Sutliff Spicy Vanilla Tobacco
pwkarch
Master
in Tobacco Talk
It has been awhile since I have "reviewed" any tobacco blends simply because I have been so busy since before Thanksgiving with work, and time being a rare commodity. I have even neglected my pipes and tobaccos with only sporadic times in which to enjoy them (mostly to and from work). My current consulting gig is winding down so I look forward to some smokey times, but disappointed in yet again an irregular source of income.
I have however been able to replenish my cellar from time to time, and to introduce "new blends" (to me), again in search of that singular Nirvana tobacco for which we all search.
Back in early December I bought some Sutliff Spicy Vanilla along with several other blends, jarred them, and went on about my daily life. In the last week or so I have smoked this blend three times, two of which was with my recently purchased Savinelli "Dolomite" in the Prince shape.
I loaded the tobacco from the jar into my dish, allowed it to air out for awhile, then loaded the pipe. The tobacco was fairly dry in the jar so a lot of time was not really required. I loaded the pipe as I normally do noticing that the KS pipe does hold a rather robust amount of tobacco. The tobacco out of the jar and on the plate certainly is a vanilla flavor, nut in its' unburned state did not have any spicy notes. The tobacco takes very nicely to the flame and there is an immediate blast of smoke upon the first real draw.
The vanilla is a somewhat subdued version of what the aroma of the tobacco might suggest in the jar. The surprise is, the "spicy" components come alive and very nicely become one with the vanilla. The joint taste and aroma of the smoke is extremely enjoyable. The tobacco seems to burn slower than what I am used to, but that might also be due to the large bowl on this pipe. The first third or half or so is very enjoyable to say the least.
The taste and aroma stay very even through the second third or so of the bowl. The tobacco is unchanging as he bowl is consumed. If anything the spice may have gotten slightly more noticible, or maybe the vanilla has backed off a bit. Still a very enjoyable tobacco. With regimented cadence this tobacco has no tongue bite or hot taste. There is a slight "bite" from the spice that is enjoyable, not tongue or mouth bite from the heat, but a nice "spicy bite" like a nice white pepper or exotic spice. This was what I wanted and the reason I bought this blend. The entire time however the vanilla never disappeared but blended very nicely in taste and aroma with the spice.
The last third or so of the bowl stayed true to those earlier observations. The tobacco never burned hot, the tobacco never gurgled or popped, and the taste just kept me very interested and pleased. The end of the bowl produced a nice dry white to light grey ash with just the tiniest amount of dottle.
This tobacco is an absolute winner in my book. I love vanilla, and I love "spicy" tastes and aroma. This tobacco does not disappoint in either of those departments, and in fact excels in areas such as ease of smoking and the way in which my pipe endured the smoke in a clean and dry condition.
I would rate this tobacco a 10/10 for aromatic smokers. The fact that both the vanilla and the spice are "subdued" in their presentation, I think this would be acceptable to even those who are not typically vanilla or spice tobacco fans.
I have a pound in the 'cellar" and will be adding another pound on my next order.
I have however been able to replenish my cellar from time to time, and to introduce "new blends" (to me), again in search of that singular Nirvana tobacco for which we all search.
Back in early December I bought some Sutliff Spicy Vanilla along with several other blends, jarred them, and went on about my daily life. In the last week or so I have smoked this blend three times, two of which was with my recently purchased Savinelli "Dolomite" in the Prince shape.
I loaded the tobacco from the jar into my dish, allowed it to air out for awhile, then loaded the pipe. The tobacco was fairly dry in the jar so a lot of time was not really required. I loaded the pipe as I normally do noticing that the KS pipe does hold a rather robust amount of tobacco. The tobacco out of the jar and on the plate certainly is a vanilla flavor, nut in its' unburned state did not have any spicy notes. The tobacco takes very nicely to the flame and there is an immediate blast of smoke upon the first real draw.
The vanilla is a somewhat subdued version of what the aroma of the tobacco might suggest in the jar. The surprise is, the "spicy" components come alive and very nicely become one with the vanilla. The joint taste and aroma of the smoke is extremely enjoyable. The tobacco seems to burn slower than what I am used to, but that might also be due to the large bowl on this pipe. The first third or half or so is very enjoyable to say the least.
The taste and aroma stay very even through the second third or so of the bowl. The tobacco is unchanging as he bowl is consumed. If anything the spice may have gotten slightly more noticible, or maybe the vanilla has backed off a bit. Still a very enjoyable tobacco. With regimented cadence this tobacco has no tongue bite or hot taste. There is a slight "bite" from the spice that is enjoyable, not tongue or mouth bite from the heat, but a nice "spicy bite" like a nice white pepper or exotic spice. This was what I wanted and the reason I bought this blend. The entire time however the vanilla never disappeared but blended very nicely in taste and aroma with the spice.
The last third or so of the bowl stayed true to those earlier observations. The tobacco never burned hot, the tobacco never gurgled or popped, and the taste just kept me very interested and pleased. The end of the bowl produced a nice dry white to light grey ash with just the tiniest amount of dottle.
This tobacco is an absolute winner in my book. I love vanilla, and I love "spicy" tastes and aroma. This tobacco does not disappoint in either of those departments, and in fact excels in areas such as ease of smoking and the way in which my pipe endured the smoke in a clean and dry condition.
I would rate this tobacco a 10/10 for aromatic smokers. The fact that both the vanilla and the spice are "subdued" in their presentation, I think this would be acceptable to even those who are not typically vanilla or spice tobacco fans.
I have a pound in the 'cellar" and will be adding another pound on my next order.
Comments