Pipe Tobacco: American Black and Brown (7/10)

The American Black and Brown pipe tobacco, from makers Gawith and Hoggarth, is a quite fine tobacco, and we certainly enjoyed smoking it. Our tobacconist Jim said that it is one of his best selling and we can see (well, taste and smell) why... My first olfactory sensation of the smoke was a hint of toasted cumin, on the other hand, my friend detected the flavour of mace. A website indicated the tobacco features a 'fantastic sweet chocolate aroma.' Chocolate perhaps, but we certainly did not find this tobacco to be sweet- toasted and spiced would be more apt terms, but it was definitely a balanced flavour.

The tobacco is moderately tarry, and produces a thick smoke- great for those who can blow smoke rings. I would suggest that you do not pack the tobacco too tight in the bowl- testing the draw before lighting my pipe, I thought it would be fine, but the tobacco went out several times and I had to relight. We certainly recommend trying this tobacco, especially if you are not a fan of aromatics or sweet tobaccos, but would like something with more depth of flavour.

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

Cigarillo: Montecristo Mini (6/10)

My deepest condolences for not having posted in a few days, and I send you the apologies of my compatriot as well... we have both been rather busy. To make up for it, today we bring you two reviews instead of one!

And what better way (ha ha, I began a paragraph with the word 'and,' terribly cutting edge journalism this...) to have a new post, than by bringing you a review of an amazing little cigarillo. We were both terribly impressed with the Montecristo Mini- it is not usual to find a cigarillo that is as enjoyable as this. It is composed of a hybrid filler, meaning that there are proper whole leafs of tobacco mixed in with the short filler (the normal cheap bits of tobacco most cigarillos consist of), and as a result, the Mini is not dry, has quite a decent flavour and is less brittle than most cigarillos. However, it also means that it will go out if not smoked continuously, but most cigar aficionados know this is also a sign of quality. We recommend that you keep these cigarillos in a humidor, or smoke them within a few days of purchase.

Alas, these cigarillos are Cuban (Kennedy must be spinning in his grave knowing we, two Americans, are enjoying Cuban cigars so much, but we are not in America after all), so those of you in the States will have to wait for Obama to lift the embargo (hopefully)... A pack of 2 Minis will cost you around one pound. 50p for one of these is certainly worth the money!

• Smoking time: 5-10 minutes
• Flavour: 7/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 5/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 6/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Indulgence Factor: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 6/10

Cigarillo: Mehari's Sweet Orient (3/10)

Time for another cigarillo review... don't worry, we will be reviewing some proper cigars in due course- namely, once we each get paid... for proper cigars are a bit more expensive.

The Mehari Sweet Orient by Agio, a Sri Lankan manufacturer, is an acceptable smoke, neither amazing, but nor was it disappointing. We found the Meharis produce a light and mild smoke, with a hint of rose. They were sweet, but not overtly so, but as a result of their medium-loose pack of short filler (which is standard in cigarillos) they produced a fairly hot smoke beginning about half-way through the length. The Mehari Sweet Orients are worth a try, but they are certainly not the best cigarillos in the world. A pack of ten will cost you around £5 either online, or in a tobacconist. Of course, we recommend buying from a tobacconist when possible, in order to support local business.

• Smoking time: 5-10 minutes
• Flavour: 4/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 6/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 7/10
• Value for Money: 4/10
• Indulgence Factor: 3/10
• Overall Rating: 3/10

Pipe Tobacco: Coniston Cut Plug Aromatic (9/10)

There is nothing quite as enjoyable as sitting down in the afternoon sun with a cappuccino, a good book, and a pipe. This is the best 'me-time' when I can wind down, and properly appreciate the finer things in life... of course, it is more enjoyable in the summer than winter, but at least today was sunny and dry albeit the chilling north wind...

My favourite tobacco varies between the Coniston non-aromatic and the Coniston aromatic, and in fact, if I cannot decide between the two- a mixture of both is very enjoyable. The Coniston aromatic, in comparison to the non-aromatic (both by makers Gawith and Hoggarth) has a bit more tar, is a bit sweeter, and is slightly more difficult to smoke- in that it goes out more easily... I am a well-seasoned pipe smoker, but the Coniston aromatic usually goes out for me about two-thirds of the way through. Of course, much of the reason for tobaccos going out is due to the pipe, and the way you pack it. In regards to flavour, I believe it has more depth than the non-aromatic (my colleague may disagree), but as is usual with aromatic tobaccos, it has a slightly soapy aftertaste... Fortunately this aftertaste is hardly noticeable in comparison to some other aromatic tobaccos. The Coniston also produces a moderately heavy smoke, and is great for blowing smoke rings- provided there is no wind... Finally, the tobacco also has a very long life; with most tobaccos a full bowl smokes for about a half-hour to forty minutes, but I can get an hour out of the Coniston aromatic.

The Coniston aromatic is certainly a tobacco worth a try. If you decide it is too aromatic, mix about 1/3 aromatic with 2/3 non-aromatic, just to give the non-aromatic Coniston a bit more depth.

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

Pipe Tobacco: Bulwark Flake (5/10)

The Bulwark Flake, by Dutch maker Peterstokkebye, is, in essence, a letdown. It is strong and rich, both excellent qualities, but has a substantial soapy aftertaste that is less than palatable. It also manages to have an overpowering flavour with little or no depth, a feat that somewhat baffles us. To top it off, it goes out easily and leaves a dry coating on the roof of the mouth. It begins as quite a dry smoke, though substantial amounts of tar seem to develop towards the end of a pipefull. Certainly a tobacco that requires regular pipe cleaning! Not exactly our favourite, as no doubt the reader can tell. Of course, everything mentioned above is in comparison to tobacco of the Coniston Cut Plug ilk. The Bulwark Flake is still better than the majority of pre-packaged mass marketed pipe fillers, a view you will see reflected on our ratings and it does possess a strong and distinctive taste. This having been said, it was certainly not to our taste.

• Flavour: 3/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 5/10
• Tar: 6/10
• Value for Money: 5/10
• Indulgence Factor: 3/10
• Overall Rating: 5/10

Pipe Tobacco: Cherry and Vanilla (6/10)

Another fine day, another fine smoke... well, several smokes, some of which were less than fine, and the day was really quite miserable... Alas, gone are the days of indoor smoking! But enough of that, on to the review of the Cherry and Vanilla pipe tobacco from makers Gawith and Hoggarth.

My colleague and I had a few hesitations about trying this particular pipe tobacco, but as I said, since it is the most popular at the Durham Market, and indeed a very popular tobacco all over the world, we must review it! Upon buying a 12.5g amount (just enough for a few pipes) from Jim- our tobacconist, he informed us that this is one of the easiest-smoking tobaccos around, and is also the one to be smoking in order to attract, rather than repel the ladies.

This tobacco surprised us, and by that I mean we both expected the smoke to be as sickeningly sweet as the smell (neither of us are particular fans of sweetened tobaccos). On the contrary, the Cherry and Vanilla was mild and smooth, well-balanced, and with only a hint of vanilla and cherry essence. Unfortunately, as is common with most aromatic tobaccos, this had the peculiar soapy aftertaste that leaves your mouth quite dry. Of course, this can be remedied through various licentious beverages! Fortunately, and unlike many aromatics, the Cherry and Vanilla had very little tar.

If you are smoking a pipe for the first time, or around others who may or may not enjoy the smell of pipe smoke, we recommend the Cherry and Vanilla. Be warned however, that there are nicer tobaccos out there, so do not make the all-too-common mistake if never trying anything new.

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

Rollie Tobacco: Burley Flake (5/10)

Well, we have reviewed a cigar, a pipe tobacco and two cigarillos, so naturally, it's time for a review of a rollie tobacco. The first such rollie tobacco I shall review (and I say 'I' because my compatriot doesn't smoke rollies) is the Burley Flake.

Burley tobacco is lightly air-cured, and is the primary tobacco used in most cigarettes. It can also form the base for many aromatic or non-aromatic blends of tobacco because of its light neutral flavour. The Burley Flake I purchase from the Durham Tobacconist is simply this lightly cured tobacco, without any additives. Thus it has a very enjoyable natural flavour, neutral, not-overwhelming, and thus very enjoyable for a rollie. The particular type I buy is also a thicker shred, which not only is a bit cheaper, but I believe produces a tastier and less hot smoke than the finely shredded rollie tobaccos one would find in a pack of Golden Virginia or Drum for example.

• Flavour: 4/10
• Sweetness: 3/10
• Tar (1=wet, 10=dry): 7/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Indulgence Factor: 2/10
• Overall Rating: 5/10

Cigarillo: Cafe Creme Blue (2/10)

I must admit I had to smoke more than one of the Cafe Creme Blues to really understand exactly what Henri Wintermans (the maker, based in Holland) was getting at. To be honest, I am still not sure what I think of them- whether I like them or not... I think my opinion of them will always depend greatly on externals- such as whether smoked with a coffee, a beer, or a cocktail, and whether it is morning, afternoon or evening. I do think however, that these are morning smokes, and would accompany a cappucino far more than a pint of bitter.

To be honest, we were not disappointed with these cigarillos, but nor were we impressed. They have a medium-loose packing of short filler (typical for a cigarillo), and feature a light minty essence in the moderately sweet smoke. One can tell of the light addition of some sugary susbstance because of the blackness of the ash, but this sweetness is thankfully not overbearing.

A pack of ten Cafe Creme Blues will typically cost you between £3.50 and £4.00.

• Smoking time: 4-8 minutes
• Flavour: 4/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 7/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 7/10
• Value for Money: 5/10
• Indulgence Factor: 2/10
• Overall Rating: 2/10

Cigarillo: Mini by Neos (4/10)

I would first like to introduce myself as the second beardy-pipe-and-cigar-smoking contributor to this blog. Of course, I am far less beardy than my compatriot, and have a somewhat different taste in tobacco, but the hope is that this will enhance our reviews. I hope those of you who have read the first two posts have found this blog interesting and perhaps even found a new tobacco to try, and I encourage you to keep checking back for more reviews.

The Mini cigarillo, by Neos, is Belgian-made, and has the honour of being the first cigarillo to be reviewed here. It is a medium packed cigarillo of 'short filler,' although thankfully we found no large ugly stems to contend with. The smoke is lightly sweet- though do not let this put you off, the smoke is balanced and not overt. Although a simple flavour, the Mini featured the light fragrance of rose, which was exceptionally nice. Like many cigarillos, the Mini had very little tar, but of course this tends to be a problem only with larger cigars.

The first puff of smoke from the Mini leaves nothing to be desired- in fact our first words were simply wow! Perhaps this sentiment was slightly coloured by our experience with several not-so-nice cigarillos, but those first few puffs were certainly enjoyable. Nevertheless, although an excellent smoke initially, the cigarillo quickly became unbearably hot and spicy, losing its pleasant sweetness about halfway through- and although many cigars suffer this fate toward the end, the Mini began its decline earlier than is normal.

These cigarillos can be expected to cost roughly £2.50 in your local tobacconist for a pack of ten... and perhaps an extra 20p per pack if bought online.

• Smoking Time: 4-8 minutes
• Flavour: 4/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 6/10
• Tar (1=wet, 10=dry): 8/10
• Value for  Money: 7/10
• Indulgence Factor: 5/10
• Overall Rating: 4/10

Pipe Tobacco: Coniston Cut Plug (9/10)

Although I am often found smoking a cigar, it is my pipe that has always been my true pleasure. Over the years I have tried many different tobaccos (over 50 at last count) and Coniston Cut Plug by Gawith and Hoggarth has consistently remained amongst my favorites. Its composition is about three quarters dark-fired leaf, with the remainder split equally between Virginia and Burley. Many tobaccos are described as having a full flavor, but few provide the depth that this cut plug achieves. It is a long and slow smoking tobacco, that stays lit remarkably well compared to most other pipe tobaccos. If you are new to smoking pipes, it can be found quite strong and, silly though it may sound, smoky. The other flavor that some find off-putting, are the floral tones that almost seem to contain a soapy quality. Once more, this seems to bother the newer smoker far more than the experienced. There is an aromatic version available, but I will leave my fellow contributer to discuss that in greater depth as he is far more of a fan than I. It is available in plug or cut plug form, but unless you have a great deal of time and enjoy chopping tobacco, I strongly recommend that you buy it ready cut. This is a wonderful pipe tobacco. If you haven't tried it, go and buy a pouch full, today, and if your local tobacconist doesn't stock it, ask them to. It is well worth it.

• Flavour: 8/10
  
• Smoke Sweetness: 5/10
  
• Tar: 5/10
  
• Value for Money: 7/10
  
• Indulgence Factor: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10
  

Cigar: Chinchalero Chicos (6/10)

There are days (admittedly not that many) when I find I neither have the time nor the enthusiasm to relax with an appropriate licentious beverage and enjoy the forty-five minutes to an hour of pleasure that a pipe of good tobacco or a truly well made cigar would afford me. Rather, I need a quick burst of civilization, a little something to keep me sane. Chinchalero Chicos are a hand made 30 gauge Nicaraguan Cigar that fit the bill perfectly. They have an average smoking time of about 15 minutes and are remarkably easy to enjoy while walking. I have also, thus far, been impressed with the quality of their composition. I have smoked five over the last week and each has cut well. More importantly I have yet to encounter any large pieces of stem that can hinder the burning of many of the cheaper cigars. Not only are they remarkably smooth and slow burning, but they provide a depth of flavor usually more common only in a far more expensive cigar. After all, price is perhaps their biggest appeal. Online a box of twenty-five will cost just over 25 pounds. At your local tobacconist the cost will be slightly higher, though you can check to make sure they have been stored properly and there are no shipping costs to consider. Much as we support online shops for specialist items we also like to support our local tobacconist as a quality purveyor of the little joys in life. Chinchalero Chicos get a firm recommendation from us. Not a cigar for a special occasion perhaps, but one would be hard pressed to find a better cigar for day to day consumption without at least doubling the price.

• Smoking time: 10-15 minutes
  
• Flavour: 5/10
  
• Smoke Sweetness: 3/10
  
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 8/10
  
• Value for Money: 9/10
  
• Indulgence Factor: 2/10
  
• Overall Rating: 6/10