Iwan Ries Three Star Royale

Very mild American English, with a very slight sweet aroma, maybe anise. I would say by smell of the bag, there is some latakia in the mixture, but not much. Very little taste. Much milder than Middleton Walnut, which I would also characterize as a Mild American English. Description on bag that this is "rich in taste" is really off the mark. Not sure if there is any casing...Iwan Ries says that this is a non-aromatic. Non- aromatics generally indicate no casing is added. Non-aromatics still can produce a variety of room notes, however.

This is the mildest American-English I have smoked to date. The Latakia is barely noticeable in the pouch aroma, and it melds into the flavor of the smoke, becoming almost imperceptible. I agree the pouch description is misleading. This is not a rich full flavored blend. It is mild, delicate, with a pleasant anise/licorice top note. You do have to puff gently, or it will bite, and turn bitter. This might make a good morning smoke, or change of pace for the aromatic smoker,as long as you take it slow and easy.

What?s in a name???.and consistency? This blend is spelled as ?Royal? both here and at Ries? web site but on the pouch label and in the Ries? catalog it is spelled as ?Royale.? Regardless, this is an extremely well balanced, well-behaved blend that is sweet, pleasant and mild from the first match to the last puff with nary a hint of bite. It has a wonderful pouch aroma and a unique, sweet taste that I cannot compare to other blends I have smoked. The taste didn?t become tiresome but neither did it change much. Ries? lists Royale as a non-aromatic blend. I, however, would classify Royale as a light, sweeter than average, English aromatic. This is another fine offering in the Three Star Line. With the advent of the web and all of the other tobaccos that are now within a ?credit card?s reach,? many folks have lost sight of the Ries Three Star lineup of tobaccos. You owe it to yourself to try a couple of these Three Star blends.

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

I rate this tobacco 9.2 out of 10.

I first starting smoking this pouch several years ago. Enjoyed it but it got pushed to the back of the drawer. Now several years later I'm doing several bowls a week from the same pouch. It's actually pretty good and consistent over time.

I'll make it simple. At first light I get the mildly sweet black cav and a little top dressing: it's a bit marshmallowy. That top dressing compliments the burleys, VAs and other condiments that poke their head out from time to time. A cool, steady smoke with no bite. Not a contemplative smoke but really nice for sitting out in the garage with the dog and reading.

I couldn't taste much of anything except anise. I enjoy aromatics but I do want to be able to taste tobacco. Maybe I got a bad batch. Not recommended.

I have to admit to being a real fan of Iwan Ries tobaccos. Although online ordering is my usual form of purchase from them, I make it a point to visiting their shop in Chicago (185 miles from my home) at least once or twice a year. Three Star Royal is clearly the best blend in the Three Star lineup. Being largely an English/British blend type of smoker, I find it to be a bit of a pipe smokers comfort tobacco, if you will. Three Star Royal is labeled as a non-aromatic, but there is no doubt it is cased with something of a very subtle fruit type of aroma that I find pleasing in the pouch. It packs and lights easily and stays lit; always providing a real refreshing taste that continues into the bowl. The pouch aroma/casing translates to a "fresh" taste, not an aromatic taste, which makes this tobacco a bit of a minor marvel. The taste does pick up a richness down into the bowl that doesn't go over the top - always keeps it's strength in check which qualifies this tobacco as one you can light up more than once a day. Finally, my bottom line thought is this: here is a tobacco that English blend pipers can keep in their rotation as a refreshing smoke that others, in addition to the smoker, will most likely enjoy! Highly recommended!

In the world of mild tobaccos there are a lot that do it far worse, but there a some that do it a lot better. I do enjoy this blend but I never look forward to smoking it like I do others, it is just kind of average. The strange thing about it is that I think of it as more of a burly based aromatic that an English tobacco. If there is any latakia in this mixture they must have forgotten to put it in my pouch.

Best all around, all day pipe tobacco I've tasted to date...even the wife doesn't mind it.

Charatan tall billiard

Having recently re-acquired the taste for the pipe after a 30 year respite, I immediately turned to my once favorite tobacco- IRC Royal. I recall back then in my youthfullness that the packaging stated Royal was was "full bodied, with the taste reved up till' it purrs"- or something along that line. Well, I still like it a lot, but it ain't purrin' as I remember it. It doesn't seem as as strong, or as flavorful as I remember it being from the IRC of old. Room note I think is plesant, and the taste is still very good IMO. I like it, but it was much better.

I still give it... 3 Star's.