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A blend of the finest red and bright Virginias balanced by Basma leaf from 2014 and Izmir Orientals from 2013, Sun Bear showcases select varietals by highlighting their inherent characters with a range of unique and nuanced casings. South Carolina garden-grown honey — harvested from the personal beehives of C&D's head blender, Jeremy Reeves — combines with a whisper of silver tequila and elderflower to augment the fruity and floral notes of the choice Orientals and Virginias.
Notes: 2019 - 4,500 tins produced. 2020 - 8,000 tins produced.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JimInks (3050) |   |
Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The tangy dark fruity, earthy, woody, bready, lightly floral, slightly spicy, slightly citrusy red Virginia takes a tiny lead over the other components at times. Strongly vying for attention for the first slot and often getting it are the dry, sour, lightly tangy sweet, woody, earthy, floral, spicy, smoky Basma and Izmir. The bright Virginia provides some tart citrus, grass, a floral and spice note in an important support role, and ranks a slot below the Orientals and the red Va. The smooth, sweet honey is the most obvious topping, while the lightly fruity, earthy tequila rises a little above the “whisper” mentioned in the blend description. Its effect tends to vary a tad, though it seems just a little more potent half way through the experience. The tart, grape and berry-like, acidic, floral, herbal, sweet elderflower is always in the background. The toppings sublimate the tobaccos to a moderate degree. The strength and taste levels barely reach the medium threshold. The nic-hit is just past the center of mild to medium. No chance of bite, and while it’s not exactly smooth, there’s very few rough edges, and has potential for a hint of harshness that chiefly comes from the Izmir. The flakes easily break apart to suit your packing preference. They are lightly moist, but needs no dry time. Burns cool, clean, and a little slow with a modestly sweet, minimally sour and savory, mildly inconsistent, complex and nuanced flavor. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires some relights. Has a pleasant, short lived after taste. The room note is a rung stronger than the after taste. Can be an all day smoke.
-JimInks
30 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rustedrailsmokes (293) | |
Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
2021-06-18 Some reflections with some age.
As summer reaches Georgia, I pulled out my jar of 2019 Sun Bear to enjoy. The jar note is still sweet. The tobacco has aged quite well and I feel that the flavorings now compliment instead of overwhelm the tobacco. The taste is much more melded and I can still get hints of the tequila and honey but also enjoy the tobaccos underneath. Look forward to smoking this one through the summer.
==First Impressions 8/8/19==
I received my tin today dated 080119 so this first review is some pretty "Fresh" mixture. This is tin 312/4500 (I'm interested if there are differences within the batch)
Popping the tin, I could smell alcohol which I'm taking to be the Tequila mentioned on the label. There was also a sweetness which I guess is the honey.
Large broken flakes a la Sunset Harbor Flake. Pretty moist but easy to pack into a bent billiard bones. Char lighted it. Let it set 5 minutes and was able to get it to take well on the relight.
I don't really taste the alcohol topping too much in the first part of the bowl, nice sweetness from the honey topping on the bright virginias. Picked up a little tanginess through the bowl which I'm guessing are the oriental specs which are quite noticeable in the flakes.
One relight about midway through the bowl after swabbing a little bit of moisture out of the pipe. Second half of the bowl had a little bit more of the tequila topping and fruitiness. Didn't much in the way of deep notes. No tongue bite and medium Nicotine to my taste.
Had to look it up:
"What is the taste of elderflower? It's closer to lychee in flavor, and it has a crisp, palate-cleansing finish. If you think about how blueberries add a sweet-tart flavor to a lemon muffin or scone, that's exactly what elderflower's doing in the royal couple's cake. Only it adds a delicate floral flavor"
This is really a good combination for summer. Would be a great with a margarita I'm sure. Maybe sitting on the beach or the front porch. Looking forward to seeing how it cellars and also how this tin does with some more time to marry together.
Pipe Used: Bent Billiard Morgan Bones
Age When Smoked: about a week right now...
Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com
Similar Blends: Orlik Tobacco Company A/S - Golden Sliced (Red Tin) (Plus the toppings).
17 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CivilWar (9) | |
Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The elderflower and silver tequila topping give it a unique flavor and aren't heavy handed, just enough. You notice it at first, and then the Virginias, Basma leaf and Izmir Oriental flake take the driver's seat. The Honey adds a small bit of sweetness to the flake, but not too much, just enough to compliment the Virginias. The flake is not too moist out of the tin. All in all I really enjoy this tobacco.
So, what is Elderflower?
Elderflowers are creamy white blooms from elder trees. Elderflowers are edible, and so are the elderberries that grow on the shrubs later in the summer. Elderflower tastes have been described as: "light and floral" "floral and fragrant" "subtle yet heady" "distinctly musky and sweet.". Elderflowers are used to make, St. Germain liqueur and have been made popular by its use in Prince Harry's and Meghan Markle's wedding cake.
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StevieB (2082) | |
Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Cornell & Diehl - Sun Bear (Small Batch).
Tin number 3209 of 4500.
Hmmmm, nice, but not 'spectacular'. A bit disappointing!
Anyhoo, the tin contains flakes which are beginning to break apart. So, just stuffing them into the pipe is enough to reduce them to a smokable consistency. I get more of a sweet aroma in the tin-note than I do alcohol/tequila. The moistness of Sun Bear can't be faulted.
The tobaccos taste nice, together. I get more rich Virginia than I do Orientals; so the leading natural flavour's rather fruity. The Orientals aren't miles behind, a little way back, but not lots; there's a titillating nuance from them which, without question, works well. Regarding the added flavours, like in the unlit aroma, I note more honey than tequila. As is usual, the honey gives a fragrant sweetness, but the tequila lets it down; although not a headstrong flavour, it brings enough bitter, sour, alcohol to lessen the rating. I find the burn a little warm, with the smoke bringing a bit of bite.
Nicotine: medium. Room-note: acceptable.
Sun Bear? If it weren't for the tequila I'd rate it well. Alas, the tequila reduces it to two stars:
Somewhat recommended.
Pipe Used: Cob, Meerschaum, Briar
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Tobaccopipes.com
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Hoipolloi (12) | |
Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The tin aroma is very pleasant, like fresh raisin bread. The moisture level is low and no drying time is necessary. The flakes rub out very easily, they also fold and stiff nicely. It burns cool and will not bite unless you pull smoke like a factory chimney. The standard flavors Virginia of grass and hay shine though. However, there's a very light floral note and a hint of tequila (very subtle). On the retro hale there's a very slight peppery spicy note. This is by no means an aromatic. The nicotine level seems to be mild to medium. I was nervous bc thought I over bought, but after a few bowls I am looking to forward to cellaring this to let it age.
Pipe Used: MM Gentlemen
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Tobaccopipes.com
Similar Blends: Oilk Golden Slices (with more depth).
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| PipeTobaccoReviewer (12) | |
Mild | Mild | Medium | Unnoticeable |
A bizarre blend that works magically well. I strongly disagree that this boils down to standard "C and D floor blended Virginias" as another reviewer put it. The base tobaccos are perfectly complimented by an extremely unusual set of light toppings. This falls squarely in the grey zone between topped VaOr and aromatic to me. Hard to tell which it is, but I'm leaning towards topped flake rather than straight up aromatic.
Bright VA with good spicy Orientals make up the base notes. The honey, tequila, and elderflower are all present, but not obtrusive. They compliment the base tobaccos insanely well. Floral, spice, sweet... it's just a wonderful and unique blend.
As another reviewer mentioned, and many on forums love to spout, the "Small Batch" releases may be a marketing tactic, yes. But I don't really care because C&D is backing up the tactic with blends that push the envelope of what is expected on the US market. Come on now, tequila and elderflower? You think the average fellow with a pipe collection could have thought that up and executed it? Let's give credit where it's due folks. You don't have to love the result, but man at least it's something different than 90% of the VA based blends out there with their rote repetition of hay and citrus with a bit of caramel or bready earth and mild sweet you have to hunt for.
I hope they do another run of this and I'll be first in line. Same goes for pretty much any other Small Batch blend that attempts to push pipe tobacco into new realms.
Strongly Recommended.
8 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| DeathMetal.org (231) | |
Mild | Mild | Mild | Tolerable |
Summary: an expensive way to receive your bulk bright Virginia
The tin notes tell us all about the expensive Basma and Ismir Oriental leaf, luxury silver liquor, and organically- and ethically-sourced local free trade honey, but almost nothing about the "blend of fine red and bright Virginias." Like the G.L. Pease blends, this one re-sells a cheap bulk product -- Virginia ribbon -- by cresting it with a 5% expensive product (tequila, honey, Orientals) and then selling it at the same price as if the whole thing were expensive ingredients. I like bright Virginias, I like C&D bright Virginias, and I like Jeremy Reeves, but this blend is a ripoff. You're getting their $2/ounce bright, red, and some brown Virginias for $6/ounce because they added fifty cents of diluted topping and a pinch of some Orientals they found in some old Tupperware. The bright Virginias are cheaper because of lower processing time therefore lower labor costs. If you have bought this abortion of a blend, definitely let it age, because the C&D "Virginia Flake" shines at two years and "Sun Bear" will probably be very similar. First light brings out a sugary mess of flavors from the toppings, then comes the malty nougat of the Virginia mix, and finally just a little sour and cardamom-like lift from the Orientals. After that, things go downhill. The Virginias burn like blazes, but caramelize by the second half of the bowl, at which point you start to see why people usually mix them with Burleys, namely the thin body and flavor of the smoke. This one reminds me of the faux mayonnaise they sell in the big stores which is basically a little flavoring on clotted soybean oil. The tobacco industry likes it because influencers will shill it, and "hobbyists" will buy it at three times its fair price so they can use as it as form of experience tourism and talk about the rare silver tequila honey nuances on Instagram.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Ash Ryan (7) | |
Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
This one has a tin note you would expect of the component tobaccos and toppings, dominated by the honey and brights. The flavor is very consistent and mechanics are perfect. The moisture content was just right. Nic hit is on the lower side of medium for me. The orientals are farther in the background than i was expecting, but still noticeable. I wish i bought more than one tin.
Pipe Used: Radice and Tekin
Age When Smoked: Fresh
Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com
Similar Blends: Orlik Golden Sliced, Reiner Long Golden Flake.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| laufenstoc (9) | |
Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
Good tobaccos subjected to toppings that significantly diminish the smoking experience for me. When compared to C&D's Bijou, another Virginia/Orientals blend also topped with honey, it is quite different. I find the honey in Bijou to be delicatly infused to the blend in a way that compliments it very well. I don't know if the honey is different in type or proportion; or if the inclusion of tequila in Sun Bear that makes it disappointing for me. I think the foundation blend to be good, but the toppings give the taste a semi-sour, unpleasant influence. I have had a number of bowls, but don't plan on finishing the tin. Not my cup of tea....
Pipe Used: various
Age When Smoked: 1.5 years
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| BrokenRecord (124) | |
Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Sun Bear surprised me. I have no special like or curiosity for Virginia/Turkish blends. However, this flake is so tasty and the tin note is scrumptious.
The bright Virginias shine in this flake. They are grassy with some crisp edges. The reds add some earthiness. The Turkish leaf adds complexity with a little sourness—especially in the last third of the bowl. The honey casing melds well with the sweetness of the Virginia leaf. There is a pleasant fruity undertone to the flake.
*This review is based on a small sample and limited life experience.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| LiterarySmoker (143) | |
Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
I have to admit I was excited to get my hands on a few tins of this since it went so fast. I saw a bunch of postings in the various pipe smoking groups about it's impending release and I thought it was just hype, but from what I've heard Smoking Pipes sold their entire stock in a day. So the question is, how good is this blend? It does have Basma which is my favorite leaf from my cherished Peterson Old Dublin, so I have some high expectations.
So when I first opened the tin, I found a pretty standard broken up/rubbed out flake, I let it rest for a day or two and then I put it in a jar. Now the tin note on this one is very interesting. The virginia is citrusy, sweet, I can sort of smell the Orientals in here, but that honey topping does smell delicious. It's very floral, and reminds me of Elderflower. This one is easy to pack. Easy to light. The smell is very pleasant and might be so for those around you. Needs a little bit more than the average relight.
The sweetness of the honey comes through immediately and is more defined than say Bijou which is another excellent blend. There is a citrusy, woody, earthy note from the Virginia's and it's not crushed by the honey, but carried along with it. The Orientals offer some incense and floral notes. Like the smell I am getting a slight elderflower taste. On the tin I see tequila silver is used, but I'm not sure if I really taste it yet. The taste is a medium, and I'd say the same about the nicotine.
This is a great blend, and definitely worth the hype in my opinion. It sets out and does what it says it's going to do. This could easily be an all day smoke.
Pipe Used: Kaywoodie Birkshire Large Billiard
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| PapaLukeB (4) | |
Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Tin note: cinnamon and clove. Fermented prune. Very sweet and fruity. Gorgeous semi- broken flake. Golden toasted almond brown with deep walnut and mahogany hues; very attractive. Came a bit wet but not bad… definitely not on the level of say a Samuel Gawith tin. Took a little coaxing to get lit. Stays lit well. First light: a little flash of harshness giving way to a very full smoky mouth feel. The honey hits with intensity: sweet, rich and somewhat dark. Red Virginia shows its maturity and rounded smoothness. Brights are crisp and go well with the sophisticated bouquet of the delicate accent leaves. The orientals lend Mediterranean flavor and aroma: sweet, floral; exotic and pungent. The warm spiciness is unique. It coats the tongue and is dry in the mouth. It doesn't sting say on a retrohale the way perique does. It is more of a subtle tingle on the middle of the palette and the tongue when the ember hits a pocket of Basma/Izmir. I wouldn't smoke this all day. It's more of a delicacy blend. It is so very rich and complex. It takes focus and intention to really enjoy. It's a contrast to a Orlik or PS Luxury Flake or Squadron Leader. I could pack bowl after bowl of these while enjoying a late afternoon in the sun with friends. Sun Bear asks to be experienced in solitude with few thoughts. It should be savored and consumed with meditative consciousness. It's perfect and lamentable in its rarity. The rareness of the aged oriental leaves. The rarity of the limited production. The singularity of its profile. There is no other blend to compare it. It stands quite alone. It is a beautiful blend. It is one I will enjoy slowly over many years. I'm certain it will continue to elevate itself unimaginably the older it becomes.
Pipe Used: Savinelli Roma Lucite 673KS
Age When Smoked: fresh
Purchased From: smokingpipes
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| McQueen (41) | |
Very Mild | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Had a pipe meetup on Sunday and a feller brought an open tin hes had for a few days. I fired up a bowl in a trusty cob used only for virginias. This is a crossover aromatic and has a really unique casing you aren’t likely to find on another blend .
Pipe Used: MM cob
Age When Smoked: Fresh
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Bulldog8483 (25) | |
Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This is a solid blend, but not amazing in my opinion. The smell out of the tin very nice. Literally makes me want to chew the tobacco. It's light, slightly floral, sweet, smooth and satisfying. The honey is in the forefront which is wonderful in its own right while the tequila is a subtle, supporting player that you can only pick up if you focus on it, but it is definitely there. The red and bright Virginia's are the major players in this blend while the Basma leaf and Izmir Orientals are an excellent inclusion that gives the blend a little something extra. They are more subtle than the Virginias. It's definitely a unique blend that I cannot compare to anything else because nothing else comes to mind given the honey additive. The very first smoke I would have rated around a 6.5-7 out of 10, because I puffed a bit quickly. The next 5 bowls I slowed down, was mindful of my cadence and focused a little more and now I would rate it at 8-8.5/10. Great blend that gives a little variety to my rotation since I'm primarily a straight Virginia smoker. Definitely worth a try if you can snag a tin. Well done Jeremy Reeves and C&D. This is a good addition to the market.
Pipe Used: Savinelli Oscar 115
Age When Smoked: 1 year
Purchased From: B and M and Online
Similar Blends: .......
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| CountryPiper (19) | |
Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
I know a lot of people believe the whole “Small Batch” thing is all marketing, maybe it is, but that sure doesn’t mean the “specially branded blend” isn’t going to be fantastic. This is in my top five blends offered by C&D, maybe top three. There is just something about this concoction that I love. I prefer Virginia’s but I also enjoy an aromatic from time to time. This definitely isn’t an aromatic and at the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious it’s a great Virginia blend that’s cased with sweet and tangy flavors, it’s almost the best of both worlds in my humble opinion.
The Virginia’s in this blend are great. You get the dark fruit, tangy, bready flavors you’d expect from a good quality Virginia which sets the tone for things. The honey and tequila toppings aren’t in any way overpowering the Virginia’s and Orientals but add just enough extra flavor to bring more attention to the latter. The blend started off sweet but evened out halfway down the bowl. The flavors here really blend well together.
To me this has a medium flavor profile with a slightly less nic hit, it won’t bite. I let the tin sit for five minutes once opened but there wasn’t a need for much drying time. Rubs out and packs very easily and burns cool and clean to the end. While I picked up plenty to cellar I hope C&D decides to release this one again. Such a wonderful summertime smoke, sit and sip it with a cold beverage and enjoy.
Pipe Used: Paul’s Pipes Bent Brandy
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Smoking Pipes
Similar Blends: Bijou, Orlik Golden Sliced.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Dethmutt (5) | |
Mild | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Cant say enough about this one. Its that good.. I've already smoked 2 tins and im getting nervous about my stores! My favorite blend atm. The Tequila and Honey, and elderflower play well with each other!
Pipe Used: SMS Meer
Age When Smoked: Fresh
Purchased From: Tobaccopipes.com
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| DrT999 (318) | |
Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
The toppings have the edge over the tobaccos, but the Red VA is easily distinguishable, and the other VA and Orientals provide a pleasant background. The tequila seems to be mostly (but not entirely) reduced to a 'boozy' note, but the honey and elderflower are present. Overall, the topping are just strong enough to prevent it for being an 'all day' tobacco for me, but it is a lovely summer change of pace.
Pipe Used: cobs and briars
Age When Smoked: 2 years
Purchased From: smoking pipes
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Stah (153) | |
Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
Cracking the tin, I smelled, first of all, a dense aroma of floral honey and elderberry. The bread and grassy flavor of Virginia held in the background, and the spice and incense were a faint additional note. The tequila that the manufacturer mentioned in the description was barely detectable.
The color of the tobacco was rye and wheat bread, almost uniform. The consistency was a loose, broken flake that kneaded easily. I stuffed a medium-sized Billiard with it and had no trouble smoking it.
The tobacco is initially smoked easily, cool, by the middle of the pipe becomes a little hotter, but does not lose comfort, the pipe is easy to hold with your hand. The strength is slightly below average. Smokes smoothly, nicotine hit the smoker is definitely not a threat.
The tobacco flavor was to be expected - like bread spread with honey. A subtle spicy oriental note runs through it, slightly salty, as if you put a little white pepper in your mouth. A slight viscosity in the flavor, as from an unripe fruit, increases as you smoke, but does not become obtrusive. Towards the end of the pipe the viscosity disappears, there is only sweet tobacco. There is no moisture in the pipe.
The smoke is sweet, not heavy, with the smell of the same honey and elderberry. Hangs in the room long enough, but not annoying.
A strange mixture. For my taste, it is unaccustomed and perhaps a little heavy on tongue, but I can't call it 'aromatic' (though, it is!). . I'll keep another tin in my collection and come back to it in four-five years - let's see how the tobacco changes.
Pipe Used: Peterson 106
Age When Smoked: 2020
Purchased From: Online
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomcat (227) | |
Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
Cornell and Diehl Sun Bear - Jeremy Reeves hit a grand slam with this blend IMO . Tangy toasty Reds and Sweet bright Virginias. The Turkish tobaccos are blended in with just the right amount to not take over the sweetness of the Virginias. The Tequila, Honey and Elderberry casings compliment the natural qualities of the tobaccos in a skillful way . This blend has me interested in Tequila as a flavor enhancer for pipe blends as it is delicious. I don’t have the ability to really describe this tobacco blend to do it justice . I know I like it a lot . C&D keep these limited Edition small batches coming , you have a loyal consumer right here and many more as most sell out in a day or so ! 4 stars
Age When Smoked: 8 months
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Desertislandtoolworks (18) | |
Medium to Strong | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
This broken flake virginia/oriental is one of my new favorites and I'm glad I picked up a few tins while they were available. This tobacco seems to do better with at least a few months of age, I smoked the first tin over a few months and the flavors melded together and improved quite a bit over that time. The tin not is pretty sweet with the honey and grassy virginia. Actually smoking it I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't sweeter. The orientals are very noticable in the blend giving a cedar flavor and some spicey notes as well. From the virginia I mostly notice the hay and citris you would expect from bright virginia. Between the honey and tobacco it really reminds me of the red clover flowers I used to eat on my grandfathers hay field as a kid. Overall the flavors all meld well together, the tequila is subtle and the mix not overerly boozy at all. This tobacco has pleanty of complexity to keep it interesting bowl after bowl and I'm anxious to try a tin after some age on it.
Pipe Used: BN pipe of the year billiard
Age When Smoked: Fresh
Purchased From: smoking pipes.com
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| incendio (45) | |
Very Mild | Medium | Mild | Very Pleasant |
Finally a limited edition tobacco that champions sustainable apiculture. Tobacco has come a long way from the factories at Bristol and Liverpool.
The Oriental grounds the Virginia, which might otherwise have the trademark unpleasant treble notes. This is a very harmonious mixture. It's unassuming but charming and complex. Never overbearing. There is real body here, a real heft that never weighs on the senses. There is no sharpness, no acridity. The smoke is voluptuous and sensuous. There is a vibrance and floral joyfulness in the nose. Sweet, but demure.
Like a furtive summer romance, I'm not sure I care to know the particulars about what makes this tobacco what it is. Aromatic or not, it just works and wasn't meant to be overthought.
Pipe Used: meerschaum
Age When Smoked: fresh
Purchased From: Cup-O-Joes
Similar Blends: I want to say the base here, Virginia-Oriental, is a winner, and similar to Bijou and the old Blairgowrie before they unforgivably changed the recipe..
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RonR (85) | |
Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
3rdguy
Quickly finished my first full tin of this and really enjoyed it. A few ingredients working well in conjuction here with Virginia, Basma leaf from 2014, Izmir Orientals from 2013, Honey, Tequila...even elderflower! Comes together in a great summer time smoke of sweetness with a touch of incense. No bite, smokes down to a white ash without effort.
I missed out on the first batch from last year thinking the hype was amusing but I am glad I jumped on board this year. I think C&D uses some young Virginia across the board for the most part but they overcame that with the press of flakes and the other ingredients being blended perfectly. I can't imagine this in a few years. I have to say it is one of their best creations.
Age When Smoked: Tin date of 7/8/2020
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| willie b (37) | |
Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
well first. it's hard to get which makes it fun. it is limited which makes it a challenge. taste, it's pretty darn good. i stored mine a year before smoking. nice mellow and fruity with that touch of honey makes it better than average. i enjoy it from time to time as a treat to me. sure, there are similar flavor profiles out there but getting this is just fun and challenging. already got two tins of the 2022 for next summer to enjoy and talk about. Small batch adds to the excitement of the indulgence.
Pipe Used: smaller bowl briars.
Age When Smoked: over a year
Purchased From: tobacco pipes
Similar Blends: you tell me. love the slight honey taste..
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leon (85) | |
Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Very Pleasant |
This is a review of the 2021 blend:
Tin Note of honey and cream, vanilla. I get hints of alcohol but not as much as I'd get from Sixpence, for example.
However, the Tequila stands out a bit more in the smoke, not as a cheap alcoholic flavor that disappears after three puffs, but as a quality addition. A bit of lemon zest as well. The honey is prominent, but not overpowering. I would've believed that this has light vanilla if someone had told me so. Maybe that's the elderflower but I don't know, I've never smelled an elderflower.
It's very smooth and creamy. The sweetness and lemon zest are brought together with the Virginia and Turkish leaves to give this a tea-like taste. I'm not into iced tea, but this tastes like a wonderful summer tea with a bit of lemon, honey, and a drop of Tequila. Perfect summer blend.
As the smoke progress, it becomes a bit "warmer". While cheap blends tend to lose their topping flavor quickly, this one really holds on to them and even brings them forward more after the first third of the bowl. I get more good quality alcohol and brightness from the Virginia and honey. Towards halfway through the bowl I get a lot more spicy notes. First, it's the type of spice you would get from some spirits but soon it becomes more similar to a hot pepper. Sweet and spicy, like a Chinese dish.
The flake is easy to prepare, pack, and smoke. No tongue bite, couple of relights. Moisture level is ok out of the tin but can use just a bit of drying time. Could definitely be an all-day smoke if this wasn't a limited edition.
Medium in body, mild-medium in strength. Perfect balance throughout the smoke of all the flavors and I'm told that it has a fantastic room note.
The hype is real. Glad I got several tins.
Pipe Used: Medium-size billiards and Lovats
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WorkingClassChap (197) | |
Mild to Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
From 2020:
Tin note is honey. A floral and sweet aroma. Some tart and hay like Virginias in the back ground. Nice broken flakes, moisture level is perfect.
The taste is very much the same. Lots of sweet honey, floral notes, woody spice, some grassy and slightly tart notes. The honey dissipates half way though but there’s still plenty of sweetness. The tequila became more prominent as the honey dissipated and took the lead on the second half of the bowl. There is a sharp retrohale but you’ll pick up some sour and floral notes. The orientals are definitely noticeable in the blend. I wouldn’t push this one but when kept cool at a moderate pace it was quite enjoyable on a summers day. A different kind of Virginia blend. One that I would try and pick up again.
Pipe Used: Briar
Age When Smoked: 1 year
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