Pipe Tobacco: Belgian Semois (5/10)

The Semois tobacco by Windels, is a very traditional Belgian 'tabak' and named after the Semois valley in Belgium, where since the mid-19th century, tobacco has been grown in quantity. The tobacco grown there is primarily Kentucky-style, but Virginias and Burleys are cultivated as well.

The smoking of this tobacco is a history lesson- although it smokes very well, it is not a terribly pleasant smoke. In fact, it's 'like smoking the Sahara' according to my friend Tom. However, it is incredibly traditional- the exact sort of tabak that the Belgian farmers would have been smoking when the Germans came storming across the valleys towards France in 1914, and again in 1940...

• Flavour: 6/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 2/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 10/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Indulgence Factor: 3/10
• Overall Rating: 5/10

Pipe Tobacco: Peterson's 'Old Dublin' (9/10)

Peterson of Dublin is one of the most well-recognised makers of pipe and pipe tobaccos, and I must say, then little tin of tobacco was a bit like heaven. Just imagine for a moment: a mahogany-paneled room, fine stocks of brandy and single malt whiskeys in the sideboard and a generous amount in your Waterford tumbler; you're sitting in a red-leather chesterfield wing back chair, there's a crackling smoulder in the stone fireplace, and you're smoking a pipe. That is a fantasy of mine, and this is the tobacco for just that occasion.

The 'Old Dublin' is a blend of Latakia, Turkish Oriental and Virginia Leaf. What more can I say- the blend is pretty much perfect: It produces a medium-strength smoke, and although one can certainly taste the Latakia, it doesn't overpower in any way. There is very little tar buildup, but yet the smoke is not dry. The smoke is not sweet, but still flavoursome and elegant.

My only complaint is that it burns a bit quickly- and this may be a result of the pipe I am smoking it in, the way I pack the bowl, or that the shreds of tobacco are cut just a touch too thin. I'm undecided- really I need to try smoking it in an expensive Peterson pipe for the full experience.

A tin of 50 grams should cost you around £9.50. It's well worth it!

• Flavour: 7/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 3/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 8/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Indulgence Factor: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

Cigar: Chinchalero Novillo (7/10)

Chinchalero is a Nicaraguan cigar manufacturer, who have been making hand-rolled cigars for a while now. We reviewed a Chinchalero Chico a long while back, it scored a 6/10: http://cigarsandpipes.blogspot.com/2009/01/chinchalero-chicos.html. The mas gordito brother of the Chico is the Novillo. It's a fat 66 gauge, 10cm long beast of a cigar.

The Novillo is certainly an indulgent more-ish cigar. Hand-rolled with Nicaraguan and Honduran leaf filler, with an Ecuadorian wrapper, the flavour is moderately light, but the nicotine buzz is heavy. They are is exactly how one would expect a cigar to taste- nothing fancy, no gimmicks, just good plain ol' tobacco. In fact, many cigar experts are now saying the best cigars are coming out of Nicaragua, not Cuba. Why? Climate change? Socialism? Pink jungle hedgehogs? I'm not sure, but there are some very nice cigars coming out of Nicaragua, and they can be quite inexpensive for the quality.

I definitely recommend these for the seasoned smoker, or for someone new. They would also make a great gift, for they appear to be far more expensive than they actually are. In the UK, they'll cost about £3.50 for one, and likely less on the continent.

• Smoking time: 30-45 minutes
• Flavour: 5/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 3/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 8/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Indulgence Factor: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 7/10

Pipe Tobacco: Ashton's Consummate Gentleman (8/10)

The Consummate Gentleman is Ashton's 'Proper English Blend:' 'Tis terribly English old boy, tally ho, what what... mheh... Of course, Ashton is an American company which began in the '80s, but we won't hold that against them; most English tobaccos are grown in that old rebellious colony.

The Consummate Gentleman is a blend of Virginia, Burley and Maryland tobaccos, with a touch of Latakia. The blend is delicious and wholeheartedly a traditional English blend- we really enjoyed it. One can certainly taste the Latakia, but it is not overpowering (Latakia so often is...). Unfortunately it is sliced just a bit thin for my liking, so it smoked a bit hotter and faster than usual.

The 50g tin will cost you about £10.50 or €10.00, a slightly expensive but reasonable price.

• Flavour: 7/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 3/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 7/10
• Value for Money: 4/10
• Indulgence Factor: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

Pipe Tobacco: Wild Cut Radford's Old Scotch (6/10)

This is a tobacco commonly found in Germany, where it is simply called Wild Cut Radford's Old Scotch. However, it is the suspicion that this is the very same tobacco as the Gawith and Hoggarth 'Radford's Old Scotch.' Ha! Another G & H...

The tobacco is a mixture of Virgina and Burley tobaccos, with a bit of aromatic Black Cavendish. It is overall a good blend, but when smoked slowly, it develops a slightly sour flavour. When smoked more quickly (and subsequently more hot) it produces a less sour flavour which I think is considerably more enjoyable. However, the tobacco is already such a thin cut, when smoking it hot, it will disappear rapidly. It is marketed as having a scotch flavour, yet I could not tell...

The Old Scotch is fairly standard in price: 50g on the continent will cost about €5,50, whereas it'll cost about £8.50 in the UK.

• Flavour: 5/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 5/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 4/10
• Value for Money: 5/10
• Indulgence Factor: 4/10
• Overall Rating: 6/10

Cigar: Guantanamera 'Minutos' (5/10)

We reviewed the Guantanamera 'Cristales' a while back: http://cigarsandpipes.blogspot.com/2009/02/cigar-guantanamera-cristales.html and unfortunately they were not really up to scratch, scoring only a 4/10. The Cuban company's newest cigar, the 'Minuto' scores only slightly better, a paltry 5/10.

The problem with the Guantanameras (both the Cristales and the Minutos) is that they are extremely light-bodied. I'll admit, some people like a mild cigar, but far too little flavour has no excuse; there's light-bodied, and then there's anorexic. Nevertheless, I have absolutely no negative comments about the little flavour there was; they are certainly smokable, just failing to impress.

The Minutos are petit coronas (4 inches long and 43 gauge), and unfortunately smoke rather quickly for their size. Once again, the prices vary between Europe and the UK (€2,50 for a pack of three on the continent, and about £3.50 for a single cigar in the UK).

• Smoking time: 15-20 minutes
• Flavour: 2/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 4/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 8/10
• Value for Money: 4/10
• Indulgence Factor: 4/10
• Overall Rating: 5/10

Pipe Tobacco: Gawith and Hoggarth Bright CR Flake (8/10)

Yes, I am posting another Gawith and Hoggarth, and for those who do not have access to these tobaccos, I apologise. But they form the majority of the bulk tobaccos available at the Durham tobacconist, so naturally they are what I buy. Worry not however, we'll have a few tinned and/or widely available pipe tobacco reviews up soon!

The Bright CR Flake is yes, a Gawith and Hoggarth Kendal pipe tobacco, but it is superb! (I do not know what the CR stands for, and if anyone can enlighten me, I'd really appreciate it). The tobacco is a fine Virgina leaf; it tastes light and mild, but nevertheless gives you a strong nicotine buzz. It is neither sweet, nor dry, but well-balanced, and there is a slight hint of raisin.

I very much enjoyed this tobacco, and I will certainly be buying it again. Because it is light and mild, I also would recommend this as a must for beginners! Definitely give this one a try!

• Flavour: 5/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 5/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 5/10
• Value for Money: 5/10
• Indulgence Factor: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10