Hearth & Home Cherry

In the original, the cherry flavor is not strong and you can taste the burley some, more so at the finish when cherry flashes off a little. The cherry taste in the Mid-Town Cherry is a little more obvious, and the burley is a shade less noticeable. The cherry does not burn off at the finish as it does in the original. The original has the same fault it has always had, being bitey when puffed beyond a sipping pace. That is only true of the this version if you go at it like a steam engine trying to outrace Superman. This burns well, fairly cool, and is a smoother smoke with a more pleasant after taste than the original.

I rated the original at one star.

-JimInks

Smoked this when visiting an older gentleman whose nephew had bought him several Mid-Town blends. I would have preferred a different one, but the Cherry was the one open. I always carry a couple of cobs in the glove and used one on this blend. I carried away an ounce or so for home, which I smoked in a large, thick-walled calabash-style pipe. And it was great in both, though maybe a tad smoother and more open in the cob. I am so conversant with so many cherry blends and feel like I got a good fix on this blend although it was only 6 or 7 bowls.

The Cherry was good, very good. I have smoked Middleton Cherry and found it not to my liking. Bit like hell, could never dry it out properly, probably due to the PG, and the cherry topping had a rather industrial character. The H&H MT Cherry is on another plane of existence entirely, buckos. It could use a little more flavor (um Russ?) and a little more nicotine punch but it is what it is. It has a stronger, riper cherry taste than the Middleton; the topping is much classier and not industrial. This also dries out quite nicely, but was fine to smoke from the tub (don't know how long ago my codger buddy had opened it)

It is not so much a match as an evolution--what Middleton's cherry wanted to be when it grew up. Hard to imagine anyone smoking both and preferring the Middleton Cherry, but at my age little surprises me. It's an all-day smoke and a great choice for cherry lovers. If you like your tobacco with more punch and a really rich flavor, this one might be a bit too mild. It's good.

It's a solid 3/4 and maybe slightly better than that.

I have also tried (and loved) the P. Stokkebye Bon-Bon Cherry, which to me was markedly better than the H&H or any other cherry. I have also smoked a few dozen bowlfuls of Smoker's Pride Cherry Cavendish, and probably would give the nod to the H&H, though the SPCC is pretty good (vastly better than it deserves to be for the price). So try the H&H. If you like cherry, it will please you for sure.

Russ O. hit this one out of the park. I just finished a bowl of Cherry from a sampler rather than a tin and don't know if that dried the flavoring, but I did find the Cherry to be present but very subdued. Not sure I personally liked the overall palate filling Cherry, but it has less calories that Mom's cobbler and wasn't as warm. Nice, cool smoke without much strength, a modicum of flavor and overall quality smoke.

I've sampled the original Middleton Cherry in the mid-1990's and the mid-2000's. There was a marked decline. I remember a blend that behaved well and had good tobacco flavor with a pleasing subtle aroma. Later samplings had a marked synthetic taste. Just my opinion. I think this Mid-Town series offering captures the essence of the original at its best.

In the tub you see a mix of finer cut and some longer ribbon. Moisture content is perfect Burning qualities are on par with other OTC's. You are along for the ride. Packing is gravity fill with a light thumb press. No tamping needed as the bowl progresses. It burns dry and there is no goop.

This is not a tobacco that overwhelms the senses. Overall the cherry blend concept is an ideal. In reality, there is no blend in my experience that offers natural cherry aroma and flavor without tongue bite. You basically get a slightly tart burley cavendish blend, heavier on the burley. The cherry is mostly discerned when you smell the side stream smoke. This is one of the few blends where I can discern the room note. There is no rigorous flavor or component interplay here, it stays consistent to the bottom of bowl. You are left with only ash to dump. I enjoy this and other aros. in a Pear wood Mr. Brog. These pipes couple well with aromatics for me.

My pipe smoking is very temperature dependent. Certain blends in my rotation just make me gag in hot weather and others don't. The perfect summer blend is always elusive to me. The mild flavor and light tartness seem to make this a blend I think I can smoke during the hottest days of the summer months.

Overall the room note is a crowd pleaser for non-smokers. This is great socializing, lunch break, and dog walking tobacco. It is not complex, but I find myself looking fwd to smoking it.

I recommend this to aromatic and burley smokers, as well as those seeking good value. I believe it captures the spirit and profile of the original using quality ingredients.

This is a nice tasting blend. Haven't had the original. Mildly sweet with a light, but always present, cherry topping. The Burley has a nice light natural flavor, more nut than earth without an abundance of either. I believe the Cavendish is bringing the sweetness without lending much flavor-wise. A nice pleasant smoke.

Mild to medium in body and flavor. Mild in flavoring. Burns well. Smooth with no bite.

No sir. I don’t like it. I don’t.

It’s not just because it’s a cherry aromatic. It’s possible for there to be a good cherry aromatic. I’ve smoked them before. This, however, is just not one of them. It’s not. It’s bad.

The cherry top dressing burns off all too quickly. It’s gone well before you’re even halfway through the bowl. Why would you want that if you’re looking to smoke a cherry aromatic? What’s more, the tobacco you’re left with once the cherry has evaporated is flat and biting and bland.

I’ve been altogether pleased with all of the other Hearth & Home Midtown offerings, but not with this one. No sir.