Reviews

Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016

San Cristobal El Principe Cigar - 1 Single by Staff

Reviewed by Michael Hochman (January 2001) I decided to taste my three cigars in three distinct situations. 1. Cigar #1 - A day out with an old friend. 2. Cigar #2 - A first date. 3. Cigar #2 - Playing Pocket Billiards. I must admit that the expectations are highest for cigar #2. Here's the timetable and a little background for each cigar. 1. Cigar #1 (Monday, February 05, 2001) was smoked after a day of errands, some shopping (TWO Charvet ties from Sacks 5th Avenue), a nice dinner (Ruth's Chris Steakhouse), and off to my favorite hotel lobby bar (The Minneapolis Hilton) for the best part of the day, relaxing with a friend (Heidi) and a good cup of coffee after a fulfilling dinner and my gifted Havana. 2. Cigar #2 (Tuesday, February 06, 2001) was smoked at during my first date with Ilona. We went to some modern art museum (splattered paint on canvas, incongruent sculpture, art I could not understand), had some pasta for lunch, and then back to The Minneapolis Hilton for cigar #2 3. Cigar #3 (Wednesday, February 07, 2001) was smoked while using the game of pocket

Date Added: Monday 10 August, 2015

San Cristobal El Principe Cigar - 1 Single by David

I had a couple of these sitting in my humidor for about a year, so I thought I'd give one a try this weekend. Judging by the packing at the foot of the cigar, construction looked good and the wrapper looked fine with no noticeably large veins. Pre-light aroma was like a very light manure, but not unpleasant. The draw was excellent from the very first puff with plenty of thick white smoke. The first third was mild, but with a very slight spiciness at the edge of the tongue. This developed into a beautiful creamy taste two-thirds in, still with a very easy draw. Unfortunately, by the final third, the wrapper began to unfurl, spoiling the experience somewhat.This was the only negative I could find. This cigar held it's ash very well and and was long lasting (about an hour) given it's relatively small size. Will definitely be buying these again and would recommend them highly.

Date Added: Monday 29 June, 2015

Samuel Gawith Bothy Flake Pipe Tobacco 50g Tin by Staff

As you open the tin, both excited and nervous for this flake you are greeted by the whiff of whiskey, and a good whiff at that. It took a while to light but when lit it's worth the effort that got you there. At first it is smokey, peaty and has a slight pepper taste but it passes quickly as it smooths out into the virginia flake it is, accompanied by the single malt whiskey flavouring you desire. It is amazingly unique and unlike anything else. A definite recommendation.

Date Added: Monday 29 June, 2015

Solani Aged Burley Flake Pipe Tobacco 50g Tin by Staff

Appearance; A close cut flake, very easy to break down in the hand resulting in a nice flake, easy to place in the pipe. Aroma; [before smoking] = pleasantly nutty. Smoking is as follows; A very deep and extremely pleasant taste from the mature Burley tobacco, with a hint of nuts, sweet after tastes and a hint of faint background spice. Cool and slow burning, if correctly packed into a briar pipe. [Note; if packed too tight, it will not burn smoothly, resulting in clinkers, however, if packed correctly, will burn to a white ash] Strength; Medium to strong [dependent on the experience of the smoker] Overall impression; An excellent Pipe Tobacco showing the best of the tobacco blenders art. Recommended for experienced Pipe Smokers only. Alfie - Turmeaus Liverpool

Date Added: Monday 29 June, 2015

Solani Festival Pipe Tobacco 50g Tin by Staff

On opening the sample, your senses are immediately inundated by the aromatic aroma of plums, which gives you a good guide of treats to come. The tobacco is in coarse cut form, and the mix of the different tobacco leaf of black Cavendish---burley & Virginia looks very attractive, and in my sample had just the right moisture content. I found that it helps if you choose the correct size pipe, for using a small bowl makes the blend smoking experience slightly sharp on first lighting, so use a larger bowl to allow the blend to burn better, giving a smoother smoking experience. Try also moving between a briar pipe and a meerschaum, as the meerschaum adds a little extra to the overall experience, as a briar burns hotter with this blend. A cooler smoke allows the tobacco blenders art to come to its true fruition. Using a meerschaum for my sampling, I found the following; Strength; Mild to Medium. Burning; Slow and cool. Taste; A very pleasant plum like taste, with overtones hints from the mix of black Cavendish and Burley, of spicy nuts.

Date Added: Saturday 20 June, 2015

Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake Pipe Tobacco 50g (Tin) by Staff

Not your usual Gawith blend, best brown has a hint of honey dew and is sort of 'chewy'. It's hard to describe... It's very different and a little oaty.