Peter Stokkebye Natural (No.1)

At our recent NASPC show I was persuaded to buy a big and chock full box of various sized bags of bulk pipe blends. Most were over the hill. One that wasn't was a two ounce ziplock labled "Mac's Delight". The former owner of a local pipe shop said that they sold it and it was, in fact, Peter Stokkebye No.1. It presented, primarily, as a uniform medium brown mix with some varying strands of darker color. It had the aroma of a typical Virginia and Burley mixture with the slight hint of a sugary additive. I accepted it as a milder form of a Danish blend that, while not writing home type material, was adequate. The smoke was mostly mild with little hints of Burley strength and it seemed to like taller and narrower bowls. Then I read our reviews and was taken aback at their overall negativity. I didn't see No.1 as an aromatic, at all, and it didn't seem as mild as many have stated they found. Now, as an English smoker, I'm not going to be stashing this one away; however, it seems perfectly okay to me as a change of pace smoke and an all day one for some - three stars.

Summary: a light Cavendish-Virginia blend with a fruity topping and some white Burley for support.

On the first light, this gives off the distinctive "cotton candy" flavor of propylene glycol, then allows in a flavor of vanilla and what seems like strawberries or a very sweetened cranberry. This flavoring stays with the blend throughout the whole bowl. A bit damp, it nonetheless smokes well, but other than a general sweetness and the topping, there is not much to taste, and almost no nicotine to speak of. The room smells nice afterwards. It burns down to chunk grey ash, and you could smoke it all day. The real problem with this blend is not that there is something wrong with it, but that there is so little to recommend it.

I'm not sure why this blend is getting such bad reviews. I loved the light grassy sweet flavor. I love Virginias and I don't hate aromatics the way that so many here seem to, so perhaps that's why. Dry to pack, no moisture or sticky residue. I didn't detect any casing at all - just a mellow natural enjoyable smoke.

This tobacco is what it says it is, nothing more nothing less. Comes quite moist but air dries to acceptable limits indicating a leaf free of humicants. It has a Berry like pouch note but this doesn't seem to transfer to the taste. I does affect the room note which is kind of nice. The cut is a thin ribbon, not quite shag. Just another great PS tobacco. Danish Codger blend.

I enjoy this tobacco. It has a "tea" note to it, and is very dry. It is finicky and tends to go out easily, but notwithstanding, should be smoked slowly (+-once per minute) to truly experience the subtlety. Not an every-day or all day smoke, but a pleasant change of pace. Not really like anything else I've smoked.

Peter Stokkebye - PS-01 Natural

Star Rating = 2

Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst

Pouch Note = 8

Room Note = 8

Flavor = 7

Bite = 8

Burn = 8

After Taste = 7

Raw Score = 46

Rated Percentage = 77%

Comment = Smooth, a Strange Tasting Flavor, a bit of an After Taste

For a time, I worked for a friend who owned a tobacco shop. One of his blends used PS-1 (Natural). The stuff smelled so good, I had to try it plain... Big mistake. The taste is flat, and it burns hot. I recommend it ONLY to be blended with other tobaccos!

Being a novice and also a fan of several other Stokkebye blends, I thought I'd give "Natural" a try. The name and blonde color suggested that I'd get unadulterated Virginia/Burley composition and flavors with little top flavoring or casing influence.

Whoops.

I suppose I'm a fan of English blends, because I found that the Natural tastes strongly of vanilla, nuts, and whiskey. There is an underlying brioche note and a pleasant base of grassy/mown hay flavors, but I find them completely overwhelmed by [what I percieve as] added flavorings.

It's light, and would probably be friendly for aromatic smokers. There is a nuttiness in the (I'm guessing) Burley-and-Virginia-based Cavendish that is complimented by the nuttiness in the flavorings, but that's really my favorite thing about it. I don't even know if I'll finish the ounce I bought.

This blend is for those who prefer an extremely mild, semi sweet and slightly top flavored pipe tobacco for an all day smoke, this is a golden Cavendish of Virginia/Burley semi sweet and slightly flavored with Anis, I did not find the smoke tasteless, it has a very pleasing taste of sweet Virginia, it is particularly gentle on the palate and on the tongue, the anis top flavoring is delightful.