Tobaccos Lane Limited - Captain Black Original (Regular)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-02-17		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Reading some of the other reviews of this well-known tobacco, I am reminded of the collegiate of up-nosed avant-gardes who populate the pipe-smoking community. It's no wonder that when many peope imagine a pipe-smoking chap they envision an snobbish demeanored 18th century English wasp textile-baron archetype.

"Lovey, I shall dine in three quarters of one hour, alert the staff!" "Yes, dear!" "Hmmmhmmm...yes, yes... and then after our dinner of baby seal snouts and braised elephant ivory I shall retire to a puff of smoke in the drawing room to plan the company budgets and sign yet another stack of dead-peasant filings... then perhaps murder an orphan child for sport."

Yes, Captain Black Regular or "White" IS an aromatic tobacco. Yes, it IS a "pharmacy-blend". It's also what half of our fathers, grandfathers, and uncles smoked. And for good reason. Captain Black Regular is smooth, mellow, and satisfying. This coming from someone who has tried many tobaccos, from your Prince Alberts and Carter Halls to your Reserve 1928s and your Revelations. The Captain packs quite nicely, lights without a fuss, and then ALWAYS burns down to the quick producing a fine white ash. It's also extremely easy to find, is faily priced, has absolutely NO tongue bite, and comes in a rather air-tight canister that makes for a consistent smoke.

The room-note is, in my humble opinion, unmatched in any tobacco out there. My significant other is quite fond of the smell as well. Trust me, it's hauntingly good. It's the kind of smell that, when smelled, reminds you of things past. Personally, I think of puttering around the yard raking leaves, mowing the lawn, roofing the garage, and detailing the GTO.

As for the taste... heh. Well, it's all a matter of taste isn't it? To me, the taste is light and airy with some more brutal undertones at certain times throughout the bowl. It tastes of sweet vanilla with a nutty undercurrent at times (especially at first), and then evolves (or devolves if you wish) into more of a toasty marshmallowy taste. It is best sipped with something sweet to accent it (such as a diet mountain dew or sweet tea) and not such a "coffee-paired" tobacco like say... Hal'o the Wynd. Certainly an all-day tobacco though, never wearing on my taste and forming the backbone of my rotation of favorites.

One caution though... DO NOT BUY THE POUCHES. The tobacco inside is dry and flavorless. ONLY BUY THE CANISTERS. You probably won't regret it.

So, this is MY opinion on the famous old pirate. Take it or leave it, but certainly consider it.

52 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2012-10-24		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Lots of vanilla and a little honey are the flavors that stand out. I never really got much nuttiness, earth or wood from the burley though I have noticed a little grassiness from the Virginia. The sugary black cavendish is infused with a moderately deep vanilla. A bit of PG keeps this tobacco moist. The strength is a couple of steps past the mild mark. The taste is just past the center of mild to medium. Has a mild nic-hit. It can get harsh and bitey if you puff fast, so a slow cadence is recommended. Requires few relights. Leaves too much moisture in the bowl, and slow puffing will reduce the chance of goop. The flavor is mostly consistent. It smells great and back in the days of smoking in public, you could get a date smoking this brand because women love it. A decent beginner's aromatic.

-JimInks

47 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pip (80)	2009-08-28		Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

All pipe smokers have to try this one at least once. And I mean ONCE. From the pouch the initial smell was nice but not in a natural way. Take a deep sniff and you will easily detect the chemicals. The tobacco (if it really is tobacco)was very moist and sticky, as expected.

It burns hot and tastes like burnt cardboard that was dipped in anti-freeze, a nasty smoky sickly sweet taste if you will. The room note is the same very sweet. Its pure poison if you ask me. Blah!!!!!!!! It also funked up my pipe.

After about half way down the bowl I dumped it out and tossed the pouch into the BBQ. You should have seen the flames!!! Crazy!

46 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wes.B.Greer (2)	2015-08-17		Very Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Say what you will (and I know you will) Captain Black Regular is about as stable as your going to get when "large scale" aromatics come into play. Seriously guys, after all the bellyaching and whining I've heard (read) concerning this lowly and trusty tobacco, you'd think it was made by some company in China using the worst products available. But from my experience (4 bowls tonight while sitting on the front porch with my wife) I'm seriously considering ordering a 12oz can for me to keep in my study. This isn't some "Chemically Laden", "Vomit Inducing" tobacco that many pipe smokers would lead you to believe it is.

Captain Black Regular is exactly what everyone knows it to be, a pleasant aromatic with light strength and an aromatic room note that will please the most sensitive nosed passersby. It's not trying to be a complex and detailed tobacco harkening back to the days of old tavern smoking and high dollar drams of scotch. It's a drug store tobacco, don't try to make it something it's not. Easiest way for me explain it is as follows: When I want to have a beer with a friend at the pub, and all I want is something that will satisfy my tastes, I'll most likely grab a cheep beer and enjoy my conversation not thinking twice about the drink I'm partaking in. Why(?), because I came to enjoy the company of my friend, not critique and rate the beer on its malt content or the percentage and type of hops used to craft the drink in my hand. I wanted to taste beer, so I got a beer. On the contrary, when I get a flight of beer or go to a beer tasting, I'll tell my friends to shut up and focus on actually tasting the beer in hand. When I want a to smoke a bowl of tobacco and tinker with fixing my lawnmower or repair the tail light on my car, I don't want to smoke something that demands to be studied.....I want something I can just "smoke" and not think too much about. That's the way I see Captain Black Regular, it's always there, it's always faithful and it should be seen for what it is.....a light smoking, pleasant smelling tobacco that's not meant to be taken too seriously. (Chances are, if your reading this and getting hot in the head, you should probably try not taking yourself too seriously for starters.....)

Pipe Used: SMS Premium - Quarter-bent COACHMAN

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Walgreens

45 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2008-09-20		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

Okay, the best thing you can say about this blend is that it's a babe magnet. Women fall all over themselves trying to get their hands on the man smoking Captain Black. I guess in that regard alone, this may be one of the finest blends ever bestowed upon mankind. (-;

But, on the other hand, I am already married to a beautiful woman (she even likes the smell of latakia, can't get any more beautiful than that), so, I can forego this blend.

Is there a pipesmoker who has not tried Captain Black? It is mild, tastes like vanilla flavored prunes and will not bite no matter how hard you puff. It stays lit well, and is even cheap enough for Jack Benny. If I am out and about and find myself without any quality leaf for my pipe, I don't mind taking the Captain for a cruise...as long as it's a short one.

33 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	drgonzo (2)	2014-03-12		Extremely Mild	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

The captain sailed back into my life after a long and not much maligned absence. Its nice to know in such a chaotic world that some things remain everlasting. Indeed the Captain is just as vicious of tongue and tastelessly boring as that girl I knew in college. A true bedrock of banality filled with not but regret and remorse.

There are only three reasons to smoke this blend; 1.You bought it and feel bad now that you spent so much on it and are obliged to finish what you started 2. You want OTHER people to enjoy the smell of your pipe and not ask you to smoke outside whilst you suffer in dumb agony wondering if you'll ever taste anything ever again. 3. Your into self degradation and have found this blend as key to expanding your choice of self flagellation.

There is no flavor worth commenting on. There is no Nicotine worth commenting on. The only way to enjoy this smoke is to cut it 50/50 with something that adds some kick and flavor and to use you nose to try and squeeze something of value from the vapid grey smoke.

The Captain will however teach you (with the alacrity of a cruel schoolmaster) to smoke 'cold molasses' slowly as you must remove yourself from all distraction and turn you full faculty to regulating your draw and burn temp such that you avoid suffering confusion as to whether you're enjoying your evening smoke or have in reality grabbed the business end of an acetylene torch.

Pipe Used: Cob

Age When Smoked: 1 week

Purchased From: OTC

31 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ziehm (2)	2015-07-13		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

For all of those that call this a terrible smoke with a taste of cardboard and on and on and on, I say you lack the palate to back up your griping. I am an avid fan of G. L. Pease and Mac Baren tobaccos. I smoke Mac Baren's 7 Seas Royal Blend as my every day smoke and am a fan of all types of Virginia blends, my favorite is probably the straight Virginia No1 from Mac Baren. Having said this Captain Black Regular is in my pipe every morning with my first cup of coffee. It is a quality aromatic with just the right touch of virginia and nicotine for the first smoke of the morning. This tobacco in an expensive tin would get rave reviews from you tobacco snobs out there. It's not complex, it's not intriguing, it's not mysterious, it is a straight forward, well blended, consistent smoke and should have a place in all educated pipe smoking aficionados rotation.

Pipe Used: Savinelli

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: Careys

19 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-07-20		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

Wow, smells like a candy store, always catches one admiration in public. Tastes like I've eaten a badly constructed chemistry set from the most dysfunctional RadioShack in the backwoods. Bleck...Double bleck!!

Smoke in peace, brothers and sisters of the leaf.

18 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TW (38)	2012-07-16		Extremely Mild	Medium	Very Mild	Unnoticeable

An American friend suggested I try this as a change from my usual non-aromatic English/Balkan and Virginia blends. He smokes aromatics and swears by it.

I was a little wary, because I've always disliked aromatics, but gave it a try.

What can I say? It's "tobacco" for people who don't like tobacco. It's like the "aromas" you can get for the "electronic pipes" that produce a mist of nicotine and assorted chemical-laden fake flavours, only without the nicotine or flavouring. If this were music it would be played in elevators.

Quite pointless.

18 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dottie Warden (22)	2014-08-21		Very Mild	Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

As this is one of the most reviewed and renowned pipe tobaccos on the market, the best review would be your own. IMHO, everything that can be said about this product has a ring of truth to it. It's the best at what it is and the worst at what it isn't. Fact: This is one of, if not the most, popular pipe tobaccos available. Fiction: If it's so popular, it must be good. If you are a discerning pipe smoker in search of a quality tobacco product, I wouldn't waste my time on this one. Conversely, if you want a tasty, ready to go, widely available, consistently reliabale, affordable smoke you can light up and enjoy this might be just the ticket. A burger at Mickey D's can't be compared to a backyard burger off the BBQ: and it was never meant to. On the go, a fast food burger can really hit the spot, but if you're willing to fetch the coal, load up the BBQ and take the time required to get the temperature just right and mix some groung steak with all your favorite spices you'll be well rewarded for your efforts. Captain Black Regular is what it is, love it or hate it. Yeah I'll put some in my pipe from time to time, but I certainly wouldn't compare it to the wonderful array of exotic blends on the market today. If you are in the mood for some no fuss, no muss American aromatic OTC, this will do the trick, otherwise look elsewhere.

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-06-09		Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

You know the phrase "Garbage in; garbage out"? I think this is what started that expression, because this is definitely garbage.

Why not just fill your pipe with imaginary tobacco, instead of spending your money on this crap? The effects would be the same- i.e. zero taste and absolutely no nicotine. The only way you can tell that you are smoking it, is by seeing the smoke.

The one advantage the Captain has over imaginary tobacco, is that it smells nice- but the aroma quickly becomes obnoxious and then eventually, undetectable.

I hate to see people recommending this as a tobacco for beginners. I had tried this 30 years ago, in my late teens- along with a few other drug-store tobaccos, and quickly concluded that there was no point in smoking a pipe, as I got absolutely nothing from it, except for seeing some smoke in the air.

That experience turned me off of pipe-smoking for 30 years! But thanks to the internet, I am now an educated smoker, and gave the pipe another try- this time, starting out with some good English blends, and some of the stronger stuff, like Irish Flake and 1792- and now, I see what pipe-smoking is all about, and am loving it.

If your 3 year-old wants to take up pipe-smoking, that is something Captain Black MIGHT be good for....

Another reviewer said it best, and I defer to him: "It's tobacco for people who don't like tobacco"!

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DenizBeck (323)	2017-03-23		Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

This tobacco deserves much more respect and appreciation! Maybe it's snobbery, maybe it's just people who don't like smoking aromatic pipe tobacco, idk why this tobacco gets rated so poorly!! If you urchase Captain Black White be aware you're grabbing a full-grown, sauced aromatic - but one of the better ones out there!

Now THIS is the taste and smell of "Pipe tobacco" as I'm thinking of it, when a old man was sitting next to you smoking his pipe. I do like that this tobacco has some tradition and was probably smoked by my/your grandfathers and even their grandfathers ;-) Back in the days, there weren't 10.000+ blends - there were 5-6 blends, that was it. (At least I got told so) People smoked this, enjoyed, and loved this blend for decades.

Now to the review: The tobacco smells great. A sweet nutty smell it gives, paired with a whiff of vanilla I can smell. It reminds me (almost) exactly of the smell of "Down by the River" by 4noggins (which btw. has execllent reviews......and its 99% the same smell and taste...) From the pouch you can clearly say "this is an aromatic" - but its a good one, with pleasant flavour!

Easy to pack, easy to light, easy to enjoy! The taste is somewhat like a sweet nut flavour. Caramel-ish. A bit of Vanilla in the back, but only very decently to me. Also by imes I get a strong, but tasty licorice taste, which is 100% like real licorice. But this flavour only pops out by times, sadly!

The tobacco gives it a bit of spice, which makes this a very delightful blend. I love this sweet, very nutty flavour, it is almost the same as "Down by the River" by 4noggins - but even more refined. Captain Black has just got more soul to it, at least I think so.

The nicotine isn't weak at all and much stronger than with most aromatics. So I personally love smoking this in the morning, to get my N-Addiction satisfied - AND enjoy a excellent aroma. Usually I used to smoke 1 cigarette in the morning, because a pipe diddnt serve my addiction. But this one is just perfect for that. Good taste, good nicotine - literally a "all-day-every-day"-smoke.

It has soul, a refined taste and it has a history to it. The room note is excellent and is just what everybody thinks of, when thinking of "a pipe smoker".

|| Personal rating: 3,5-stars | Rated for what it is: 3-stars ||

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cm74 (3)	2014-04-30		Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

I'm still new to pipe smoking, so I'm trying out several different blends to see what I like. Captain Black Regular was one of the blends I saw recommended for beginners. so I gave it a shot. To my unrefined palate, it tastes a little like Lane 1-Q, but with less vanilla flavoring. It also left a really chemical, almost plastic-like flavor in my mouth, even stronger after I finished the bowl. I'm eating Altoids like candy to cover over the aftertaste. I'm either going to give away or throw away the rest of the pouch.

It did smell really nice in the pouch, though.

Pipe Used: MO Meerschaum Pony Express

Age When Smoked: Received <1 week ago

Purchased From: cigarandpipe.com

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-10-17		Mild	Medium	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Think supermarket cupcakes; sweet, vanilla, burnt marshmallow, yellow spongecake somewhat cloying aftertaste. And about the same lack of character with overly-dominant, aspertame-like chemical notes.

There are much better tasting and smoking vanilla family aromatics available out there. If aromatics are your bag, maybe Pipeworks and Wilke, or MacBarens.

I don't want to disrespect the Captain, he has led many a pipe smoker into the world of pipesmoking where many other delights await, he is available, he is economical, he is unoffensive to the nearby non-smoker.

When I started with the pipe I bought a pouch, and having few landmarks to compare did not have many complaints at first. As time went on, however, and I tried some higher quality (and, albiet, higher-priced) blends, I came to see this as a uni-dimensional, overly-sweet, with a slightly off-putting chemical hangover taste, aromatic blend. Now I would be appalled to see it burning in any of my prime briars.

The first half of the pouch was smoked, the sencond half has sat in a jar for a few years. Time has not helped this cheap and artificial factory concoction.

A poster child for the reason why you should drive past the drugstore and find your way to the nearest proper tobacconist. First, because the aromatic blends a tobacconist carries will have more clean tobacco flavour without harsh ersatz notes and heavy glycol syrup topping, and second, because your tobacconist, once he knows you have a sweet tooth, might steer you towards some milder sweet virginia blends with light casing that deliver so much more pleasure.

One star would be unecessarily harsh - but redeeming qualities are limited. One-and-a-half probably fair, but two because given the choice at the local gas station or Qwicky Mart, the Captain lets you off relatively easy compared to some OTC nightmares. If I could start over, or if you are new to pipe tobacco, I might steer clear of the cheap aromatics and pick the Carter Hall or Prince Albert from the mild burleys instead.

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Leon (85)	2020-11-16		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

When I started smoking pipes many years ago I took on a few blends: Borkum Riff Bourbon Whiskey, Captain Black Original, CAO Eileen's Dream, and Peterson Sherlock Holmes.

I decided to get back to all of these and review them after all these years. See if they bring any memories, do I recommend them or not now that I got more experience.

Here's my #3 review: Captain Black Original.

A few months ago I purchased an estate Stanwell Diamond 242 to add to my 242 collection. Once it arrived I smelled the bowl to see which types of blends it would lead me to. I immediately recognized a blend I haven't smoked in about 18 years: It was clearly Captain Black Original. So I decided to purchase a pouch to see what I think.

Captain Black has gathered a poor reputation as an OTC blend that many people start and end their pipe journey with. I was afraid that this is more or less what happened to me. Not fully remembering what it was (although the smell was fully recognized) I thought it might be an off-putting Burley blend. But as I opened the pouch, it came back to me and I was pleasantly surprised. This is clearly a Lane Limited blend, dancing around 1-Q.

I pick up some cocoa and nuttiness from the Burley, a bit of alcohol-type note, and a hint of vanilla.

Upon lighting the pipe, the vanilla comes out much more. This is very much an aromatic blend. It's smooth and creamy, very similar to Lane Limited 1-Q.

It's pretty mild and consistent throughout the bowl. A bit moist, but leaving it in the pouch slowly dries it out over time so it could be smoked straight from the pouch over couple of months. It has a very good room note. My girlfriend asked me "what is that chocolate smell?" before noticing that I'm smoking my pipe.

Coarse cut, easily to pack and smoke, couple of relights, can be (and for its fans it is) an all-day smoke. If sweet aromatics are your thing. I personally smoke an aromatic ones a day or two, mostly as my last smoke of the day.

Now, if you're a Captain Black fan and only smoke that blend, I can totally understand. It can be satisfying for aromatic smokers and did make me like this blend again. However, it does not reach the heights that 1Q does and the price is a bit too high in comparison as well. So while I am tempted to buy this from time to time, it won't be a regular buy. That said, I'll finish on a positive note. It's a great blend and the purity snobs can complain as much as they want. But if you only eat vegetables, don't hate on someone who likes to suck on a lollypop. They're just ain't the same.

Pipe Used: Stanwell 242, WDC Royal Demuth

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: 4noggins.com

Similar Blends: Lane Limited 1Q.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Corvus (36)	2015-12-13		Very Mild	Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

The fabled Captain, an elemental spirit of destruction- this was the guy piloting the Exxon Valdeez after downing a case of Meister Brau, both products which are ironically chiefly bought at gas stations.

To start. I imagine this is probably the best selling tobacco at least in America and Canada and possibly Europe, and if nothing else it is the most widely available. It was my first pouch and often seems recommended to new pipers. Why did I buy it? It was the only thing available. I also fell for its own labeling extolling its virtues. I also knew it smelled good. At least that part is true, unfortunately you, as the smoker, are working the other end of the pipe.

So, I issue a small craft advisory to new pipers. Avoid this stuff, stay in port. There are several major problems with this. First, it is a soupy mess and it smokes wet as hell. It will goop up your pipe. No doubt when I tried this technique was a huge part of those problems, but the product pushes you to it. Two, there is little flavor and little nicotine and as such you're going to lean hard into. Three, you now have a wet smoke made worse by its feableness, and you will have your tongue severely bitten by the captain's ill-tempered, featherless, and ancient macaw. It is not a forgiving blend. These three factors are a horrible combination for someone that's learning to smoke a pipe and should be the last blend that is first offered. As to the taste, what is there is quite sweet but it tastes of high fructose corn syrup. Imagine smoking Karo. The chemical odors and tastes are prominent. The room note is appreciated by those around you, but you're not smoking for their enjoyment.

This blend turned me off to pipes for about 10 years. Even the mention of cavendish in a blend still raises warning flags for me even though I know they come in a variety of styles, some of which aren't delivery materials for chemicals and sauces,and some of which are of outstanding quality. I would suggest another OTC blend that actually has some tobacco taste, is sweet, is softly aromatic, burns well, and is relatively available to a first-timer. Find Prince Albert in a can and let him out. Is that a 4 star product? No, but it's not garbage and you can begin learning how to smoke and build some appreciation of the art.

Pipe Used: Cobs

Age When Smoked: Fresh

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ATW (110)	2015-12-04		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

This is the tobacco that started it all. I was pretty much a pipe smoker before I could even talk clearly. My dad smoked Captain Black for 20 years before stopping all together. They say children don't develop a good memory until around the age of 4. Considering I have 2 boys of my own and was a young boy at one time, I call that bullshit because at the age of 2 I remember my dad smoking a pipe and how it smell. I just loved it.

Now my dad only new pipe smoking as in the only tobacco was what was sold on shelf. Captain Black, Prince Albert, Sir Walter and Middleton Apple. That was all he new and Captain being the main stay and all the rest as being a tie over. Hell he never even has heard of anything that I've even smoked.

It doesn't have a wow factor for flavor. My dad didn't smoke for flavor but for nicotine and aroma but he still loved it.

I have some on hand but don't smoke it often. I had some CB dark also that is similar but didn't care for by itself so I mixed it with the original and it kind of improved the original.

I give it a high recommendation not because of it being the best of the best because there is a lot better out there, but because of the memories it gave me growing up. I'll never forget it.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-09-25		Very Mild	Very Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Strong

Captain Black White is an excellent smelling tobacco that offers absolutely nothing to the smoker. This stuff is all about room-note, and nothing else. Taste is somewhat like cardboard boxes – you know the smell, that's how it tastes. Little to no nicotine detected. Absolutely awful stuff that some high-profile supposed non-biased reviewers are singing the praises of on the internet. Hmmm, wonder if Lane Limited is paying them. Half a star out of five isn't possible, so I guess this is a zero. BTW, in Canada, this stuff is 35 f'in dollars a pouch!

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-08-11		Extremely Mild	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant to Tolerable

I signed up for an account just to leave my review. How this has 3 out of 4 stars is beyond me. It is a complete dud. Rather than stuffing it in my pipe, I may pour this stuff in my wife's potpourri dish; or perhaps sprinkle it on my son's birthday cake. Perhaps I shouldn't go from smoking Nightcap to smoking a pure aromatic like Captain Black White. In either case, this stuff ain't for me. (I'm a newbie, too!)

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-09-17		Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

CBW was my 3rd Drugstore blend after the $1.99 Vanilla Cavendish and then CB Royal. A lot of pipe smokers that I've run into only smoke this stuff, a rare few are aware of other better blends.

This is a blend that is EASY to get, the cost of a pouch today makes it overkill when you can get a MUCH better blend(Boswells Christmas Cookie)for much less. Nevertheless, to this day, After 6 yrs of on an off pipe smoking and my recent Full Force Return(and For Good)I still like Captain Black White and keep it around.

I keep it for the nostalgia, being my first blend I liked, and because the pipe smokers I grew up with smoked this and provides the smell that no other blend can to remind me of them.

Smoking slow and focusing on the scent is how I learned to enjoy this. I never put it in my better pipes, but the Dr.Grabow I had when I first smoked this in, is still in use and is only smoked when Im in the mood for this blend. To each his own, and while there are better aromatics, it is important to remember that this is still around for a reason. Enjoy!

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	W. Carter (6)	2016-04-23		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

Let me first start out i'm not a snooty pipe smoker and I have smoked cigs for 30+ years so my palette is probably burnt out. :) I also think a big mac is pretty dam good. So you can see i'm not high falutin. That all being said I think CB White is an enjoyable blend. It has a nice aroma and enjoyable vanilla taste as you sip on your pipe. It is mild and burns good. The first half of the bowl is the best losing the vanilla taste on the bottom half. So if your just a down to earth pipe smoker give it a try.

Pipe Used: grabow bent

Age When Smoked: 59

Purchased From: local tobacco store

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Clinthulhu (8)	2015-09-15		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I'm going to come right out and say that this is one of those tobaccos people like to make fun of or give the impression they are "better than" in some way. Is Captain Black the greatest pipe tobacco in the world? No... Is it a master blend of flavor and quality? No... Is it a tobacco you can buy in the same store you buy couch syrup, band aids and deodorant? Yes... So for those who have given Captain Black bad reviews because they somehow feel like they are the only one telling the Emperor he isn't wearing clothes, I got news for you... You aren't telling us anything new. It's a (OTC) drugstore pipe tobacco, I wasn't expecting it to be the most fantastic tobacco I ever smoked for the same reason I don't expect a Big Mac to be the most incredible burger I've ever eaten in my life.

Now for the rest of us... Captain Black Regular was the first pipe tobacco I ever smoked. It's a classic and even if it isn't the greatest tobacco in the world I enjoy a pouch of it from time to time. Whenever I meet someone who is interested in pipe smoking I usually point them in the direction of Captain Black or Half and Half.

1. It's available just about everywhere. 2. Most people like the smell. 3. Once you get the hang of it you won't burn your mouth. 4. If you don't like it your only out a few bucks.

Trying to put Captain Black up against "high quality" pipe tobaccos from companies like Cornell & Diehl or Hearth & Home isn't exactly a fair comparison. It's like putting a Chevy Aveo up against a Dodge Viper... Yeah they are both cars but one is built to get you back and forth to work... the other is built to make you feel better about getting old... I will let you pick which is which. So if you are looking for a high quality tobacco with subtle complexities and hints of this or that... I wouldn't go with Captain Black. If you are looking for a classic "Pipe" smoke that smells the way you remember pipe smoke smelling when you were a kid. Bingo this is it!

At the end of the day Captain Black is a pipe tobacco that most people have fond memories of. You may have moved on and found better blends of higher quality tobaccos but you shouldn't look down on your humble beginnings. It might not be an everyday smoke. It might be a little fake tasting now that you know better. It might be your guilty pleasure from time to time. But for a pipe tobacco that doesn't claim to be anything other than a pipe tobacco it's fantastic for what it is. Personally I think it's great in a Cob around a camp fire drinking a few beers.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: Fresh Pouch

Purchased From: Cheap Tobacco

Similar Blends: Every OTC aromatic in the known universe..

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	noreastpipeman (2)	2015-01-28		Mild to Medium	Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I like this a lot.This is like the band ABBA.No one admits to liking this or even had smoked it but they have sold millions of records(Yea ,I'm old)for decades.You can find this everywhere,smell it everywhere.It is exactly what it says it is.Mild,full vanilla,soft on the pallet(to me).This is a tobacco with loads of flavor, not just flavored air. One match light.Anyone with a sweet tooth will be rewarded with a dessert type smoke.You will need to use pipe cleaners during your smoke and a good pipe cleaning is necessary afterward.Dedicate a pipe for this tobacco.It flies in a corncob.It is not intended for your Dunhill or grade 19 Nording,but that is up to you.It's funny,most people think that this is a summertime smoke,and thats fine,but I tend to smoke this inside in the winter.(My wife ,son & cats love it) and I take my strongest tobacco outside in the summer(read:Latakia)I could'nt smoke this all the time but I do find it"s delicious,smells great and even though the nic level is low,very satisfying.Newbees & vets should appreciate this aromatic. I like ABBA too.

Pipe Used: corncob, Dr. Grabow bent freehand

Age When Smoked: from the pouch

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	wintermute (90)	2014-11-25		Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

This is called a drug store tobacco, but most drug stores do not sell tobacco like this any more. And, that is the problem. When you first open the pouch there is a smell of some vanilla and some Burley and Cavendish. It packs well and lights well. It is very simple and offers a mild, gentle, and aromatic smoke. Just pack and light. No need to over think this one. It is kind of like an aromatic bowl of Prince Albert. It smells a whole lot better and is Cavendish to the core. I only say that, like the Prince, it is a reliable friend and makes no demands of you. The flavor remains consistent throughout the bowl. The ash is nice and jumps out of the pipe on the first or second knock. The problem I mentioned above is that this type of tobacco sold great when a guy would wonder in and need a pouch of something while the wife shopped or to take to the game and not offend the crowd around him. I had to buy this online and that puts it up against a lot of brands and blends that are comparable in price and characteristics. E. A. Carey's Crystal comes to mind. I am not sure that tobaccos like this will do well in a tight market like this. This is particularly true then those that remember buying it at their local drug store pass on and the younger generations only know fancy tobacco shop blends or online bulks. I truly hope I am wrong.

Pipe Used: Corn cob, church warden

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

Similar Blends: E. A. Carey's Crystal, Ted's Pipe Shoppe (Tulsa, OK) Casa Blanca.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ynrozturk (62)	2018-02-14		Very Mild	Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Like for many others, this was the first pipe tobacco I ever smoked, nearly 20 years ago now.

A lot of people on here seem to be having some problems understanding this blend. Gentleman - you're not going into this expecting a premium, hand crafted pipe tobacco. Some people are acting like they were expecting an 18 year old Macallan, but got Johnny Walker Red instead. The trick with this tobacco is to accept it for what it is.

All of that said though, I still enjoy this from time to time, simply because I don't have high expectations for it, nostalgia, and the incredible room note. Really, the room note is superb. No one will ever complain when you are smoking this. In fact, they will probably come up to you simply to get a better smell of what you're smoking.

It doesn't offer a lot of nicotine, but the flavor is pretty nice. The vanilla is not too artificial (I've had much, much worse) or sickly sweet. I think the balance here is pretty great to be honest. I think this is exactly what the blenders were going for and they've accomplished that - a wonderful smelling tobacco which is easy to smoke, easy to maintain, and easy to enjoy. And despite being pretty moist out of the pouch, it's not a blend that really bites, either.

Sometimes you just want a greasy, $4 burger. This is exactly that. It's not a gourmet offering and it was never meant to be. And while I do love my Dunhill's, Solani's and Gawith blends, I just don't look at this the same way. Captain Black White is like an old friend, one which I don't visit or talk to very often, but when I do, it's like we've never parted, and we pick up right where we left off.

Some reviewers make this out to be some horrific blend but it really isn't. I mean, if you want a really horrific blend, just grab a pouch of Borkum Riff Whiskey. Compared to that, Captain Black White is like a work of high art. So just take it for what it is and enjoy. It's a classic in its own right.

Pipe Used: Various, mostly cobs

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Local tobacconist

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DaddyKevin13 (1)	2017-04-20		Very Mild	Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black, was the pipe tobacco smoked by real men. Like our Fathers and Grandfathers and salty Uncles. Men who chopped cords of wood all day, took our Scout Troop camping or canoeing, taught us how to hunt, tie knots, build fires, in a phrase... be MEN. They weren't Lords or Dukes from England wearing panty hose and ruffled shirts and powdered wigs.

The Captain is common. It's average. It's a known quantity. It's not something a tobacco mad scientist cooked up with 10 different ingredients. And those around you don't wretch with nausea. It's mild, pleasant, and smokes cool and consistent. It's a drug store tobacco. It's a great beginner tobacco.

But, reading the reviews on here, a lot of people are "better than us." Snobs, spoiled, privileged, or at least want others to think so.

Everything sucks, right snobs? Vinyl records suck, right? Because now there's MP3's and streaming music on your smartphone!! And cigarettes suck because there's e-cigs where you can crank the Nicotine content through the roof and blast a cloud of vapor that used to only come from the stacks on a textile factory. Wood stoves suck because now there's central heat/AC with digital thermostats. And cameras and computers suck because your smartphone does it all with mobile Internet and a 12MP camera.

There's a reason that Captain Black has been around this long, and it's NOT because it SUCKS! Things that SUCK don't survive in the marketplace; Yugos, Teddy Ruxpins, Hayden Christensen, etc..

But everyone is entitled to their opinion, if yours is that CB sucks, then don't buy it. Apparently enough people still do for it to remain in business after all these years.

Pipe Used: Carey Full Bent

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Food Lion

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2014-04-26		Extremely Mild	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

I had to try this classic aromatic. The Black Cavendish is the ''dominant'' flavor for half of the smoke with some chemical casing that wants to be vanilla. After a while, the chemical enhancement is the only thing that I draw from my pipe. This is the moment I quit wasting my time and reach for a better mixture. I am sorry to say that not even nostalgia, as I smoked this tobacco 20 years ago, could save it from the one star rating. It was a sample from a fellow pipe smoker who now wants to get rid of it. I took it as a comic relief experience after trying so many amazing mixtures. I needed a reminder that pipe smoking is a privilege in these days of political correctness.

Virginia lover

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-03-28		Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

This is potpourri for hipsters. This was the first tobacco I ever tried in a pipe, occasionally still smoke it just for the smell but wish it had some nic to it. In Canada where I am its $22.95! not worth the inflated price, there are so many better bulk aro offerings for a far better price online like Lane Q-1 or RLP-6. Don't waste your time or money on this. Oh and it will soak your pipe.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-08-03		Very Mild	Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Please read my Captain Black Gold notes and add some more chemicals and sweet patisserie stuff.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tantric (321)	2002-08-07		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I don?t think there is any relatively young pipe smoker out there who has not at one point tried either Captain Black White, Lane?s 1Q,Borkum Riff Bourbon, Clan or Gold Block (if English)/Prince Albert (if American). Of these rather common and easily obtainable blends, I believe Captain Black is perhaps the most popular and in many ways the best one, although Prince Albert should be set aside in the sense it is one of the few non aromatic drug store blends. In reading the previous reviews I get the feeling that most of my fellow smokers express a legitimate nostalgia regarding this blend. I couldn?t agree more. Many a pipe smoker owes CBW his/her initial acquaintance with what is properly defined as a ?gentle art? rather than a habit or vice. The abundance of chunky vanilla flavoured Black Cavendish, with ribbon cut brown and light Burleys has become something of a classic. Not difficult to pack, though it may take some time before actually get it going, and virtually bite free, this mild to medium strength smoke is truly satisfying and pleasant. Most non smokers (or at least non pipe smokers) readily accept CBW as "the" traditional pipe aroma, to the point that some friends once told me I should quit smoking that ?cheap? stuff (referring to My Mixture 965), and go back to what they called the ?classy and elegant? CBW. With all of the above reviews I definitely recommend this either as a beginner?s tobacco or else as a nice, now and then change of pace, especially if in the need to please one?s company.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HabaneroHardy (401)	2020-04-14		Mild	Medium to Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

If someone had told me I had not reviewed this I would have called you ‘a lying dog faced pony soldier’-quote from Biden. As probably with a lot of new pipe smokers I bought some of this from a drug store as I only knew of one pipe and tobacco store run by a retired SgtMaj in Vista, which was a little bit out of my way and there was Hiland’s at the Mall. The SgtMaj passed away and not sure if Hiland’s is still around. This was back when I lived in Oceanside, CA some 20 years ago. Years go by and I order a 12 oz tub online, a few more years or so go by and I order some bulk on line to fill up my can. This afternoon I decided to bring the tub out of retirement and have some in my Oldenkott Porsche pipe. Upon opening the lid, I smelled the most wonderful smell impossible to describe. It probably is vanilla but I thought I read somewhere and I may be wrong that there was a little bourbon whiskey in this. All I know is it makes me want to smoke this. I know I am drooling but I really love the smell of this intoxicating creation. Thanks to propylene glycol this tobacco is as moist today as it was many, many years ago. Ha, you can’t kill this stuff. It has eternal life. I smoked my fill of smooth, creamy, wonderful flavor with billows of white puffy clouds. In fact, I think I will have some more tomorrow. I read that the tin note was a babe magnet but the missus did not like it but then she does not like hardly any smell that waifs her way. Disclaimer: I smoke outside on the porch and she was more than the minimum COVID-19 (Wuhan) distance of 6 feet, say like 20 when I asked for her room note review. No bite, great smell and taste and I am in the love it camp rather than the hate it. Also, nothing new here but it is also called Captain Black White due to the packaging but most everyone knows that.

Pipe Used: Oldenkott Porsche

Age When Smoked: 5-10 years

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Shoog (13)	2013-03-13		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Pleasant

I did not care for CBW. It was extremely moist and burned hot producing tongue scorching steam. And for as sweet as it smelled in the pouch it had next to no flavor but it did have a pretty good room note. At twice the price ($8.00) of other better OTC blends I will not be purchasing again.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Perique (163)	2013-01-17		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Pleasant

This has got to be the goopiest, tongue-bitiest, PG-ist, nastiest aromatic tobacco ever. I like when people smoke this around me. Room note is fantastic. But the smokers themselves have got to be masochists. New smokers, for the love of God, try an aromatic from Boswell, C&D, McClelland, Lane. Anything but this chemical soup. See my other reviews for some aromatics that even a non- aro guy can appreciate. This stuff is junk-weed. I question as to whether it contains any actual tobacco, or is the pipe version of sheet tobacco. Get some 1Q. Throw this stuff in the fire.

Similar Blends: Lane Limited - LL-7.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	rogermugs (14)	2012-07-24		Mild	Medium	Medium	Tolerable

This isn't as bad as borkum riff... but other than that I have nothing positive to say. how this is consistently recommended is completely beyond me.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Aro Lover (13)	2015-11-18		Very Mild	Medium	Very Mild	Pleasant

For the life of me, I have no idea why this tobacco is so popular, nor why it is usually the recommended tobacco to new pipe smokers. Dare I even call this chemical goop 'tobacco'? It's very wet. Totally drenched in PG preservative. No amount of drying will revive it. And there's no tobacco taste. Instead, you'll get an artificial burnt-cardboard-dipped-in-marshmallows flavor. Blah. Also, it burns the mouth badly. Plus it has a horrible artificial/chemical aftertaste that took me 24 hours to get rid of. The only positive point is that the room note is nice. But that alone is not enough to save this infernal concoction. This so-called tobacco has probably turned off and driven away more new pipe smokers than any other blend in the history of pipe smoking. On top of all this, it's not even cheap. Others who smoked it back in the day claim CBW is not the same blend from the 1970s and 1980s (which was supposedly much better). I guess it's just another sign of the times- artificial, shallow, trendy, over-hyped, and flashy. As another reviewer said, you might as well stick a marshmallow in your pipe and smoke it. That would be a cheaper and safer alternative. Stay far, far away from this one if you know what's good for you. I strongly recommend Mac Baren's natural, smooth and tasty Seven Seas Regular instead. You'll thank me later.

Pipe Used: Bent briar

Similar Blends: Mac Baren Seven Seas Regular (Highly Recommended).

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pop pops pipe (28)	2014-07-14		Mild	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

Ok first off the Captain Black available today shouldn't even be considered. Many new to pipe smoking grab a pouch of this and say yuck ! There was a time when the Captain sailed, pre 1986 Captain Black was quite different v than the present one. It was exceptionally good back when it was sold in solid metal cans with the little pry lever built onto the can. I smoked this back in 1979 to about 1984 and it was different then, it was good ! The ratio of black to Burley was more Even. The black had a smooth velvety feel to it, it looked pretty in the tin. The smell was rum and vanilla evenly, and it was sweet and zesty, actually tasted good ! It was so nice and I heard the earlier pre 80s version was even better ! It's a shame newbies co guy lent smoke it the q at it used to be. There are tobacconist that will make the old version or close to it. I have a local guy near me who blends it himself using all stokebye tobacco and no Lane slop. It is as close as I remember to the old blend, fresh, sweet, colorful in contrast, cool, no bite, rum and vanilla flavor. As for the new stuff it is cardboard soaked in vanilla ! The new stuff is not even rateable!

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	greggles (3)	2014-05-16		Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

I've dabbled in cigars for a decent amount of time and decided to try pipes. I got this and Borkum Riff to try out a pipe. This is less offensive than the Borkum Riff, in fact its not really much of anything.

Being used to cigars I expected some flavor, there isn't much to speak of. Now granted, I'm still learning the ropes of pipe smoking. I feel like each time I smoke I'm getting better at tamping and lighting. It just seems this is so mild I need something with more kick.

This smells wonderful, and it's something to puff on while I search for a tastier tobacco.

It's great for learning. It's not expensive either, so if you're trying to learn the pipe basics and want to do it on the cheap without being offended, try this. But know there's always a tastier leaf out there.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: Puff Smoke, Saline, Mi, USA, (734) 316-2691

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ethan (34)	2013-12-10		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Pleasant

This is absolute S#@T !! In the world of pipe tobaccos available why would anybody smoke this stuff? It will burn your tongue to death, it tastes like pure chemicals, and its expensive! If your considering buying this stuff don't! Do yourself a favor and call Boswell's Pipes and Tobacco and get yourself some real pipe tobacco.

Age When Smoked: new, just opened

Purchased From: local drug store

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sinister Topiary (84)	2010-01-03		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Well, I finally tried it. I suppose every pipe smoker must try it sooner or later. And now I can readily understand its iconic status: easy to pack, easy to light, stays lit without problem, has a pleasant room note, and gives off easy billows of accessible, pleasant, nondescript vanilla-ish smoke, with only an inoffensive hint of chemicals. (Or, in a less generous mood, as Countrygent puts it, "Think supermarket cupcakes; sweet, vanilla, burnt marshmallow, yellow spongecake somewhat cloying aftertaste. And about the same lack of character with overly-dominant, aspertame-like chemical notes.") I can see why it's considered a terrific "beginner's" tobacco. Basically, it wasn't bad at all.

I suppose there are good reasons why it's endured for so long: it's the quintessential, easy, inexpensive, decent blend that would make for a fine all-day tobacco for those who just want to smoke on auto-pilot without any fuss. A lot of people listen to nothing but top 40s radio, watch nothing but Hollywood movies, and drink nothing but Budweiser or table wines. It's a comfort(able) smoke for those lucky souls who don't have a desire to delve further into more refined pleasures, and that's just fine. (After all, the quest, once embarked upon, though fun, becomes interminable and expensive. How much simpler it would be to forego all that!)

As agentlemanfromindiana says, "Despite some of the review on here, it really is a pretty decent tobacco, aka its not great or awful." Ordinarily I'd rate this as a solid two star smoke, but, given its context, it warrants three stars. (Ie: you don't use the same scale to rate your son's wonderful recital performance of Für Elise as you would, say, Alfred Brendel's.)

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Knight Wolf (3)	2020-12-02		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

The first tobacco I ever smoked and enjoyed in a pipe when I was a kid. My buddy and I acquired a pouch of this stuff when we were 13 years old, along with a corn cob pipe. I still smoke it till this day even though it is no longer my favorite it is still a good smoke and an excellent introductory tobacco.

The room Aroma is excellent it is very smooth & Mild as far as taste goes. It's affordability is almost unmatched for it's quality. It does have a tendency to leave the pipe a bit wet, it also tends to get a little bitter towards the end or if smoked too hot.

Now I see that this brand has gotten a lot of bad reviews and that is because it has not been judged fairly. It is important to keep in mind perspective and context any text without context is a con. It reminds me of a passage from the Bible with Jesus talking about John the Baptist asking what people went out to see when they went to search out John the Baptist, Jesus asked those who were gathered what did they go to see a reed shaken by the wind or a prophet and yay what a prophet for none born of woman has risen greater than John the Baptist.

Would you go to the drugstore and pick up a bottle of Aqua Velva, Brute, Old Spice, or Clubman and then turn around and compare it to Drakkar Noir or cool water Dusseldorf?

No, of course you would not!!!

Well you shouldn't do that with pipe tobaccos either. Like the drugstore brands aftershave and cologne they are trusted cheap and very effective doing the job they were designed for and most of our parents and grandparents used it and probably we first put it to the test when we became of age.

Captain black original to me is much like Old Spice it smells much better than all of its competition it's reasonably priced and if you're just going to be sitting around your house and you want something to enjoy, it does the trick and better than its competition. It doesn't seek to impress it puts on no Showmanship it is just simple common pipe tobacco.

It tastes good, it smells good, it's not ever going to be single malt scotch. If you bought it expecting that and wound up being disgusted and highly disappointed that it turned out to be Johnnie Walker red then it is you, who went in with your eyes closed and fooled yourself.

I recommend this tobacco highly for everyday use however I don't claim it to be the best on the Shelf in the smoke shop. However it is the best on the Shelf in the drugstore, where it was supposed to be bought and purchased by the everyday Common Man.

Pipe Used: MM Legends corn cob

Age When Smoked: 1 week

Purchased From: Acquired from a friend

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ringo (15)	2015-09-08		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

Wet sweet American style aromatic. Initially I liked the taste but after several smokes I started being overwhelmed and having a burnt mouth. The taste is vanila and chocolate. I think this kind of tobacco can ruin your pipes.

Pipe Used: prince apple

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: local tobacconist

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Splat (4)	2015-01-29		Extremely Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

I love the taste of chemicals in the morning. Tastes like.....crap.

I bought this on a lark. There was maybe one or two puffs that were enjoyable but the rest was intolerable. Obviously I'm never buying this again. Wet disgustingness which will leave a gooey mess in the bottom of your favorite pipe. Don't__do__it.

Pipe Used: Grabow, Falcon

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	McKNooB (35)	2013-04-21		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

This was my very first tobacco (as it seems it has been for many new pipe smokers). I've been smoking a pipe for just two months. I have to say, if I had to start all over again, I wouldn't select this brand.

I'm confused by all the rave reviews of this tobacco, mind you, I am aware that this is all quite subjective. To each his own...

I've gone back to it (mostly because I don't want to waste tobacco) and I have to say, it's no better. It lights ok, burns unevenly, has a bit of a bite for sure and no one around me expresses any favourable review of the aroma. And its expensive. Well, relative to others.

Unremarkable at best.

Apologies to the veteran smokers from a true beginner.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BronxBriar (10)	2002-03-21		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Have to reconsider the review below. In 1980 CB White was my first pipe tobacco in my very first pipe. I was 20 years old. Now that I'm 50 I find myself returning to that good old standby that never seems to disappoint. A great first tobacco, and one to return to on those cold fall and winter days.....

--------------------------------------------------------------- Perfect tobacco to introduce someone to pipe-smoking. Smoked it for three years straight when I only knew one other pipe smoker and didn't know better.

That powerful vanilla aroma brings back memories but as the taste buds mature it becomes something difficult to return to with any regularity.

A convenient and decent alternative if you're on the road and run out of your good stuff.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimPM (153)	2021-11-27		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

So, I was catching up on my PipesMagazine Radio show the other night. I intently listened to Brian Levine present his impressions of a recently dappling with Captain Black Original. What, wait a minute? First, I was very surprised that he actually smoked it. Two, the ensuing review was rather favorable to boot. Really? CBO was one of those aromatics that I started with way back out fresh out of high school and haven’t smoke in probably 30 odd years for specific reasons mind you. Today I happened to be in the CR Butt Tobacco dispensary picking up some of my favorite cheapos for next week’s travels. As you would have it, one of the Captain’s wild hairs took hold of me; what the heck you know. Dropping the pouch of CBO on the checkout counter along with my usual treasures, I had to ask the cashier to redouble on the price call-out thinking a mis-heard her. Yes, I heard correctly the first time … $8.49 for the pouch. Holy geez! This stuff used to cost me a couple of bucks at most.

So, here’s the bottom line, I bought it, took it home, and upon the opening stood astonished to see how cultured the tobacco looked and smelled. Not the goopy drenched fluff that I ran away from so many years ago. After three successive bowls of the old boy, much to my chagrin or perhaps personal prejudice I got to go with Brian on this one. Simply, it really was an enjoyable experience much to my amazement. The taste is much more mild, mellow, and properly balanced. Namely a nice fusion of Cavendish, Burley and Virginia aptly coated with vanilla and honey flavorings. It burns nicely producing a pleasantly light comforting aroma. Ahoy to the reunion!

Age When Smoked: Fresh

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Reviewer (25)	2020-05-21		Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

This tobacco has a great smell in the pouch and the smell of the smoke is even better. Have always received nice compliments how good it smells when out in public. I enjoy this most early in the morning and walking in the woods on the nature trails by my house. This is good stuff so I keep buying it.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CnS Pipes (40)	2018-03-13		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

These fake pipe smokers that leave these bogus reviews like "when I put my nose in the bag I smelled the chemicals" what chemicals? There is no chemicals besides alittle a glycerin or maybe a small amount of PG but this blend is a high grade pipe tobacco with high grade tobaccos. People have been smoking this blend for years and years and its not one of the best selling pipe tobaccos in the world for no reason. For the beginner pipe smoker its a perfect blend to start off with, then there's the seasoned pipe smoker like myself who have been smoking this blend for years and still loving it. Funny thing is I think Lanes RLP is pretty dang close to this one and I love that one to but back to Captain Black this whole yuppy new schooler mostly amateur highly immature this is a OTC crappy drug store saturated with chemicals gross tasting nonsense and I mean total bull nonsense this pipe tobacco blend is awesome and super smooth, it taste wonderful and don't be fooled by these no nothing fools the burley and cavendish mixtures with bright Virginia ribbons topped with a sweet vanilla giving off a almost nouget flavor but not to sweet letting the tobacco taste shine. When you smell the bag what you really get is a sweet tobacco smell with a hint of raisins and chocolate and a light vanilla smell with NO chemical anything, that's just the cool poser yuppy thing to say cause monkey see monkey do or in this case say. I can assure you this is one heck of a smoke and is very satisfying in taste and quality. Most pipe smokers enjoy Captain Black they may not smoke it all the time but for alot of us it out first smoke and I do come back to it over and over. The only complaint I have with Captain Black is over the years the price has gone way over the top here in Idaho $9.50 a 1.5oz. bag ouch!!! But when I get my coupons I go buy a few bags. If you never smoked Captain black I recommend the white pouch, gold pouch or royal for the original blends then feel free of course to try there newer lines, now I dont care for there other stuff but those three blends are very good in there own unique ways and a suggestion I can make as well is to try Lanes HGL if you like this blend but also like latakia, HGL will float your boat. I highly recommend Captain Black white pouch it truly is a all American classic pipe tobacco that is really good and worth trying. Ignore those reviews about chemicals and that OTC drug store smack!!!

The Goop that Pooped by:Christopher

I bought some Captain Black you see But the chemicals were to much for me I fell over and grew a new eye All that goop I wanted to die

I smoked and smoked till I could stands no more A drug or grocery a special OTC store I traveled far I traveled long But the chemicals were far to strong

My pipe was new it was very clean It had a shine a star like gleam That Captain Black with all its goop With a life of its own IT took a poop

Oh me oh boy my poor pipe has died That jerk on tobaccoreview totally lied That goop it pooped all in my pipe Now my bowl like a litter box is awful and ripe

Ripe like Ammonia or something from a nuke That awful goop that took a duke Captain Black OTC chemical wait I'm not a poet But reading this crap you would never know it

Lol!!! God bless all you pipe smokers, take care of yourselves and have a good day!!! Thanks for reading my review...

Pipe Used: Peterson CnS Pipes Corn Cobs

Age When Smoked: 39

Purchased From: Big Smoke CDA

Similar Blends: Lanes RLP-6.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2017-11-04		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I have resisted reviewing this, because I have never really liked it, and my grandmother told me "If you don't have anything nice to say..." I decided maybe it was time.

It comes a little moist and takes an eternity to dry out any. It is mostly black in appearance and has a strong vanilla note in the pouch.

The smoking experience is one that is uneventful, and there is not much tobacco in the flavor. It is easy to overpack due to the moisture, and it requires a relight or two. I get a burnt marshmallow flavor and am told the room note is a pleasant vanilla. It has a fairly sweet taste with a chemical note to me, and I get the musty flavor I often get with black cavendish. The flavor is a little thin to me.

In terms of things to recommend it, you can find it almost anywhere that has OTC tobacco in stock. It seems to sell well.

On the negative side, there is the flavor. It also ghosts pipes, and sometimes you get an estate with a persistent vanilla ghost that endures. You can still catch a whiff of CB at the end of a bowl after a couple of pouches of Carter Hall or SWR.

It is hard to rate this, but for my palate it is a 1 really. The only way I can finish a pouch is to mix it with something to tone down the flavor and give it a little body.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Joe O'Brien (4)	2017-09-12		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Compelled by some strange siren to take up the craft of pipery, I have enlisted as a cabin boy in the service of Captain Black, that salty seaman. I packed only the corn cob pipe my late father had left behind that fateful morning, and set off to ply the angry seas.

I tell you, friends, that a week past I did not know the difference between a Dublin and a Diplomat, and thought Burley and Cavendish were some English lawyers. Having endured both the depredations and the tender ministrations of the Captain, I feel I am, at least, a little wiser.

When we were at sea, the Captain presented to me a plain white pouch, proffered with a knowing look. The leaf within looked and smelled enchanting to a young man raised on tales of swashbuckling and naval derring-do. Moist, with the aroma of vanilla and raisins, and perhaps old books. A comforting scent. The leaf was golden, it was dark brown, it was the color of high seas adventure. I greedily accepted.

When first I reached into the Captain's stash, I packed it but lightly, and burned it hot. Many's the seasoned sailor who laughed at my scorched tongue and bewildered look. Through trial and error, I discovered the virtues of packing tighter - but not too tight! - and the saving grace of the tamp. I learned of lights both false and true, and charred that leaf with the dexterity and precision of some Bavarian docktor.

In short, friends, I believed myself the captain's equal. A short week of working the cob and packing the leaf had filled me with a false confidence. I took shore leave at Carter Hall, and felt myself the master of all domains. But once more upon the seas, I learned that my confidence and my mastery had been left upon the shore.

I was ready for the billowing gales that blew through the Missouri Meerschaum. I slowed my rhythms, I managed the burning heat. But 'pon the wind came a sweet smell, and in my mouth I perceived the taste of some foul chemicals. Had some knave filled my pouch with that pinkish concoction they call "sweet and low?"

I confess I am but a greenhorn still, and no able captain nor even a bosun's mate. But this muddy mixture of Black's, while containing some pleasant aromas, still contains traps for unwary navigator. I found myself unable to reconcile its sweet aroma with a flavor that hid a bitter, chemickal taste within its breast, as a treacherous whore might hide a knife, the better to relieve some poor cabin boy of his loot.

When the waves subsided, I contented myself with a mild, pleasant taste of tobacko. But the memory of the gales, and that sweetness, shall forever mark me. I have endured the rough and sometimes unspeakable initiation of the dread Captain. I shall hoist my cob in my calloused hands having learned the hard lessons of the seas, and join that fraternity of men who earned their scars, and their smoke, honestly.

Pipe Used: MM Cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Local head shop.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pilot Lon (19)	2017-08-13		Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Pleasant

My fresh supply of BCA is still a few days away, and I was whiling away a bit of time in a local convenience store, and noticed that they had a few tobaccos on hand. Having never tried CBW, I succumed to the experimentation genie, and bought a pouch.

It was dry enough, and had a pleasant bag note, which came through as a mild vanilla upon lighting up. Contrary to some reviews, I got no bite, and it was cool enough in the bowl, with a nice room note. But, that's where it ends. There's just little taste to it, IMO. It wasn't objectionable, just bland, with almost zero tobacco taste. Mixing iwth a bit of Russ' Old Glory improved it somewhat, but took most of the punch out of ROG. Next was a 50/50 mix with Lane 1Q, which improved it a bit...enough for me to even keep around for some further mixing attempts. At least it won't go to waste. However, if CBW appeals to you, I'd say go for BCA, for a much richer vanilla taste, and at less cost, frankly. Even if you are new to piping, and like the reviews on CBW, you'll probably still find BCA preferable.

Just two stars. It's not bin-bound from the jump, but I wouldn't buy it again, for my tastes, which definitely do lean toward aromatics. I'm very glad that I landed on BCA and a BCA/1Q 50/50 mix as one of my regular choices. Guess I'll just have to go camp out near the mail box this week, and wait for the "BCA delivery gnome" to arrive.

Pipe Used: Aristocob Kolonel

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: OTC

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnJ (2)	2017-06-23		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I tried Captain Black (White) after decades of trying various other pipe tobacco's. It was the very first pipe tobacco I tried when I purchased my first pipe and I smoked it until I became a "serious" pipe smoker who wouldn't be caught dead smoking a "drug store" tobacco like Captain Black. Recently while purchasing a can of lighter fluid I saw a pouch of Captain Black (white) and decided to try it again on a whim. I was surprised.

I've read the reviews on here which are mostly negative. Very negative. But I guess I'm now getting old enough that I don't particularly give a damn what the majority think and I'll join the minority ranks of those on here who admit that they actually (gasp!) LIKE it! I like the taste, the room note, how it burns, and in short, I think it is a very good tobacco. It has no bite and I like the kind of sweet taste of it. I like a good cigar when I'm in the mood, I like a good English, and I like a good aromatic, and this is a good aromatic. Would I want a steady diet of it? Of course not, but I wouldn't want a steady diet of any of my tobacco's, just like I don't just smoke one type of cigar.

My advice is try it and don't be ashamed of it. Smoke what you like. I've long since given up on deciphering every bit of taste and nose from a glass of wine and now just simply drink- and enjoy- what I like; I'll leave the tasting notes to others. I like Captain Black and that's that and I regret all of these years/decades of avoiding it. If it isn't' "complex" enough for you...oh well... smoke something else. But like I said, I was pleasantly surprised trying it again.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: 59

Purchased From: Tabacco shop

Similar Blends: Tinder Box Chartwell.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2080)	2016-08-04		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

Lane Limited - Captain Black Regular (white).

I'd wanted to smoke this ever since I saw a guy reviewing it on YouTube, but with the U.K. being how it is with tobacco choices, limited to say the least, I had to wait. I finally stumbled across it on Smokingpipes.com, and as they do delivery here to me, I ordered a pouch.

I couldn't remember if this was or wasn't an aromatic, but the pouch-note soon cleared that up. It makes it easy to identify the flavouring: vanilla. The pouch isn't factory sealed, the lids folded and secured with a little piece of tape, ergo, it's been able to breathe so it isn't too damp.

Now, this seems to have had a bit of a slaughtering from many reviewers, but each to there own. Me? Well I'm in the three star camp, it's not worth four, but firmly worth three. The tobacco flavour that comes over initially is the black Cavendish, this, obviously, is heightened by the vanilla. As well as the vanilla there's also a detectible added honey sweetness, and a very slight dark fruitiness. To me, the best way to picture this is like Captain Black Dark, but cleaner tasting and a LOT less sticky! The tobacco flavours seem quite constant throughout: black Cav' in pole position, Burley second, and the Virginia last.

The nicotine's really mild, and the room-note's superb!

Recommended.

Pipe Used: Levent Meer' Claw

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sunday (27)	2015-03-29		Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Fact: I only smoke aromatics & I have only been smoking a pipe a few years, but I have smoked cigars & cigarettes, & chewed tobacco so I know some things about baccy

Fact: You can't flavor bad tobacco & make it taste good

Fact: I got this wild hair & went into a Cigarette store, waited in line behind a weird guy, then bought a pouch of this for $10 (the cost plus tax & .50 to use a debit card) its not cheap OTC it was expensive BTB (behind the bongs)

Opinion: I love this stuff, its not too flavored, lights & smokes great, room note is very nice and no lingering Burley effects like you smoked a cigarette

Opinion: I think people who negatively review this, but really don't even smoke this type of tobacco are trolling, all Captain Black blends aren't good, but this is a fine go to blend

Opinion: You can't flavor tobacco without consequences you have to compromise something - in other words if you over flavor tobacco you get blends that are sticky, hard to light, hot burning steam etc. If you back off the additives & flavorings just enough, you can really enjoy the taste of the tobacco & have a solid aroma

Pipe Used: Country Gentleman & Briar Freehand

Age When Smoked: Fresh from the pouch

Purchased From: Some shady strip mall vapor-head store

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kunsan (76)	2014-10-22		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

I don't know why so many people knock Captain Black tobaccos. I rather like them, and I think extra points should be given for price and availability. The overall quality is better than most people judge. I don't smoke the cherry, but I do smoke the White, Royal and Gold. Of these Royal suits my taste best - it's a little more refined than White with a slightly deeper tobacco taste and less vanilla topping. However the White Regular is also a good smoke with a stronger vanilla aroma and slightly less obvious tobacco taste than Royal. Overall a very nice aromatic smoke, more complex and higher quality than most people judge. I like it and always have a supply in my cupboard. Smokes nicely in my Big Ben which has a slightly wider bore and therefore easy airflow. No wetness. Burns down to a nice clean ash.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bbrown626 (150)	2014-10-18		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

My first tobacco, an old friend, consistent for the 35 years I have smoked it. Sure, there are better tasting, but I still keep it in my rotation. But then I still enjoy Maxwell house coffee and McDonald Hamburgers.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Appalachian Scholar (34)	2014-08-15		Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Update 11/25/15. After bad experiences with Paladin, as well as the awful Captain Black little cigars I tried when I was 18ish, I swore off drugstore blends. Then I read the reviews on this site. I first tried this in 2010. It is an vanilla aromatic with various tobaccos used and delivers a nutty and vanilla room aroma. It has a high nicotine content and highly recommended for someone who wants to quit cigarettes. Not recommended as a beginner's blend for the same reason. It will color a meerschaum within a few years.

Note: It must be bought fresh or it will sour quickly.

I originally gave this 4 stars. However, I found PA and can actually taste the PG in aromatics now. I haven't been able to go back to aromatics since, even though I smoked them for 16 years. I smoked this particular blend for 5 years until my eyes were opened.

Pipe Used: Meershaum, Kaywoodie Dublin, Basket Billiard

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Rite Aid, Ingles

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Waldorf Salad (10)	2014-08-11		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

I'm new to pipe smoking and thought I should give such a popular and mild tobacco a try. The pouch note was nice, a combination of vanilla and mild tobacco. It lingered in the pack I carry every day and was a pleasant reminder that I had the stuff with me and might get to try it soon. I must be getting better at packing and lighting as this was the first bowl of anything that stayed lit for a good while, even very moist right out of the bag. But this is also the first time my Peterson System gurgled. I thought easy burning and liquid buildup wouldn't go together, but again I'm new. The smoke itself was mild in strength and flavor, but just tasted like a fancy cigarette, if that's a thing. I don't know what flavor I want; I just know I don't want a cigarette. The room note was not good according to my wife and I agree based on what I smelled coming straight out of the bowl. On the plus side, I got no tongue bite, which has been an ongoing problem as I learn how to manage my pipe. So a Not Recommended from me. If you want to try the $1 special I keep seeing, you can't go wrong. I wouldn't pay the $10 I did at Walgreen's again. Cheers

Pipe Used: Peterson System

Age When Smoked: 3 months from purchase

Purchased From: Walgreen's

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Young Piper (304)	2014-08-06		Mild	Very Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I cannot believe I have not reviewed the Captain. This is actually a very good blend in that it has a great aroma and topping, was very innovative when it first came out and I do believe a very good beginners smoke. Where it fails is the over the top use of humectants but if I was going to sit on a shelf for years and years I would need a little help too but the PG really beats your mouth up. I much prefer RLP-6 which is the same ingredients and topping but without the PG additive. If I had nothing else or had a coupon for a dollar pouch, then sure I'd take a ride with the Captain but I have 1Q and RLP-6 so why waste my time and hurt my mouth? :-) Wives and girlfriends love it, everyone carries it and a lot of people started on it. So three stars for the good aspects..

BTW a 1.5 ounce pouch is $8.99 at Walgreens now, very expensive compared to lets say Peter Stokkeybe bulk which is a much higher grade IMO.

Pipe Used: Cobs, Dr Grabow

Age When Smoked: Gosh who knows

Purchased From: Everywhere

Similar Blends: Lane Limited - RLP-6, Mac Baren - 7 Seas Regular Blend.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	oldcodger (74)	2014-07-21		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black Regular (White) is the best selling packaged pipe tobacco in the United States. By far. Bud Lite is the best selling beer in the United States. By far. So is Captain Black Regular the best pipe tobacco available and Bud Lite the best beer available in this country? Not exactly. But the sales do reflect the fact that a lot of people like them. There is an unfortunate tendency for people who do not prefer very popular products to be condescending toward those who do. I am not overly fond of Captain Black White myself, but I find no reason to ridicule its many admirers.

What is Captain Black Regular? It is a combination of black cavendish cavendish, burley, and Virginia. The pouch mixture is mostly blackened leaf. It has one unquestioned strength. The room note is outstanding, like that of toasting marshmallows. Smoke this tobacco and you are almost guaranteed a comment of, "Oh, that smells good," from non smokers.

The taste is surprisingly restrained for a tobacco with such a pronounced room note aroma. You get the vanilla, and a touch of chocolate, but the taste is not at all strong. The nicotine level is low.

This is an exceedingly moist tobacco. Yet, surprisingly, it burns well and is not difficult to keep lit. With a restrained sipping technique a pipe full can last a long time, and many of those who smoke this tobacco exclusively can prolong the smoke for an extended time.

The Captain promises an "exceedingly mild" blend. It can be when smoked slowly with a careful puffing technique. Smoked rapidly, this is not an exceedingly mild tobacco.

Likewise the smoking technique affects the moisture problem. A carefully restrained puffing cadence does not eliminate the goo, but it does keep it within reasonable bounds. Puffed rapidly, Captain Black Regular will yield a gurgly pipe.

Given the necessity for careful smoking technique, Captain Black Regular is probably not the best pipe tobacco for a beginner, for novice pipe smokers tend to puff overly strong.

I smoke aromatics about one quarter of the time. I find Captain Black Regular to be a decent but not outstanding smoke. Personally I prefer both the Captain Black Royal and Gold to the White. I give the White high marks for the room note, but find it quite ordinary otherwise.

As with other aromatics, there is ghosting of flavor in succeeding smokes. I usually restrict smoking aromatics to my cobs, meerschaums, and Dr. Grabows.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rev. Avery (9)	2014-04-06		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Honestly,

I find this the blend I enjoy the most. I've smoked from low end to high end as far as reviews go and if on a desert island I'd want this along.

Perhaps my tastes are different from most but I have no complaints. This consistently satisfies me ... and I guess in the end that's all that matters :-)

Rev. Avery

Pipe Used: Natural corn cob

Age When Smoked: Tub

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	musicman (131)	2014-01-01		Mild	Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

Ahh, Captain Black white. Is there anything more iconic? This is the Marlboro reds of the pipe smoking world. Say what you want about this tobacco, but I must say that any product that has been around for as long as CBW has, and can still be found in damn near every grocery and drug store you come across has to have some redeeming quality. You can call this tobacco terrible all you want, but I am sure there are many tobacco companies and blenders out their who would be tickled to have half the success this blend has.

I am mainly a Vaper smoker. Occasionally I veer from that path, and honestly I will smoke just about anything. Over this holiday season I received two coupons in the mail. One for Captain Black pouches and one for Borkhum Riff. Neither tobaccos are anywhere near my good list, but the coupon allowed for a pouch for only $1 dollar. Living in Vermont our tobacco tax is 91% (yes you read that right). That puts a pouch of Captain black at about $12.99. For $1 I just could not pass it up, and I have to admit the whole thing was nostalgically fun.

The success of CBW is not from in the pipe it is from out of the pipe. The taste, eh, nothing really. The smells both in the pouch and in the room, oh my! Talk about a crowd pleaser!

The cut is ok, it packed well. It stayed lit well. It did not bite my tongue which I was a little surprised at, but I did approach it as a drug store aromatic so I smoke accordingly.

It did seem to leave some goo in the heel of the pipe but that is par for the course in this type of concoction.

Everybody has to try it. You are not a pipe smoker if you have not smoked CBW. If you have not, get off your high horse and check out this staple in tobacciana.

Pipe Used: Designer Berlin Sandblasted

Age When Smoked: Off the shelf new

Purchased From: Kinney Drugs

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-02-08		Mild	Very Strong	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Strong

Why anyone would smoke this is beyond me, might as well stuff a marshmallow in your pipe and smoke that.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tmoney (25)	2011-01-17		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

.... The Captain of the ship had decided. I was to walk the plank. I had made a seemingly small mistake.... or at least I thought it was small; but to Captain Black, it wasnt. To put it simply, I had made love with his woman. You see, Black always kept that fiery Spaniard, Isabella on the ship; always. She never left, so needless to say, she was rather lonely. And I, having seen nothing but gruff pirates and fish was often tempted with this forbidden fruit... But let me start from the beginning.

On one night the captain had left to lay raid to a Royal Navy vessel with the men, and left me to swab the deck. The nerve... I was one of the best guns on the ship... How could he? But shortly thereafter my abandonment, I wouldst reap a reward.

The opportunity struck as I was cleaning the captain's quarters as per my instruction. And there she was; the fair skinned Isabella, changing before my eyes, unclothing herself as her eyes pierced into mine. There she stood before me, fully unclothed, pleading with me to take her there in the Captain's bed; I gave in... to my great pleasure... 6 times on that moon's rise to be exact. I had never been with anyone quite like Isabella. She even remarked on my size, saying I "out gunned" that of the noble captain. As we lay there, sweating after making love like wild animals, I craved my vice, the only thing that could appropriately cap off the night. I had to smoke. The captain had always kept in his possession his prized pipe, and I concluded... Why not? I had already taken use of his woman; why not delve into his sacred stash? All I needed was the key around Isabella's neck, which she gladly gave me, due to the fact that my balls hung low, they wobbled too and fro as well.

I smoked the pipe tobacco wilts once again laying "siege" to Isabella's booty. The tobacco was mild and delightfully aromatic. Once the sun began to rise, I covered my tracks well, but not well enough for Ole Captain Black. He detected my presence in his chambers the moment he arrived on the ship. How, still remains a mystery to me. Never the less, he was furious. So I walked. At the end of the plank I turned to the crew and bid farewell, blowing a kiss to the Spanish beauty. Then to the captain, I turned and said "Seems to be that I was the captain of HER ship!!" Then I jumped, plunging into the depths of the sea.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ryan Nolte (8)	2022-07-30		Extremely Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

A beautifully smelling tobacco; one that should not be mocked or overlooked by any pipe smoker. The tobaccos are quality and the cut is always perfect. Personally, it gives me zombie tongue flavor after just a few consecutive bowls, but if you enjoy this as an all day every day blend you are lucky because it's the greatest smelling tobacco out there.

Unfortunately, the nic hit is too low for my needs, but this is the tobacco I go to when a friend wants an introduction into the beautiful art of pipe smoking.

There is no other pipe tobacco around today that has brought more people into the wonderful world of pipe smoking than Captain Black and for that I am eternally grateful. To the experienced pipe smoker that has never tried Captain Black, give it a try. You will be pleasantly surprised.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	GeoffS (29)	2022-06-11		Extremely Mild	Strong	Mild	Pleasant

My first blend. If you search real hard you can taste some tobacco. Mostly just sweetness. I guess it’s vanilla but the taste is artificial. I also get some overripe fruit on the retrohale. Very wet and soppy, even from a pouch that’s been open for many months. Burns hot with great smoke output, but doesn’t bite in any meaningful way. No nic hit at all. It’s tolerable in a pinch.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	nach0 (35)	2022-03-02		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

One of my favorite drugstore blend, it has everything that aromatic lovers wish it has . One step ahead of the royal blend. I love both of them! The smell after opened the pack is wonderful, the tobacco color is beauty, its too wet for me, need dry out a bit, good smoke quality, it can overheat your bowl and bite your tongue if you sip like crazy. A blend that i always keep in my rotation. Not complex, easy to find, good choice for an all day smoking.

Pipe Used: many including briar and cob

Age When Smoked: straight from the pack

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SpicyLegato (9)	2021-07-18		Mild	Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

Purchased on recommendation as a newbie. Not really sure why this is considered a go to for beginners - it's just boring. 2 dimensional and bland. It tastes like faintly sweet steam. Stop telling new pipe smokers to start with this, it's not a good introduction.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rustedrailsmokes (293)	2021-02-05		Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

The first time I started pipe smoking in 2009 or so, Captain Black Original was my first blend I went to as that was what my granddad smoked when I was a kid.

The roomnote was exactly what I remembered and at the time I figured that was what all tobaccos were like. Over time, I drifted away from it to smoke less aromatic blends, but it is still a trip down memory lane.

In a cob, it has a great vanilla background. I find it more moist than 1Q or other vanilla blends. If not smoked too fast, I can avoid tongue bite.

While not a part of my rotation now, I do always keep some around for those trips down memory lane.

Pipe Used: Cobs

Age When Smoked: fresh from puuch

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	D.K. (58)	2020-12-12		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

To me this is the go to comparative for "aromatics". About 15 or so years ago I went on a "craft beer" drinking binge. Trying probably multiple dozens of "have to haves". My take away was 90% of them were horse pizz, trying to mimic an old timey standbye, but with a hint of citrus. If you didn't pull up a chrome stool, and savor every warm froth bubble of said horse pizz, then clearly you were a uncouth heathen. I've found on this site, not surprisingly, many of the reviewers I've read, have a glass of fresh squeezed horse pizz in their hands as they type. Bottom line, Capt. Black original, is like Genesee Cream Ale. Yeah it's been around a long time. But it's good. Period. \ Capt. Black original is probably the most copied flavor I've ever encountered. "OMG try this succulent kriss-kross jump cut, West virginia Klondike clover butter noodle McCavendish with cheese!! OMG it's like so smokey and a hint of..." SMACK! Sorry that was me smacking the Van Dyke off of someone who's trying to sell me a bowl of frothing horse pizz, TRYING to copy Capt. Black original.

Oh, I had to edit this review with at least mentioning the "blend-ability" of Capt.Black (White). Sometimes it tastes better cut back. Like 50/50 with Half and Half. (A personal favorite I call "Bad Math" lol). It cuts back good with some Cherry blends in the mix as well. I've always thought the mystery flavor in Capt. Black original was amaretto syrup. I may be wrong, but I swear I can taste that in there, which is why cherry blends off well with it I suppose.

Really a different smoke in a smallish briar. My large cob's are too air-ey for this, and just wash out. Must need a small tapered bowl to concentrate the flavor. 1Q, RPL6, C.B.Gold, others do that to me as well.

It also needs to air a bit as well, as most tin/buckets do. I think this has gotten C.Black a bad rep. Crack the lid, and let it sit like that a couple days, then put it in your jars.

12/21/20 Smoked a bowl of this while watching the planet alignment (Christmas star) with little pockets of people around also observing. Had many, "man that pipe smells good" comments. Considering the attitude of people towards smoking in general, was a pretty nice surprise.

Pipe Used: All of mine

Age When Smoked: new 17 (53)

Purchased From: JR's Cigars NC, etc.

Similar Blends: 1Q, RLP6, Vanilla (various), No equal.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Michael D (33)	2020-07-02		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

This initial description would apply to all the Captain Black blends today, over priced. After my favorite RJR/Middleton products, The Captains would be the next OTC blends a person of my low character, arr matey, would turn too. And the Regular is the top of the heap.

The CB White (Regular) is a decent blend which includes pouch and some extra PG. Leans a bit more to the tingle of Virginia and is covered in Cavendish soaked flavoring. Burns easily to the bottom, leaving the bottom slightly wet at times. I am presented with the cocoa on opening the pouch. A light and a tamp will bring out the vanilla, although a bit artificial in flavor. The tingle of Virginia breaks through the Burley at times but controllable. I enjoy this blend and would suggest it to others who want a somewhat wet pouched product.

Pipe Used: CornCob

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: P&C

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Old Shoe (25)	2020-06-17		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This tobacco is probably responsible for attracting more new pipe smokers in the last 50 years than any other blend. The aroma of this stuff is legendary and I , like many others started with this blend because those around you ( especially the ladies ) just loved it. It’s a nothing to write home about aromatic, which you’ll soon tire of, wanting a more complex and tasty smoke, but I refuse to beat-up on the old Captain. It’s a simple aromatic that I recommend to the newer smoker if he has nothing else on the shelves, or to someone that wants to impress the people around them with the room note. If your lucky enough to have a fellow piper with some years on the briar, you probably get steered into something more meaningful. I smoked this drugstore blend for 20 years till I was fortunate to meet the late Joe Harb, the noted reviewer who helped guide me into the world of English blends. So for the next 20 I learned to appreciate both the worlds of Aromatic and English. Room-note Hall of Fame candidate.

Pipe Used: Peterson 999

Age When Smoked: Recently purchased can.

Purchased From: Local pharmacy

Similar Blends: Argosy (long out of production).

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Black-Dutch-Jack (4)	2019-03-08		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

The wife says it smells like cake. The taste is very smooth, not a bite in the bowl. I have enjoyed this often on since at least 1978. Highly recommendl, especially for beginners.

Pipe Used: Rossi Rubino prince style

Purchased From: Tobaccopipes.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Novaki (41)	2018-10-05		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Younger pipe smoker here. I’m 26 and live in a rural area in the Deep South. Not a lot of places to buy pipe tobacco, let alone the good stuff. I don’t know anyone that smokes a pipe so I’ve had to figure it out on my own and with the help of YouTube, Internet forums and common sense.

One thing the Internet seems completely wrong about is this blend. I’ve smoked some good stuff. I’ve tried some Balkan’s, English and VaPers. I don’t have a ton of tobacco under my belt yet but I’m not inexperienced. I’ve got about a years worth of smokin in and the hobby just keeps getting better for me.

The point I’m failing to get to is that I really enjoy this blend. I’ve had other Captain Black blends that weren’t my favorite and taste too chemically and artificial for me (Cherry) but this really hits the spot.

The flavor is surprisingly deep and complex. I’ve tried Sir Walter Raleigh and Half & Half and they’re pretty one-note compared to CB regular. I get a lot of spices like cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, maybe some nutmeg which I assume has to be the cavendish, followed by some mild dark and smoky flavor that seems like an old dark cellar (which is more enjoyable than it sounds). I assume this is the burleys. I can just barely make out the Virginia here but it’s there in the background and I think I’d notice if it weren’t there.

This tobacco at times feels much older than me. It has me nostalgic for a time long before I came into this world. For some reason it always makes me think of a good cold Christmas morning where you’re just happy to have folks that you’re close to. To me it feels like a winter smoke, though I could smoke it year round no problem. It’s a good all day type of smoke and never offends my senses.

I like to think this is as classic as Coke or McDonalds and should probably be treated as such. It isn’t fine wine or a good steak, but it’s not meant to be. It’s an OTC that comes in a pouch for cryin out loud. I don’t understand all the snobbery towards this blend. I’ve had some of my best “nirvana” smokes with this cheap drugstore rubbish (as the snobs would call it) and I think that’s saying something. It lights well, smokes consistent throughout and has enough variation to be interesting but not overly complex or too underwhelming. If you let it dry a bit and get a little age on it, it can develop into a nice smooth creamy smoke. Right out of a fresh pouch might be a bit wet and harsh.

I’d guess that one reason that people don’t enjoy this is because if they’re strong English smokers, this may very well taste like vanilla and hot air to their pallets. I’ve tried Dunhill - Durbar and smoked this afterward and could hardly taste the CB. I would suggest if you smoke strong English blends and want to give the captain a second chance, allow your pallet to adjust to the more sweet and subtle flavor of this tobacco. It’s not very intense or in your face like some I’ve had and it might take laying off on those stronger blends to adjust to this mild and mellow smoke.

Pipe Used: Cobs and Roma bent briar

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Local Tobacco World

Similar Blends: East India Trading Co. - Royal Challenge.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Leonidas (6)	2018-03-27		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

From what i can tell through searching many blends in tobaccoreviews, this has to be one of the most conrovertial. As a natural outcome, many will disagree with my opinion, mind though, its just an opinion.

Tin note is indeed chemical. No way to identify the origins of the smell. Glucose is all i can relate it with. Burns hot like the devil itself. Tongue bite is unavoidable even through sipping. Its an one way to hell for your tongue if you are inexperienced. The taste is mild. Nothing fancy, nothing overpowering. Only plus is that it is unique. Many say it tastes like vanilla but i disagree. Its a sweet taste like marshmellows or frosting or whatever, i cant put my finger on it, all i can say for sure is that it is sweet. Since it is a cavedish based blend, not much tobaccoiness going on here. All i can taste is the sweet artificial frosting. This tastes nothing like pipe tobacco.

Room note is its biggest advandage. The wife is in love with this blend, so use this in times of arguments and you will end up cuddling in bed like nothing ever happened. It is also an interesting way to approach the female sex, cause trust me, they cannot resist the sweet smell of this daredevil.

Overall i would not recommend it to begginers. This is not a tobacco that represents the pipe tobacco category. I would not recommend it even to an experienced smoker. Its an artificial blend which should only be used once in a while, to satisfy your wife, but definetely not your palate.

I give this one and a half stars. The half star is a courtesy of my wife.

Pipe Used: Capitol Bruyere

Age When Smoked: Fresh from the pouch

Purchased From: Tobacco Shop Thessaloniki

Similar Blends: Its unique, i will give it that.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gigmaster (2)	2018-03-24		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Since McLelland is gone, along with my beloved Frog Morton, I figured everything else is just tobacco, so in protest, I figured I would just go cheap and easy. I got a big surprise.

I was very depressed over the loss of the Frog, and was not expecting much, especially from a grocery store. But when I opened the pouch, a wonderful aroma of vanilla and molasses greeted my olfactory. The tobacco was just about right, moisture-wise, and appeared to be a mixture of burley, a little lemon Virginia, and Green River Black Cavendish. It is a cube-cut, so I figured it would burn nice and cool, which it did. It packed easily, and the stems were minimal.

It lit very easily and once it settled down, I was treated to a nice, almost creamy mouthfeel, and the taste was of burly, a hint of Virginia, and the wonderful sweetness of the molasses-like black Cavendish. The top-notes were of vanilla, pecans, and sweet, but not too sweet molasses. It smoked smooth, with no bite, never tried to go out, and absolutely no tongue-bite whatsoever. My wife said the room-note was incredible...as good as Sutliff Vanilla Custard, which is exquisite. It burned all the way to the bottom, to a fine grey ash with very little dottle, and never any gurgling, or goop.

I can understand why this is the #1 selling pipe tobacco in the US. I've never been fond of Aros before, but that may change. I can easily see this being an all-day smoke. And the best part is that it is available just about anywhere tobacco is sold, and relatively inexpensive. I still miss the Frog, but maybe the Captain can help me get over it.....

Seriously, for the price, and the availability, this is a great tobacco. I am ashamed I've never tried it before. Better late than never, I guess....

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Legend

Age When Smoked: New from the local grocery store.

Purchased From: Ingles Grocery Store

Similar Blends: Sutliff Vanilla Custard.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-02-10		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Ah, Captain Black White. To me this is much like Old Spice is to cologne. A old favorite in a white container with a ship on it that regardless of the more fancy stuff I buy to replace it, I always go back to it. Both were my introduction to their respective products. Old Spice being my first cologne and aftershave while Captain Black White being my first ever pipe tobacco. The aroma alone brings back great memories. But above that is just an all around great smoke. It has a slight vanilla taste that is just great never over powering. While not a complex tasting blend, I simply adore its honest simplicity that I never tire of. Perfect to smoke in my cheapest corn cobs to my most expensive Meerschaums. I actually use this to break in all my expensive pipes as it never builds up a lingering flavor or aftertaste and grows a nice even cake. I would recommend this for beginners too since you really have to try hard to get it to bite and when I first started smoking a pipe I was strictly a cigar smoker so I tended to smoke the pipe hot and hard that caused bite in almost every other tobacco I tried. Not with the Captain. Always smooth and inviting. The room odor is classic pipe and the odor that entices one to take up pipe smoking over cigars or nasty cigarettes. Very easy to locate and if bought in the can instead of the pouch, also one great bargain. I have spent more on tobacco and do have expensive blends in my rotation, but over all if I had to pick only one tobacco ever to smoke again this would be the one I would choose over and over. Consistently good, rich, aromatic and pleasing to the palate time and time again. Total pipe smoking perfection.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-01-30		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium	Pleasant

Captain Black is one of the most popular "drug store" tobbacos out there, and quite frankly, I'm surprised that I was the first to write a review on it.

Aroma right out of the pouch is unquestionably vanilla. Just the right humidification too. Packs easily and evenly. Easy to keep lit with vitually no bite at all, all the way to the bottom.

The tobacco is made of black cavendish and burley. The taste is a farly mild to medium tobacco flavor with a hint of vanilla, much like a toasted marshmellow at a campfire. The room aroma is just as tasty.

I find this to be a regular smoke for aromatic smokers, but not for those who like English blends. This is my everyday, all purpose, working in the garage, balance the checkbook smoke. It can be found just about anywhere and is inexpensive.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2003-11-23		Mild	Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Captain Black, a relatively inexpensive Cavendish tobacco produced by Lane Limited, is considered one of the most popular drug store pipe tobaccos and sells readily across the country.

The pouch aroma of Captain Black is that of vanilla. The contents of this blend include Black Cavendish, Burley, and African Virginia tobaccos. This tobacco has a heavy casing, which imparts the somewhat monotonous candy aroma to the blend.

Captain Black has a short ribbon cut which is predominately black interspersed with brown/yellow colors. Packing of this blend is easily accomplished and the initial moisture is at a decent level.

Captain Black becomes lit almost instantaneously without any problems. The initial burn seems even. The room note can be said to be fair and similar in respects to the fragrance of burning sugar. As the smoke continues the moisture becomes progressively worse and the pipe gurgles more and more. Giving the tobacco time to dry has no great affect in diminishing the moisture that accumulates while smoking. Considering all of these characteristics, the humectant, Propylene Glycol, is certainly utilized in the manufacture of this blend and undoubtedly is applied in an overly liberal manner. This unfortunate over usage of the humectant is the culprit of the wet, goopy smoke.

The taste of Captain Black can be quite harsh. Hardly any real tobacco flavor and thus true substance can be detected over the overbearing candy taste of the applied casing. A somewhat horrid aftertaste completes the experience. Little bite is given off by this blend and the tobacco does yield a decent amount of white aromatic smoke.

It is widely understood that Captain Black is either a beginner?s tobacco or the preference of those who consider it their staple smoke due to its low price, easy accessibility, and perhaps mediocrity. With all things considered though, this is a very poor tobacco. Many tobacconists carry other low-priced bulk aromatic blends by Lane Limited that are quite similar to Captain Black but far superior in quality.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2003-08-05		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

We all know, that this is a "Drug Store Blend", or even a "Supermarket, Walmart, 7/11 Blend" But, does that make it a bad tobacco? Captain Black is the most popular tobacco in the United States. More of it is sold, than all bulk or tin tobaccos combined. Why? is it because people simply want to torture themselves, and smoke a bad tobacco? Or, is it that Captain Black, is a good overall tobacco? Yes it is a sweet, cavendish style, flavor cased, tobacco. But is that bad? NO! This is good stuff. It is cool, has a good ribon cut, is tasty, and has tobacco flavor. Some people say it burns to wet. May I suggest they pack it right. I have never had a wet bowl smoking Captain Black. I sometimes think there are just too many snobs in pipe smoking, and that is one reason many people won't take up the pipe. So I say lighten up. Relax, and take a sail with the Captain. You'll like the destination.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2002-11-20		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Everyone says that Capt Black white is a great tobacco for new pipe smokers. I AM a new pipe smoker (less than a year), and I DO like Capt Black White. I like that it lights easily, packs in my pipe well, stays lit once I get it going, smells great, and does NOT bite. I enjoy the nutty vanilla smell and taste. Yes, my local Walgreens drugstore carries this in the pouch size, which I suppose means that it is produced in HUGE quantities for the masses. Well, I am one of those masses, and being able to get it easily is not a drawback in my book. I may not smoke Capt Black white forever, but I will probably always have it around as a change of pace or as a "standard" between trying more exotic tobaccos.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2002-09-09		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I am very surprised that this blend is not one of the top reviewed tobaccos in the database stats. I am sure that the majority of the reviewers has tried this blend at least once in their lifetime.

This blend can be habit forming. The vanilla is quite scrumptious. CBW is smooth, tasty, and soft (no bite). Room note very pleasing. Anti-smokers will compliment it's aroma.

This stuff can be found "everywhere". It must be very popular. I know people that smokes this blend by the pound!!

Although quite tasty, I have one big problem with this blend as well as for other "candy smokes". .....I can not have vanilla for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snack, supper and a nightcap. It amazes me that someone can eat/smoke this "all-day-long"!! .....I have tried to smoke this blend as a daily, but by noon; I am sick of it!

Final Grade: Good tasting, Good Aroma, No Bite. ....Candy Addicts will love this blend.

As for me: ....I have never had much of a sweet tooth.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pip'n'Piper (54)	2023-01-21		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Smells and tastes like vanilla birthday cake. Can't taste any tobacco. The topping can be cloying, even nauseating at times, but it is a successful heavy aromatic. It's not as wet as Sutliff Molto Dolce or Creme Brulee, but I bet Wonderbread would develop mold before this tobacco does (side note, I once had a loaf of whole wheat Wonderbread in my pantry for 2 years and it never went stale or moldy). Love the room note, it gets a lot of questions and compliments from non-pipers. It has it's place in the tobacco world and is clearly popular. Doesn't bite me, so that's something. Not the best, but I like it fine. 2 stars. While I'd recommend this I will continue to warn every soul who will listen... steer clear of Wonderbread.

Pipe Used: Cobs, always

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dwarven Ale (4)	2022-12-04		Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

I have a soft spot for Captain Black. To be honest there’s really nothing special with it. It has a wonderful room note, but other than that it kind of just tastes like puffing on hot air with a mild sweetness to it. The thing about CB is that it’s everywhere. You can go to any drug store that sells tobacco and hidden away under the counter is a pouch of this stuff.

There have been times I’ve been out of town or on vacation, and I get a craving for my pipe that I didn’t bring with me, and what do I do? I go to Walgreen’s and get a new Grabow and some CB, and absolutely enjoy it.

If I’m at home would I go out of my way to have this? Probably not, but it’s like when you go in a road trip and get truck stop food. In reality it’s never anything special, but when you’re starving on the road for something to eat, it’s the best stuff you’ve ever had. That’s what this is. It’s available everywhere and is great if you don’t have anything else.

Pipe Used: Corn Cobs and Briars

Age When Smoked: Who knows? Those pouches sit around for a while!

Purchased From: Drugstores

Similar Blends: RLP6, Seven Seas Regular Blend.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pie Eyed Piper (22)	2022-11-19		Mild	Strong	Medium	Strong

Another Lane blend that has been tweaked for the worst. This blend hasn't been good since the late 1970s or early 80s. The black Cavendish in this is like syrup soaked cardboard. This is a far cry from what it used to be.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Arkansas Piper (47)	2022-10-16		Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

I’ve tried extremely hard to love this. The room note is excellent. I absolutely love the room note as much as I probably have any room note. However, this thing bites me unlike anything else. I’ve tried to smoke it every possible, right way that you can. And it still just destroys my mouth. Maybe I’m sensitive to their topping. I don’t know. It also has a chemical taste. I’ve tried to rationalize what it is that I’m smoking to have that kind of taste, but there’s no way around it. It just taste chemically. Burns well. Lights very easy. And it stays lit. Again, to me, the room note is unmatched in many ways. But it destroys my mouth. I’m going to celebrate for hopefully a year to see if that helps mellow it out in anyway. We’ll see.

Pipe Used: MM Country Gent; Mr. Brog; Dr. Grabow

Age When Smoked: Fresh from pouch

Purchased From: brick and mortar

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	L'Italiano (233)	2022-09-27		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Captain Black Original is a real institution. It has always existed. Pouch tobacco sold all over the world, OTC blend, we could define it as an all day smoke, aromatic smoke. About the composition Lane states: “Rich Black Cavendish and mellow tasting Burleys delightfully aromatic”, but there is not only Burley and Black Cavendish; the presence of Virginia is evident. The flavoring is not declared, but the use of vanilla, sugar and some aromas is more than likely. On the palate a wine flavor is perceived and it is evident the presence of chemical additives and artificial flavorings. We could say that Captain Black is the prototype of American aromatic tobacco, a medium aromatic without excesses, which pleases and does not tire. Opening the pouch the scent is sweet, with alcoholic (rum?) and chocolate notes. Mild strength and smooth taste, at times delicate at times marked. The aromatic side is leading, but it does not overwhelm and does not completely cover tobacco taste. In other words, it does not compromise the balance of the blend. Excellent room note. Good for aromatic tobacco lovers. Not recommended to everyone else. In my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 5 and two stars.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DarkFired (3)	2022-09-27		Extremely Mild	Strong	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

Out of sheer, burning curiosity, I wanted to know what an over-the-counter aromatic would be like. I had experience with Chacom #2 and #3, which are divine, as well as my favorite aro to date, Savinelli Cavendish.

Also, my second tobacco purchase originally was Mac Baren Aromatic Choice, which I do enjoy smoking my first and only pouch down gradually as a non-challenging, only artificially-complex pleasure smoke.

The note in the pouch is like a slice of black forest cake from any average American restaurant. Tasty! Vanilla with some chocolate and cherry — to me.

Another way to put it would be a cherry cordial candy that you got from the drugstore. Don’t get me wrong, they may not be Godiva, but they’re tasty.

Smoking, it has a tobacco base, but it’s harder to perceive than the average. Someone here described it as cardboard, and it worked on my senses — it did have a sort of flat paper-like quality to it.

Other times, it did have tobacco vibes in there but they are quiet. (But I’m mainly a fan of powerhouse, non-budget Gawith Virginia & English blends, so what do I know.)

This stuff is easy to light, easy to smoke, and the flavor is utterly unoffensive in any way. You’re basically a smoke-based potpourri dispenser.

While other tobaccos such as those Gawiths, can become foggy if not packed correctly or if covered by too much ash, etc., Captain Black is kind of a fog in general when it comes to tobacco flavor. Luckily without the tongue-burning steam. It’s just how it is in general.

I would say recommend for a beginner makes sense, but then again I feel Mac Baron aromatic choices all around better. The tobacco has a higher quality, the toppings are more interesting in general.

Anyhow as slow as I’ve been smoking my Mac Baron Scottish mix in aromatic choice, this will be smoked probably 10 times slower. I’d be happy to give us away. I bought it on a lark as an experiment and consider it an amusing failure. Back to my $16+ a ton English tobaccos I go. I would see if you want an aromatic try Savinelli cavendish, Chacom two (fermented plum) or three (bourbon vanilla-maple) or if those are too pricey, Mac Baren Aromatic Choice.

Also in this cheap aromatic lot, I bought a pouch of Mac Baren vanilla cream. It’s alright — better than this. But I still like aromatic choice better.

Anyhow best of luck to you!

Pipe Used: Mm Country gent cob

Age When Smoked: New

Similar Blends: Black Forest cake.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Spey Caster (2)	2022-09-23		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

“New pipe smoker” I'm a relatively new pipe smoker (3 months). I have tried at least 10 different tobacco's trying to find something I like. Captain Black regular is the first tobacco that I can actually taste a little something nice. Tasting helps me a ton, as it has shown me to sip to get more flavor. I'll be buying more CB Reg. I hope this may help another new person starting out. Sip it very very very slow to get the most of it.

Pipe Used: Brigham Tundra

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Victory Pipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	North State (72)	2022-09-09		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

A fairly basic vanilla'ed aromatic.

First opening of the pouch gives the blend away immediately; this is an aromatic with a rather heavy vanilla casing. The consistency is mostly tan virginia, with some darker browns from the burley and black cavendish.

Smoking this easy-lighting, easy-burning blend it's immediately clear that the dry grassy virginia, along with it's vanilla casing, is the main player here and the other two just supporting actors. The smoke itself isn't particularly special in any way except one; if drawn on too hard, it does bite much more than a blend like this has any right to, so needs to be rather calmly sipped. Without this it would be a stronger 2, perhaps even a 3.

All in all a vanilla aromatic that doesn't really stand up in the huge crowd of vanilla aromatics; not bad, but unlikely to intentionally buy again.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: Fresh from pouch

Purchased From: Kiosk in Poland or Germany

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	billjohnso20 (3)	2022-09-01		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

Alright, out of the gate, let me state that I prefer aromatic blends that are Black Cavendish based over most non-aromatic tobaccos. (I like both the Burley based and Virginia based Black Cavendishes each with its own subtle nuances.) I also like Dark Kentucky blends and VaPer blends but I do not like Latakia. That said, I had not tried Captain Black Original. This was in part because of the words of others. "It is too goopy and ruins pipes. It tastes like chemicals not tobacco. It tastes like cardboard. It's one of those awful aromatics that goes too far!" And, on and on. I rarely simply take the advice of others but in this case, for whatever reason, I did, even though Captain Black Original is touted to be the number one selling pipe tobacco in the US!

Recently, I was home alone on a Saturday and made a trip to Walgreen's for some things. At the checkout, I noticed they had this and on a whim, I bought a pouch of it to try. My first smoke left me a little confused so I decided to wait until I had smoked several bowls to make my decision on this blend. My reaction after the first few bowls was, "What are those who write negative reviews of Captain Black Original smoking? Is it them or is it me?" So, I smoked several more bowls before making my final decision. This is a mild, uncomplicated tobacco blend with one focus: a nice easy smoking blend that allows one to simply enjoy the pleasures of smoking.

In my opinion, nothing has the mouth-feel and billowy smoke that quality Black Cavendish has and Captain Black Original does it well. The taste is sweet from the false light to the finish. It is simple and that is what makes it work as an aromatic. If smokes smoothly and slowly, there is no tongue bite. (It may need a little dry time but that is true of most all pipe tobaccos these days which is a personal decision we all must make.) There is no chemical taste IMHO. It is simply a nice sweet vanilla tobacco with a little nuttiness from the Burley in the blend. I only smoke outside but not only does my wife love the smell of it, all of my neighbors do as well and that's not a bad thing. More than all of them, I like it too!

Some others have compared smokng Captain Black to drinking beer when all you want to do is drink a beer. I have some complex pipe tobaccos that I enjoy greatly but Captain Black is a simple pipe tobacco blend that I also greatly enjoy when all I want is a nice uncomplicated smoke.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not really calling anyone out for disliking Captain Black Original. We all have different tastes, likes and dislikes. I hate onions but my wife loves them. I strongly dislike anise but my youngest daughter loves liquorice! My point is that although you may not care for Captain Black Original, it doesn't mean that your palate is better or worse than mine; it only means you and I do not like the same things. Only someone who is obtuse would say otherwise.

In short, smoke what you like. Try something new from time-to-time. In the end, we all love a good smoke.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: 1-6 months

Purchased From: Walgreens

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	GabrielCRT (115)	2022-06-05		Extremely Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

I never expected to become a codger at just thirty years old. I worked in a tobacco shop through my 20’s smoking Esoterica, Gawith, GLP, C&D, Mac Baren, and Dunhill. Nowadays I smoke a rotation of mostly OTC’s. Captain Black has become a go-to for me. The Original (or regular, or white) is a mild all day smoke. At first it tastes to me like a generic chocolate and vanilla aromatic but if I concentrate I can taste the Virginia, burley, and cavendish. The tobacco and topping meld together brilliantly. The room note is legendary, the taste is very pleasant, and I get no tongue bite. I never expected to like it, but this is a new favorite of mine.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PaulMcCoy (78)	2021-11-22		Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black White is a pretty popular aromatic here in the states. It’s easy to find, super cheap, and smells fantastic. For some people, it’s all they smoke. It's a classic people pleaser.

Pipe Used: Missouri Pride

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Everywhere

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fernando Carrillo (5)	2021-11-07		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Excellent aroma. Easy to pack, light an smoke. Not much nicotine

I've read a lot of bad reviews an they might have a point regarding lack of complexity. But we all have to remember that smell is part of all flavours, and Captain Black smells so good...

Definitely this is one of my favourite tobaccos

Pipe Used: Cien cob

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: pipes and cigars

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gnova (10)	2021-06-05		Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

When starting out on my pipe smoking journey I was swayed by the online snobbery against OTC blends. I decided to order a pouch of CB Regular and wish I hadn't succumbed to the snobbery because this is an excellent all day smoke that packs easy, burns well, and had a pleasant vanilla taste and the room note is second to none.

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Cigarchief

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bird (2)	2021-02-24		Very Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

I don't understand how so many people dislike this. They miss the point of this blend and perhaps don't like aromatics to begin with. CB Original is good!

It's mellow, creamy, produces a good amount of smoke and DOES NOT BITE even if pushed and smoked a little wet. The taste lightly reminds me of toasted marshmallows and has a nutty undercurrent. It's not cloying and the vanilla shines on the smooth retrohale. It's not a nuanced tobacco but it's very much acceptable. I think its simplicity is the entire point.

My only complaint is that it needs drying or else you'll end up with a significant amount of dottle and your pipe might gurgle. Also, it's slightly goopy as most aromatics but it's nothing significant.

It is meant to be comfortable and can be smoked mindlessly. It packs well, lights without a fuss, and tastes nice if you don't mind the mildness. If you like vanilla, like to load bowl after bowl, and want a mellow smoke that won't offend anybody's nose, this is your tobacco.

Pipe Used: Cobs and briars

Age When Smoked: 1 year

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	crosscountry (23)	2020-10-16		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

There's probably not much to add here over what others have written. Everyone has tried Captain Black.

I guess the word quintessential should be brought up, because any adult who has memories of a wonderful smelling pipe from their childhood probably remembers this one.

Just for icing on the cake, my in-laws love smelling it, and so I opt for this one when they're around.

I will say that the Captain Black Royal isn't nearly as good at Captain Black White. Why even buy Royal?

Pipe Used: many

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: various

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WorkingClassChap (197)	2020-08-09		Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Writing as I smoke from a Missouri Meerschaum.

Good, classic, aromatic tobacco that every pipe smoker should try at least once. Smells slightly of raisin and vanilla. Taste is mild. Something you could smoke all day and be fine with it. Not a lot of flavor just very mild and sweet, smoke it slow to avoid some tongue bite. If you’re new to pipe smoking it’s a great place to start. If you like it move up to Lane’s RLP or 1Q. Some people say it’s the exactly same with less PG in it. I don’t think so.

The room note alone may convert people to pipe smoking. It’s the only saving quality of this. If I could burn it as incense I would. For that 2 stars.

Pipe Used: Corncob, Missouri Meerschaum legend.

Age When Smoked: Bulk from P&C

Purchased From: P&C

Similar Blends: RLP-6.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	F4phantomdriver (8)	2019-12-16		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

This tobacco is made with high quality leaf. I don't get where other reviewer's are getting chemical smells and other nonsense. It's made with food grade flavorings. Lane is one of the most respected blenders. They are not going to mess up a good thing like being one of the top pipe tobacco distribution companies by putting junk in their blends. You have to like aromatic tobacco to even consider enjoying this. Is there better blends out there? Of course. But this isn't floor scraps from a blending house like some people would want you to believe. This is a nice mellow, sweet, tasty non biting aromatic. The taste is very mild, and the room note is absolutely lovely. This is a great after supper smoke. This is not a good pair with morning coffee. Save that for SWR or my favorite Prince Albert. But if you want a nice mild cool smoking tobacco that your better half will not complain about, reach for Captain Black.

Pipe Used: L.L Bean full bent billiard

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Walgreens and Pipes and Cigars.com

Similar Blends: Lane RLP-6 / Captain Black Copper.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dr. Dunhill 23 (39)	2019-08-17		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

With so many other fine choices out there, I am confused why anyone would choose this as their favorite unless they began smoking pipes before the internet and had a poorly stocked tobacconist. It's got a strange taste to it and it bites me. It is readily available so maybe that's why it's so popular. Good in a "Pinch".

Pipe Used: Peterson Smooth Irish harp poker

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Pipes and cigars.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BrokenRecord (124)	2019-06-12		Extremely Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black: A Decent But Not Exceptional Vanilla Aromatic

I will preface this review with the consideration that I do like aromatic pipe tobacco—especially maple and chocolate/Vanilla topped blends.

The casing/topping is the star of this show. It is very, very sweet with quite a bit of Vanilla and some chocolate, which I find to my liking. The tobacco seems to be made up of sweet black Cavendish which produces large steamy clouds of hot air. Next in line, seems to be the Virginia tobacco, which is only sometimes noticeable with some crisp grassy undertones. The little burley present fades into obscurity behind the casing and tongue-bite.

I prefer Cult aromatic blends when I want to taste both the tobacco and a pleasant chocolate/vanilla topping.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	riobrew (80)	2019-04-14		Very Mild	Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

Well this one surprise me. I Have seem this for years but I'm not a big fan of aromatics. But I really enjoyed this blend. Has a very mild nicotine, more strength in the second half of bowl. Not overly moist, was able to easily light. Smokes to a nice white ash. Very pleasant room note. I have 4 other to try before I decide when one to maybe buy a tub of.

Pipe Used: GPSS 5 POTY

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: P&C

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PipeDragon (44)	2019-03-16		Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black Regular was one of the first tobaccos I've ever smoked when I first started out my pipe smoking journey over ten years ago. At that time, I liked it pretty much. Then, after I've finished the pouch, I stopped looking for it as my tastes started to change and I've developed a taste for more premium tobaccos.

Nine years have passed until, when I walked into a tobacco shop, I saw it on a shelf. I felt a bit nostalgic, so I've purchased a pouch. I've opened it, but I didn't smoke it for about ten months. Today, I've found it in my cupboard and I decided to fill a bowl of this old friend.

Even after 10 months, the tobacco was pretty moist, though good enough to smoke. The unlit tobacco has the same smell I've remembered from long ago, a quite pungent smell of vanilla with a hint of chocolate, though very artificial and almost nothing that would suggest pipe tobacco smell.

The smoking experience was pretty straightforward. It lit well, burned well, didn't require a lot of relights, didn't heat the pipe and didn't bite the tongue. I could still sense a slight taste of vanilla and I guess that, after aging a bit, the smoke becomes more rounded and balanced. Halfway down, the flavoring is lost and the more natural taste of tobacco comes forward, though it's still pretty bland. The room note is the best part of this tobacco, leaving a pleasant vanilla/chocolate flagrance that wouldn't disturb anyone.

Overall, it's not a terrible tobacco, but not spectacular either. It's just your run-of-the-mill drug store blend. I cannot see it becoming a permanent addition in my tobacco collection, though I wouldn't mind smoking it from time to time, at least for the nostalgic value.

UPDATE (March 2020):

After being kept in a jar for almost two years, I've tried it again. The result: it's now super bland. Whatever flavor or taste was there to begin with, it's all gone. It's now just flavorless, tasteless smoke. There's really nothing left. And it's not because the tobacco is super dry; it still has a decent moisture content. The only thing that hasn't changed is the very pleasant room note. After ten minutes, I've emptied the pipe and I'm seriously considering to throw the rest of it away; there's pretty much no reason for me to keep it anymore.

So, my advice: smoke it while it's fresh. Don't think about cellaring it. It will lose all the taste and flavor and it will just produce bland, tasteless smoke. I'm still keeping my rating, as it's a decent tobacco, but only when it's fresh.

Pipe Used: Half-bent Savinelli Capitol

Age When Smoked: 10 months

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pat & Dan (1)	2018-08-03		Medium	Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Pat: Right off the bat, there's an overbearing sweetness, but as you progress through the bowl after the initial light, you get a bit more pleasantness from the fact that the sweetness is overcome by a nutty characteristic. Overall a very enjoyable blend in my opinion. Dan: I profusely enjoyed this blend which delivers far less of a tongue bite than some others that I have tried. This tobacco is also a slow burner that requires no relight which allows for interludes of contemplation. The flavour is initially one of tangy sweetness but progresses towards roasted nuts. Overall a very satisfying blend.

Pipe Used: Brigham Billiard and Brigham Squat Bulldog

Age When Smoked: One month

Purchased From: Queenston Havana Tobacconist

Similar Blends: Solitude by Brigham.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	rafalgdansk87 (12)	2018-02-27		Mild	Very Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

Great aroma. Altough it's vanilla aroma, it isn't oversweetened, due to some cured fruits notes, which gives nice balance. It's quite wet but acceptable. It is also well accepted by non-smoking people in surrounding. I would give 4 stars if it would be a bit more dry and better burning.

Pipe Used: Chacom Bent

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Greekpipesmoker (201)	2017-01-21		Mild	Very Strong	Full	Very Strong

Captain Black regular was one of my first tobaccos.thanks godi tried other blends and didn't stop smoking my pipes.when you break the seal a wonderfull aroma comes out and everyone loves it!good news stop here.very moist needs to dry out.when you light it a blue flame come out of the pipe!it burns the bowl a lot despite i went aesy on that..after finishing the bowl was full of moist needed cleaning and i needer 1 9mm filter per bowl.the aftertaste is bad like chemical.if you have other options try them out.if you are curius you can try it only ONCE!!!

Age When Smoked: When opened!

Similar Blends: Captain black gold.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2016-10-18		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

A slight improvement over Captain Black Round Taste, the flavor of Captain Black Regular is mild and a bit toasty with a touch of sweetness. The designer aroma is sure to please but the room note is much more enjoyable than the flavor. Once fully lit, the faint taste of propylene glycol comes through in every puff and the taste of the tobacco can often become lost in a waxy tasting off-flavor. As the bowl progresses this becomes less of a distraction, but maintaining a slow enough pace to keep this from smoking wet was a bit of a challenge. Due to the excess moisture, I would recommend smoking this in a cob, meerschaum, clay or some sort of system pipe. While this is not what I would call a bad blend, I would much rather smoke 1Q, RLP-6 or Wilke’s 191.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	taima (12)	2016-08-20		Extremely Mild	Strong	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Pleasant

The Captain -- he's easy to find, but you can always do better. Syrupy, flat, invites gurgling, and burns the tongue. The only positive is that it smells nice.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Billy777 (18)	2016-01-02		Mild	Mild	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

Ugh, double ugh, triple ugh, one million times ugh. Why do people like this? It's awful. It has no discernible taste other than cigarettes, and it leaves a nasty cloying smell in the pipe. "Captain Black White" is the Big Mac of the pipe tobacco world, but just because it's a best-seller it doesn't mean that it's a gem. There's nothing subtle, nuanced, enjoyable or anything interesting going on in this tobacco. It's a flat and dull smoke. We may as well smoke cardboard or inject nicotine into our jugular veins.

Purchased From: Local tobacconist

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	onurturker (14)	2015-12-10		Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Probably most known and famous pipe tobacco for everyone and probably most known and famous worst pipe tobacco for experienced pipe smokers.

this stuff is vanilla air freshener and like as other air fresheners, this chemical product must not smoke.Pay attention to your health and not smoking this stuff certainly extend your life.

Note: this stuff is helpful by two ways.One is you can unpack it and put in the car,smells so good and secondly if you go to picnic burn it with some kindling and smell,it may dominate also barbecue fume

Pipe Used: corn

Similar Blends: Air Wick Freshmatic Max - White Vanilla.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	r (34)	2015-10-20		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

I had to try it at least once, and I'm glad I did. I had very low expectations, but the blend exceeded them (not by much).

This is a very mild smoke with a very strong pouch aroma, and a very pleasant room note. I detect vanilla and rum, which is also perhaps producing a false cocoa scent. Very low in nicotine.

The aftertaste is strong, and rather artificial unfortunately. But the first half of the bowl is OK. It has bitten me, so be careful.

The price is somewhat absurd -- I could get an SPC blend for two more dollars. But you can't beat its availability. I encourage you to try it. It may work for you.

It doubles as a great car air freshener - just leave the pouch open.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Legend

Purchased From: Walgreen's

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tank Man (10)	2015-07-21		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable to Strong

Save you time and money. Very negative towards this. Chemical taste. No flavor. I smoked half a pipe of this. Tossed on compost pile to help break it down. So many other brands that cost the same with much more value and pleasure. Why should anyone start off with this? Get a good blend so you won't be discouraged. PASS!

Pipe Used: Corn cob

Age When Smoked: New pouch

Purchased From: Drug Store.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Marshall Smith (5)	2015-01-25		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Strong

barely decent tobacco too expensive and also not very impressive. Has very little flavor but also tends to bite quite easily even on a slow pull. I would recommend you only buy the smallest package to start to make sure you like it because to me this tobacco does not seem to have a universal likability so play it safe. Not to mention that although not the most expensive it is still way too much money to chance on something that you may hate.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh from pouch

Purchased From: Grocer

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	glenn2586 (14)	2015-01-07		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

This tobacco is very good. My can aged for maybe 9 months. Not sure if that helped it. To me it's full of flavor with no bite at all. It needs to be broken up before smoking. Highly recomended.

Pipe Used: all different ones.

Age When Smoked: 9 months

Purchased From: jr cigars

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Hybrid12 (26)	2014-09-29		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

I am very surprised to see all of that bad reviews of the Captain. This is not some fancy blend, but its been around a long time and is not going anywhere. It is a built mild for my taste, but remains in my rotation next to the more fancy overpriced tins of tobacco. The smell in the pouch is marvelous and this is one of the best flavored aromatics I have smoked and can be found just about anywhere. To all those that have negative reviews, your palette must be far different than mine.

Pipe Used: Medico Conqueor

Age When Smoked: out of the pouch

Purchased From: local store

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	peterpiper111 (7)	2014-01-12		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I'm new to pipe smoking. Of all the brands sold at the drug store, Captain Black seems to be the best smoke I've tried.

I tried other blends and brands, captain seems to take it home for me. I do have issues keeping it lit, but once its burning, the flavor is similar to a sweet, spicy flavor that is extremely pleasant. I could sniff this smoke all day long. Funny thing is, a girl I know hates tobacco smoke altogether, and I just met her tonight and she said I smelled really good. I smoked captain in the car.

Needless to say, the stuff could be made into cologne. You smell like a real man while you smoke captain...seriously. I like the mild taste, pleasant aroma, and overall recommend this tobacco to anyone trying pipe smoking for the first time. Needless to say, yes, there are many better brands out there. On a budget, this stuff is the best you can buy from a standard gas station/tobacco shop.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: Brand New

Purchased From: Tobacco Outlet

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Hunter (54)	2013-12-04		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

A nice, inoffensive aromatic. One of my favorite go-to blends when I am in a pinch. Inexpensive, mild, easy to smoke with a nice room note. The vanilla topping is noticeable in the pouch and at the match, but are not excessive. Flavor stays with you almost through the entire bowl. Nothing really outstanding about it, but nothing bad either. Probably the first pipe tobacco I ever smoked, and is still readily available everywhere.

Pipe Used: Cob, briar, meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-11-20		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Captain Black. I do love this stuff. It's easy to pack, light and keep lit and my wife thinks it smells good. Tastes good too. I taste smooth vanilla and chocolate and I can even pick up on the roasted marshmallow that I've read of in previous reviews. I usually smoke Va's, light aromatics and the occasional english, but do find myself smoking this often. My only complaint is that after smoking this exclusively for a few days I do find myself wanting something with more tobacco taste. However, Captain Black White still gets smoked in my pipe at least once a day. It's a very good aromatic at a decent price and easy to find.As on Egyptian market you can find but the captain series also the borkun riff and the erinmore flake and mixture only!!i think it is the better choice with the erinmore flake i keep both on my rotation.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LivingFreeinTN (24)	2013-09-13		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

It's funny how CB has been around for so long and nobody claims to smoke it. Yeah right. It's not my go to, must have tobacco but EVERYBODY has it in their rotation at one time or another. CB is like self gratification: nobody talks about it but everybody does it;)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-04-14		Extremely Mild	Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I guess this blend is great for first-timers. It's a great way to show beginners what casings can do to tobacco, and a way to get cigarette smokers to like pipe smoking. The first bowl I had was average, and left me wishing I had some Navy Cavendish to make up for it. After that, I couldn't stand having a full bowl the second time, and had to quit half way through. Since then, I left it in a corner as a potpourri that actually gives off a great vanilla scent to the room, but never had it again. Seriously, the vanilla is overpowering. Besides that, after those two bowl, when I got a good Virginia in it, my briar was already tainted with the vanilla! I had to have some other four full bowls to get it to a pleasant level. If you're gonna try it out, please do it in a cheap corncob.

I know I have a bias, since I found out that I'm not that into aromatics, but thought I could help someone choose a more suited blend for their tastes. I apologize to those who enjoy it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-02-12		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Unnoticeable

I recently began pipe smoking again with this and was not disappointed. Mild, no bite, lots of vanilla. Easy to light and keep lit. I was walking in Central Square, Cambridge, MA and was "escorted" by 3 lovely ladies who were enjoying the scent, and two of them were cigarette smokers! Too bad I'm married!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-10-18		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Good taste, very little bite, slow burn. Good choice for beginners.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-06-05		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

This is my favorite tobacco. My uncle has smoked this daily for as long as I can remember, so I have a lot of great childhood memories tied to the aroma of this blend. The smell of this tobacco when you first open it is pure bliss. Great room note, good taste, no bite. Perfect for beginners.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-05-11		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

I was packing for my vacation and did not have the room to take a jar of tobacco with me so I went out a bought some capt. Black. I usually smoke a lot of the petersons tobaccos and I was unsure how good a drug store tobacco would be but I love my pipe so I packed a bowl and was very pleased with the smell and taste of this tobacco . It stayed lit and I really didn't have to tamp it too often. It has a nice cool smoke and little bite ( slow draws are the key) . It also has a very nice room note too. I totally recommend giving this a try at least . I think this found its way into my tobacco collection/horde

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-05-03		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black is truly an aromatic tobacco blend. The pouch aroma is top notch with its vanilla whiskey smell. In my opinon, this tobacco sometimes gets a bad rap because it is an OVER THE COUNTER tobacco. Captain black burns clean and stays lit for most of the bowl, and the sweet smell of vanilla and whiskey comes through at once. It burns cool and has a sweet taste of vanilla and whiskey if smoked slowly (which is the key to really enjoying this blend). I have had nothing but great reviews on the room note. This blend is a must for ANYONE who enjoys a good aromatic tobacco.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	renwardhoop (177)	2012-02-13		Medium	Mild	Mild	Tolerable

After having a right old moan about not being able to get Captain Black in the UK I actually got some from Germany, followed by the other two blends as a swap from a kind chap in the USA.

Was it worth busting a gut to lay hands on ?

Well, yes and no.

It's what I call a 'friendly' blend. What I mean by this is although it isn't a major player in the aromatics field in terms of taste and room note, I find myself reaching again and again for this stuff in between my pipe rotation.

It isn't a sickly chemical brew like some or a nasty biter like some of McBaren's horrors.

Yet there is something about it that draws you. Whether it's that slightly sweet caramel taste or the easy load straight from the pouch I'm not sure.

I've heard it likened to McBaren's Seven Seas blend, and I have to say it is very similar. That's true ; this isn't a million miles away.

I thought I might get bored of this blend but I'm halfway through the pack and still returning for a bowlful.

It's something of a favourite on here and now I can see why, without really nailing down the reason.

It should be interesting to see what the other blends in this range are like.

If you are a UK smoker and want to try this blend you won't be disappointed if you manage to track this blend down. If you can't then buy Seven Seas.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	amirnader (7)	2011-11-21		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

Is is one of my favorites. The tobacco smells nice in the pouch. But the taste and smell of the smoke is just great. It burns evenly with a good temperature. It also bites my tongue a little.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CoolPilot (69)	2011-11-03		Very Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

4 stars because despite its cheap price, this tobacco is simply good. Milder than other expensive aromatics like Sweet Vanilla, but it also costs half the price! The White pouch has nothing to share with some danish or vanilla-flavoured blends: flavour is wonderful, and taste too. The only defect is : too mild. But hey, it makes it also an all day smoke for the same reason. It will not ruin your pipe, leaving no strange aromas in there. Well done, Captain.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tomspeed (23)	2011-08-04		Very Mild	Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

When I was 14 one day I visit my father friend's, one of them smoke his pipe and room full of very pleasure smell, I keep it in my mind and after 21 years today for the first time I smoke it :) same aromatic and affection Tasty, very delicious, and so pleasant relaxation I LOve It :) You Should try it one time at your life

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrDyson (148)	2011-07-18		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

If you like aromatics, this is all right, I suppose; if you don't like aromatics (and I don't), you won't like this. It's a black Cavendish blend with a fairly obtrusive casing. If it's supposed to taste of whiskey, I don't get it. Personally, I found it hot and thought it tasted ordinary and cheap, nor did I much care for the room note that other people seem so inclined to praise. Same with the pouch note: I don't see why tobacco should smell of anything except tobacco. It burnt quickly, but I don't mind the fact that a bowl of it is soon over. Maybe I smoked it too quickly; also, my sample was rather dry.

CBW is an example of the kind of tobacco invented back in the day when manufacturers wanted to attract younger pipe smokers who didn't want to be associated with the traditional type of old codger tobacco; hence the novelty room note that these 'juvenile' blends tend to have. It seems to be a cheap and cheerful smoke in the USA, sold everywhere. In the UK, there's no such thing as a cheap tobacco, and it isn't particularly easy to get hold of. I tried it out of curiosity, but I wouldn't buy it again. I'm aware, though, that I'm probably being unfair (if you don't like aromatics, why review an aromatic blend?); so I'll say “somewhat recommended,” because there are lots of aro smokers out there whom this would probably suit as an all day smoke. I can't understand why anyone likes stuff like this, but I know they do. For what it is, then, and if you take it slowly, it's not too bad. Certainly, as an aro, it's a world away from some of the Borkum Riff horrors.

Pipe Used: Falcon

Age When Smoked: Fresh out of the pouch.

Similar Blends: Quite a few gimmicky aromatics of the same type.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tpatriarche (43)	2010-02-09		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I had never tried this well-known tobacco, and was prepared to be disappointed after Captain Black Gold (I am spoiled by having a fine local tobacconist with excellent house blends). Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised; for a high-profile brand-name tobacco, this is very good. A blend of Cavendish including black C., it might be too sweet and sticky for some, but I liked it.

A good first-pipe-of-the-day smoke; not too strong, not too heavy; very easy on the tongue, and a satisfying smoke in my jumbo pipe. Good choice for new smokers and for when only the drugstores are open. I would not recommend it over custom blends, but taken as a popular commercial tobacco, it has my endorsement.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	nesta (7)	2009-11-28		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

This tobacco is an easy target: you can buy it in groceries and gas stations, it's cheap, and it's an aromatic. "Real" pipe smokers like something more refined - even if that means a nearly identical tinned aromatic with a less well known name and higher price point.

This isn't a masterpiece. That said, it smokes cool and I find it smokes relatively dry. It has a pleasant taste to it, and it has an insanely pleasant room note. I never find it biting, and despite people referring to it as "goopy" it doesn't gum up my pipe and it burns well right out of the pouch. It is relatively affordable, and if you're in search of a full vanilla-ish aromatic, you'll be hard pressed to find one that is significantly better than this. There are a few that are it's equal, and a few that surpass it, but for the category I don't think it's outdone to a significant degree by many blends at all.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Old Puffer (42)	2009-10-10		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Should have reviewed this a long time ago. Have been smoking it for about 2 years and it has become one of my go-to baccys when I can't decide what to smoke today.

CBW comes in about perfect moisture content for smoking which, combined with a nice cut, makes it easy to pack and light. Good quality tobacco with no sticks or too many 'fines'. No problem lighting or keeping lit, smokes cool, no bite, no surprises. Leaves a slightly grainy dark grey ash with no bad after odor or taste in the pipe or mouth. Only thing that keeps it from a perfect score is a strong taste that starts building up near the bottom of the bowl.

Although this has no outstanding uniqueness, it is very friendly. Can't really call it an aromatic, Balkan, Oriental or English. Somewhat reminiscent of Carter Hall which I have learned to like a lot.

Will always keep this on hand in quantity since it seems to mellow with age. Also highly recommend it for beginners

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-08-28		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Update: 3/19/10 If you really want this stuff to taste good then buy it in the can. The pouches are not always consistant. One time it will be great and the next time it's all dried out and almost tasteless. Adding a little moisture to the dried out stuff helps a little but not nearly enough.

The pouches are a gamble. Roll the dice and see what you get. Upping my recommendation but only for the cans.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	krg1000 (183)	2009-06-16		Mild	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I picked up a pouch of this on a whim from Wally World because I started with Royal when I first started with pipes. The aroma is somewhat similar to its Royal cousin. I usually put room note as pleasant if it does not drive my wife inside running in terror. We even had a conversation while I was smoking some earlier. I find the taste smooth for a "drug store" brand. Not a bad change of pace from the English blends I have been smoking of late. I would recommend this over the other styles in the Captain Black series to get started in this great hobby of ours. All in all, I am pleasantly surprised at how good this does seem to be.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	doc'spipe (242)	2009-02-13		Mild	Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

I have smoked Captain Black White on and off over the years because I think it has one of the best room note aromas of any tobacco I have ever smelled. That rates it 4 stars from the perspective of the non-smoker. However, I never appreciated it all that much since it had little taste and flavor, and smoked too wet with residual dottle. I give it 2 stars based on this. Why did I pick it up again from time to time after having given it up? It was that fantastic room note. If I had another pipe smoker in the house, I'd be tempted to pick up a pouch and have them to smoke it just so I could smell it again!

2.5 stars for me when all is said and done.

UPDATE 12-29-09: According to the description for CB White in the Dan Tobacco Catalog, CB White is now blended in Denmark: "As close to the original as possible - Made in Denmark under license." Perhaps this is why I have noticed a change in cut as well as taste. I believe Orlik to be the manufacturer. Before Orlik changed their website, they had it listed and described the flavoring to be that of vanilla, chocolate, and licorice. No whiskey whatsoever was mentioned. They also blend a Black Cavendish No. 1 in a 100 gram tin with the same design as CB White against the white background with gold border. They also listed the ingredients similarly. The new Orlik link takes you to the Scandanavian Tobacco Group (STG) and the Black Cavendish No. 1 is now listed under the Stanwell brand. The flavoring is listed as vanilla and caramel. There is no longer a pouch listing for the CB White, nor is Orlik mentioned anywhere on the new site as a blender. The original Orlik site had a great variety of blends that they manufactured and only a few of them (not even half of what was originally listed) are listed on the STG page under the Stanwell label. Very confusing to say the least!

UPDATE 1-18-17: Bought another pouch for old time's sake as I also purchased some CB Copper and RLP-6 for comparison (see my reviews of those offerings). For me, still the best of the CBs as far as pouch smell but still tasteless, unfortunately. Also has the best room note of all of the CBs in my opinion. If they could only figure a way of getting it to taste like that room note!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CornCob (94)	2009-02-10		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

What can i say, this is a real bowl of happiness for me, i love this stuff and smoke it all day. The room note is terrific, the taste is velvet smooth and quite sweet. The perfect smoke all the time.If Lane LTD ever discontiues this like so many other of my favourites, i think id put down the pipe for good.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	al1 (58)	2008-09-19		Mild	Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

Unfortunately this is not really good. It tastes of chemicals more than vanilla or tobacco. Evil, wicked bite lurks in the second half of a bowl of this.

I smoked this and borkum riff whiskey (very putrid also) when I was first picking up the pipe years ago because it was easy to find. So I guess you know I don't reccomend it to anyone who likes a good tasting chemical free smoke. If you like to smoke only because others think it smells good you might find it useful.

I'll stick to my Mcclelland's. I'll pass on this one.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-05-29		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Very Full	Very Pleasant

A drug store classic for sure. I like to keep away from saying "drug store blend", because you can buy it at most all local grocery stores, but a vintage tobacco I have saw in drug stores and corner stores tine and time again since the days of old. Most of the time around where i'm from (central PA), i'm pretty limited on what brands stores have to offer.Captain Black is always there a lot like my tried and true dear friend Skoal.

The first blend I tried after buying a corncob pipe.And even after investing a few more dollars ($3.59 for a knockoff Dr. Garbo), I wouldn't be afriad to smoke it in there to lightly taint my pipe for future smokings.

I found this pipe can be mixed with any flavor, and give it boost to maybe a duller flavor like sir Walter Riley, that almost needs to be used with CBW to keep it from clogging.

Being so moist, I face a lot of cloggings from this when I smoke it. I cleaned my cheap pipe a few months back and got what resembled road tar out of the mouth piece....(blame that on me if you will). This stuff if it was in a sealed tin could probably last until the second coming. I thought I got a fresh batch of chew spit when I first bought a pouche. Indeed it was ripe I don't know how old, but it didn't matter. A good smoke until the last pinch.

For Room Note: I've had nothing but great compliments from smoking Captain Black. Several weeks back, I was out on a date with my lady friend and I even got her to take a few hits from the pipe. So gentlemen, the ladies love this blend along with other aromatics. Being as young as I am, a lot of my friends don't expect to see someone like myself smoke a pipe. I got teased about looking like Sherlock Holmes and being the pipe guru of my city but they all support my habit and I talk to them about the fine blends of the world....Captain Black being the first one I always speak of

So for sure 4 stars.........hell 10/10

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Philo Beddoe (221)	2006-02-26		Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

Captain Black (white) is the tobacco that represents what a pipe is supposed to smell like, this is what most of the old timers smoked when I was a kid and therefore it gives the aroma of PIPE more than any other blend to my nose. I smoked CB almost exclusively for the first couple of years I smoked a pipe and it still has the taste and room note that brings back fond memories of my childhood.

I have found better tobaccos now and there are certainly better quality vanilla aromatics out there, such as MacBaren's Vanilla Cream. However, I still keep a tub of Captain Black around for times when I want to reminisce about the past or for times when we have company over, as no other tobacco says PIPE quite as universally as the Captain.

Pipe Used: Various briars

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Local smoke shop

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SopwithCamel (255)	2005-02-22		Extremely Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This stuff is everywhere. Many start off their pipe smoking careers with this or its numerous siblings Royal, Gold, and Cherry. This is probably not the best idea, as they tend to smoke a bit wet. Non smokers love the smell (usually), and vanilla is pleasant in small doses. There is just no way to know if you like tobacco, as you never really taste it. It has become twice as costly as other drug store tobacs in my area, and for that I'll probably never buy it again...I agree whole heartedly that this is the Old Spice of the pipe tobacco world!

If you enjoy this, give Lane's RLP-6, or BCA a shot. They are much less costly, and burn a little better.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-06-10		Mild	Strong	Medium	Very Pleasant

While often touted as a cheap, disgusting blend I have found this to be a cheap, quite pleasant blend. I have smoked a pipe for about a year or so and have only just recently tried it, while re-ordering another favorite aromatic (Middle Earth Blend) I simply couldn't resist adding a pouch just to try -- it being so cheap and "classic."

It lights easily & stays lit, has a sweet vanilla and mild but definitely present tobacco flavor that lasts from the beginning to the end of the bowl (it never goes sour, although it never develops any real complexity either) and has no bite whatsoever. It can smoke slightly wet, but I've seen far worse.

This has become one of my favorite aromatic smokes when I'm in the mood for something light and sweet. I could not smoke it exclusively, as it would bore me, but for what it is it's really quite good and you certainly can't beat the price (I've had far "classier" aromatics that I wasn't nearly as pleased with). A definite staple in the rotation.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Charmander (6)	2004-03-20		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Wanted to note that the description above should be "Rich black cavendish and mellowed burleys, exceptionally mild, delightfully aromatic".

Guys, I'd have to say that this tobacco is exactly what it claims to be. I am becoming more fond of this blend - and I used to make fun of it. I initially bought some when I was close to being financially broke and couldn't really afford anything else. Also,it was so available. At the time I just smoked it down without thinking much about it. Then I tried it about 6 months later and I'm just really surprised at how much I like it. I'm a guy who loves the English blends. Some of my favorites are Nightcap, 965, Early Morning Pipe, and Frog Morton on the Bayou for reference. I'm also fond of Virginias including Marlin Flake and I like Pease's Stratford etc. What's my point, well, I don't make fun of Captain Black anymore. I like it. It has its place in the rotation and when I smoke it, I really find that it is a refreshing switch from the more introspective English blends and the pure Virginias. I don't find that Captain Black gums up my pipe or anything like what many folks report. Let the bag air out a bit. Also, smoke it a bit slower,and swab the deck if you have to!

Everyone likes a donut or a pastry every now and then. Thats what the Captain is for me,and with no calories. I actually wouldn't mind buying a whole coffee can size of the stuff to have on hand and to let it age a bit. Dudes, sometimes quality can lurk right out in the open at your local drug store. Enjoy! But don't be ashamed of the Captain! The stock I'm finding around here is high quality.

Ok guys, what I want to know is how many of you sent away for the "helmsman" pipe advertised on the inside cover?! (was it any good.....?)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-02-10		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

When I tryed this tobacco back in the early 80's I quite liked it. It was mild,full of flavor,very zesty, and didn't bite. The aroma was to die for. It smelled like chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. This is when they packed it in a thick tin with a pry up lever built into the lid. Inside the can you found a very black fire cured cavendish and bright ribbon cut {although it looked almost shag} burley. Well Iv'e tryed this blend recently and I thought it was terrible. The taste and the zestyness have dissapeared! The black tobbaco has faded to a burnt sienna almost. The aroma has changed too. This isn't the Captain Black I remember ! It also ruins your pipe and you can't get the taste of this tobacco out of your pipe unless you clean it with alcohol, brandy, or whisky. I will not keep this blend on hand. I wish you could still get Black Clipper. That was the best of the drugstore type black aromatics Don't waste your money,pipe cleaners, or your brandy on Captain Black.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-01-19		Mild	Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

A famous architect once said "Less is more". He could have been talking about Captian Black - white. There is something to be said for this tobacco,while it is not very complex and very simple, it has lots to offer and does not require alot of thought. It is eaisly smoked, has a nice flavor(vanilla)and has a wonderful room note. I really enjoy smoking this puttering around the yard. It is a smoke that I like to have almost daily (only one bowl)in my rotation.

This simple man likes this simple tobacco.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kerdy (43)	2003-07-13		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

When I first stared smoking I tried a few store brands and 1-Q, at that time, this was one of my favorites. I dislike 1-Q. I like a tobacco that is pleasant for the people around me when I smoke it. I am usually around people. Opening the bag presented a very pleasant smell creating a desire to hurry up and start smoking it. It packs well and unless packed wrong tends to stay lit with maybe one re-light. If you are a person who tends to puff more often than you probably should, Capt. tends to stay cooler than others I have tried and if getting too hot, cools down fast. The taste at light up is the same as at the end. A little boring but at least you know what you are getting. If smoked too much over a short period of time it does get a little heavy and the vanilla will get on your nerves. It is cheap and a good basic smoke. For now it is a regular rotated tobacco for me and will probably stay that way even after I find others that I like. A great beginner tobacco.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pounder 5000 (178)	2003-04-09		Mild	Very Strong	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

This stuff has far to much vanilla glycol! The Captain got it righ with the royal blue package- he really needs to stick with it. Why smoke this when the blue tastes way better? I tried this because I liked the blue and found out that other than attracting ladies in heat it was better to stick with the royal which does a fine job all on its own!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The Printer Piper (18)	2023-02-12		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I have been trying some of these legacy blends recently just to round out my experiences. I purchased CB Royal and really seemed to enjoy it, so I gave Original a shot. In all honesty, I couldn’t taste any difference between the two. Perhaps the only slight difference was Original seems to have more of a tobacco taste than Royal, but almost unnoticeable. Both are good and enjoyable in a very unassuming way, nothing amazing but nothing bad. A good tobacco to enjoy cutting the lawn or fixing your car. The room note is excellent on both - I didn’t get any bitterness or bite. But both do have a slight chemical taste that’s hard to define, but it’s not bad. I think CB is a safe, all day mild smoke. But it’s not complex enough or intense enough to be my one goto blend. It’s good enough to satisfy for a limited time.

Pipe Used: Savenelli Clark’s Favorite

Similar Blends: Captain Black Royal.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nineinchwood (2)	2023-02-02		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Just love this blend. It's very pipey, in that old-school codger way. You would be hard pressed to find a more pleasant room note. No wonder it has been such a crowd pleaser since 1956 - it's timeless.

The vanilla dominates the pouch note in a way that I find pleasing, and it produces a baked goods-like scent when smoked - reminiscent of vanilla, chocolate chip cookies, with hints of brown sugar and roasted marshmallows thrown in for good measure.

Vanilla was also the dominant flavor, though I found it to be more subtle than the pouch would suggest. Very enjoyable to sip on - the subtle vanilla flavor is divine and always has me craving more.

Don't let any snobs reviews steer you away from this one. It's a pipe tobacco that really captures that nostalgia from yesteryear.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Cob

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JoePipeMan (3)	2022-07-28		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I'm reviewing this in the lens of what this tobacco is. A great, ready to use, easy to light OTC brand. That being said, you really cant go wrong with the Captain. The roomnote is top notch and as others have stated, incredibly nostalgic if you knew someone in the past that smoked a pipe. Notes of vanilla and dark fruit will fill the room and, to a lesser extent, your pallet. Tounge-bite is minimal unless you're going for the choo-choo-train look.

To keep it simple, this is a solid smoke that most everyone can enjoy. Is it the best thing in the world? No, but it's one of the best convenient OTC pouches you can pick up pretty much anywhere and be satisfied. It's not fancy, but gets the job done.

Pipe Used: Briar Full bent

Age When Smoked: A day

Purchased From: Local Smoke Shop

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jorge Soler (202)	2022-07-11		Mild	Extra Strong	Medium	Overwhelming

I did not enjoy this tobacco. As a matter of fact, I put the pipe out after a few minutes. I do not know if they use good or bad grade tobacco leaf because the casing is so strong you can hardly detect anything.

Similar Blends: Autumn Evening.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kage (7)	2022-06-18		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I was never a big fan of aromatic tobacco as I stated before. Hell, White Owl cigars tasted better than most aromatic tobaccos. Swisher sweets were better than most aromatics. They almost never taste as they smell and would only be good for burning like an incense as opposed to fouling a good pipe. Thankfully nature saw fit to making corncobs for those of us that would like to try something different but not wanting to screw up a perfectly good briar.

Captain Black is a beautifully sweet, and marshmallow like flavor. It has a very pleasant room note that makes my bedroom smell amazing for up to four days, which is no easy task, given I have no F's to give on keeping my room clean. The worst part about this is that it used to give me heart burn, but seems to have dissipated like the beautiful bluish smoke this produces. Also the pouches seem smaller than they used to, but otherwise a very fine aromatic. I would recommend developing a pallet before giving this one a go as it can be a nauanced and disappointing experience for a rookie pipe smoker.

Pipe Used: MM Corncob

Age When Smoked: Brand New

Purchased From: Maine Tobacco

Similar Blends: Borkum Riff Original.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JEM (24)	2021-09-14		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

When I want to smoke my pipe with an easy, aromatic, tobacco that packs easily, lights easily, smokes evenly and all the way through, this is my go to tobacco. Everyone in the room liked the vanilla notes. This tobacco is straight forward and nothing to get excited about, but I wouldn't be without it.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	The Alchemist (1)	2021-07-31		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Long time cigar smoker, newish to pipes. This was recommended by a lot of people. Bag note I get dark chocolate and booze-soaked cherries. The smoke is sweet and I get faint hints of fruit. The room note is pleasant and it burns real smooth no bite. At the end of the bowl, the fruit dies down and sweetness goes away but the smoke is still pleasant. this will be added to my buy again list and can be a daily smoker for some but I think I would get burned out on this if I smoked it more than once a week. It's good but I like more complex flavors. This has earned real estate space in my Cellar.

Pipe Used: Corn cob

Purchased From: Cigarbid

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DeathMetal.org (231)	2021-07-14		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Summary: probably the best in breed aromatic, this light Burley and Cavendish blend has some taste and a great smell.

Most people choose pipe tobacco products based on what they are not: no bite, no stink, no nicotine poisoning. Captain Black offers the best of the big dime store aromatics, taking a white Burley and sweetened Cavendish blend and soaking it in a topping of cherry, mint, cocoa, maple, vanilla, and rum (most of the "chemical" taste is in fact the rum extract). Unlike most, this one is not goopy, probably because the sugar is in the Cavendish and not in the topping. As a result, it burns better than most aromatics, and has a barely discernible tobacco flavor under the combination of scents which make it taste like sassafras or root beer. As far as room note goes, it's basically an air freshener, so you can avoid all those complaints of yourself and others about nicotine, stink, or bite; it has basically none of these, and the occasional glimpses of Burley and Cavendish flavor are a nice surprise.

Similar Blends: Blender's Gold - Golden Burley, Lane Limited - 1-Q, Sutliff Tobacco Company - Dark Decadence Z93, Sutliff Tobacco Company - 1M.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Demosthenes (13)	2021-03-09		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Captain Black White is what I first attempted to smoke in a pipe. It completely turned me off of pipe smoking because of the tongue bite. This tobacco takes a light well and requires an average number of relights. The first half of the pipe smokes fairly well with a sweet an comfortable feeling. The tin note is good and the room note is the best. I suspect that many people smoke this tobacco for the room note and the attention they derive from it. I prefer a more consistent blend without the bite.

Pipe Used: Cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Local

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnCy (2)	2020-11-18		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

The new cut is similar to crumble cake is pressed you have to break it to put in pipe The pouch I bought is from Scandinavian T.G. not Lane tobacco from here in Cyprus. I remember before 25 years my uncle had a pouch and the cut was a loose cut like the Lane pouch not pressed in any way. The room note is very nice as everyone thinks and I also like the smell of it in the pouch. But once you light it all you taste is a sweet mild taste with the Black Cavendish to dominate in the blend The Virginia is not there, I couldn't detect any I only taste little nuttines from the Burley and a chemically vanilla flavoured taste that is infused in the Black Cavendish I believe I recommend you pack it tight in the bowl to taste some flavour out of it. The taste is mild and strength also very mild you have to take many puffs to feel the nicotine and it smokes cool if you don't smoke quickly and it will bite if you smoke it like crazy. Nice blend for begginers or if you can't find something better but you will get disappointed if you expected a flavour full and strong blend. I put it in a mason jar to age and see if this affect the flavour

Pipe Used: Mini Pipe, Muxiang straight billiard

Age When Smoked: In pouch 1-3 years

Purchased From: Tobacco shop

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Unoraptor (1)	2020-10-11		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I would not say it is bad, but I will probably never buy it again. It did not seem to have a very complex flavor.

The flavor seemed to mainly just be smoke. It tastes about like taking a big puff from a wood-burning fireplace.

If you just want to taste pure smoke flavor, you might like it. It is also very cheap.

The aftertaste lasts forever. The aftertaste seems kind of like burnt plastic.

Pipe Used: Dr. Grabow

Purchased From: Walgreens

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2020-08-19		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black has a great tin note and a very pleasant room note. I find that it will easily bite though if you don't watch your smoking cadence. Just sip it and enjoy.

Pipe Used: Cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Local

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DakotaHale43 (47)	2020-07-29		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Smells really good out of the pouch. Packs easily and lights (and stays lit well). Good amounts of vanilla but perhaps not enough to please the hardcore aromatic smoker. Burns to the end with nice white ash.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bassel_L (7)	2020-05-30		Medium to Strong	Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

Anyone has to try this blend once. It is overwhelmingly aromatic and taste a lot like a sugared vanilla. If anyone loves aromatic tobacco, he should try this at least once. Lets be clear, if you've new to pipe smoking, this will definitely be your gateway to pipe smoking. You'll not very much like it if you are an experienced smoker, or, you are an english w va/per type of smoker.

Pipe Used: Big Ben Bent Pipe

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Local Store

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MAddMAnn (17)	2019-11-14		Mild	Medium	Very Mild	Pleasant

I bought this and two other captain black tobaccos as part of my first purchase when getting into the hobby. I will say the experience was certainly pleasant enough to get me intereted. My taste out grew them quickly though. If I was to choose one of the captain blacks to try first I would have. Been this one. The diversity of the blend makes it actually interesting for a newbie to purposefully select more cavendish or not to detect the difference in the smoke.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ChadwickGHurlburt (24)	2019-10-15		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Pleasant

I assume this is the classic and original Captain Black offering. I bought this blend, along with just about every other available when I started smoking pipes in earnest about 12 years ago. At the time, it was this or Prince Albert or Borkum Riff. I had not yet discovered the many other blends that existed. My shopping was limited to the local cigarette store at that time.

Being curious, I open my old pouch of Captain Black (white) to see how badly it had dried out over the last decade. To my surprise, it hadn't dried out at all. The moisture actually seemed to be about perfect. A testament to the power of propylene glycol as a tobacco additive. I remembered the blend for the tongue bite it and Borkum Riff gave me. Although, i don't remember it being quite as offensive as Borkum Riff in that respect. Still, it did cause tongue bite.

Aged is often noted as an improving measure for a tobacco blend, making it smoother, better. I figured that few people have a chance to smoke 10 year old Captain Black, so I decided to give it a try.

Maybe it was the propylene glycol, maybe it was something else. What I do know is that it was exactly the same as I remembered it being over 10 years ago. It was all there, the taste, the mouth feel, the tongue bite. A decade of smoking experience did keep me from suffering a serious tongue bite. However, it is clear that this tobacco did not age well.

Actually, it didn't age at all. I now strongly suspect that if a pouch of this could be locked away for a thousand years in a time capsule, those future people would find a pouch of Captain Black that is nearly identical and unchanged from the time it was placed in the capsule a 1000 years earlier.

Captain Black is Captain Black. It is what it is, and apparently will always be just that. It's been on the market for a long time and continues to sell. There must be plenty of folks who like it a lot. It's mostly a Cavendish blend, so you get the typical flavored Cavendish vanilla and pleasant room notes. The other components of the blend that are not Cavendish don't stand out. It was those that I had hoped would improve and change the blend into something more interesting given the age of it. That didn't happen.

Honestly, if I want to smoke Cavendish, there are many other options I would reach for before this. I've really tried to like Captain Black over the years. I wouldn't describe it as a terrible tobacco, terrible tobaccos do exist. Rather, I would describe it as a good "training" tobacco. Something to teach the new smokers how to pace themselves and go slow without tasting awful or offering up too strong a flavor profile or kick. It works great at that. Puff too fast or too hard and it tears a hole in your tongue. It teaches pipe smokers good technique. And for that reason, I give it two stars and consider it "somewhat recommended".

Age When Smoked: 10 years +

Similar Blends: Captain Black Gold, Captain Black Blue, Captain Black (pick a color).

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Shaun_Pearson (21)	2019-07-12		Very Mild	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This tobacco was one of my very first blends, and I wasn't fond of it. The vanilla flavor was subtle, and overall left a tolerable post room note.

Pipe Used: Handmade Briar

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Hanaford in Auburn, ME

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	zcordle95 (4)	2018-12-12		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Here’s my input on Captain Black. It’s a drug store pipe tobacco, which means it’s not going to be the most extravagant brand of pipe tobacco to ever hit the human tongue. Sure there are other great aromatics out there, but to the beginner or someone who loves aromatics, go for it! It may not have the stongest taste, or nicotine content, but it is what it is: an OTC pipe tobacco, NOT an addition to the McClelland Frog Morton series or a Dunhill brand (RIP to both) it smells good, and in my opinion it tastes good! I’m more of an English blend guy myself, and love something that has more taste, but this is a GREAT aromatic. But everyone is different! So don’t make it out to be what it’s not and don’t knock it till you try it. If you don’t like it, don’t buy/smoke it anymore, or give it to someone who likes aromatics.

Pipe Used: Savinelli, corn cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Food Lion

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mel64us (46)	2018-12-08		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Captain Black White seems to be a "love it or hate it" blend if you read all of the reviews. Well, I don't love it but I don't hate it. If it is the only blend available at the time, I don't mind it. I like the vanilla flavor and the room note. It usually loads and lights well. I just have a bit of a problem with the aftertaste it leaves. It's not harsh, it just seems to last forever. I much prefer Captain Black Royal. In fact, CBR is my go-to blend, with PS Optimum running a very close second. " Smoke what you like and like what you smoke".

Pipe Used: Cob, Peterson, Dr. Grabow

Age When Smoked: Fresh to 2 years

Purchased From: Various shops

Similar Blends: Captain Black Royal.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Klavier89 (2)	2018-12-02		Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

It seems this brand is a bit like cilantro, people either love it or hate it.

I found this brand to be quite nice. I live in Canada and mine came in a silver pouch and did not say "original" on it so it IS possible I have a different blend, but from what I have read it smelled and tasted like the same blend as the white original.

Honestly I give this blend two thumbs up. I would not smoke it every day, but would definitely always keep a tin on my hutch. I found it to have a classic taste and smell, both of which were quite mild but pleasant. I did not find it to be as aromatic as some other people seem to but I would no turn my nose up at this blend.

It is a classic uncomplicated blend for a classic uncomplicated person that can be enjoined both by the smoker and their company.

Pipe Used: Augustus Caesar Pipe, shape 23

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Shefield & Sons Tobacconists

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sooofisticated (4)	2018-11-20		Mild	Medium	Mild	Extra Strong

Just a short review on this one. One of the first blends I tried. I quickly looked for non-aromatic alternatives. Then when I realized not all aromatics are this bad I started to try them again, but really I’m not a huge aromatic fan.

Everyone loves the way it smells, “heavenly,” I’ve been told—but honestly it gives me the same noxious feeling as gasoline fumes by mid way through the bowl. I got really desperate a few weeks ago and bought some, smoked a bowl or two, and then left it at the bar in key west.

Purchased From: Walgreens

Similar Blends: Gasoline.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Flinthills Tex (27)	2018-11-09		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Living in Europe, I can easily find a great variety of high quality pipe tobacco, but I can't get any American brands. Every time I make it back to the States, I make it a point to try a different OTC pipe tobacco. This year I chose Captain Black. Upon opening the pouch I was treated to a pleasantly spicy-sweet scent reminiscent of licorice and vanilla. The tobacco is ribbon cut, mostly dark chocolate browns and blacks. The moisture content is just right for smoking out of the pouch. This tobacco packs well and lights with 2 matches. The smoke itself tastes less sweet than I would have expected, a subdued nutty sweet flavor with hints of vanilla, but also a perceptible yet pleasant smokiness to it. The tobacco burns down to a fine ash with no dottle and no tonguue bite. The room note is very pleasing to bystanders. One of the best OTCs I've tried!

Pipe Used: Vauen, Butz Choquin, Lorenzo, db, Savinelli

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: Smoke Shop in Trexlertown, PA

Similar Blends: Borkum Riff.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2018-10-19		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

A pleasant smoke for those who desire a sweet innocuous aromatic blend.

The vanilla topping is at the forefront off the blend. Next, I find the burley slightly nutty with some hints of coco, though this might be part of other ingredients in the topping. The black cavendish produces mostly sweet hot air and the Virginias get lost. The blend can bite, so watch out.

Overall, Captain Black is a pleasant smoke, but nothing specifically helps it to stand out in a sea of vanilla flavored aromatics.

It is similar to Lane 1-Q, but Captain Black has more burley and a stronger topping. Mac Baren 7 Seas Regular has similar tobacco components, but is more driven by the cocoa topping.

. __.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipetweed (5)	2018-08-14		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

3.25 stars.

This tobacco seems to have caused something of a stir. I smoked two bowls of this today on a lunt determining whether and how I would write this review. I only add my notes in hopes of tempering a new comer's impression of this blend from the various scathing reviews that have been posted here.

First, as other fans have indicated, this is a "blue collar blend" in every sense of the word. On the one hand, this blend is not for the highfalutin connoisseur or for the persnickety. Those who are looking for wide varieties of flavours and searching for subtleties are bound to be disappointed. This blend is as straightforward as a hard-working farmer: dare I say, it is even blunt. Nor does it falsely advertise: it is an unpretentious aromatic, plain and simple. On the other hand, it will work hard for you.

Mechanically, it is one of the most forgiving tobaccos I have ever smoked. I have never had to relight it, unless I set the pipe aside for some minutes, and it has burned down to a dry, fine white ash every time from a char light. That's right: a char light has kept this blend going to the bottom every time. It leaves almost no dottle whatever. Nor does it leave any goop or moisture at the bottom of the bowl (even though I am a rather "wet" smoker ordinarily). Moreover, I have smoked it in a variety of conditions from winter to summer, from living rooms to windy sidewalks. It is hardy in the winter and light in the summer. It smokes cool in all conditions, as long as one does not puff at it like a steam engine. Like the old ads said: "Never a bite in a bowl."

I started looking more into aromatics after smoking this blend and having my wife compliment the smell. It's not my favourite, but it is enjoyable, and it keeps the wife happy.

There are so many factors to consider when weighing a bad review (or any review for that matter): the tastes and history of the particular smoker, the pipe he uses, the technique he employs, and the environment he is smoking in. More than that, one can rightly ask whether the reviewer just had bad luck and got a package made with the bottom of the bowl, so to speak. And tastes change. One of my first loves was MB's 7 Seas Regular. I bought it again and could not finish the first bowl. I have decided not to give up on it and will buy it again at a later date. I recommend that smokers who do not enjoy a blend give it three separate tries. If you are worried about the cost go in with a friend or borrow a pinch or two. At the most you lose the price of two cups of Starbucks coffee. It is worth the cost if the alternative is imposing a bilious review on shopping smokers.

One final note: I have noticed no difference between the quality of pouches and tins. Both behave equally well. I have had the last four to five bowls' worth of tobacco sitting in my leather tobacco pouch for the past several days, and it stills feels almost as moist as when I first bought it.

I recommend this blend to the smoker unfamiliar with aromatics and to the novice smoker, but with a caveat: learn what you are doing first, then judge the tobacco. Only a poor craftsman blames his tools.

Pipe Used: Brigham Voyageur

Age When Smoked: Not aged

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	C. A. Rossoni (1)	2018-04-28		Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Judging this tobacco is a fairly educative task, once it is subject of frequent genus/species confusions. Many flaws are appointed that are in fact related to the entire genus, and therefore are not flaws. The extravagance of aromatic tobaccos is something that pertain to this genus (in higher or lower degrees). As a cigarette and cigar inveterate who came to smoke his first pipe after 10 years of smoking other forms of tobacco, I couldn't be more skeptical about artificially added flavours. But I have to admit, this blend gave me a lot to think about, and was the one to break my skepticism. It can be argued that it is maybe too much chemically manipulated, and it certainly do not have that extremelly satisfying virtue of the more expensive and pure blends - that is a natural, unsuspected, refined, ontological integrity - but there is a position in the market for something that is not exactly refined, but yet pleasant. I call it the waiting room, the driving, the "I forgot to bring my pouch" tobacco. Someone up here said it is like the girl he knew in college: futile and somewhat nasty. Maybe that can't be negated. But it happens all the time that we find joy in childish, innocent, beautifully foolish girls. It's sweet, unpretentious and playfull, which means you've got have a "sense of humor" to enjoy it. Certainly a blend for when you feel more of a hedonist, and less of a connoisseur. It doesn't deserve 4 stars, for that I reserve to those heroic blends that convey what they have to using tobacco only. It doesn't deserve 3 stars, for that would be the best aromatic following the last principle. Two stars it is.

Age When Smoked: New

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokingHawk (54)	2017-12-24		Very Mild	Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

I think every almost every new pipe smoker starts smoking or into their intermediate days they try CB blend. Easily available and relatively cheaper. I also bought a pouch of cb 3 blends smoked a bowl of white before I get any taste or flavor I was half way and then it was taste less. I still have it and smoke just the heck of it.

Age When Smoked: New from the pouch

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RondyR (8)	2017-10-26		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I am often amazed at how wildly opinions can differ within our little community. Captain Black Regular, or White as I call it, is a polarizing tobacco to put it mildly. People tend to either love it or absolutely despise it.

I fall into the “Love It” catagory myself, but please keep in mind that I am primarily an English blend man and not much of an aromatic one. I have been smoking Captain Black White at least a few times a year for the past twenty years now.

Yes, it will bite if you puff on it as if it were a cigarette. Do this and you will wonder if not tearing your own tongue out with tongs would be less painful than the tongue bite.

Yes, unequivocally yes, women love the smell of it. Even people who are violently anti-smoking will smile at it and comment how wonderful it smells. It often causes people to remember warm and loving memories of a father or grandfather, and who doesn’t like such great memories?

Yes, it’s pretty goopy. Like Jim said in his review, puff slowly.

This is a great blend to smoke when out in public or if you are doing something like mowing the yard or fishing; it’s a blend that you can puff on and not think much about. The price per pouch or tin is good and it can be found just about anywhere, making it a decent tobacco to grab when you are out doing something and realize that you left your pouch at home.

I recommend that everyone give it a shot at least once. It’s been the best-selling pipe tobacco by far for fifty years and counting. You only get that sort of staying power by being pretty decent and by being a good bargain.

I would recommend that you stay away from Captain Black Gold and Royal; in my opinion they are just terrible. Captain Black White and the newish Captain Black Dark are pretty good and may pleasantly surprise you.

3.25 stars.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: Various

Purchased From: Various Retailers

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jevverrett (106)	2017-09-10		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

I bought this one recently out of curiosity. It was this, or carter hall. I waited till I had a cob to smoke it though, as it is an aromatic of royal pedigree. I usually don't smoke them.

It's a ribbon blend with some chunky cav in it. Smells strongly of vanilla and honey. A lot like marshmallows so far as room note. It packs and lights very easily and tastes similar to it's smell for the first half. After which I noticed tobacco popping up here and there.

I would swear it has the same sauce as 1-Q. It may even be 1-Q with some va added to round it out. It tastes like it, and smells almost exactly like it. And, is made by the same folks.

Others enjoy the smell. My wife, my kids, my mom, my mother in law. I'm sure you get the idea. Not bad for a beginner, or an aro fan. It's a huge seller worldwide for a reason.

Pipe Used: MM Morgan cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh?

Purchased From: B&M shop

Similar Blends: Lanes 1-Q.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Davetopay2 (16)	2017-08-26		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

The classic stench of grand fathers who can't be bothered to smoke better, or are tired of grandma complaining about them smoking something without the artificial flavors and aromas.

Surprisingly, age did help this a tiny bit. It's still covered in PG, feels like plastic, and leaves me wishing I had smoked something else. But, in a pinch, it will do.

I think I can taste some burley, maybe a pinch of va, but it isn't the star. It's all about whatever syrup they dump on it.

If I was looking for a pouch of something to tide me over at the drugstore, I'd go to Carter Hall first.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: I think I jarred this in 2008

Purchased From: Drugstore?

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pops Pipe (19)	2017-06-20		Very Mild	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Was better about 40 years ago, now its goop and chemicals ! Fouls up a pipe badly, and gets boring real fast. Its a shame because it used to be better.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BROBS (67)	2017-06-09		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

One of the worst I've tried as far as bite, residue, and stink. Smells good on the surface but when that casing scent is gone good luck.. smells like 1000 cigarettes in a public toilet. I tried this when I first started off internet suggestions and that was a big mistake.. I nearly quit right then. This stuff has so much crap on it that it's literally wet to the touch. The day after I smoked it I literally was sick with stomach issues... sitting on the toilet, oh boy! I even tried cutting it 50/50 with no-bite burley and it couldn't save it. Not one I would recommend to my worst enemy. This stuff is pure crap and the only reason it's still around is because it's prevalent anywhere... which is a vicious cycle.

People saying it's crap tobacco isn't snobbery.. it's fact. To like this a person must have no taste buds left and a tongue of leather.

QUIT TELLING BEGINNERS TO TRY THIS IT'S A CHEMICAL MESS AND NOT EVEN CHEAP!

Pipe Used: Briars, Missouri Meerschaum Legend

Age When Smoked: out of pouch.. 2 weeks from opening

Purchased From: Gas Station

Similar Blends: dog poop.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ecce_ego (24)	2017-05-16		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Good aroma, nice color, a bit soggy from the pouch. It tastes a bit bland, just a standard otc aromatic that works when you need it, bit is nothing to sit and ponder over. Another "walking" tobacco (I do a lot of walking.)

Pipe Used: Briar

Purchased From: Convenience store

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lazarus77 (91)	2017-04-27		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Not bad tobacco. Mildly flavored, without tongue bite, very easy to smoke, can be all day... Will buy again, sometimes everyone needs an easy smoke. Recommended.

Pipe Used: Corn cobs

Age When Smoked: ?

Purchased From: Local drug store

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gahdzila (61)	2017-03-20		Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

Mostly black, with a few pale flecks speckled in. Mixed ribbon cut...mostly medium, but I got a lot of small pieces and crumbs in my sample as well. It's a little moist, but not bad. Tin note is very pleasant. Surprisingly well behaved and bite free for an aromatic. Nicotine level is mild, as expected...on par with its peers.

Captain Black's topping reminds me of marshmallows. It doesn't really taste like marshmallows per se.....but the taste is sweet and "warm" and "fluffy", if that makes sense....and marshmallows sort of come to mind. I don't know what exactly it tastes like, but it is quite pleasant. The tobacco flavor is black cavendish, and I think I get a tiny hint of burley as well.

Overall, not bad for what it is.

The above review is for the tub version. The pouch version seems to have a lot more PG added, and is thus wetter, much less well behaved in the pipe, and require more relights.

originally reviewed 12/1/2012

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	1979 (62)	2017-03-08		Extremely Mild	Medium	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Very Pleasant

The Captain!

This review is based on a collection of nearly twenty year old memories but what an impression The Captain made. For the beginning piper, I'd recommend something more like Carter Hall, a far more forgiving tobacco. The Captain tends to keelhaul them who lack superior pipe form.

A very nice room note. I remember a girl I was friends with commenting that it was "a nice touch, a nice winter touch." Otherwise, no tobacco flavor and no nicotine either. What flavor there is is a chemically sort of vanilla as I remember. Attempts to puff up some power from The Captain will lead you to burn your tongue and maybe also the roof of your mouth, because this is one hot wet smoke. I mean, you dont know what tongue bite is til you've puffed on this. And it will make your pipe gurgle with moisture and goop.

I'm not too good to smoke and enjoy otc blends, but this is one of the worst. Long lived mass market saturation doesn't always equal a fantastic product. The preceding comments go for Captain Black Gold also.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Corncob3 (77)	2017-03-01		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

The ladies might like the scent and you may look debanaire smoking this, but it just doesn't jive with me. Upon light up I got an overbearing cherry sweet and stinging sensation on my tongue. Too much liquore, anyone? The flavor was flat and tasted like smoked cardboard. Yuck. Even after drying this lacked in appeal. If you're that desperate for a nic hit and are in a pinch, then I'd understand picking up a pouch of this. The pouch note and aroma are nice. That's all this pipe weed has going for it. If you like this genre, go with Decatur's Mild and Mellow (which is being phased out) or Blender's Gold Burley and Black. Not only are these blends far cheaper than the old Captain, they have a better flavor profile and are easy on the tongue. These blends do need a little air time but they are a worthy alternative.

Similar Blends: Decatur's Mild and Mellow, Blender's Gold Burley and Black..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ahmad Othman (51)	2016-10-15		Very Mild	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This blend is a decent addition from CB. It suffers most of the drawbacks of Captain Black, goopy pouch moisture, bad cut full of twigs and stems.. But it has a delightful aroma and the taste of Vanilla is less chemical than other CB blends. It has little hints of cacao that are inconsistent, and it's better added to another blend to make your own if you're experimenting with this. But nothing more for me

Pipe Used: Falcon Istanbul

Age When Smoked: Fresh Pouch

Purchased From: Local B&M

Similar Blends: Lane Limited - Captain Black Royal.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kamerling (28)	2016-09-05		Medium	Strong	Full	Pleasant

We get quite firmly compacted black mixture of Cavendish with Burley. According to the descritpion, manufacturer adds there also Golden Virginia , though I have not noticed the taste or leafs of it. This sticky tobacco is characterized by high humidity and surprisingly well-resistant for drying. Captain Black White in contrast to the classic Danish flavors is not characterized by an artificial sweetener aftertaste or the infamous syrup .

While the taste of tobacco has not been defiled oversweetening, there is no way to defend that slightly perfumed aroma . Opening the envelope hits a strong dose of sugar- powdery scent . Despite the slight cherry flavor and intense fragrance reminiscent of ... vanilla pudding . A characteristic feature of the burning of a thick white smoke, a little light in the smell , but still perceptible . Characteristic feature of a thick white smoke - light in the smell , but still perceptible.

Notice that I smoked Captain Black Regular manufactured for and in USA - European version is not that same good.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mayor91 (3)	2016-08-28		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

I'm not really sure what all the hate directed toward this venerable old blend is for. Is it complex? No. Is it the greatest tobacco the world has ever seen? No. Is it a good aromatic? YES! In fact, I would say it is one of my favorite aromatics. I'm not much for aromatic tobacco, but I do occasionally like them and I always keep it on hand along with some "proprietary blends" that I own and the pouch of Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic that I keep for nostalgia's sake (it is my grandfather's sole blend). So yeah, I like non-aromatics and LOVE a good, stout English blend, but sometimes, the Captain is calling.

So to the review part, post-rant. I really enjoy a nice vanilla topping, but I also want to taste tobacco. CBW does just that. The Virginia and Burley really is in harmony with the Cavendish in this blend rather than acting in the role of chorus girls. It actually tastes like tobacco with a soft vanilla flavoring. I definitely prefer it to straight Cavendish, which smells fantastic but doesn't do much besides make me crave a cupcake.

Aroma is fantastic, as one would expect. I can't really speak to "room note" so to speak as I smoke exclusively outdoors, but I can't imagine anyone disliking this smell. It is THE classic American aromatic for a reason.

Aesthetically speaking, great billows of smoke. Beautiful, almost shiny white that I just love to watch. Along the same lines as Carter Hall in the smoke texture department, which should be read as high praise. Sometimes I smoke just to watch the smoke, in which case I will grab for CBW or Carter Hall, although my mouth enjoys CBW a little better.

As far as heat, it does tend to get a little on the warm side, so be careful of that. However, as if by magic, it does NOT bite. I'm not sure how this happens. I tend to be a freight train when I'm puffing and I never have a problem getting tongue bite.

Finally, it stays lit with very little effort, while also giving a good 20-25 minutes of smoking pleasure. It burns down all the way with some maintenance to a fine grey ash.

So in the end, I would definitely recommend it to my friends and neighbors, especially if they just want a break from heavier stuff.

Score: Solid 3.5. Not quite a four but superior to a three.

Happy Puffing!

Pipe Used: Wessex Bristol (Dublin Shape)

Age When Smoked: Not Cellared (It doesn't last that long!)

Purchased From: A Variety of Places

Similar Blends: The Country Squire Tobacconist - Cherokee , Lane Limited - 1-Q.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ABCDomino (2)	2016-08-20		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

While this is certainly not a premium or excellent tobacco, it is an enjoyable smoke. I like a flavorful tobacco, but sometimes I just want something mild in my pipe. This fits the bill, very mild flavor, great room note, and contrary to a lot of reviews it doesn't smoke harsh if allowed to dry. This is loaded with humicant though, so drying on a wet pouch could be a lengthy process. Load up, smoke easy, don't be afraid to relight. There's a reason Captain Black has been an American staple for decades... it's an easy all day smoke that won't knock you on your rear.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Morgan

Age When Smoked: New pouch

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nwpipesmker (27)	2016-08-10		Very Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I want express that those who rag on this blend must do it out of ignorance. This is the top selling pipe tobacco in America for a very good reason. It is one of the best aromatic to tobaccos out there. I personally like the burley black cavendish with a vanilla note to it. It's mild and cool with good flavor. You never get bit by it. One of the tobaccos I keep stocked up on. The room note is great too. Probably the best room note of any pipe tobacco on the market. If you are looking for a nicotine kick this might not be for you.

Pipe Used: Big ben bent billard also old country gent

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Drug store

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Hunor (8)	2016-08-04		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I am new to Captain Black, never tried it before. I decided to write a review because I guess it could be helpful to others. I wanted something light, for a day's first smoke. CB Regular is ok for this purpose. It's black cavendish and burley, so it can be nice in the morning, I thought. Still haven't decided if I will keep it in my rotation. Here's why. As I opened the pouch I smelled black raisins. The first smoke tasted like black raisins as well, and it reminded me of something. I soon realized, it reminds me of the Italian tobaccos cased with vine (vine tartar to be exact): Cellini and DaVinci. Fruity, a bit sweet - it's nice at the beginning. It also loses most of it's taste after the first quarter of the bowl, just like the Italians, but without the bite and the acidy feeling they leave behind. It just becomes somewhat dim. It's not bad though. But it's nothing very special either. Can be a nice everyday smoke for those who like it, I can imagine a friendship. But I'm not sure it will work for me on a long term.

Age When Smoked: new

Similar Blends: Cellini, DaVinci.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokeDawg (82)	2016-08-03		Mild	Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

Usually pipe smokers start out with a cheap pipe and drug store tobacco such is the branding of Captain Black and then work their way up to the good stuff. However, my pipe origins happens to be a VERY strange anomaly as I started out with a fine pipe and smoked only the good stuff working my way down to the chemical dime-store variety. Since it's creation over 50 years ago, I just may be the last piper to try Captain Black original and if I'm not and you care to hear an honest review from a pipe connoisseur and re-formed tobacco snob, read on.

First, having read all previous reviews I had a prejudice against the brand and sailing with the Captain was not a high priority but since the company sent me a coupon to cover the cost of a pouch I climbed aboard. IM GLAD I DID. I think this tobacco gets a bad wrap! Read on.

The smell was divine. To this day no tobacco can compete with this room note. The fragrance puts the honeys in a trance. It was old school and like nothing I've smelled before. Even if you close the pouch the spirit of the Captain fills whatever room you're in. Next, a nice rich cavendish sprinkled throughout with brighter burley got me intrigued. So according to the reviews that's where this love affair ends. I loaded a nice little hang jaw kaywoodie #16 and lit er up. I was tickled at the flavor and how easy it smoked. I also enjoyed that nice room note filling my garage as a I read the new Pipes and Cigars catalog I just got through the mail. I was surprisingly tickled and genuinely surprised. Can you taste the chemicals? Yes, a small amount but not as bad as people let on. The flavor profile is actually quite nice with a taste of sweetness. The only knock I have is it's very mild, I wish I could have bit more bottom to it. There is no tongue bite even when you push it. I've tasted worse tobacco and thats from high dollar bacca from big brand names. The Captain is worth taking a cruise. Millions of pipers over 50 years can't be wrong. There's a reason the Captain is still sailing after all these years, and I found out why. Glad I did.

Pipe Used: Kaywoodie 16 and corn cob

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	brunogayger (4)	2016-07-07		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Too artificial flavors but it doesn't make a bad tobacco, if you're a beginner or into aromatics it's a good option. Despite all the chemicals it does not bite you at all.

Age When Smoked: New

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JackalMike (7)	2016-06-01		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

First review...

Long-time cigarette smoker who decided that he wanted something more than a nic fix. I have only recently taken up serious pipe smoking. So I don't have a great deal of experience with different tobaccos and pipes.

I bought this on a whim. It isn't anything I would write home about. The pouch and room note are nice. But upon smoking it I noticed no discernable tobacco flavor. Just a sweet vanilla taste that left a film coating in my mouth. I can only assume the mouth film is from PG/humectants. Not much in the way of nicotine, at least not to a former Marlboro smoker.

This isn't my first rodeo with aros, so I took it slow and easy. No tongue bite for me. But I could see potential for it to happen if one were to chug.

I only paid $3-$4 US for the pouch. And I might finish it before it dries out and withers. But I doubt I will purchase it again unless I am without a choice.

Pipe Used: MM Cob

Age When Smoked: Unknown. Pouch from the shelf

Purchased From: Local smoke shop

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Presbyterian Piper (4)	2016-04-26		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

I tried not to like it I really did. I've been piping for a year now. I started by buying a cob on my 18th birthday and an ounce of 1Q from the local cigar shop. Since then I've really gotten into English blends and pretty much all things Latakia. However lately I've been making my rounds through OTC blends. Having tried and liked CH, The Prince, SWR, HnH, and 5bros I felt content and wanted to move on in trying other blends such as Granger and Lane Ready Rubbed. However I was in the Walgreens checkout line and saw this pouch on the bottom shelf next to the Top Cigarette tobacco. I figured what the hell I'll give it a try. Going into this I had a bias. Mainly because this blend is somewhat infamous for being crappy. Well once I opened the pouch I was greeted by a pleasant vanilla aroma. After lighting it up in my trusty MM Legend I was greeted by a ultra mild smooth vanilla smoke. Now this is definitely not the best OTC. And, I probably won't buy it again 1Q is better. But nothing takes away from the fact that this is descent. Its a smooth smoke you don't have to think about. As I'm typing I'm enjoying it out of my Kaywoodie estate. Probably gonna just save this blend for when I'm fishing on the boat. Definitely give this a try, but order it the Walgreens in Florida charged me 11 bucks!

Pipe Used: MM Legend, Kaywoodie

Age When Smoked: Fresh from Pouch

Purchased From: Walgreens

Similar Blends: 1-Q.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HobgoblinTA96 (60)	2016-04-23		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black was, for years, my go-to OCT Aromatic. In those days we lacked the online services of today, and after the loss of the shopping mall tobacconist there was only the drug store. For an OTC Aromatic it is a fine blend that I would still use today. To all those that find this blend loathsome, I would recommend some good old British Condor. I would wager they would change opinions rather quickly. This is not a beginner blend and as such needs to be smoked by a properly experienced veteran to enjoy it's many nuances. If you find this blend distasteful, train yourself up properly and give it another go. You may be surprised by the results. Cheers.

Pipe Used: Dr Gabrow Savoy

Age When Smoked: Used over several months

Purchased From: Shopping Mall tobacconist (B&M)

Similar Blends: American OTC Aromatic.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Troy_nov1965 (13)	2016-03-03		Mild	Mild to Medium	Overwhelming	Tolerable

Well i tried it ONCE and i would rather eat broken glass than try it again. Horrible stuff !!I could not finish a whole bowl of it. If hot, goopy, chemical mess is your idea of good tobacco then this is for you . Tasted like i was smoking a vanilla flavored used urinal cake. I do smoke OTC tobacco's but I will stick with my Carter Hall ,SWR,5 Brothers and Granger . I would rate it a 0 star but sadly its not a option.

Pipe Used: A corncob that i could toss

Age When Smoked: Who knows from all the PG

Purchased From: Food Lion

Similar Blends: Did i mention used urinal cake ?.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Corn cobs and briers (6)	2016-01-25		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Best of the best in drugstore tobacco. The aroma is very unique can only compare to raisin and vanilla and bean. Bought a pouch and compare syrupy moist....allowed to sit for a week believe it or not to dry at proper moisture. When smoked the flavors of vanilla and bean hit the tongue..the aroma of carmel and coco is picked up with a lingering vanilla. Best enjoyed in a corn cob for several reasons will ghost any brier or hardwood pipe. Also a corn cobs natural sweetness compliments any blends with cavandish or aromatic tobacco for that nature. Smooth smoking is key allowing the flavors to open.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mos6502 (4)	2015-12-24		Very Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Captain Black! It would only be fair to judge Captain Black relative to its OTC adversaries; Carter Hall, Half and Half, Prince Albert, and Sir Walter Raleigh.

In that light, it does pretty well. It has a nice room note. It stays lit pretty well. It tastes nice enough. It is sweeter than all the others, has more flavor than all the others. I personally slightly prefer the somewhat subtler flavoring of Sir Walter Raleigh. It is light, but not so light as Carter Hall. It is satisfactory and enjoyable.

It does have its issues - it is usually too moist right out of the pouch. I tend to leave the pouch open for about a week before smoking. Smoked before a bit of drying, it tends to need to be relit frequently, or you have to keep puffing on it until it tastes bitter or bites. No good. It will also leave a goopy mess if you don't dry it before smoking. Additionally, whether moist or dry, it leaves an aftertaste, unlike Sir Walter Raleigh or Carter Hall.

My favorite "trick" is to mix a pouch of Prince Albert into a pouch of Captain Black. I find this helps it burn more evenly, improves the taste a bit, and gives it a little more kick. Plus it tastes and smells a lot better than Prince Albert does on its own this way.

My review: 3 stars for properly dry Captain Black, 1 star for CB right out of the bag. Drying really does make that much difference.

Pipe Used: CC

Age When Smoked: a week after opening pouch

Purchased From: Walgreens

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	manxman (82)	2015-11-23		Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

No tongue bite. No nicotine. Bystanders commented favorably. Two and a half stars. If you're out of the good stuff, this is good for an OTC. Easy to light and it stays lit. Moisture level perfect as received from P and C. No gurgling, but the heel is wet. Don't know that it matters, I bought this in bulk. I found the flavor to be on the weak side. CB Gold is stronger. CB Royal stronger yet. The strongest CB that I tried was Dark.

Pipe Used: GBD billiard

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Pipes and cigars

Similar Blends: Lane 1 Q.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	jvnshr (23)	2015-11-10		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

Smoking Captain Black Regular is like eating a cheap candy which doesn't bother you that much, it's not the best, it's not the worst. Somewhat Recommended.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ASmithee (20)	2015-11-05		Very Mild	Medium	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

I like this blend and I now understand why it's a bulk best seller both online and in tobacco stores. It's a pleasant aromatic and you can taste the cavendish and vanilla flavor -- feels cool on your tongue.

Pipe Used: Corn Cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: P&G

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Giovanni Palomino (21)	2015-10-01		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

To compare it with a Captain Black Dark or Cherry something need you to make you stand out but is not as flat as the Gold and the Royal and also his note in the room is very nice so it you would give a second chance since these mixes are easy to get good price in Colombia.

Pipe Used: Country Gentleman Corn Cob Pipe

Purchased From: Estanco del centro Bogota Colombia

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TwelveAMnTX (28)	2015-09-19		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Captain Black White/Regular (CBW) is a decent representative of an OTC aromatic tobacco. It's liked by some, hated by others & compared to other tobaccos that are in a different class by most. I enjoy CBW for what it is, a readily available good tasting smoke that you can get almost anywhere.

When you 1st open the pouch or tub you smell the vanilla with a slight cocoa fragrance with a little PG chemical overtone, but not as bad as some others in it's class. You'll enjoy the vanilla/cocoa taste & room note, which is also very pleasing to others while smoking.

The key to a good smoke & keeping it lit is letting what you are going to smoke sit out for a bit to dry out or you're going to be relighting a bunch. Once you start smoking CBW it's best to keep to a slow sip or you're gonna get some tongue bite. You'll also not get much flavor, probably get some ashy taste & not enjoy the smoke at all. I usually use a filter in my pipe to cut down on the moisture created while smoking, which helps to make a cooler smoke as well.

There are a lot of OTC aromatics on the market, CBW in my opinion is a pretty good one. It's not something I smoke everyday, but it's a nice tobacco to have around. I give it a 2.5 almost 3 stars. I recommend trying it, if you like vanilla aromatics you'll like it.

Pipe Used: MM cobs & Lorenzo Atlante Chianti briar

Age When Smoked: fresh to few months in a jar

Purchased From: local B&M

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	jedibastard (37)	2015-09-18		Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

I will be completely honest with you.....I enjoy CB! I picked up my first pouch when i first stated this hobby a few years ago. I had 3 blends in my collection at the time. Macbaren navy flake, irish flake and st james woods. So i figured why the hell not?! Ive seen this tobacco everywhere, i like the art work on the pouch(im a label shopper). How bad can it be? I was on the hunt for that pipe tobacco i always smelled in the air walking past a guy smoking a pipe, or some old guy in a store who smelled like something other then cigarette smoke. I never had any family or friends that smoked a pipe. So it was all memory based.

Upon opening the pouch. I was met with this marshmellowie......fake vanilla aroma. Which to me smelled great! Which is weird because I was that weird kid who gave away his halloween candy because i swore i was born with a "sweet tooth".

Lighting wasnt very easy. I hadnt been smoking a pipe long, maybe a few weeks tops, so i figured it was me. No.....it wasnt me. That tobacco was moist and sticky. After finally getting it to stay lit, it didnt taste anything like it smelled. Almost a hot air type of smoke. Every once in a while, i got that "ah! I taste something" puff. Which was a mixture of vanilla, stale smoke, and this tangy, weird burning thing going on with my tounge. After a few bowls of trial and error. I threw it into my now jar labeled "VIKINGS MIX" (its just a jar i put a pinch of every tobacco i buy in, and smoke here and there. And its pretty damn good!)

Years later i figured out this has to be sipped. And i mean SIPPED slower then hot coffee. When CVS clearanced all tobacco products, they had two big tubs of this left. I figured for a total of $25 for both tubs, ill keep it just to look at, and maybe someday try it again when im old and crusty. Nah, i opened a tub the second i got home.

This time. I let it dry a bit. And was met with a new experience. Still wasnt anything to brag about. But it wasnt horrible. Got more flavor out of it then i expected. Still get a creamy mashmellow flavor here and there. But that room note........im almost positive this was the stuff i smelled when i was younger.

Clinthulhu said it best! You cant compare this to high quality tobacco. Theres no possible way! Its not the best out there, but we have all tried it at least once.

But i will bet every single one of you pipe smokers out there, when the zombie apocalypse happens..and all the fancy pipe tobacco is gone...all you CB haters will be trading food, water and ammo for a bowl of CB so you can load your pipe up and have a smoke!!!!

Pipe Used: Conway estate pipe

Purchased From: Cvs

Similar Blends: A marshmellow genetically modified at a nuclear facility..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bent-1 (39)	2015-08-09		Very Mild	Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

A decent aeromatic, though needs dried out. i spread out a couple bowl fulls single layer on a dinner plate & mictowave for 10 seconds and let stand to cool. Without the drying, it's a chemical tasting event

2.5 stars

Pipe Used: cob

Age When Smoked: 1-month

Purchased From: Rite Aid

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	rushm1n3r (20)	2015-08-06		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

In the words of Ralph Wiggum, it tastes like burning. Please go buy something good, like Odin's Wind, and skip this. You're not being snob, you're avoiding tongue bite.

Pipe Used: MM Diplomat

Age When Smoked: 1 smoke old

Purchased From: Walgreens (where else?)

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	guitar2mw (92)	2015-07-04		Mild	Medium to Strong	Mild	Very Pleasant

My first Captain Black review: I can't believe I haven't already covered this one! First of all, it's what I like to call a "beginner blend". It smells awesome, and therefore it draws beginners into the hobby. I was one of those beginners at one time. One of my ex-girlfriends' father smoked this all day, every day.

I will admit to liking the Captain. Yes, I still smoke a lot of this stuff. No, it isn't the greatest tasting tobacco ever, but it isn't the best. Yes, it is overpriced for what it is. Yes, there are other blends out there that are cheaper and much better in terms of quality. But there is just something that keeps me coming back to this one. Perhaps it's the amazing aroma, or the fact that it lights easily. Perhaps it's the soft flavor it provides. At any rate, if it is enjoyed correctly (sipped, not puffed furiously), then it should provide aromatic lovers with a satisfactory smoke.

Pipe Used: Grabows, Cobs

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Cumarinophil (108)	2015-04-15		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Pleasant

Captain Black Regular is presented in chunky Black Cavendish with ribbon cut Burley. The sweet casing is just sweet, but not distinguishable as vanilla or something (to me). A mild and sweet smoke, a little bity when pushed with an excellent room note. Every once in a while there are hints of nutty, toasty tobaccos (Burley?) in taste, but then again you wouldn’t buy CB for that.

This review is based mainly on the original US version. The European version is remixed, leaving some of the chemicals and additives (e.g. cumarin) out, which are prohibited by EU regulations. Differences are neglectable to the smoker, the sweetness has maybe a little more depth in the US version. The room note and handling (moisturizers and burn enhancers) however are highly affected.

Nothing wrong with either version, but there is also nothing to make it stand out in an ocean of vanilla flavored blends available today.

Similar Blends: Others from the Captain Black series, Mac Baren Vanilla Choice, Black Ambrosia, Danske Club Black & Virginia, Vanilla, Sutliff Navigator Blend, ....

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	mmjk (4)	2015-03-04		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

Captain Black Regular, White Pouch. Here is a Lane tobacco almost every has seen in the stores, and this being the 370 plus review, one that a lot have tried and have a lot of opinions. I'm a firm believer in DRYING a tobacco before smoking it. This holds extra importance with Aromatics. This is a Black Cavendish, Burley mix topped with Vanilla. It smokes nice and mild and if dried properly... smokes dry down to ash. The taste is smooth and sweet and the smell of the smoke is a sweet vanilla. The burley adds richness to this blend, so you know you're smoking, not just warm air. I recommend this to Pipe smokers who know how to smoke a Aromatic. If you are new or only smoke Straight Virginias...stay away. I enjoy English blends(Latakia) and I think guys who do also and know how to sip their tobaccos could enjoy this as a sweet change of pace. Dry your tobacco and smoke slow.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	OldTallMike (13)	2015-01-22		Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I did what countless have said to do, and countless others advise against. I came back/began smoking with a pouch of Capt. Black. This is the tobacco I grew up around, and smoked in college. So-Welcome back familiar friend. eh. Not the same. Now I am not going to compare it to some high profile tobacco, like some do, because that is like saying I don't like this Honda, because it is not as fine as my Bentley....(look at me, eh?). I'd love to drive a Bentley...but not to the market everyday, you know? Anyways, comparing this to a high profile brand does it a dis-service and frankly, if you only smoke High End tinned brands, why did you pick up the Captain anyways? So, it is an OTC ouch blend, Pouch Note is great, potent though. Dried out a bit, it burns just fine, taste is really mild as is the room note. I do believe Lane has changed this, and I can't wait to try 1Q to see if it like the Captain I remember. I would buy it again-albeit probably out of necessity. I am going to test drive some other blends here soon that will surely fare better; however, I am sure Captain Black will always have it's place in the pipe smoking community, it has been around for a long time.

**edit: after trying several other blends, and becoming more accustomed to tobaccos, I gave captain black white another chance. I have to say I was surprised at my finding. As a new pipe smoker, I think I had some pretty high expectations. On my second round, I found CB to be pleasant, and a great all day, any time smoke that I would not hesitate to smoke again. I raised my rating to three stars- this is in comparison to other Drugstor/pouch blends, not the Tobacconist blends it cannot comaneci to.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Filthee (1)	2015-01-20		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This was my first pipe tobacco tried after deciding to get into pipe smoking. Chose this based off of availability (can be purchased almost anywhere) and because it tends to be recommended often as a "starter" tobacco. It reminded me heavily of Black and Mild cigarillos (whether that is a good thing or not depends on the smoker). I really don't notice much aroma while smoking it, but the aroma coming from the drawer I keep the pouch in is fantastic lol. Having tried a couple other blends I have to say that unless I was out of town and this was the only thing available I probably wouldn't purchase again. Not to say it's bad, just not the choice I would make in most situations

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Legend

Age When Smoked: 1 month

Purchased From: Walgreens

Similar Blends: Black and Mild Cigarillos.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	natibo (169)	2015-01-04		Very Mild	Very Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This is like eating a bag of twinkies. I appreciate other fine desserts, but once in a while, junk food just fits the bill. I know it's not a fine manufactured tobacco, but I crave it once in a while. I'll also second what pipestud says, the ladies love the smell.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	samanfromiran (22)	2014-12-06		Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

i recommend this tobacco for those who want to start pipe smoking.i myself started pipe smoking with this blend.nice aroma .but it has chemicals in and thus i suggest you that switch from this to another tobacco after some months.it is very good tobacco to start with but not for continue.it is mild tobacco -pleasant room note but full of essence.some times it bites your tongue. however in my opinion its the best for new pipe smokers. after switching to another tobacco you will find out that no tobacco in the world has this nice aroma .but i repeat:((it can be very harmful tobacco because it is heavy aromatic with lot of chemical essences)).also it can not give you nicotine satisfication because it is mild tobacco.after learning how to smoke pipe then try to find another tobacco .

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fire and Oil (16)	2014-11-03		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

You know, I think our ol' Captain gets a bad rep sometimes. Sure, he's not the best of the best... he's not complex, challenging, dynamic, or life-changing.

But, on the other hand, he's not complex or challenging. Captain Black is an excellent entry point to new pipe smokers for that very reason. It's also not freaking cherry flavored so you don't feel like some sort of creeper pushing it on folks. "Hey kid, wanna try some 'baccy? It tastes like candy!" No, Captain Black is a good, solid brand that new pipe smokers can feel tough and manly smoking... it balances out how silly they feel when lighting their pipe for the 7th time in 10 minutes...

This is, whether we as sophisticated tobacco connoisseurs are willing to admit it or not, what non-pipe smokers think of when they say, "I don't smoke a pipe but they sure do smell nice." The good ol' Captain, while nothing to write home about, provides a solid and generally non-offensive smoke that's easy to find just about anywhere when you're stuck away from your cellar of fancy-pants blends.

Purchased From: Everywhere Tobacco is Sold

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	masalem (1)	2014-10-27		Medium to Strong	Strong	Very Full	Very Pleasant

I mixed 1/3 of Davidoff mixture blue (tasteless tobacco) with 2/3 of CBW and the results was really great. I recommend this Strongly. CBW full of chemicals and strong taste and smell, mixing it with Davioff blue WILL Dilute and balance the taste and smell also the moisture. It is very great mixture.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	incognitopoet (37)	2014-10-03		Overwhelming	Extra Strong	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Tolerable

An priest at my church, back in 1990, smoked this stuff. I always felt so special having a smoke with him in his office after weekday morning mass.

Within a few months, I realized that the church and the tobacco were not for me. Like many drugstore tobaccos, this was cheap leaf soaked in a wet chemical topping. If there is a hell, this is what is smoked there.

I can't recall any actual flavor, just lots of heat and chemical taste. I had to throw the pipe away.

1 person found this review helpful.