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H&H Berry Nice - Aromatic Adventures...
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Captain Pegleg
May 15, 2013, 12:17:54 PM5/15/13
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A while back I decided to take a departure occasionally to check out
the currently offered aromatics. I'm usually smoking non aromatics,
but it's been years since I really paid any attention to what is
really out there now in cased and/or topped tobaccos (aside from some
Gawith and Hoggarth, Germain's, etc). It's been a fun sort of
endeavor for the most part, and won't become a full time aromatic
smoker in this lifetime, but I'm enjoying this change of pace
interspersed with my usual enjoyable tobaccos.
Today's choice was Berry Nice, from Hearth and Home. It's a berry
aromatic from Russ, and the first thing I noted was the condition of
the tobacco in the bag, as it was not a goopy PG mess, but instead a
sort of chunky medium to dark brown with a pleasant "berry" smell
mixed with the smell of the flue cured tobacco that comprises this
particular blend. As I understand it, Russ likes to keep his blends
drier than what one usually finds in aromatics, and to most that's a
welcome thing.
Lighting was standard, with a charring light and no issues on the
actual lighting. I'll note here that this tobacco gave me NO issues
with staying lit, requiring no additional lights to the bowl (a MM
Legend Cob). It burned well, producing notably thick clouds of scented
smoke all the way to the bottom. The room note is incredibly berry
like and sweet, and if one has a significant other I imagine they
would love it. The one thing I did note is that at the end of the bowl
the bottom of the bowl was a LITLLE wet. Nothing like what I've
experienced with some other aros, but it was a bit moist.
The flavor of the smoke was definately berry, and the slower I
sipped, the more pronounced the dark berry flavors emerged. The
tobacco flavor, however, was light to the point that I had to search
for it. Not a bad thing to me on this one, but I tend to want to taste
the tobacco a bit more. That may be just because I don't smoke aros
regularly. It was there, sometimes a bit more noticeable, but overall
it is not dominant. This reminds me of a wine of some sort, but I
haven't had a drink in 26 years or so, so I may be wrong on this but
to my recollection that is what come to mind. The sweet element of
this is not overwhelming, but it's there and you can't miss it.
Neither can I miss the blackberry flavors, which are pretty enjoyable
to me and as I said earlier pretty much dominate. By the end of the
bowl it had a touch of an acidy or acrid tinge, but nothing
unmanageable like in some aros.
I'm no reviewer nor a regular aro smoker, but wanted to have
accountability for the "Aromatic Adventure", so thanks for reading
this far. After smoking 2 bowls of this I checked it out on
Tobaccoreviews, and I'm a bit surprised that it has been panned by a
few folks there - badly. Still, this kind of thing is subjective and I
guess that they just didn't enjoy it.
For my tastes, it has been a good smoke, especially when compared to
other aros. I will finish off my small bag with no problems, and may
even smoke it occasionally in the future. I DO mean occasionally,
though...
Smooth sailin all, and let me know if you've tried this one!
Randy
the currently offered aromatics. I'm usually smoking non aromatics,
but it's been years since I really paid any attention to what is
really out there now in cased and/or topped tobaccos (aside from some
Gawith and Hoggarth, Germain's, etc). It's been a fun sort of
endeavor for the most part, and won't become a full time aromatic
smoker in this lifetime, but I'm enjoying this change of pace
interspersed with my usual enjoyable tobaccos.
Today's choice was Berry Nice, from Hearth and Home. It's a berry
aromatic from Russ, and the first thing I noted was the condition of
the tobacco in the bag, as it was not a goopy PG mess, but instead a
sort of chunky medium to dark brown with a pleasant "berry" smell
mixed with the smell of the flue cured tobacco that comprises this
particular blend. As I understand it, Russ likes to keep his blends
drier than what one usually finds in aromatics, and to most that's a
welcome thing.
Lighting was standard, with a charring light and no issues on the
actual lighting. I'll note here that this tobacco gave me NO issues
with staying lit, requiring no additional lights to the bowl (a MM
Legend Cob). It burned well, producing notably thick clouds of scented
smoke all the way to the bottom. The room note is incredibly berry
like and sweet, and if one has a significant other I imagine they
would love it. The one thing I did note is that at the end of the bowl
the bottom of the bowl was a LITLLE wet. Nothing like what I've
experienced with some other aros, but it was a bit moist.
The flavor of the smoke was definately berry, and the slower I
sipped, the more pronounced the dark berry flavors emerged. The
tobacco flavor, however, was light to the point that I had to search
for it. Not a bad thing to me on this one, but I tend to want to taste
the tobacco a bit more. That may be just because I don't smoke aros
regularly. It was there, sometimes a bit more noticeable, but overall
it is not dominant. This reminds me of a wine of some sort, but I
haven't had a drink in 26 years or so, so I may be wrong on this but
to my recollection that is what come to mind. The sweet element of
this is not overwhelming, but it's there and you can't miss it.
Neither can I miss the blackberry flavors, which are pretty enjoyable
to me and as I said earlier pretty much dominate. By the end of the
bowl it had a touch of an acidy or acrid tinge, but nothing
unmanageable like in some aros.
I'm no reviewer nor a regular aro smoker, but wanted to have
accountability for the "Aromatic Adventure", so thanks for reading
this far. After smoking 2 bowls of this I checked it out on
Tobaccoreviews, and I'm a bit surprised that it has been panned by a
few folks there - badly. Still, this kind of thing is subjective and I
guess that they just didn't enjoy it.
For my tastes, it has been a good smoke, especially when compared to
other aros. I will finish off my small bag with no problems, and may
even smoke it occasionally in the future. I DO mean occasionally,
though...
Smooth sailin all, and let me know if you've tried this one!
Randy
random
May 15, 2013, 1:47:48 PM5/15/13
to
general... I prefer burley, semois, or cigar-leaf.
But thanks very much for posting a straight-forward review of it from
your perspective. I'd like to see more posts of this kind, I think it
would bring back some of the flavor ASP had back in the day.
Paul Z
May 15, 2013, 2:39:46 PM5/15/13
to
tobacco order.
Paul Z
Ed Duncan
May 15, 2013, 3:23:57 PM5/15/13
to
adding my "great review" Randy. Like Random, I don't do aromatics anymore, but know many do & certainly respect that.
Everything I have now at least has "latakia-lite", presently '06 Ashbury (light) & '05 CrownAchievement (classified medium). My latakia "bombs", Pease Abingdon & Blackpoint, C&D daVinci, from Columbus SmokersHaven (German), Exotique & BestBlend & the diabolical Hermit Tobb. "10Russians". Will be gradually mixing them in. TobbReviews classified C&D PlantationEvening as "light to medium" on the latakia. All the above unopened & of '06 Vintage. The CA is my "seniority" tobacco!
Meanwhile it's breezy, sunny, 71 in Western NY. Earlier, sual 2-mile "dog walks me", Casa deOrtez 50x5.5 for added company.
Tea, '06 Ashbury in IL Ceppo mini-magnum in smoking room & as soon as this is finished...back to the tea, smoke & roll some coin. Seeya for evening smokes thread.
Ed Duncan, Batavia, NY
pipe/cigar since '62
Travis
May 17, 2013, 11:30:57 PM5/17/13
to
Good Review, keep 'em up.
I'd say I was not an aromatic smoker, but, damn, I love G&H Bright CR
Flake and Firedance Flake, which would be classified as aromatics.
Suspect I'm hooked on Lakeland blends.
Travis
G&H Louisiana Flake in a no-name meer w/Scotch on the side
I'd say I was not an aromatic smoker, but, damn, I love G&H Bright CR
Flake and Firedance Flake, which would be classified as aromatics.
Suspect I'm hooked on Lakeland blends.
Travis
G&H Louisiana Flake in a no-name meer w/Scotch on the side
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