Tobaccos Hermit Tobacco Works Co. - Captain Earle's - Private Stock

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2011-08-06		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Now this is an English style blend with some strength! The Latakia, orientals and Turkish leaf far overshadow the Perique, but there is plenty of action going on once you light up Private Stock. For some reason, I enjoyed this one most sitting out on the back patio with a Dos Equis.

24 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2013-12-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This blend is very smooth and well rounded. Perhaps too much so. Evidently many of the components are married by the process of manufacturing the crumble cake making it difficult for me to discern some of them. I got mostly Latakia and Oriental, with a very mild amount of Virginia flavor. As I said earlier, very smooth with no sharpness or edginess, but with a fair amount of spice. The spice seemed to be Oriental but I suppose some may have been from the Perique that I had difficulty detecting. What was most appealing to me was the flavor that developed toward the end of the bowl. The delicious flavor of strong black coffee. A very nice finish.

Pipe Used: MM General

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

19 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2016-02-25		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Now this is an English style blend with some strength! The Latakia, orientals and Turkish leaf far overshadow the Perique, but there is plenty of action going on once you light up Private Stock. For some reason, I enjoyed this one most sitting out on the back patio with a Dos Equis.

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Demetri (113)	2015-02-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I meant to pick up a tin of Stimulus Package off the shelf when I spied a bloated tin of Private Stock shoved to the rear of the shelf facing. I was intrigued at such obvious signs of tin fermentation and bought this. This Hermit Tobacco blend is contract blended and packed by Cornell and Diehl but make no mistake, this is a distinct blend in its own right. Quite obviously it is a "sleeper" blend, rarely rated and only modest movement sales-wise. Do not be fooled.

This is an outstanding tobacco blend evincing everything right about classic English blends. NOTHING stands out. And that is a GOOD thing in this case. To my tastes it is stereotypical of the classic Latakia based, Red Virginia cavendish blend.

From charring light through the entire burn this is one delightful blend which reminds me of so many blends of yore, that I just sit back and savor the smoke. Right off I was impressed with the OLD 1960s Dunhill MM 965-like creaminess now lacking in that blend's current variation. Along with that it was just slightly sweet and salty as well. I love it.

From the blenders description:"A blend of eight select tobaccos highlighted by rich Latakia and deep Red Va. Stoved and pressed into a Crumble Cake, Private Stock is the perfect all day smoke for connoisseurs of rich and fascinatingly complex English blends. "

I could not state it better. A desert island smoke if there ever was one for me and one to stockpile.

Pipe Used: Briars - prince, diplomat

Age When Smoked: Two years

Purchased From: Allegheny Smokeworks, Blawnox, PA

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2081)	2017-09-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Hermit Tobacco Works Co. Captain Earle's - Private Stock.

To me, Captain Earle normally highlights just how good Cornell & Diehl can do Latakia blends.

The blend's presented as one single Krumble Kake, mainly dark brown, with a lot of black pieces, and just a few yellow ones. The moisture's good, and it smells English, obviously!

I find the Latakia the leading tobacco, by a nose, but it doesn't seem quite as strong, or heady, as some of the others from Captain Earle. The Oriental's are easily the second in command, and then, for my palate, comes the Perique and Virginia, of an equal weight to one another. But, because of the smaller inclusion they need more work to pick out. The burn from this is a good one, giving a cool smoke, needing little attention.

Nicotine: medium to strong. Room-note: pleasant to tolerable.

This is a good enough blend, but lacks the pizazz I found from the others from Captain Earle. So, three stars it is, not four:

Recommended.

Pipe Used: Peterson P'Lip Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tabaco (112)	2015-03-02		Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Another winner from Hermit and C&D.

Tin nose has a similar aroma to many of my favourite sour beers, and a touch fusty too.

A dense crumble cake, mine needed a knife and the moisture level just right, packs and lights very easily.

The palate delivers a strong tangy taste with some fustiness yet creamy at the same time, with slight saltiness and sweet/sour. Quite a complex smoke, go slow and savour. The Latakia is there but not dominant, Perique in a supporting role certainly not at the forefront and the Orientals are just great. I did not find the nicotine over the top, but it's there for sure.

I prefer it in a smaller group 4 sized bowl due to the nic-kick, making it quite satisfying one bowl would suffice as a nightcap or a one and done.

Highly recommended for experienced folks and those seeking a briar adventure.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JinxJar (6)	2017-10-05		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

My favorite of the Captain Earle's blends. The room note is of fresh cut hay, baked bread, and leather. The taste is a mix of smoked jerky and wheat toast. It burns well after a charring light and second light, not too hot, and zero tongue bite. I get a little gurgle at 1/3-1/2 bowl, but a pipe cleaner in the stem negates this and it doesn't happen again. Burns clean with little dottle. Medium-Full mouth feel, plenty of smoke, and plenty of taste. I have it with my morning coffee (dark brewed with a tbs of cream), and it pairs well. I get a little pepper/spice in mouth and throat from the Oriental/Perique.

Pipe Used: Peterson Kinsale XL23 and Vauen Auenland Friddo

Age When Smoked: 1-60 days

Purchased From: Tobacco Pipes

Similar Blends: Dunhill - Nightcap.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bluesmoke (75)	2015-01-18		Medium	None Detected	Full	Very Pleasant

Captain Earl's Private Stock is one of my new favorite tobaccos. PS is a pressed, squared krmble kake which broke into curly, flowing ribbons. My sample needed to dry for just 15 minutes or so and it was ready to smoke. After said dehydration and a moderately tight packing the tobacco took the flame and burned well from the rim, almost to the heel with just a couple relights in a new Stanwell Apple. Everything was in good balance among the latakia, burley, Orientals, and Virginias, with the perique not as pronounced and the Cavendish helped form some good body. Nicely medium strength, moderate nicotine with a full body. The flavors were very well married and a silky smoothness was produced. I encountered a smoky, spicy, musty, leathery, salty-sweetness. The volume of smoke was great and thick white plumes were produced. The aroma matched the taste stride for stride. Hermit scored a winner with this fine quality tobacco. Highest Recommendation! DLPTPMADMLKJ

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	jankoez (69)	2010-10-27		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Fantastic, very full and rich blend. It is one of the best experience I had in my over of thirthy years of pipe smoking. This tobacco is excellent in every time of day...

My rate: 5.0

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-11-08		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Smoked from a freshly opened tin, this blend seemed a bit overpowering at first. Not that I did not enjoy it, quite the contrary. It was not harsh or bitter, just STRONG and with a WAKE-UP dose of nicotine. After aging for two months, and having dried a bit, I tried it again this morning. What an improvement! Smoked in an old "Pete" lovat, it was excellent. I personally enjoy crumble cake tobaccos, and the smell that accompanies the process of breaking off a hunk, and rubbing it between thumb and forefinger over the waiting bowl. It took three matches to get it going, then burned without issue, and modest tamping, to the bottom of the bowl. Aged, the nicotine kick was more subdued, but definitely present. The sweet aroma of caramel, oak and leather shows careful blending of the virginias and latakia. Perfect for a crisp fall morning! Recommended.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tallazmofo (3)	2018-08-28		Mild	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I received about 4 bowls worth of this tobacco in a sample from the Tin Society subscription box and I am a fairly new pipe smoker so my palate is somewhat unrefined but I know when I like a blend. I have always been a fan of English blends and this one is a great one. Smooth and yet complex with some spicy notes from the Orientals I would guess. This blend reminded me of Plum Pudding (but I have only smoked that a few times as well). This blend is definitely worth buying a tin especially if you are an English fan.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Tin Society Sample

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	crapgame1967 (61)	2018-07-24		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very smooth... sips like a fine bold black coffee.Very smoky which I love. tastes like and smells like tobacco, Not a campfire.. not a cookout..not a pack of almonds..JUST tobacco. The wife lets me smoke this when she sits beside me on the porch swing..need i say more?

Pipe Used: Various Meers

Age When Smoked: 11 years

Purchased From: gift

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2018-01-13		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Tin notes of smokey Latakia, sweet Virginia's figgy perique...man you name it it is in here and you can smell it! Dark attractive brownies in the tin that to me seem more cake than crumble cake, but is there really a difference? As for the mechanics, mine came wet and needed 30 minutes of dry time. It rubs out easily and packs well. It is a very full flavored tobacco like a death by chocolate type of dessert, the flavors are bold and full bodied. The latakia is smokey and sweet. Just shy of a Latbomb, the other tobaccos take the edges off. The perique is what hits me as hard as the Latakia, for my tastes the perique was a bit heavy handed. Very peppery with the figgy notes mixing with the sweet Virginia's. there is a molasses or maple note that comes and goes from the cavendish. I really wish they backed off of the perique, the flavors are very good but it gets too peppery for me and it makes it seem harsh at times, this does vary from bowl to bowl but it happens too much for my liking.

Pipe Used: cobs, morta and briar's

Age When Smoked: <1 year

Purchased From: Mars Cigars

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2012-12-23		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

I just don't find this interesting. I initially tried this tin a year ago and I made some notes that said: "spice builds & Burley shows in the last 1/2 bowl , needs 6 months of cellar"!!!! Well, it's been a year, and I just retried the tin with some similar results. I know, Burley is not listed , but in the second half of the pipe it sure tastes like a strong Burley component. Orientals are covered up and the latakie just doesn't "sing". Really not much sweetness either. I like my blends with more sweetness and less spice ( Perique) . I do think it is high in "N" but I find this a bland blend. I keep searching for flavor. I've got to go against the crowd, and won't buy again . I actually like Ten Russians better, but not by much, I guess I'm not "tomorrow's connoisseur pipe smoking aficionado".

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-04-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Sailing with the captian is a pleasure indeed. The crumble cake is easier to deal wioth that a plug and delivers that great married flavor. High quailty English and a Latakia dream.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rustedrailsmokes (293)	2018-08-30		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Another great find via Tinsociety.com box subscription.

I knew that C&D produced these blends but I'd never had the chance to try one.

Presentation: Crumble cake which is easy to break apart. Mix of dark tobaccos with a great "tin" note.

Smoking: Crumble and go. I left a small "clump" together in the bottom of the bowl and sprinkled "crumbs" on top for lighting. Char light, then one more light got me through the bowl. Moisture content seemed perfect.

Taste: Solid English. I really could taste the oriental spices without being overpowered by Latakia. Not sure if the cake format helps with this melding or not. The taste was consistent through the bowl .

This is one I'd definitely purchase more of in the future especially with easy availability

Pipe Used: Morgan Bones Anse and several cobs

Age When Smoked: Unknown

Purchased From: TinSociety.com Box

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dbl-bbl (45)	2018-06-29		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

Smoke, leather, salt, tangy, and lightly sweet are all appropriate adjectives for this sleeper crumble cake English blend. Never bites and burns down to a nice gray-white ash. Just an exquisite English blend in a crowded field of many. I confess that I like it as much, if not more, than the highly acclaimed Esoterica Penzance ... and it’s much easier to find and not so hard on the wallet. For the money ... this is a go to English blend for me. 4 stars and my hat is off to the late Mr. Jay Jones of Hermit Tobacco Works for his creation ... and to Mrs. Louise Jones & Cornell & Diehl for carrying the blend forward for future generations to enjoy. God bless!

Pipe Used: Briars

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Similar Blends: 1) Penzance , 2) Smoky like Captain Earles "10 Russians" yet with a lighter & sweeter taste..

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Roger P (1)	2016-06-20		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

Flavorful English blend. Lots of richness, many things going on with this blend. Really like the Latakia in the background. This one of my favorites to top off an evening with a glass of malt whisky.

Pipe Used: Savanelli Noche

Age When Smoked: 2yrs

Purchased From: Laudisi

Similar Blends: Captain Earl's Ten Russians, richer in flavor.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-06-30		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

This is a classic red VA and Latakia blend that really makes a great all day every day smoke. At light the red Virginia tobacco gives it a bit of sweetness and a nice full body, as the bowl progresses the Latakia becomes more pronounced, giving it a smoky leathery taste. It smokes quite cool and has many layers to indulge your taste buds.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MangoLegs (72)	2022-04-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Preparation & Burn: 10/10 Excellent presentation, moisture content, handling. Burns great.

Taste: 20/20 Rich virginia lat blend. Tasty but not overpowering.

Mildness: 8/10 My idea of a good smoke is a relaxing, low nicotine session. Therefore, the milder the better. Not much nicotine here.

Total: 38/40

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JJ Sir Emmitt (40)	2021-08-11		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I am currently on a quest to explore more English blends. I confine myself to Burley blends and have fallen in line with the "American English" Burley Latakia blends. This infatuation has spurred to explore more traditional English blend and have yet to be knocked off my feet.

Is this blend the one, is the the English that will become my go-to?........no. this is a expertly blended tobacco with a unquestionable smoothness, balance and refinement that just bores me to death. I find this so uninteresting that I struggle to pull district flavors. To me this taste like a English. It is smoky, with some notes of grass, and wood and some sweetness and just a touch of spice. I have no doubt that many will enjoy this as it is a well crafted blend, it just not for me.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LiterarySmoker (143)	2021-01-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Getting back into Captain Earles I have enjoyed smoking this blend this week. Truth be told I'm getting myself ready for Ten Russians which will be my last review of the series. I've been surprised so far by the richness and variety of the Captain Earles blends and there are several that I could easily see myself buying again.

I have yet to mention the tin art in this series, but I think it leaves a little to be desired. However, what it lacks on the outside it makes up for on the inside. Private Stock is a cake like all the others and it rubs out to a nice ribbon. The smell in the tin consists of leathery, smoky Latakia, sweet dark fruit, tangy Orientals, and lightly toasted Cavendish. This is easy to pack and light. It holds a flame well and burns nice and slow.

Right off the bat the Latakia is smokey, leathery, and a touch salty. The Orientals follow close behind offering tang, flowers, and herbs. There is an intriguing interplay between the two. The perique offers some dark fruit but not a whole lot of spice. The Virginias are hiding in the background, giving body and citrus every now and again. There is a toasted note coming from some Cavendish and it just takes the edge off what could be some rough edges.

The taste is a medium-full. The smoke fills my mouth, and the complexity of flavor and the overall mouth-feel make it more full than an average medium. The strength is a medium. This is an average affair with Lady N, nothing too fancy. The room note may be a bit strong, but I smoke on the porch anyways. All in all a very repeatable smoke, and one that is complex enough to sit back and think with. I give this one 3 stars

Pipe Used: Peterson Standard System XL315

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ducksbreath (125)	2020-11-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This has become my favorite English. I have a more sensitive palatte than I used to and I'm not looking for anything harsh whatsoever.

The definition of medium full and rich with absolutely no trace of harshness and it's replaced my Dunhill (Peterson) Englishes. Then, my palatte has grown more sensitive (I now smoke Royal Yacht out of 9mm filter pipe, which is a perfect smoke imo).

What this lacks in complexity it makes up in smoothness. I find it ever so slightly skewed toward the orientals but mostly balanced. The deep red VA does mute the spice tobaccos especially in cake form, but I like this kind of English presentation and I do not find it dull, but I'm not looking for English thrills and chills anymore.

I would describe it like Dunhill's Standard Mixture without any bite or harshness.

A real cut above C&Ds "standard" English tobaccos in approachability, yet having much more body than the "Frog Morton" type Englishes which are popular from other blenders.

A real unheraled, older "brand" and should not be overlooked.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HabaneroHardy (401)	2019-10-12		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Unnoticeable

I was on a Captain Earle’s kick awhile back at my local brick and mortar tobacco shop and purchased this one some time ago. I had already tried 10 Russians, Night Watch and Honor Blend. First, I am going to gripe about something petty but presentation sometimes is the key, especially with pipe tobacco, of course taste is paramount also. Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with a nice square cake of tobacco with one of the corners cut off. I thought, let me guess, it was a little over the 2 oz. that the plug sold for. I thought, are they really that cheap, couldn’t let probably an 1/8 of an oz slide? Mutilating my once perfect square. In all seriousness I did find it somewhat irritating. I know petty. This tin was dated 121718. Tin note was rich and had a nice strong smell of Latakia. This one is hard for me to describe other than a good Latakia blend. Unfortunately, when I see something called ‘Private Stock’, I mentally expect more to be offered and this one really did not do much for me. Probably my least favorite of the Captain Earle’s I have tried. But who knows, down the road, my taste buds may be different and I may like it a little more. Maybe I prefer a little sweeter Latakia blend, not sure but sounds as good as anything else. Chopped off plug, (I know, I can’t let it go) two stars, taste around three.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Author Natural Briar

Age When Smoked: 10 months

Similar Blends: Your typical Latakia blend..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Baccyman (2)	2018-08-30		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Got a little bit of chocolate at the beggining of the bowl, then turns to slightly burnt buttered toast, great blend with good enjoyable flavours. After dinner would be the best time for this blend.

Pipe Used: Dagner devil anse

Age When Smoked: 2 weeks

Purchased From: Smoking pipes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bud_Harold (24)	2016-08-30		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Now THIS is a great English! Smoky, slightly sweet, and robust (but not overpowering). All the parts work together to make for a wonderful smoke. The krumble cake makes it easy to pack, and once lit it stays lit and burns down to a soft white ash. Love this!

Pipe Used: Brigham Algonquin

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Local B&M

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-04-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

One of my favorite early evening blends from the fine folks at Hermit Tobacco Works. The red Va`s are in command initially, and must be pampered untill cruising altitude is reached. About 1/2 way thru the flight the Latakia decides to take control and IMO makes this blend shine! Before landing is when this tobak is most flavorful! Many thanks to J./ Louise and their fine tobaccos for pleasant journeys!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (558)	2023-02-10		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin note of sour plums, tart wine, and smoky sweet. Tobacco is a marbled reddish brown and dark brown Krumble Kake. Moisture content is great. Kake breaks off and rubs out with a little effour. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and consistent, with notes of floral, tangy citrus, smoky, tart stewed fruit, musty sour vegetation, woody, leather, rasin, earth, fermented vinegary, spices, orange peel/zest, bread, mildly bitter, a savory sweet background note, and a peppery retro. Latakia barely beating Oriental/Turkish for the lead, Virginia and Perique are supporting, while Cavendish is cheering from the sidelines. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

Pipe Used: James Upshall Smooth Acorn (4) (P) (FH)

Age When Smoked: 4 years

Purchased From: TobaccoPipes.com

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wes-NY (12)	2019-03-08		Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Harmonious English blend. Smoky, spicy and sweet all at the same time. Strong but not overly strong. Could definitely be an all day blend. Krumble kake presentation was easily rubbed out.

Moist out of the tin but not so much so that it needed drying time. Charring light and then 1 single light was good for the entire bowl. Burned beautifully to a grey ash. The weight of the tamper was enough to keep it lit through the entire bowl.

Every tobacco was present yet nothing really dominated the blend. The retro hales were delightful as it woke up my taste buds with nuances. Definitely has some nic-kick therefore the reason I used a smaller group 3 billiard.

Pipe Used: Peak Billiard

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Nobody has rated this review yet.