eager to try every blend available in search of the perfect 'baccy. All of the 3 star blends tasted like mixture #79 in varying degrees. They smelled like licorice in the pouch and left a soapy taste on the palate after smoking. Not recommended unless you would like to regress to being a 4 year old with a bubble pipe. (Remember the toy bubble pipe of the late 1950's? YOu would fill them with liquid soap and blow bubbles with them but you would forget to keep the pipe tilted down and some of the soap would run into your mouth. Yeeeetch!)

This is a light aromatic that I find myself smoking regularly. It has a unique taste and aroma. It's kind of subtle, but not a boring smoke.

Burns clean and is relatively easy on the tongue. Not goopy at all; sort of a refreshing smoke that I light up when I'm not quite sure what I want to smoke.

Govern Yourself Accordingly!

SmokeKing David

When I'm in the mood for an aromatic, Three Star Gray is usually my first choice. Like many of you, my wife isn't a fan of cigars and pipe tobaccos with a strong room note to be smoked in the house (I do anyway, though!) so, there became a "need" to try and find an aromatic that my straight tobacco taste preference can somehow be satisfied and gets a thumbs up from others in our home. Three Star Gray is a perfect choice - I think it's certainly one of the best aromatics from Iwan Ries Co. From a pipe smoker's point of view, it smells GREAT in the pouch, packs and lights easily, stays lit, has an altogether refreshing taste. Best of all, I have received many compliments from others commenting on how nice this tobacco smells. This is the brand I would take with me in a social gathering. I've heard from others (my dad included) that women love Three Star Blue. I tested it against Three Star Gray - and my unscientific survey cleary favors the Gray. If you're looking for an aromatic with a fresh taste, easy dry burn and compliments from those around you, Three Star Gray is one to try.

I've been told this blend was primarily Burleys with a slight topping. That it probably is (mixed with some Virginias and whatever else) but it also bites up a storm. Like pipestud, I prefer this to Blue (due to biting LESS than Blue which blew my mind that something could actually bite more than this stuff) but I really didn't like a whole lot about it either. I know a bunch of people who smoke up these old Iwan Ries blends all day long but they don't do much for me. I think 3 star Red was my favorite of the bunch.