Tobaccos Boswell Pipes & Tobacco - Bear Blend

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	marosi (70)	2011-04-01		Mild	Medium to Strong	Medium	Pleasant

This seems like a beefed up Berry Cobbler to me, with perhaps slightly more virginias and cavendish, and the addition of latakia. LIke all Boswell blends, it is very mild, even if this is supposed to be one of their more stout concoctions. These are very fine blends for what they are, and if you like smooth smoking high burley content aromatics with a lot of aromatic room note but not a lot of tobacco flavor or complexity, then you are sure to love Boswell, and Bear Blend. Part of that formula also calls for no bite (due to the light hand with the virginias?) and really no appreciable nicotine. These remind me of the House of Windsor blends, which were supposed to be high quality reissues of drugstore offerings of yesteryear.

Do not take my assessment as a criticism or slight of Boswell. I am merely pointing out where they fall on the spectrum, as opposed to say 1792 or Peterson flake, in terms of strength and style. I can honestly say I reach for this type of blend, when I am working for example, more often than something like 1792. They require little fussing once lit, and can be enjoyed without paying too much attention to them. Each has its place. I have friends who concentrate on smoking English blends, and I tell them to branch out and try some of the higher quality aromatics, of which Boswell certainly is at the top. For those who claim to only smoke aromatics, or, more incredibly, only Boswell blends, I would say the same thing, there is a whole world out there to sample, and you can learn and improve your pipe smoking skills if you force yourself to master some of the more demanding styles, like a good virginia flake. I know Boswell has tins aplenty from other companies, so they are clearly down with that approach!

With respect to Bear Blend, I really could not detect the latakia. It did show more virginia flavor and qualities, and requires a little more care to achieve that cool Boswell smoke. I find that all of their mixtures really benefit from a good drying out, and this one requires more drying than most. Give it a few hours and you are going to have a much tastier and more enjoyable experience.

I do taste the carmel and cherry, with a little more tobacco flavor than in other Boswell blends. Perhaps that is where the latakia is coming through. My one gripe is that this, like Berry Cobbler, has a funky aftertaste between puffs. A logical conclusion would be that this is a result of the cherry flavoring used, as I do not detect this aftertaste in their other blends that I have tried. While it is not overwhelming, and does not ruin the smoke, it is there, and is distracting, especially if you are used to more natural blends.

Along with that aftertaste, I rate this one a little lower also because unlike most Boswell mixtures, it at least purports to be a medium to full bodied smoke, and it really is not in any way. The latakia is not significant enough to play any real role in the blend, and it lacks the backbone and complexity that more virginia based mixtures offer. I would love to see the guys at Boswell really tackle a true medium to full bodied blend, with more complex virginias and other component leafs. This one, while not bad, is just not there in terms of body or strength.

17 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3025)	2013-02-02		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

The smoke and wood from the Cyprian latakia in this blend is so slight that I barely sense it. More prominent is the citrusy, grassy Virginias and the cherry flavor is very understated, though it does leave an after taste that lingers if you immediately go and smoke something else. I detect a little vanilla, a very light honey note, and a light caramel note. The nic-hit is mild. I detected no bite or harsh moments. Burns cool and clean and a little slow and may need a light dry time. Has a very consistent flavor from start to finish. Needs a few relights. The after taste and room notes are very pleasant. Can be an all day smoke for the experienced aro-smoker.

-JimInks

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Scotty42 (6)	2010-12-28		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

First off let me say I am a Boswell kinda guy. I smoke only Boswell pipes & Boswell Tobacco. I have five 8oz. jars on my counter filled with...Boswells Best, Boswells Burley, No Bite Delight, Countryside & my latest addition to my rotation..Bear Blend. I'm not into "Cherry" blends so I never ordered any but after the wife & I drove 2 hrs to their shop I figured I try it while i was there. WOW!! What a GREAT smoke!! The aroma in the bag says Cherry but it doesn't SGREAM it & that goes the same for the flavor. The Cherry is there but not overpowering & it blends well with a nice tobacco flavor, a bit of Honey/Vanilla & every so often during each bowl the mild Latakia finds you & you find yourself with a bit of a smile. Even if you're NOT an English smoker, don't be afraid of this blend. ITS A WONDERFULL SMOKE!! J.M.Boswell has hit more home runs than A-Rod & here goes another one out of the park!!

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ski2liv (16)	2014-02-05		Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Mild	Very Pleasant

I bought this on recommendation during my most recent Boswell's visit. I told them I tend to like the aromatics but want something that's got a little body to it and some more complexities. They recommended this blend because of the light amount of Latakia in it. I don't often buy blends with Latakia but this smelled great so I took the recommendation and bought an ounce. I am pleasantly surprised!

This is a really nice blend. It's a great middle of the road aromatic with a hint of Latakia. Perfect for someone trying to start to expand beyond the traditional Cavendish, Burley and Virginias... The Latakia comes through as a hint in the rest of the sweet aromatic blend. It has a light bit of the same cherry sweetness (though much more subtle) from the PA Dutch treat that hangs out for most of the bowl before falling out. It stays cool and is still nice on the relight. No bite to this blend just like the other Boswell Blends.

Because of the Latakia it has a little more body than most of the aromatics, but it's still a very mild light blend. Room note is quite pleasant, anyone who enjoys an aromatic will enjoy this scent. It's more complex than your standard sweetness, but the sweetness is still the driving scent in the air. The room note may have been the highlight for me. Second would be the hint of Latakia shining through... and I'm not a Latakia smoker typically. This is just enough to start to enjoy it.

I've worked through the bulk of Boswell's blends at this point and this is one of the better ones. I like a blend that walks the line between aromatic and natural flavors and while this leans heavily on the aromatic side, the introduction of Latakia for someone who doesn't usually smoke it, was quite nice. A strong 3 star blend...

Pipe Used: Restored Dr Grabow Color Duke

Age When Smoked: 2 weeks

Purchased From: Boswell B+M visit

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-10-26		Mild	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

I haven't posted a review on here for a while because my wife was very ill for a while and I had to give up my pipe. Fortunately things are better now and I am back puffing happily at my laptop.

I found a package of Bear Blend that the Boswell's had sent with an order when we were packing to move. The tobacco had not dried out and was at the correct moisture level. I packed a bowl and lit it up. The first thing (that didn't really surprise me because it's a Boswell blend) is that there was no bite. The taste was very pleasant, a slight caramel and cherry one with just a hint of Latakia. It required a couple of relights, which for me is very good. It burned down to the bottom, with very little dottle. My wife loved the aroma.

I can't finish any Boswell review without mentioning how nice they are to deal with. They treat you just like family and there isn't a nicer group to deal with.

Scores for Bear Blend: taste- 18 of 20; lighting and burn- 9 of 10; value- 8 of 10. 35 points and a high ** for Bear Blend.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	clanobucklin (105)	2010-04-21		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I received my 2 ounce sample earlier in the week - and at first was somewhat disappointed. I expected a bigger aromatic - considering the review.

However, like most tobaccos I found myself falling in love with the mellow warmth and complexity of this blend.

Rather than getting knocked on my keester with on over the top aromatic I found a very pleasant friend indeed.

Bear Blend is extremely smooth, doesn't leave a foulness in the pipe and there is no pipe bite.

Highly recommended.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-07-26		Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

A very cool smoke. The taste is somewhat cherry to me, with a hint of maple or sweetness to it.

A good all day smoke. No goo at the end of the bowl. Very mild and sweet. No bite.

Room note is very good, and people around you will love to smell it.

Update: Turns out, the Initial hype I had was quickly capped off. The blend became very...bland and easy to grow tired of. The lack of kick to the blend, and the similar aroma to other Boswell blends made for an "ok" blend.

Recommended for a starter tobacco, However I wont be ordering anymore to keep around.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	flagg1122 (15)	2010-01-27		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A very nice blend from Boswell. The cherry casing is not to sweet and overwhelming, as it is in Penn Dutch Treat. Great middle of the road aromatic. It could be an all day smoke-no tounge bite at all. Good stuff.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2018-08-12		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

A very clean smoking aromatic blend with a tart cherry high note that's layered on a sweeter foundation of vanilla, caramel and a trace of Latakia. Sounds a bit complicated but it works. I wouldn't categorize Bear Blend as a "cross over," there's just not enough unflavored tobacco in the mix for that. The flavored Cavendish is front and center with the Virginia and Latakia playing very minor roles, the former more so than the latter. Throughout the smoke I got a few grassy notes from the Virginia and just a smidgen of smoky Latakia flavor from time to time, but it was never constant. Like most of the blends that I have had from Boswell's, this one requires some dry time prior to loading up, but it does burn nice and slow and the flavor is consistent and somewhat creamy. A good aromatic mixture from a most reputable pipe shop.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Autumn joy (47)	2015-02-14		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

The bear blend is a treat if you enjoy aromatics as well as a good flavored tobacco. The smell is of a caramel with a fruity note hidden in there. The tobacco is easy to work with lights well, another enjoyable aromatic that has no bite to it but has a good tobacco rich flavor. The room note as always with boswells aromatics is very favorable and just plain smells good. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys aromatics as well as a person who enjoys a good straight tobacco flavored smoke. I will also put a shout out on this review to the workers at boswells awesome customer service very fast at getting the products shipped out to the customers.

Pipe Used: Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Boswells Pipes Chambersburg PA

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gladi8tor96 (143)	2012-04-17		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

If I were to describe this blend in two words, they would be: Cherry-tangy! Boswells are great to do business with. This is a good aro. that is more bold, robust, and fuller than most others, especially cherry blends. It smells great from the pouch and smells about the same when smoked. I seems to make me want to cough, even though I don't inhale from time to time though....like the tartness is so powerful. Love the blend! It is actually cherry delicious.

Pipe Used: Poker, Bent Billard

Age When Smoked: New from store - 1-3 months

Purchased From: Boswells

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	hockey01 (29)	2010-12-16		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Smooth and gebtle smoking, subtle aromas of cherry and caramel, absolutely no bite whatsoever--this is another dream tobacco from J. M. and the boys.

Ursus Horribilis? I don't think so. This tobacco smells so wonderful your wife will encourage you to smoke it indoors and may begin calling you "my little Teddy Bear." Now THAT'S a good tobacco, eh?

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-04-18		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

A few weeks back I visited J.M. Boswell's website because I was interested in his pipes. After looking over their list of house blends I decided to give several a try. On these pages several have referred to Bear Blend as a crossover blend, which is funny because I am a crossover smoker meaning that I have been smoking English blends as of late after many years enjoying nothing but aromatics. I don't nor have I ever enjoyed cherry blends, which caused me to hesitate to try this one, but after reading the review posted here and speaking directly with J.M. when placing my order I decided to give it a go and am I ever glad I did. This is very good stuff with enough spicy and complex body to hold your interest while not offending others around you. I highly recommend this blend to anyone wanting something a little different from their normal smoke.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bbrown626 (150)	2015-06-09		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I bought one of Bowswell's Aromatic samplers. Of the 8 tobacco's included, this was probably my least favorite. It is indeed a stronger tobacco, but I did not pick up on the carmel cherry taste once I lit it. Room note did not pass the wife test. All around not an unsatisfying smoke, but there are other, better Boswell blends like Berry cobbler.

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Boswell (via phone)

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2011-07-16		Mild	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I detect a bit of Latikia in this blend. As some have stated, a great crossover blend for someone looking to wean themselves off of artificially cased aromatics. Slight cherry smell in the pouch, but it really shows its cherry note on palate when the bowl is finished. Smokes with absolutely no tongue bite, and clouds of thick, rich smoke.

Would pair well with your morning coffee.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-05-31		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This is my first Boswell Aro. After wasting much money on sticky stuff that smelled better than it tastes, this is a great Aro. It smokes a bit hot, so I have to take my time with this one!And, there was no bite at all!

But a very nice cherry flavor with a great room note. I ordered several others inlcuding the famous berry cobbler and choc creme. Cant wait to try this in my new Wiley!

Its funny, everyone on here comments on how their wives like the smell of this , hate the smell of that, etc. My boyfriend found this smoke pleasing (since im a lady pipe smoker):-p!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Big Nick (74)	2011-02-08		Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

Very nice aromatic smoke! Definitely more of a caramel flavor, didn't find much of the cherry, but that's OK. It has a little more strength than most aromatics of this genre, and that's OK too. Strength does not mean vitamin N, you won't find much of that. What you will find is a smooth, flavorful aromatic smoke. It can get a little moist so have a few pipe cleaners ready. I prefer using a Savinelli balsa filter for a smooth, uninterrupted and maintenance free smoke.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kaziwazee (8)	2010-11-03		Mild	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

A very good aromatic. This is the type of tobacco that becomes a lifelong companion: something you smoke after a long day. It relaxes the mind and just puts you at ease. The name "Bear Blend" suits it perfectly, since there is a very subtle honey flavour that dances at the tip of the nose as it is being smoked. Very cool in the pipe and mouth. A definite winner!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tilley4 (16)	2019-10-26		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

One of the best of aromatics that I've found so far...

I have to work not to smoke this too fast. A subtle cherry and vanilla flavoring that does not overwhelm in the least. Sipping brings enjoyment to the patient smoker... more full bodied than many aromatics, but doesn't bite at all...

Definitely an all-day smoker... I lean towards the Virginia perique blends but we'll dabble into the aromatics occasionally. Most of the times I'm extremely disappointed and wonder why I bought them. Not the case here. This will be a repeat purchase for me.

Pipe Used: Cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Boswells

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dixcreek (182)	2018-03-27		Mild	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

Virginia, some Cavendish and a sprinkle of Latakia? Cherry,berry, Carmel but not overwhelming. Not goopy, not phony flavoring, just a dang good smoke! Quality fixins done in a quality way. May not be everyone’s bell cow but it is a great example of how an aromatic should be done. Will buy more for sure!

Purchased From: Boswell

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2017-12-13		Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I have recently returned to Aromatics. I enjoy them as a first smoke of the day with strong coffee and occasionally in the evening for dessert. Boswell and Uhle's are pretty much what I like to stick to as they are very reliable and not overly cased. The tin note on Bear Blend is amazing, best part of any aromatic. I could use a satchel to hang in my office! It is a pleasant cherry vanilla aroma and reminds me of what pipe tobacco smells like in my minds early definitions from childhood and my great grandfathers. I have read others reviews that there is Latakia in this blend, it is not in the tin description, I don't see it and it isn't on the Boswell's web site as part of the blend. Maybe it is in there but I do not detect it in tin note or smoke at all. I dry all of my aromatics for hours (I like drier tobacco to begin with and these just take longer to dry). Once dried out the flavor is a pleasure to smoke and burns at a moderate pace. Cherry is the first thing I get and it starts to fade a bit and the vanilla topping comes in to really harmonize nicely with the other flavors. The Virginia's and I assume Virginia Cavendish is what I get in tobacco flavor. Nice sweet earthy notes, some grassiness and even some brown sugar. This is a great flavored blend and as odd as it sound it has all of those flavors but isn't overly sweet, if that makes any sense. Room note is spectacular. This is one to smoke walking down a city street and you will be complemented on your smoking choice. Perhaps because I dry it out there is not much moisture in the bowl when done. Another great tobacco from Boswell!

Pipe Used: cobs and briars

Age When Smoked: less than 1 year

Purchased From: Bosewell Pipes and Tobacco

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Vikingfan60 (8)	2015-04-12		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Love this blend. Mild,great room note,no bite. One of the blends I reach for more often. Stays lit, no goop in bottom of bowl. Could smoke it all day and not get tired of it.

Pipe Used: Savinelli

Age When Smoked: Few weeks

Purchased From: Boswells

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lit a Kia (69)	2015-01-22		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Like most of Boswell's blends, this one is perfectly suited to breaking in a new Boswell pipe. But for more existential pursuits, there are certainly better blends out there.

Pipe Used: Boswell freehand

Purchased From: Boswell's

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	A.E. (22)	2014-01-22		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Boswells Bear Blend is a very pleasant aromatic. I love the smell and flavor of it. Its not too heavily cherry flavored, and the caramel comes in at the end quite nicely. Good tobacco foundation comes through with each puff, but its smooth and has no bite. I have a favorite sweater I wear at home. When I have a bowl of Bear Blend while wearing it, my wife is happy to give me a hug, snuggling her nose into my shoulder and chest. I like the aroma too. Not much more can be asked of an aromatic - smooth, no bite, great aroma, pleasing to the wife, and flavorful. Comforable, friendly, pipe tobacco. Really quite good.

Age When Smoked: recent

Purchased From: Boswells Tobacco

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ethan (34)	2013-12-12		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a pretty good blend. Slight cherry flavor and a good sweetness. Reminds me of pipes and pleasures pipemaker blend. I like it enough to keep some on hand. It's a good all day smoke for sure.

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Boswell Pipes & Tobacco

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2013-10-21		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Love this blend. It's an aro with some real tobacco taste. I find it relaxes me every time I light it up. In fact if my golf game is going south a bowl of bear immediately gets me focused and loose. I know, sounds crazy...........but true. I catch no hint of Latakia but the Virginia's and the light casing make this one of my favorite aromatics. Worth anyones time and money to try it. Another winner from Boswell.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-09-06		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

I made one of those pleasant, accidental discoveries not long ago. Is that what they call serendipity?

I was heading out for the day and when I grabbed my pouch, it was nearly empty. I had just a little bit of two samples from Boswells - Dan's Blend and Bear Blend. Not being the most sophisticated guy in the world, I dumped them together and headed out. All I can say is, "Nice!"

With the first whiff, you get some Cavendish, a slight hint of the cherry, but that's about it. I detect no hint of the latakia the others have talked about in the Bear Blend. It's very understated.

On the palate, it has a smooth, subtle flavor…almost sweet, but not quite. There's just the slightest little hint of the cherry, but I get none of the caramel or the latakia – and I'm okay with that. I'm not a tobacconist, but I'm guessing that is the balancing effect of the mild Virginia from the Dan's Blend.

It has no bite, and definitely tastes more of tobacco than it does of any of the seasonings. If you're looking for big flavor to rock your world, this won't work for you. If you're looking for pleasant, easy on the tongue, full tobacco flavor, this works. It packs easily, stays lit without a fuss. If you're an all day smoker, this is definitely an all day blend.

Use a thick bowl - it does tend to burn a little hot. Great room note - full, rich and very pleasant. Even my non-smoking friends like it.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-06-26		Mild to Medium	Medium	Very Full	Pleasant

Nice stuff! I was expecting an aromatic, but this is more of what people are calling a 'crossover blend' Oddly enough this blend shares pipes very well with NothWoods.

Butterscotchy-cherry-vanilla taste with a bit of latakia that really tops it off and imparts a very robust flavor. Great on relights! Great room note.

Perfect blend for an aro-smoker like myself. I just don't crave a pipefull of something that is "Latakia with a fleck of something else on top, so we can say it has depth" every day, or feel the need to smoke lat-bombs to be a 'real man'. These "crossover" blends that use latakia as a spice and not as the whole damn pie are great.

Smokes a bit hotter than I'd like (use a wide bowl), not much vitamin N, and just does not keep well even when properly sealed in a mason jar as with just about every Boswell. Very solid 3 stars!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-02-03		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This was one of the five tobaccos that I sampled from Boswell's. If you have never done business with Boswell's, then I highly recommend it. They were quick to give pointers and recommendations on good tobaccos depending on your tastes, and my package arrived very quickly.

Anyway, my first whiff of the bag revealed not only a sweet dessert/cherry smell, but also a hint of the deep and woodsy Latakia. Good and sweet, yet the Latakia keeps it from being TOO sweet.

Apon the first light, the cherry/caramel casing really came through, leaving a great room note which would draw compliments anywhere. As I settled in, the Latakia made its presence known, giving the blend a mild, but definitely not flat, flavor with a good amount of sweetness.

The blend stayed well lit throughout my whole smoke, despite the high moisture content, which I noted in all five of the blends I sampled. At the bottom of the bowl, I personally lost much of the casing, and the Latakia took over, making for rich and woodsy puffs at the end.

All and all, this is a good smoke for someone who likes a mild English blend, but wants to satisfy his sweet tooth too. I might try this to introduce friends to Latakia... Bear Blend is a fitting name for this... woodsy like a bear's home, and sweet like the berries and whatnot he likes to eat. I'd say, give it a shot. :)

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rustedrailsmokes (293)	2017-11-21		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

(Update) 6-14-19: Still one of my favorite morning smokes. I've been through over two pounds of it now and it is def a staple in my rotation (really the only aro there all the time) so I'm upping the rating to a 4-star.

Wife loves the roomnote when I smoke this one and even when we are on roadtrips in the car it gets positive remarks (always a plus).

Original 11-21-17

This has quickly become my morning commute smoke after trying a 2oz tin of it. The tin note smells chemically (the toppings) but that doesn't come through the taste of the tobacco.

It's a pleasant cherry and caramel taste which goes great with my morning cup of coffee. The flavors are much stronger than the latakia tobacco taste so I consider it a true aro. A little moisture in the bowl at the end, but not too bad.

Smokes best in a cob or a larger bowl briar.

Pipe Used: Cob, Canadian, Radiator

Age When Smoked: 6 months to one year

Purchased From: Boswells

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stinkypipe (155)	2017-01-12		Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant

I have found Boswell tobaccos to be high quality and usually flavorful. This blend leaves a bit to be desired as far as flavor goes. It is an average aromatic it's a decent room note. Just not my most favorite blend out there but still a good blend. As you can see from all the Boswell reviews these gentleman are some fine tobacconist.

Pipe Used: Nording/Missouri Meerschaum gentleman cob

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-04-22		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

As soon as you open the bag you can tell this blend is more robust than other Boswell blends; keep in mind its still an aromatic.

The room note definitely smells of tobacco and has a more "burnt" aroma than berry cobbler, raspberry cream, etc.

The flavor is more full than the fruity Boswell tobaccos, but still not strong and overpowering by any means. The casing is definitely more caramel than cherry, but still a bit subtle. I get more flavor from the Virgina than the topping.

A good blend, i might like it more than berry cobbler because there is more "tobacco" flavor than casing. A good blend, i definitely recommended it to the smoker of aromatics.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Redd (117)	2009-10-28		Medium	Medium	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Here is a blend that has a bit of a punch for cherry blend. Unlike C&D Crossed Eye Cricket. This Blend dose not do the "English or is it an aromatic?" thing well. It might be the bit of Turkish that is added to give it some ump. I really apprecite the smaple sent along with the other wondeful blends. And I gave it a try but left me flat. Maybe Cherry blend are really not my thing. They sem to remind me of when I first tried a pipe. Maybe my taste have moved on?

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-10-11		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Yet another tasty blend from J.M. Boswell. This smelled very inviting in the bag and was very tasty in the bowl. Moisture content was just right and there was no goop in the bottom of the bowl. It lit easily and stayed lit without any effort. Has a nice rich tobacco taste with cherry and caramel flavor in the background. The room note was a delight. It had no bite and burned cool. This is a great blend, easily in my top 5 favorites.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	hwmcadoo (3)	2017-01-11		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

What a great tobacco. Perfect for just reading, drinking, thinking. No bite, not a challenge, just pure pleasure. Not too strong, not too light. I like most Boswell blends and find it hard to make just one my smoke but Bear Blend comes close to my favorite.

Pipe Used: Boswell

Age When Smoked: 76

Purchased From: Boswell's

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Woof (1)	2016-05-10		Medium	Medium	Very Full	Very Pleasant

Picked up this blend after quitting cigarettes and after not smoking a pipe for 30 years. I must say , I got very lucky. This bear blend is awesome. Even better than my old blend i used to love .

Pipe Used: Italian briar

Age When Smoked: 65

Purchased From: Boswell's pipes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ScottieD (2)	2015-01-09		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

I received this for Christmas along with other samples of Mr Bosswells blends. I have found this to be a smooth Aromatic with hints of caramel and cherry and a slight hint of Latakia. I think this is a wonderful blend for all day. It is not to strong and therefore can be enjoyed i any pipe large or small . With a beautiful room note you want be disappointed . A very pleasant smoke even for the most seasoned smoker. Great job well done !

Pipe Used: Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: 1 week

Purchased From: BOSEWELLS

Similar Blends: Winsors.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ScottieD (2)	2015-01-09		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild	Very Pleasant

I received this for Christmas along with other samples of Mr Bosswells blends. I have found this to be a smooth Aromatic with hints of caramel and cherry and a slight hint of Latakia. I think this is a wonderful blend for all day. It is not to strong and therefore can be enjoyed in any pipe large or small . With a beautiful room note you want be disappointed . A very pleasant smoke even for the most seasoned smoker. Great job well done !

Pipe Used: Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: 1 week

Purchased From: BOSEWELLS

Similar Blends: Winsors.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gtclark (12)	2014-08-10		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This is an excellent blend - the best of the Boswell aromatics, in my opinion. Very full-flavored, with hints of caramel and cherry, alongside real, quality tobacco taste. Dump the Molto Dolce and get a few ounces of Bear Blend.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-08-20		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Upon first opening the pouch, I detected a hint of cherry and a hint of latakia, together. Compelling!

On the palate, though, I caught neither. No doubt, both influenced the character of the smoke in subtle ways; but, at no point did I think I tasted cherry, nor at any point did I think I tasted latakia. This was a disappointment for me, because I had been quite curious to see how the two flavors would interact in my mouth.

The tobacco is very high quality, and behaves well in every way. The smoke is fairly rich and quite cool.

There's nothing wrong with this blend, and it's above average in many regards. Just boring to me.

Don't expect too much from this blend. It promises more in the pouch than it delivers in the mouth, and if you get your hopes up about some amazing marriage between cherry and latakia, you'll probably find it boring. That said, go ahead and try it.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-10-20		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Id agree with a previous poster stateing that this is a "crossover" blend. It has the spicy notes of an english but is also an aromatic. I dont think its for me though, Im glad I orderted two ounces and will happily smoke all of it. Ill order an ounce from time to time but wont keep it in my normal rotation.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-04-03		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is the 2nd Boswell Blend I've tried and it made for another great smoke, but not my favorite. The description fits the blend well and it tates as good as it sounds ands smells. In the pouch, the aroma has a soft sweetness and kind of smokey with hints of the cherry. It tasted great, it won me over right away just like the other Boswell blends. It packs well, lights right up and smokes like butter. I defenately noticed the carmel comming through and that laid the foundation of the flavor. Pretty much a smokey taste of maple, carmel maybe a touch of vanilla with subtle cherry accent that really came together after a few minutes. It can be a stronger, bolder and somewhat smokey flavored blend. I didn't know what I was really tasting at first but now that I've tried a few English blends...it has to be the Latakia giving that bold creamy smokey flavor. It's there in the begiing of the bowl if you look for it and then gives away to more cherry towards the bottom. Its a great first bowl of the day, it goes well with a cup of coffee. It was also not bad on relights. I thought this one also has a little "kick" to it and makes for a very satisfying smoke. Good stuff...a nice "hybrid" blend or cross blend since it smokes like an English but with other aromatic characteristics.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-08-10		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This is a very interesting "cross over blend" for those of you who are not quite satisfied with an aromatic, but cant go with a full English blend.

J.M. Boswell has some of the finest tobacco's on the planet with regards to quality and taste. Bear Blend lights up easily, and smokes relatively cool all the way down with wonderful flavors of cherry and carmel with a hint of Latakia for good measure. The room note is simply wonderful with great comments from everyone around. In fact its the only blend my wife does not object to me smoking in our home.

I discovered this blend a few years ago, after sampling several of Boswell's aromatics. I wanted someting more substantial, but was not, and still not ready to go the full english route. There was a point where I could not get enough of this stuff, until I discovered Shortcut to Mushrooms, and Pipemakers Choice. It remains in my permanent rotation, and never lets me down. Highly recommend with four stars.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MangoLegs (72)	2021-03-10		Mild	Strong	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Preparation & Burn: 5/10 A bit damp. Cheap course cut. Burns average, no bite. A few re-lights required.

Taste: 1/20 Artificial sweetness with a cherry note. How can anyone smoke this?

Mildness: 10/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. I barely detect any nicotine here. But I'm pretty sure there's no tobacco in here either.

Total: 16/40

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-01-20		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

The Bear Blend from Boswell is a good smoke from start to finish. The smoke is mild with a light sweetness and earthy taste. The aromas are full and sweet smelling. If the tobacco is stored correctly, it does not require a relight many times. I recieved a shipment and it was in great condition, humidity was perfect! Overall, I have smoked plenty of Boswell Tobaccos, and this is my favorite so far. Consistent, good quality, mild a pleasureable smoke!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-10-16		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I ordered this after reading many good things about it. I read the Description on Boswell's website and was expecting a very bold tasting tobacco. After it's arrival I have smoked two bowls and realized that I am a little disappointed. It tastes and smells good, but I was not blown away. I will continue my search for an awesome BOLD tasting aromatic. I will still recommend this tobacco to everyone, and probably even order some more. It's a good everyday mild smoke. Lit easily and smoked cool all the way through.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-09-01		Mild	Medium	Medium	Very Pleasant

I ordered 4 boswell blends recently- Bear blend, christmas cookie, Penn dutch treat, and northwoods. After smoking about an ounce of all 4, one thing i noticed was how cool all the blends smoke with bear blend being the coolest smoking tobacco. Lit up well and stayed lit throughout the whole bowl. Smoked fairly dry as well. Left no aftertaste at all. I highly recommend this blend to anyone looking for a very finely crafted tobacco. Boswell's sure has it down!

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