Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman

I am typically a Burley fan. I also really enjoy aromatics. I have given lack-luster reviews to such venerable blends as Escudo and Mac Barren's Virginia No. 1. But not so with this one. The smell out of the pouch is that of grass, earth, and a slight raisin note. The cut is a bit finer than I was expecting. My pouch showed up a little dry for my taste, but a few sprinkles of water and some patience cured that. It takes a light really well and, if you use a charring light then light it fully, it does not go out. The taste is that of grass, spice, and earth, in that order. The smoke aroma leans a little more towards earthy, but not too much. At first, the spice really accompanies the grass and earth, but mellows as the bowl continues. The nicotine level seems medium to me. The Burley stays consistent. In all, a balanced blend with some spice. Yes, the bowl does mellow at the end, but only toward the very last of the smoke. The ash is fine, but not as gray as I would prefer. It does jump out of the bowl with a knock. And it does not seem to ghost your pipe. The aroma will not win any compliments. And, to me, this stuff goes better with a beer rather than coffee. I think a pairing with whiskey would drown the taste of the tobacco. I give this five stars because of the quality verses the price. I have purchased many expensive tins that I do not enjoy half as much. This is not my usual genre, but I really like this version of a Virginia/Perique. However, I suspect Va-Per purists may find this to be a fine offering contaminated with Burley.

Country Gentleman was a little surprising. I picked up a pouch of it in my last order stuck a piece of tape on it with the date received and tossed it in the cellar. I opened my cellar again and could smell tobacco which is not good since everything should be well sealed and a pouch has a cellophane outer wrapper so you should not be able to smell anything there either, except this pouch has no outer cellophane all you need to do to get to the tobacco is pull the tape and it opens. Not good, looking closer still MM has stamped their date on it which is 12/05/18! So this is been setting on a shelf for over a year essentially open. Also surprising is the fact that the tobacco is not bone dry, a little on the dry side sure but I was expecting it to simply crumple. The pouch note is very limited at this point, I get a little citrus hay/grass and a straw like note that reminds me a little of a clean barn, some plumb and fig notes from the perique all very mild in the plastic pouch. The taste is VA forward with citrus and grass out front for me and the dark fruits of the Red VA trailing this. The KY has a little smokiness and is slightly woodsy. The perique trails behind with a faint peppery note and a hint of plumb the fig note from the pouch did not translate into the smoke for me. There is a slight topping as the blend is simply too sweet for there not to be, my best guess would be a sugar water or the like that has been added to help sweeten the blend since it could not age in the pouch. These flavors are all mild and do not develop what you get in the first few puffs is all that is there. The overall body and flavor would be at the center of mild to med. The nic hit is at the upper end of mild for me. Somewhat recommended.

I tried this one on the basis of the reviews and a bit of a whim to try something new. I'm very glad I did. I really like country gentleman. Naturally sweet with no rough edges and the flavor remains consistent throughout the bowl. It may have a tiny bit of topping but if so its not enough for me to pick up on it. One reviewer commented it reminded him of the HOW blend Country Doctor. I agree CG does bare some resemblance to it but lacks the fruit essence I recall in Country Doctor which is not necessarily a bad thing. Just a all around good smoke at a very good price. I will buy again.

Missouri Meerschaum - Country Gentleman is a fitting name for a tobacco with Louisiana perique, Kentucky & Virginias. It's a real interesting Va/Per tobacco to me with a lot of flavor components that I like all mixed into one tobacco. I've been trying some Va/Per & Kentucky blends lately, this hits the spot for both, all in one blend.

The aroma in the jar is wonderful, you get a smoky scent from the Kentucky mixed with the figgy perique on top the lovely aroma of the Virginias. It comes out of the pouch ready to smoke, no drying required & burns pretty good after you get it going. I went a little puff happy a couple times & got a mild bite, so now I tend to take it slow, might have a couple relights, but it's a better smoking experience slow. There's a nice tangy sweetness to the Virginias. I seem to get more of the dark fired smokiness than the perique taste in the blend, although you know it's there flavor-wise, it's just not a major player.

This is a really good tobacco at a great price. If you like a light Va/Per & the smokiness of dark fired Kentucky, you owe it to yourself to give this a try.

I got this out of curiosity. MM being a solid company, I figured their tobaccos would be good. It's a Russ oulette blend, of which I have tried only a few.

The moisture content is good to go out of the pouch. Odd bc it's not sealed on arrival. I did bump that up a bit eventually, to great effect. Otherwise it smells good in the pouch. Not much out of the perique nose- wise. The cut of the leaf is good. It packs well, and it burns well. Usually one relight is about it, and it increases in flavor a bit in doing so. It's tasty, but not outstanding. The dark fired is there. As are the red vas. The perique is just a dash I think for flavor and not a good kick.

I would and have recommended this to others. The pouch is convenient and it works well that way. It could be an all day smoke if not for a small tongue burn I get if I go nuts on this puffing away. The price point is great too.

An Anglo-American blend made Yankee by the addition of Burley (nuttiness and butteriness with texture) and Kentucky leaf which gives it a dark but smooth aroma with a base of light or “bright” Virginias that keeps the whole thing nice and mellow. Many in these categories do away with all Oriental leaf while others use it sparingly in the background along with the standard Perique and/or Latakia.

In fact- I think it's time we all bite the bullet and divorce these blends from the "English" catch-all, if anything, as a testament to Gregory Pease, Russ Ouelette, the boys at C&D et al. in really taking a once-corner of the pipe-tobacco world and it to the fore of both acclaim, respectability, and an indelible part of the pipe-tobacco tapestry.

If Missouri Pride is a straight American (VA+Burley) and Patriot an English then Country Gentleman is squarely what I would categorize as an "American-Bayou" blend with its addition of Perique.

Always smooth this tobacco impressed the hell out of me and has quite a following- smokes and tastes like something much more expensive and rare. Blended by one of the rock stars of the Pipe Tobacco world (think Michelle Rolland) Country Gentleman is tailored-made for Perique lovers who still are looking for something balanced and complex.

Is it a Va-Per? Sort of-- except for that Kentucky in there which makes it a very different smoke, from a body and flavor-profile, than the typical VaPer (and so I do not consider it one... ) Can get a little bitter and dark if puffed too enthusiastically and the Perique certainly throws freshly-ground black pepper into the palate. It's a hearty pour-yourself-a-bourbon smoke at home with an Old Fashioned or a straight Rye.

Whether you are a fervent cob smoker or not, you cannot deny that Missouri Meerschaum (MM) has to a large degree capitalized on the noted pastoral sentimentality. With an impressive line of affordable quality smoking instruments made from the byproduct of agriculture, the basic cob pipe has won the dedication of generations of pipe smoker since the mid 1800’s. The Country Gentleman pipe, one of the company’s leading sellers, stands as a venerable monolith in the market of cob products. So, pairing its namesake with a complimentary blend, you must believe that MM’s effort was prudently undertaken with a specific objective in mind.

Leaning on the blending magic of one of the finest tobaccos cooks of our times, Russ Ouellette, MM tenders for considered enjoyment the pouched Country Gentleman mixture. Bolstering the accolades of the celebrated moniker, this Virginia/Perique recipe is now the subject of this week’s personal reflection.

Keeping in the spirit of humble country simplicity, the commercial packaging of this blend is quite ordinary. Essentially, a plain no-nonsense envelope resembling a common paper grocery sack with graphics that are perfectly unpretentious and to the point. Pulling back the folds and popping the mouth of the pouch open, astonishingly, I was warmly greeted by an enticing mound of cultured tobacco.

Country Gentleman is a classic looking crock of coarse cut and shaggy ribboned prime trimmings. Casting variegated hues of ruddy brown, copper and mottled black the kindhearted fellow presents a generous initial impression. Splendid patches of the flue-cured Red and Bright Virginia form the critical mass of the heap, while earthly Dark Fired Kentucky and a skillfully metered dose of Perique fortify the balance of the space indiscriminately.

Grabbing a hearty wad of the mixture, I was immediately taken back by how singular the texture felt. Namely, the bolus of Virginia is of ideal humidity, yielding yet at the same time dense and hearty, while the other condiments are almost bone dry and grainy to the touch. An interesting sensation to say the least making the blend more heartening to taste.

The nose of the dutiful pouch smacks of a wonderful field of natural sweet grass, the essence found so commonly along the country wayside. There is slight Virginia lemony tartness and an intense spicy aged woodiness that stands proud from the DFK; Marlboro-like if my memory holds true. To fill out the registration properly, the base aroma is delectably topped by a trace of soft raisin/pungent prune-like fruitiness.

As I reached for my faithful CG cob, anticipation of the blend’s character began to dance around in my palate’s mind. Yes, a cob of course, to do anything to the contrary would be sadly misplaced if not unfashionably rude to the welcoming chap. With the charring spark, the initial flavor profile began to float in obligingly; a soft sweetness beautifully spinning into just a succulent robust full-bodied earthy-woody tang, as good if not better than some of the more expensive tinned VaPers that I have smoked.

Keeping with the theme, there is a citrus barn-like hay cast to the underlying Virginia base flavor that squares up brilliantly and evenly with the smoky spice of the DKF as both work together prevailing in the overall taste. The top accent notes of the varietal combination are particularly notable bestowing tones of brown sugar, ginger, and musty dark fruit from the lesser Perique. The matrix of flavor eventually tapers into the registration of black tea braced by the feel of the aftertaste of those cinnamon candies I loved as a child. At least that is how my oral cavity’s memory flexed.

And although the recipe does not cite any alcohol additives, I could not help but register a couple of distinct nuisances here and there that had me wondering. Like Russ’s Anniversary Kake, this mix produces a zesty feeling finish, reminiscent of the presence of a slight rum topping; maybe? Furthermore, a soft tannic red wine finish like that of a mellow Merlot occasionally drops in producing a lovely parting effect.

Customarily the blend burns cool and complete with no affronting bite and modest nicotine effects. The inviting aroma that I was greeted with was an ideal fragrant manifestation of the noted taste profile. Essentially Country Gentleman advances its room presence as amiable bouquet of a toasty wood-laced redolent tang, graced by soft timbres of sweet hay and verdant spices. Pleasant, warm, and charming overall, while producing a handsome plume of smoke that is quite proper and impressive.

In saying that there is a lot going on here with the old boy is modest affirmation. Bottom-line, Russ has done an exceptional job of balancing and cultivating the overall composition on this one. MM could not have played their cards better. Consistency and preponderance for enjoyable savor is present for the entire smoking encounter. Noteworthy as the more expensive tinned VaPer product offerings, Country Gentleman is good-natured, heartwarming, and authentic in character.

As a VaPer, MM’s entry with its bold complement of Kentucky tobacco, inobtrusive Perique and tasteful selection of accents presents somewhat of a different twist in the standard genre experience that is a clear. A simple blend that extends an interesting and colorful character that brings a polite complexity.

I am relatively new to pipes after switching from cigarettes 6 months ago. Enjoy trying all the blends I read about on TR. Mainly a Vapr fan. I do not have the palete or ability to smell hay and grass in the tobacco or determine when the other blended tobaccos kick in but I follow JimInks guidance on the blend notes. I focus on what the tobaccos taste like to me. This tobacco is delightful, priced right and available. Nice presentation even if it is in a pouch! Smooth as sweet tea on ice with a rich taste. Also get a nice sweetness as the smoke advances in the bowl. The N is there if you want it. Can give the buzz if you are so prone. For those new to pipes or vapor's this is well worth giving a try. I agree with the reviews here that this is a good all day smoke.

Honestly this is really nice. Would recommend as a starter VA/Per. Nice peppery note from Dark Fired and Perique to contrast the smooth, sweet Virginias. Fantastic in a Cob. No complaints!