Peterson Aran

Hints of toasted pecan on a base of Sumatran coffee and pomelo spritz -- just joking!

Honestly, I cannot taste all the things other smokers taste. For me the taste of pipe tobacco is fairly binary: it's good, or it's not. This is good -- mild and good.

For me the most pleasing part of smoking a pipe is the smell of my exhaled smoke. (I don't mean a retrohale; that is too overpowering for me.) Aran is very nice -- not super strong, but very pleasing.

When I opened the pouch, the scent reminded me of MacBaren Mixture Scottish Blend, which disappointed me a little because I bought it as an alternative vanilla to MacBaren Classic Loose Cut. But when I open the Scottish Blend tin to compare, there was indeed a lot more vanilla in the Aran. Likewise, when you smoke it, the vanilla comes through stronger than the fruit. There is also a spiced rum scent to it.

It smokes very consistently right down to the dottle--none of the ashy-ness I get with some blends towards the end of the bowl.

If you are looking for a mild vanilla with a bit more to it than vanilla, this is worth a try.

This comes in a pouch. Upon opening the pouch I was greeted with the old fashioned aroma of good old fashioned tobacco. Smelled like my grandfathers Half & Half I used sneak sniffs of from his pouch when I was a whipper snapper. The cut is a combination of ribbon and flakes. And the moisture level was just right. Not to damp...not to dry. I think if it was any drier it would burn hot and taste harsh. Packed well and only needed the charring light and it stayed lit. It is burning very well. I am enjoying a bowl as I write this. It has a nice medium to full bodied taste. It gives a bit of a tang to the tongue but it doesn't bite or burn. As I mentioned previously, I think it might if it gets to dried out. If you inhale it is smooth on the throat. Nice spicy tingle to the nostrils when released through the nose. Although it does not state that there is any spice in the blend...it tastes like there is. I taste a tiny hint of vanilla. Nothing flowery but something I can't quite put my finger on. Perhaps a hint of orange. It is faint...but just noticeable enough to add a plus to the taste. Nice taste on the tongue. And it has a respectable amount of vitamin N. All that said...I think it is quite good. I think it would make a wonderful morning starter with the old cup of java and a good before dinner or prior to bedtime smoke. I myself would not consider it an all day smoke for myself but I believe a lot of guys and gals out there would. I think Peterson should tin it. I am very wary of "pouched" tobaccos but this one is a winner.

very classic blend with Black Cavendish and Virginia reveals sweet smoke and little Vanilla flavoring. nice quality with good price. another daily tobacco from peterson. recommend.

I truly believe that this blend is under appreciated, but then again ... I am an odd ball when it comes to Aromatics. The nose of this blend out of the pouch is sweet vanilla, although it is a bit misleading. Once you spark it, the main flavor is floral. Sort of like rose water, but not with rose petals, but rather some spring flowers. The vanilla is there, it's subtle at first, but its taste gets a bit more pronounced after the second half of the bowl. Sweetness, sure, all the way, but one feels the the hint hay-ish Virginia as well - so this is not entirely a candy aromatic. The pipe smoked cool all the way, no relights, no tongue bite what so ever. pretty good tobacco in my book.

This Peterson Mixture is extremely similar for me to Special Dublin Original Mixture. The scent in the pack is almost equal, Virginia hues with black cavendish in ribbon cut is similar and taste / aroma when smoked is pretty much similar. Which one I prefer? Well, I think Special Dublin wins by a finger... The smell out of the pouch for me has nothing to do with Vanilla. It smells a bit sweet and fruity, more on the dried fruit side. It burns well from charring light and burns a bit quick to a fine gray ash without goop. The taste and flavour is of a mild to medium Virginia based blend and the topping gives a good retrohale experience. A fairly decent blend for me.

The aromas from the pouch are very intense of vanilla. When you lit it stays burn in a very good temperature. The flavors are very vanilla and a hint of spicy like white powder pepper. It has low to medium body and intensity. The bitterness is low and the sweetness is medium. At the end the vanilla flavours remaing. A good tobacco, not wonderful, recommend for begginers.