Iwan Ries Three Star Royale

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.

Three Star Royale is another Iwan Ries offering. I tried TSR and Three Star Green after receiving them in a sample pack in the mail. TSR is definitely going to be added to my rotation. Some other reviewers have said that this is a mild English blend, and I agree. It was very moist in the pouch, but some drying time helped it. TSR packed and burned well. I tasted maybe a light licorice flavor, but nothing overpowering. Being a 1Q smoker, I expected some moisture to remain in the bowl after finishing, but was pleasantly surprised to find no goopiness, just smooth taste, and a dry bowl. A very nice non- aromatic, and could very well influence me to become a non- aromatic tobacco lover.

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06122006 This blend is still in my rotation. I no longer smoke 1Q because it is very boring. TSR and 3 Peterson blends are what I like the most. Thanks, Iwan Ries, for saving me from the world of sweet smelling, sickish tasting aromatic tobaccos.

After having tried a few of the aromatics from Iwan Ries...such as 3-Star Blue, I decided to give this non-aromatic a try. I purchased 2 of their 11 ounce bags of this and aged one of them for a year. I found this blend to be quite pleasant, easy on the tongue, and if the wife likes the room note...that is fine with me! Just a little sweetness, smoked cool and dry to the bottom of my churchwardens and my meerschaums. The aged bag..which I opened about a month ago, was just as fresh, due to the very good quality air seal used on these blends. I don't think I will try any other of the aromatics again, as Royal is pretty much all I would ever need for flavor. I do like IRC tobaccos in general and their Balkan Supreme is one of my favorites. Royal is a very decent blend for an "all day" and I recommend it.

An old Iwan Ries catalog, circa early 1970's, described Three Star Royal as containing a very small amount of aromatic ingredient, just enough to screen any "heavy" tobacco scent. Although labeled as "extra rich, non-aromatic" it actually is neither. By today's standards, I would place Royal solidly in the medium taste category. A touch of oriental and a whiff of latakia give it a more complex and slightly heartier flavor than the other Three Star blends, with a rather nice room note as well. I've had favorable compliments on the aroma. Although personally I've never found bite to be much of a problem in any of the Three Stars, Royal is probably one of the least bite prone of all of them, IMO. It lights up easily, burns cool, steady and fairly dry, and doesn't sour the bowl. I find it to be a thoroughly satisfying blend for everyday. A good choice for the aromatic smoker looking for a more "English" taste without sacrificing the smellumgood.

A really smooth english blend. I don't detect any topping or flavorings in this blend. What I do detect is orientals, the sweetness of virginia, some burley undertones and the presence of smokey latakia to round it out. It burns well and doesn't seem to want to bite if smoked properly. Very nice smoke.

A very good offering by Iwan Ries. Simply put-This is a licorice topped medium English blend.The real description should read -An American version of "And So To Bed". There-That says it all!