Iwan Ries Three Star Royale
(2.79)
Rich, full flavored tasted with a pleasant aroma. Extremely satisfying, and most smooth and gentle to the tongue.
Details
| Brand | Iwan Ries |
| Blended By | Sutliff Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | Sutliff Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | American |
| Contents | Burley, Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Other / Misc |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 1.5 ounce pouch |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Extremely Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.79 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2017 | Mild | Medium | Mild | Pleasant |
Three Star Royale is the most "English" of the Three Star lineup, but it still is more properly an "American-English" verging on "aromatic." Royale arrives fairly moist in the "Perma Seal" pouch, and seems to have been treated to a healthy dose of propylene glycol because it never dries out. Lighting is also a bit of a chore. The burley forms the base of the blend, and while the other component tobaccos are occasionally detectable, the added licorice (and some other stuff I can't place) top-note really dominates the flavor. It is ever-present form top to bottom. If you like the addition, then you'll like the tobacco. If not, forget it. I kind of liked it. To me, the aroma has a nice "old-timey" quality that is appealing. Royale definitely smells like pipe tobacco is commonly supposed to smell. Two-and-a-half stars out of four.
WARNING: Nine months after I ordered this tobacco, my home state sent me a notification of taxes due--plus a penalty. The taxes ended up costing about the same as the tobacco itself, and the penalty put it over the top. BUYER BEWARE!
WARNING: Nine months after I ordered this tobacco, my home state sent me a notification of taxes due--plus a penalty. The taxes ended up costing about the same as the tobacco itself, and the penalty put it over the top. BUYER BEWARE!
PurchasedFrom:
Iwan Ries
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 04, 2016 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium | Tolerable |
As a thank you gift while buying a pipe, the good people at Iwan Ries added this one to my bag as a thank you gift.
The initial whif from the pouch reminded me of Half & Half, it had that similar sour note to it. Kind of a medicine-like aroma. When I found out it was made by Sutliff, I got really scared, since their Private Stock April Dawn was one of the worst things I ever had the displeasure to inhale.
Upon smoking it, I could see why they gave it out as a trial tobacco. It was hard to place a flavor and people might enjoy this aura of mystery. There are some spices at work here (think Christmas clover and not the hot kind), similar to their King's Oriental, but with more tang and not quite as fascinating. Nothing really developed by the end of the bowl, and I was quickly bored.
Overall it was OK, but nothing I would want in my aromatic collection.
The initial whif from the pouch reminded me of Half & Half, it had that similar sour note to it. Kind of a medicine-like aroma. When I found out it was made by Sutliff, I got really scared, since their Private Stock April Dawn was one of the worst things I ever had the displeasure to inhale.
Upon smoking it, I could see why they gave it out as a trial tobacco. It was hard to place a flavor and people might enjoy this aura of mystery. There are some spices at work here (think Christmas clover and not the hot kind), similar to their King's Oriental, but with more tang and not quite as fascinating. Nothing really developed by the end of the bowl, and I was quickly bored.
Overall it was OK, but nothing I would want in my aromatic collection.
Pipe Used:
Tilshead Tankard
PurchasedFrom:
Iwan Ries (free gift)
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 28, 2007 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 15, 2006 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Light americanized english blend made from decent but unremarkable components. A very thin casing applied with a conservative hand keeps this from becoming overtly sweet while likely helping mask some leaf quality issues.
Unlike others, I found that it can and will bite if smoked at the rate just beyond that required to keep the stuff from going out. Nice soft variations of toasted oat scents in the bag and after lighting.
Unlike others, I found that it can and will bite if smoked at the rate just beyond that required to keep the stuff from going out. Nice soft variations of toasted oat scents in the bag and after lighting.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 02, 2006 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
If I were to rate this relative to the pouch description, it would only get a "not recommended" rating. It isn't full flavored by any stretch of the imagination.
It would seem that this blend has undergone some drastic changes since Pipestud reviewed it, as pointed out by emmbee.
Burley seems to dominate, with some unflavored cavendish along for the ride. The taste isn't offensive, in fact, it isn't bad. It might make a decent summertime working in the yard blend.
The flavor picked up a bit toward the end of the bowl, which is good, it had a very weak start. No problem with bit, no harshness. It definitely lacked the sweetness I had expected.
If you like the unflavored Burley & Black from Walgreen's, you will probably like this.
It would seem that this blend has undergone some drastic changes since Pipestud reviewed it, as pointed out by emmbee.
Burley seems to dominate, with some unflavored cavendish along for the ride. The taste isn't offensive, in fact, it isn't bad. It might make a decent summertime working in the yard blend.
The flavor picked up a bit toward the end of the bowl, which is good, it had a very weak start. No problem with bit, no harshness. It definitely lacked the sweetness I had expected.
If you like the unflavored Burley & Black from Walgreen's, you will probably like this.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 21, 2005 | Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
This morning I hankered for something different. I always have about 2-3 tins open at any time, though I wasn't in the mood for anything I had opened. I reached into my liquor/tobacco cabinet and pulled out my odds and ends bag. In it I found a little IRC Three Star Royal given to me by a friend some time ago. I fired some up. I forgot how excellent this blend really is. It's probably IRC's finest of the Three Star line, and my favorite after the esteemed King's Oriental. Yes, there is that characteristically famous IRC licorice topping that tends to coat the tongue, but it is balanced by a fine backbone of premium latakia, black cavendish for coolness and probably some Oriental thrown in for interest and refinement. Pouch and room note are wonderful. One or two lights takes you all the way down a well-behaved bowl for a cornucopia of delightful flavors. As you proceed down, the tastes/aromas are tangy, spicy and even a little woodsy, as if there were some matured Virginia flake pressed deep inside. I will be getting a pouch of this next time I'm downtown at IRC. I've neglected this fine blend after getting involved with so many other great mixtures I've had the opportunity to try. Nevertheless, I'm glad Royal and I have been reintroduced! And, for Pipestud to really like this, well, that's no small thing.
Four of five stars
update november 2005
something has happened here. like a good woman turned bad, like a good job & a good employer now outsourced to china, like ketchup on a chicago style hotdog or mayonnaise on pastrami, iwan ries did something with this blend. it's definitely stokkebyed because it stings. gone is the bewitching aroma. missing is the soft, fruity subtleness. here is burning & pinching of tongue & roof of mouth. here is wailing & gnashing of teeth. i'll sample this one before purchasing it again. why, oh why does everything have to change?!?
downgrade to two of five stars
Four of five stars
update november 2005
something has happened here. like a good woman turned bad, like a good job & a good employer now outsourced to china, like ketchup on a chicago style hotdog or mayonnaise on pastrami, iwan ries did something with this blend. it's definitely stokkebyed because it stings. gone is the bewitching aroma. missing is the soft, fruity subtleness. here is burning & pinching of tongue & roof of mouth. here is wailing & gnashing of teeth. i'll sample this one before purchasing it again. why, oh why does everything have to change?!?
downgrade to two of five stars
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