pipesandcigars.com Snow Drift

Egads, this stuff made the whole box it was shipped in stink to high hell, giving off eye watering vapors of chocolate mist. The room I keep tobacco in began to stink, so the tiny 1 oz bag had to live out it's short life in the garage. This toxic cloud experience happened before, when I ordered a bag of Boswell's Cupcake/Christmas cookie.

Suffice to say the initial chocolate aroma was dealt in spades... and clubs, and hearts, etc. The rubbery bits packed tightly and took several waves of the torch to immolate. The first few puff were deep and the flavor translated well, better in fact than the initial bag potency. Thankfully it never got too sweet, so the coco stayed consistent all the way to the bottom.

The real winner here was the audience. Those in the room with me said it was like walking into a kitchen with cookies baking, so it may be the kind of thing you smoke more for your guest than yourself.

When I first got a sample of Snow Drift, I was very disappointed, and mentally put this one down as a 1-star. I just expect these more expensive special blends to have a more pronounced flavor. But perhaps that extra cost is due to the more limited amount being created. Many found it to be excellent, but what little taste I found in it was somewhat bitter, and lacking much of the cocoa/honey advertised. Today, a month later, I tried it again. And, while the taste is still very mild, the bitterness is still there, but subdued. At least some of the cocoa does come through, and for that I would give it 2-stars.

My SOP with these lackluster blends, is to then begin adding some BCA usually, although Vanilla Black Cavendish might work just as well, to see if I can't pull something worthwhile out of the pouch. It worked with Snow Drift, although I've also wasted some excellent BCA in the past, by doing this.

I mixed a bowl that was roughly 60/40 Snow Drift to BCA, thinking that the BCA would overpower the SD. Well, the BCA was there, certainly, in all its vanilla wonder, but subdued, and now the cocoa of the SD began to emerge. This turned into a fairly enjoyable smoke...just enough vanilla to tell me the BCA was on board, and now smoothed by the BCA. But, the cocoa and gentle sweetness of the SD could be tasted, too. There is little to no tobacco taste, however, and I miss the nuttiness of my Carter Hall in mixes like this.

While I've found better BCA blending...most especially BCA and 1Q, this certainly salvages the Snow Drift. Now, in the dark of winter, when the Postal Gnome can't make it to my hanger door, at least I'll have something in my emergency stash that works.

2-stars for Snow Drift, solo. 3.0 stars with BCA mixed. 2.5 overall...would not be on my list of all-time fave mixes.

This is a pretty disappointing aromatic. There is not much "there" there. Tin note has little to no real distinct aroma. Perhaps some chocolate but very light. Light up was fine and burn is good for a aromatic. Flavor and taste is just not there. Hints from time to time of sweetness but it's hard to identify the exact taste. This is really a pretty disappointing blend. Room note is so mild it is hard to identify as well. Frankly, for me there is really no reason to return to this blend again.

It's a Meh kind of aromatic, super basic, pleasant room note, but boring to smoke unless you looking for something just to puff on throughout the day. Has an odd Hoodsie kind of flavor to it but it's really light. I wouldn't recommend unless just trying an ounce or two.