Iwan Ries Three Star Green

I’m new to smoking pipes, and like many, it was the aromatics that lured me in with the amazing smells of those open tins. I was so disappointed to discover that the process of smoking them, though, is not the way to start. They burn hot for so many, sugary, wet reasons. But when smoked right… they are wonderful.

I was given a free sample of Three Star Green by the gentlemen at IRC after explaining my issues with tongue bite and aromatics. They offered this tobacco not as something better, but as a great place for a new smoker to begin with a simple, mild tobacco.

I had all but forgotten that little pouch for a month before trying it. By drying it for 10 minutes in open air, and then slowly and gently sipping it, the Three Star really showed its stuff!

While it didn’t offer a heavy dose of flavor, by the time I was half way through the pipe, every sip had my tongue feeling like it had been coated in sweet, simple sugar. I never had to relight once, and was thoroughly sad when the bowl was empty.

I understand that - to an experienced piper - this blend may not offer the complexity of more exotic tobaccos, but the Three Star Green has a great, creamy smoke, a sweet taste through the last half of the bowl and it was a very pleasant way to truly get into pipe smoking. Hats off to the staff at Iwan Ries & Co for helping me remain a pipe smoker with this ultra mild blend in lieu of giving up the pass time.

My only complaint is that, despite the sweetness, the room note is a bit thick and almost clingy at times. It lingers longer than I prefer and isn’t the most pleasant of tobaccos where this is concerned. So, while my tongue was finally delighted, my clothes most certainly weren’t.

i'm new to non-aromatics so to start out i'd have to say,so far i like them.i thought this blend was suppose to contain latakia,like i said i'm not familar with the taste of latakia or perique for that matter so for now all i have to say is i like this blend.

Another old fahioned non-aromatic from this venerable tobacconist. Green is a Burley/Virginia, fortified with some black Cavendish. This is lightly cased with simple syrup, licorice, and I suspect, a hint of cocoa. Puffed slowly, I managed to avoid any tongue bite, but the threat is certainly there. For this reason, I would steer a beginner toward something else. The melange produces a pleasant mild toasty sweetness, with licorice. The cocoa flavor builds up slowly, and it is noticeable by mid bowl. This has a nice finish, and doesn't leave my mouth tasting like an ashtray. As mentioned the packaging is very nice. I would hope that with a nice airtight pouch, Altadis would forego having to add too much propylene glycol as a preservative. Although not exciting, this is a very pleasant and companionable blend, well suited to a cup of coffee and a newspaper, or chatting with an old friend. It is inexpensive as well. This is a welcome refuge from the Captain Black, Borkum Riff style blends commonly available, and certainly worth a try.