Hearth & Home Derby Club Aromatic

So far, I have sampled three Hearth and Home Mid-town Series tobaccos: “Chatham Manor”, “Chestnut”, and now “Derby Club Aromatic”. I think all these blends are really very good, but “Derby Club Aromatic” is the best of these with “Chatham Manor” a close second. “Derby Club” is a very smooth and mellow blend which still manages to have quite a bit of complexity and character. I smoked a lot of “Kentucky Club Aromatic” early in my piping history (early 1980s), but it has been a long time since I last smoked it and so trying to compare these two blends might not be very fair. Yet, it seems to me that Kentucky Club was NEVER this good! In any case, “Derby Club” is a rich, flavorful tobacco which manages to remain reasonably mild. It is definitely burley-forward, but the Virginia and Turkish make their presence known. The Perique is not strong, but it peeks in now and then, if you pay attention. The topping is there, but is subtle and works very well with the tobaccos. I would classify this blend as a light aromatic, at most. It isn’t too moist, it isn’t goopy, it lights and burns well and leaves little dottle. I would think this would easily be an all-day smoke for most (it is for me). “Derby Club” is a fine blend in my opinion, and it is definitely one of the 5 blends I’m looking for to always have on hand. For the price, it is hard to beat. Highly recommended!

IMHO the best of the Mid-Town series. Very good descriptions made by other reviewers so I'm not going to get into that, the only exception for me is that I added a few pinches of blending perique to this and it really helped make a good blend much better.

I have never smoked the original Middleton version, however my father used to smoke it a lot and the aroma/room note is very much like I remember. I definitely get the soft, nuttiness of the burley, the slightly spicy orientals is very light, but it's there. The perique is a pleasant, but light fruitiness in the background. It's sweet, but not too sweet. I was worried that this would have that Chemical aftertaste that I usually get from a lot of aromatics, but I taste nothing but quality tobaccos. The mouth feel is soft and smooth, with no harshness, but with plenty of body, with no bite, very nice. This is easily an all day smoke, I enjoy it with morning coffee. I only ordered a 2 oz. pouch, but I'm definitely going to order a tub. Bravo H&H, nice job on this blend!

I normally do not review tobacco blends as I feel reviews are really very subjective to the reviewer. That being said, I offer this. Most of the reviews here have hit on the quality of this blend so I will avoid repetition. I have been on a 3 year search for a go-to blend that I can sit back and enjoy anytime regardless of weather or location without offending anyone nearby and the bus stops here. I have tried tubs of H&H Midtown CM, Chestnut and PA and now DCA. The DCA is in MHO the best of the H&H Midtown series, and it now my go-to smoke. I cannot offer a comparison review because I never sampled the original Kentucky Club Mixture Aromatic, but Derby Club Aromatic stands alone on its own as the best of the Midtown series. If you like a milder VaBur, you owe it to yourself to try DCA. Thank you Russ.

I just got finished with reviewing the Hearth and Home Mid Town Series Chestnut that included this, and now I will separate this out to do just the Derby Club Aromatic.

Now, the Derby Club Aromatic. Char light is good. That's all. It tastes nasty. I is hot, bitter, burny mouth feel, bad after taste, rough inhale, almost a chokey feeling, nasty smelling "tin and room note", nasty overall burning smell, lingering foul odor, miserable smoking properties, and fights all the way against being a decent smoke, which is the only reason to use a pipe in the first place. I'm not going to break it all down for you. I will sum it up as "this just ain't gonna work" and may be a good way to ruin an otherwise decent pipe.

My overall assessment? Never again, with any of the Hearth & Home Mid Town Series.

The two ounce bag I bought smelled like chocolate to me, but this did not scream "aromatic" when I smoked it.

The perique is definitely there- providing the spice, or is that the Turkish? The texture has that burley fluffiness to it, just like the Midtown series "Chestnut" and is probably just as good of a smoke all the way around. Again, not a trace of harshness either and my guess is that those so inclined could smoke it all day.

I found moisture beading up in the amber stem of the new corn cob I was smoking it in, but I think that was due to the cob being smoked for the very first time.

So far, this Midtown series is not an extreme flavor sensation, but don't call it bland either. Gentleness and subtlety is the name of the game, and I'd recommend both varieties I've tried to newbies and vets alike.

One of the more interesting and complex in the Midtown line from P and C. A semi aromatic. Tastes like a mélange of walnut, plums, fig, and a touch of cocoa - in that order. The taste is mostly natural tobacco, medium and complex.

I taste something that make me think there may be some condimental amount of cigar leaf. I have to say my impression is that there is a Perique like quality that may also be unflavored Cavemdish.

Full taste, evolving though out the smoke, and eminently satisfying.

This will be added to my cellar permanently.

I have never smoked Kentucky Club so I don't know if this is a good remake or not but I certainly enjoy smoking this tobacco. It has a very pleasant aroma and burns well but the nicest part is the taste. I am not good at describing how things taste and probably couldn't even describe how lasagna or coffee taste to someone but as a pipe smoker for at least 20 years now I do know this is one smooth blend!

Not being much of an aromatic smoker this one was a surprise. The topping was done with a delicate hand and really enhanced the tobacco flavor. Quality of leaf seems very good. This is a good all day smoke you need not think alot about. Packs and lights easy. Flavor is the same through the entire bowl. Recommend. Smoke in peace- Lager

Update: This ages very well as any rough edges that peaked out once and a while are now gone. I will smoke the remainder and might order more. Nice mild aro.