Tobaccos Edward's - Masterpiece

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2006-08-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Having taken a long break from pipe smoking,the spirit recently moved me to put away the Copenhagen (Snuff) and get back to the briar. Many years ago, I was all over the map but generally preferred an aromatic to a natural. Given the straight tobacco taste and nicotine content of Copenhagen that I was accustomed to, I fancied myself an English Blend kind of guy and broke back into the pipe hobby with a very good one in Masterpiece. Many years ago I had sampled a blend called Arabian from Edwards. When I visited, they said they could no longer get Deer Tongue so Arabian was out but they said Masterpiece would be a good substitute. They were very right. It does in fact have a distinct and relatively stout English blend flavor. Enough latakia to enjoy but not so much that it's tough on your nose, throat and chest. I've smoked nearly 4 ounces over the last week. It is my all day, every day smoke (even around people!) There is balance to this blend that makes it very smokable and quit enjoyable. Just what the doctor ordered (a stout English blend with a fair nicotine punch that wouldn't make me a social pariah). Lest I be misunderstood about room note, it is an English blend not a goopy aromatic so odds are women are not going to bound up to you and tell you how nice your pipe smells. Conversely though it doesn't have that campfire smell that a heavier latakia blend (Special Balkan) might have. Room note from Masterpiece is..socially acceptable to the uninitiated and pretty good by comparison to other English Blends. Taste wise, Masterpiece is hard to put a finger on. As I said earlier, the latakia is nicely balanced out providing a very enjoyable diversity of flavors (burley and oriental?) The taste is stout and very natural typical of English blends. The smoke is smooth and totally without bite or bitterness. It smokes all the way to the bottom of the bowl maintaining these characteristics throughout. For the most part I have smoked this blend out of briar pipes but I do have a meerschaum and this blend when smoked through the coral is truly remarkable. If you enjoy English blends and are looking for a good daily smoke I strongly recommend checking this out. If you're into extreme Latakia blends or are looking for the super harsh, once in a while after dinner blend, you should probably look elsewhere. For me though, Masterpiece will remain the staple English blend in my rotation. Not too mild, not too harsh, just right (IMHO). But don't take my word for it, try some for yourself.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stan (179)	2006-08-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This is a relatively new English blend introduced by Edwards a few years ago. I found it natural and full but personally not as smooth as I would like. It has burley, latakia, a little perique and I'm not sure what other good ingredients (Va, etc.). It has quality, but I preferred their other English or American English more, e.g., Supreme for more smoothness or Vintage Cube for more burley or Base 88 for more nuttiness or Special Balkan for richness. I didn 't care for Algerian much either but many did (call C&D for their deer tongue). To each his own; try it. I'm glad some like it a lot.

Edwards natural or essence blends are among the best but are focused on a narrow market due to the downsizing of their stores.

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