Stanwell Extra Fine

The Stanwell Extra Fine is truely a classic Danish pipe tobacco (no black cavendish!) which was very popular in the 1950s(?) to the 1970s in Germany - something saved from the old days of pipe smoking. This blend also was one of the favoured pipe tobaccos by Günter Grass, recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature (he also smoked W.O. Larsen Classic, Three Nuns, MB Navy flake and Dunhill EMP).

Due to the German ministerial database, it contains 154.3425 mg of an unknown flavour per 1000 mg, and 94.34638 mg inverted sugar per 1000 mg tobacco.

The Extra Fine is a burley based, bright virginia enriched golden cavendish pre-rubbed (ready rubbed?) tobacco. The cavendish method gives the pipe smoker a very mild smoking experience (hence the original name "extra mild" before the regulatorry EU laws).

The smoke is slightly sweet with hints of an aroma which maybe could remind you of dried plums. Occaisionally you get a nutty, almost chocolaty taste. But mainly it tastes like pipe tobacco - still a light aromatic, but more borderline to a more natural tobacco than to a modern Danish aromatic like a vanilla or the Stranwell Melange.

Overall it's a nice, mellow, smooth and uncomplicated smoke. Nothing fancy, not much depth or complex structure, but a just well rounded, satisfying experience. Well, of course, you have to pack it loosely, sip it and smoke it cool and slow, otherwise it can get quite harsh.

Stanwell Extra Fine is a reminiscence of the past, before we associated Danish pipe tobaccos with heavy cased black cavendish mixtures. That also is true for the roomnote. "That smells like grandpa's smoking his pipe." is a common association. The roomnote is pleasant, not a crowd pleaser, but "just nice" to most non-smokers, and not as overpowering like some of the heavy aromatics. Someone could sit beside you watching through a long movie without getting tired of the scent.

If you want a tobacco for every occasion and every time of the day, whether morning, afternoon or evening, this one might be a good choice. It also goes quite well with coffee, tea and almost every beverage or drink you might like.

Stanwell Extra Fine is an allrounder which also could be it's weakness. It appeals to nearly everyone (or tried to so in the past - nowadays that's the field of modern aromatics), but it doesn't stand out.

Just to mention, I would strongly recommend to smoke the Extra Fne without a filter (with a filter you get just a weak shadow of this tobacco).

Stanwell - Extra Fine.

Like PC Plod the name had me expecting it to be a FINE shag cut, so I was taken aback when I removed the lid and was met by ribbons of which some are on the cusp of broken flake. It's mainly medium brown but there's a few black specks. Although it's tightly compressed into the tin it hasn't retained that much moisture.

The smoke isn't 'bad', but it becomes boring in quick time. The flavour's nice enough, the Burley leads, softened by the Virginia Cav', with a notable added sweetness, but it lacks anything to make it stand out. The burn from it's good, fairly slow, cool and reliable. After half a bowl it starts to bite.

Nicotine: mild. Room-note: pleasant.

Extra Fine? For me two stars feel right:

Somewhat recommended.

The label is entirely confusing; while I wasn't expecting a cut as fine as baby powder, what I got was a very rough ready rub of chunky ribbons. Well the cut wasn't too important to me, so no harm no foul. The "extra fine" cut stayed lit for the long haul, as it did a great job packing down into a nest of tangled thick strips.

In the tin, it gave off a pleasant sweet and lightly fruity aroma. Once lit the sweetness changes and gets a little lost in the smoke. Something like a sweet chewy candy that only has a dusting of sugar and quickly becomes just a chewy glob that relies on the first impression to keep the chewer engaged. Towards the end, thing got a little bitter.

The blend works, and should be smokable by a broad audience, but I doubt it will find an ardent fan in any camp.

Stanwell Extra Fine is a traditional Stanwell-style round tin tightly packed with thick, ready rubbed strands of medium to light brown. Tin note is subtle (for an aromatic) and nondescript sweet with a touch of that all-purpose Danish aromatic fruit. The flavoring is applied with a gentle hand and like all Stanwell offerings, translates directly to the smoke. Extra Fine takes a match well and burns evenly, though fast and a bit hot. Typical of Scandinavian aromatics, this one will carpet-bomb your tongue unless sipped slowly. There's tobacco flavor here, albeit without much body, and while I rarely smoke these Danish style aromatics, I'm always impressed by how different they are from the damper, black Cavendish intensive, more assertive American style. A bit too sharp and thin for me, but overall an excellent blend for fans of this style.

Room note screams "fond memories of pipe" and will please non-smokers in the vicinity.

This was on sale just recently on my corner of the internet, and after reading the reviews and figuring myself unable to pass up the low tin price, I took the plunge. Now I'm considering a re-order if the tin price is still right. and I better make up my mind quick!

Initially I wasn't too impressed. Burley is still not a major selling point for me, even though its benevolence has been reaching me lately in at least one blend I like a lot. What sent me to pick this up was the 3.7 review it received here then, even though there were few entries.

A visiting neighbor enjoyed the room note right off, which probably doesn't count a whole lot since he's a roll-yer-own type.

Consider this to be an aromatic for those that don't like aromatics. In that it's like P. S. Aromatic Dutch Slices (No. 308) or possibly their Natural Dutch Slices. But other than for what they're not (supposed Aromatics which are none too sweet, and with no Black Cavendish), these are probably not apt comparisons.

What sets Stanwell 's Extra Fine apart is that mysterious top note. It's got this je ne sais quoi which you will likely find nowhere else. The moisture content right out of the tin is splendid- there is no need for drying time. Each time I smoke this I get fonder of it, and wish it was available in bulk.

tasty tasty tasty.........oh yes a real chamer...excellent nose and balance..a unique taste and i think extra fine does it justice...should be in everyones rotation ....mild but very nice flavor..