Hearth & Home Chestnut

I've always been moderately interested in the series because they represent a less expensive way to enjoy some of the blends you have always liked, but have thought they were just more expensive than they should be. The major manufacturers and well known blenders have always protected their recipes and methods by copyrights, patents and some unknown other methods. The Hearth & Home Mid Town Series are advertised as being the "same thing" as well known blends and much less expensive.

When I saw that P&C was packaging these in a 2oz size for sampling, they suddenly became worthy of trial. The idea of buying a large canister of a tobacco that I wouldn't like and might find unable to smoke had always stopped me cold. I do like getting a small amount because If I can't smoke it, it's no great loss if there is a need to toss or otherwise put it in an inaccessible place. I might be able to revisit it later just to test myself.

I decided to buy 2 of the blends to see if they were what I remembered, and test P&C.

Of the 2, one was their take on "Walnut", a very good tobacco from my past, that at one time was really enjoyable, and named "Chestnut". The other is Derby Club, which is supposed to be the same as Kentucky Club Aromatic. My memory is usually rather good, especially if it is something I have seen, or tasted.

First, the Chestnut. Something about this blend is different from the original. The original "Walnut" had been a mild tasting, very nut like tasting tobacco that I smoked on occasion just to taste something different from what was my go to, Prince Albert. I really liked it. When I put effort into recalling it, I could almost taste it. The Chestnut is not even a close approximation. There is something about it that makes it a radical departure from the memory of Walnut. The toppings, flavoring, tobaccos used to build the blend and it's feel (texture, moisture level) are way too different. This tobacco blend is bitter, tongue bitey, harsh on the inhale and retro-hale, bad mouth feel, nasty after taste, lingering bad effects of nastiness, and so many other things that I am so glad I waited until a "sample size" was available. I've recently discovered Cyprian Latikia and quickly found that it can be a living monster when used incorrectly. I really enjoy the flavor and everything Latikia when used as a condiment to bring a sort of roundness to a Balkan or English/Scottish blend, or even to make a different American Blend Aromatic or OTC Burley blend of your own liking. The way it is used in this Chestnut, along with the other leaf that should bring balance and all things good smelling is totally lacking. The character of the Chestnut is one of the least friendly, least likable, least tasty (good) difficult to pack in a way that helps it be a good smoker, and the "tin note", "room note" and effect it has on other people in the room are all massively against it. Based on my experience with the Chestnut, and I've given it several tries at different times, I doubt if I will ever buy another Hearth & Home Mid Town blend. Like almost all of the Match Series, it ain't even a close call. Both the Chestnut and most of the Match Series are reminiscent of just one thing. That's the smell of what I remember the barn smelled like when being raised on a farm and tending animals.

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.

I've been working my way thru Hearth & Home's Midtown Series this winter. So far, I've been very pleased with Chatham Manor and Chestnut. As noted, Chestnut is intended to be a reincarnation (match) of Middleton's Walnut, which is no longer in production. I can't do a comparison as I never smoked Walnut. But I have found Chestnut to be a smooth and mellow blend which still manages to provide some degree of complexity. It does NOT taste like chestnuts, although some nuttiness is present from the burley. But a chestnut-flavored tobacco might not be a bad idea. Russ?. Actually, I think both Walnut and Chestnut are named for streets in Philadelphia (not certain on this). Anyway, the flavors are subtle but certainly present. This blend has burley, Turkish, Latakia, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, and maybe a few other states. I could smell the Latakia at once upon opening the tub, with the burley being present, too. There is also some kind of lightly sweet topping, I think. The smoke imparts the Latikia immediately upon lighting, but it is not at all overwhelming. The burley is quite noticeable, too, and the Virginia does pop in from time to time. The Kentucky and Turkish were hard for me to detect, but I recon both give this blend some body and balance. The Maryland I could not taste at all, but I guess that's to be expected. I still could not tell what the topping is, but it didn't override the tobacco flavors. Overall, this blend provides a creamy, satisfying smoke with good taste and which has some extra dimension to it. Very nice smoke and worth trying out. I recommend it.

I like this blend a lot. Nice full smoke, good smoky/nutty taste, enough strength to satisfy without being overpowering. Smokes dry. Room note a bit pungent, so an outside smoke for me. One of my standards, I keep this in stock.

I never tried the original Walnut, and I'm still kicking myself for that today. So, as a lover of most things Middleton, I ended up trying the H&H version Chestnut. Upon opening the tub, I was greeted by the leathery smell that is characteristic of most English blends. Now, I didn't find this to be a Latakia bomb, like Nightcap or something, but I thought it was way more Latakia forward than other reviewers have stated. I didn't find much complexity in this blend at all. Mainly Latakia and Kentucky. I did find it smooth and even burning. Just a tamp, one relight, and then it burned to a fine white ash. My wife liked the room note, she said it smelled like a camp fire. This is one I'll dip into now and then, but won't be buying again.

A perfect strength of various tobaccos and latakia leaf. For me it is the right flavor. The value is great as well. P&C delivers quick and arrives well packaged. I bought the 14 oz. tub. Glad I did.

Complex is the key word here. Mild, smooth, no bite, rich, and low maintenance. Only smoking a pipe for a few years but am kinda of a tobacco junky. I started out with aros and still love some of them. To be honest, there's only so many ways you can blend chocolate, vanilla, cherry, and sweetness. As an experiment, I have placed "reject" aros into a large coffee tin with a nice tight fitting lid. After I add a new one, I give it a stir and smoke it up. Taste doesn't seem to change from addition to addition. ANYWAY... I really like this smoke. I got into "English" kinda by mistake and have been branching out from there.

Wow!!! Let me start by saying that this is the best price for value smoke I’ve ever had! Tastes like John cotton no1 ultra light or John Cotton no.5 if you will. A very mild English that would be suitable anytime. Just a whisper of orientals and a kiss of Latakia that is heavenly in the retrohale. Perfect if you like light English blends or if you’re new to English blends. Homerun!!!

Very tasty, good blend. A plethora of flavors meet you at first light. They run from sweet to sour and from nutty to earthy. With the number of varieties of leaf in this blend it isn’t any wonder. While none take over I do feel that the Burley is the star. Plenty of earthy nuttiness here. The Virginia gives a smooth hay/citrus note as well. Not enough Latakia to push it to an English blend, but enough for nuance. All in all a winner for me. Russ seems to have a knack for pulling off amazing blends and this is no exception! Good smoke in any pipe and at any time of the day!

I bought this when you could only buy the tub. I smoked quite a bit of it and cellared the rest. Believe it or not it aged well and mellowed somewhat.

To me this has just the right mix and is definitely and all day smoke. Push it and it can get nippy.

My summation on this is the Kentucky for strength, the Virginia for sweetness,the Orientals for spice and the latakia for some mild smokiness.

If your curious at least you can buy it in small quantities.

Good job Russ

Lager