Tobaccos Two Friends - Bed & Breakfast

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2015-02-26		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

The red Virginia is tangy, earthy sweet, and shows up every so often, just often enough to compliment the sour, very smoky, woody Oriental/Turkish. The O/T has some spice, which seems more obvious after the half way point. The yellow Virginia is citrusy and a little grassy, but isn't a big presence. The toasted cavendish is a minor player. The smoky, woody sweet Cyprian latakia is also a minor player, but it’s a necessary component, adding a needed complexity. Some of the flavors are subtle, though the Oriental/Turkish often takes the lead. Has a mild to medium nic-hit. Won't bite. Mostly a dry tasting smoke, it burns cool and even with few relights at a moderate pace. Leaves little moisture in the bowl. Has a dry, pleasant after taste. Not an overly strong mixture, but it’s full enough that it crosses over the all day smoke threshold. More of a three and half star blend.

-JimInks

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DoctorThoss (146)	2007-05-20		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is probably one of the most difficult reviews I've tried, as this blend is extremely complex and -- like the other Two Friends mixtures -- singularly offbeat. It's also one of the biggest disappointments I've ever had, but I'll explain that in detail in a moment ...

B&B seems to be a sweet American/Oriental mixture, for lack of a better term. I don't consider it an American/English hybrid like Epiphany or Bald Headed Teacher -- the latakia component is more muted and the intensity of the yellow VA and orientals is quite prominent. If you can imagine, say, GL Pease's Cairo artfully blended with one of the above mentioned blends (with VAs taking the place of burley), you'd at least be on the right track. Like I said, this one is hard to describe. As in other Two Friends mixtures, the cavendish seems to be a key player in holding the components together and supplying a soothing sweetness. This mixture is complex, subtle, and quite unlike anything else I've tried.

This blend has one of the most delightful flavors (and THE most appealing tin note) of any tobacco I've ever tried. So why not four stars?

Tragically, this blend is apparently a really bad mix with my body chemistry. Every time I smoke it I get horrible tongue bite -- as in tiny spots of blood welling up on my tongue. This isn't a heat burn, it's a chemical reaction of some kind. I've had this reaction to only a very small number of blends (Westminster and Cairo are two) and I suspect it's some kind of reaction a particular oriental or strain of VA. If it weren't for that, it would almost certainly be my "all day" blend.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2017-12-14		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very nice oriental forward smoke. If you are looking for a very light Latakia, Oriental/Turkish forward smoke this may be it. Very nice woody and sour oriental smell coming out of the tin. Sweetness with a hint of smoke from the Latakia (very faint). Flavor is dry, woody Orientals. Earthy with a hint of leather. Very faint hint of smokey sweetness here and there from the Lat and VA's. Cavendish is not really noticeable in the flavor but does seem to add to the mouth feel in the smoke. A nice mild smoke, not a lot of nuance but a nice easy, mindless smoke.

Pipe Used: briars and cobs

Age When Smoked: <1 year

Purchased From: B&M

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	musicman (131)	2012-01-19		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Two friends tobacco is probably the most underrated pipe tobacco company on the market. These blends are just sublime. Bed and Breakfast has long been one of my all time favorite blends. I reach for this one quite a bit.

To me this blend is the perfect example of a perfectly balanced pipe tobacco. All of the components are easily discernible and they come together in an amalgamation that is far and above greater than the sum of its parts. Just excellent.

This is so perfectly named. This can be a morning or evening smoke, and no matter when you enjoy it it hits the spot perfectly. The moisture is perfect. It ages well, and is such high quality leaf. wholeheartedly recommended.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2080)	2019-05-24		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Two Friends - Bed & Breakfast.

This is presented as a well rubbed ribbon, mostly medium and light browns, with just a few darker pieces. The unlit aroma implies Milder English, and my tin's hydration was bang-on.

Initiating a burn couldn't be any easier, and the smoke is pretty much what I anticipated from the tin-note. The Latakia's more of a background player, so the flavour isn't encumbered by a harsh, camp fire, smokiness; it adds a touch of woodiness, deepens the profile, but doesn't take over. To me, the most alacrity comes from the Virginias and Orientals; sweet, some ripe fruit, a little sour, and a calm smokiness. The Cavendish offers a spot of flavour, but the smoke isn't awash with sweetness. B&B burns steadily, not requiring much maintenance. The temperature can become too warm, though.

Nicotine: below medium. Room-note: not the best.

Bed & Breakfast? An 'OK' smoke, but not one for my rotation. Somewhat recommended:

Two stars.

Pipe Used: Altinok Lee Van Cleef: Friday pipe

Age When Smoked: 4/24/18

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	½ bowl (103)	2008-12-19		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Original review 12/05/08:

Bed & Breakfast (bulk): picture Tarler & Pease cackling like witches bent over a cauldron.

Double, double, toil and trouble Tobacco burn and saliva bubble. Start out with a red VA, Add some yellow - smells like hay. Desperate for a taste that's new, add some Cavendish. Oriental too! Use Latakia -- but just a dash, to make it burn to a fine grey ash. A mix concocted late at night, like a hell-broth, fume and bite!

[Fade out as witches laugh with high-pitched, insidious delight.]

Well, maybe that's an overly harsh portrayal -- Tarler and Pease really don't cackle over a cauldron ...or do they? B&B strikes me as an amateurish experiment where five different tobaccos were somewhat capriciously tossed together to see what happens. There is no balance, no synergy, no polish. I guess my sense of taste doesn't admit mixing sweet, grassy Vas with Cavendish; or Cavendish with Latakia; or whatever else they did.

This is a somewhat sweet, bite-prone, and flavor-laden smoke that quickly fatigues the palate. Impoverished by abundance, it is a mix of five tobaccos lacking unity and competing for attention. It's rather like five musicians playing at the same time, but not "together". The Vas take the grassy lead while the Cavendish and Latakia obstinately bang against each other - taking this olio first to the sweet and earthy, then to the savory side and back, with no integration, no balance. For me, the Oriental gets lost in the cacophony of flavor. Maybe it's at work taming the somewhat hot Va without calling attention to itself (staying out of the fray, as it were.) I believe the only thought put into this blend was at day's end, when they decided from which side of the blending room floor they'd begin sweeping.

Toward the end of the bowl B&B seems to be much better: the Latakia fades and starts to work with the toasty Vas and Cavendish. It is actually a fairly good smoke for the last few minutes; but you will have to endure a mediocre bowlful just to enjoy the tasty heel.

To me B&B is an ill-conceived mix -- a witches' brew of discord that ends up being less than the sum of its parts. Not worthy of the Tarler and Pease name. I'll cellar the remainder of my supply for a few years to see what happens. I don't hold out much hope.

Update 12/19/08: I didn't really have enough B&B left to justify cellaring, but I did make an interesting discovery that could influence some smokers to give this a try. I used a small old meer that I had since the late '60s. It has a conical bowl that tapers down from 15mm at the top; and it has a really thick side wall (it's a freehand called a "Caveman" that resembles a crudely fashioned club. Remember those?) In this, B&B's flavors begin to integrate much quicker. After about 10 minutes it settles down nicely and remains a pretty good smoke right to the bottom. I'll upgrade my review a smidgen; but since I won't buy this again, how can I recommend it to you?

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-05-23		Medium	Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

I have to admit to being a victim of Peer pressure. I hadn't tried this because I heard it was flavored- that generally means burn. Then I was given some in a pipe trade. Thank You Bladerunner!!!! This stuff is the Grail of tobaccos. It has a wonderful smell, Taste...I'm surprised there is latakia in it Cause I sure didn't see any. This smokes like what one would expect an Old timer in a Library would smoke in his pipe. Smooth, clean, Tastful and rich. Acts best for me in Billiard bowls, can be nippy in a narrow Virginia type pipe. Small price to pay! I love walking out of the room and coming back in just to smell the room note. Highly Recommended....

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dualkarnain (75)	2006-09-02		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

What a great tobacco! I bought some of this in bulk and I'm amazed at the complexity of flavor for a tobacco that is so mild. Generally one has to scorch the mouth with scraping Balkans to reel in this amount of taste.

You know that amazingly delicious taste when you're on the last five puffs of a Virginia bowl? This tobacco manages to keep that toasted VA taste, to a lesser extent, all the way through the bowl. There's also a distinct buttery flavor that goes well with coffee. Want some latakia flavor but want the wife not to bitch? Fire up some B&B.

Images evoked: a horde of baby pit pulls toppling over a child and licking his face playfully.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-02-17		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Of all the Two Friends blends I have tried (to date I have tried all but Valle Crucis) this one I like the least. Perhaps that is because I haven't quite developed a taste for Latakia yet. After sampling the other blends in this line I expected a bit more from this one. It's not bad, but nothing special either. I prefer Heritage or Redwood.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Noorrmm (192)	2004-03-03		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Appearance: Very small cut, almost granulated. All colors are present, but the lighter shades are dominant.

Aroma: Smells like mostly Virginia, with traces of Latakia and Orientals. The Va. seems to be of the lightest persuasion, and has a ?grassy? aroma.

Packing: Packs easily into any size pipe.

Lighting: Lights easily, sometimes with one match.

Initial flavor: I can?t tell if this burns hot, or if my tongue is sensitive to some component of the blend. In most pipes, this tobacco starts poorly for me, then subsides into a more tolerable condition of smoothness. Not that it ever gets smooth, just a bit less harsh.

Mid-bowl: Seems to burn wetter than most blends, but maybe that?s my reaction to it. The blend never develops enough flavor to get me interested. I find this so poor a blend, that I mixed it with Stokkeby Proper English.

Finish: Due to the harshness noted, I can rarely finish a bowl of this stuff.

Summary: Simply doesn?t work for me as an ?eye-opener?. It left me with enough negative feeling, that I may never try any of the other blends in the line.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2003-07-19		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

On first light B&B gives you a good dose of smoky Latakia taste. Good if you like Latakia, not if you don't. Smoke down a little and B&B becomes essentially a Virginia blend with just the hint of exoticism of Latakia and Orientals. Really a fabulous mellow taste. Very round, slightly sweet (from the Virginias I suppose) and very satisfying.

If you demand Latakia in all you smoke then B&B may or may not satisfy. I smoke about 75% Virginia/Perique blends and 25% English myself and am very fond of Nightcap to give you an idea where my tastes lie. I love B&B.

If you don't like Latakia much or at all, B&B can change your mind because it uses Latakia purely as a condiment and smokes like a complex somewhat exotic Virginia/Oriental blend.

Everyone should at least try this.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dgifford (8)	2002-01-15		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

This was a very good tobacco. The quality and cut are outstanding. I have a tender palate and found it a little "bitey" towards the end of the bowl. This blend can get hot if you don't pay attention.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-05-13		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

Tin description is spot on as wel as is the name.

Good to start the day and even better in the evening after dinner in a large bowl.

Strenght wise it is satisfying and get me relaxed. The latakia is with you all the way down the bowl but stays in the background in a delightfull manner while you can enjoy the well balanced VA OR playing with your palate.

Very well done .

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-16		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable

After enjoying several bowls I'm come to the conclusion that this is aptly named. Bed & Breakfast; it is suitable for both the morning, the evening and all hours between. Very easy to smoke and mild in several matters. There is just enough latakia, aroma and oriental flavor to please even the most complex pallet. Smoke it all day.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-06-07		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This is a quite difficult tobacco on my view,apparently simple and "natural" on the other side incredibly complex. Latakia is very little, but enough to make it pleasant if you like classic mixtures. I can remember the first bowl of it, it gave me a strong nicotine hit, almost as smoking virginia cigarettes. Slowly after quite few bowls the strength of this tobacco appeared, mellow, naturally sweet, light burning and strong. I use it at a morning tobacco and during the day as change of pace from my favorite which is GL Pease Westminster. But this is slowly taking over and have a quite large reserve now. Needs a larger bowl (group 4 perhaps) as it burns quite fast. Little tongue bite and can be hot. Not for beginners.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-09-14		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

This is probably one of the finer Va/Oriental mixtures I have ever had. The toasted cavendish and addition of a little Latakia really makes an interesting smoke. The dominant flavor is Va.It is supported by the orientals with just enough Latakia to make it nutty. The strength of this mixture will creep up on you though,so be careful.It will tingle the tongue(not bite)while smoking ,so go slowly.A very pleasant flavor with the Va being so sweet. If you like "Midnight Ride" by CAO - try this.It is not as complex,but still very rewarding. Also the room note is almost non-existent. 3 of 4 stars.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-05-31		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable

This is quite similar in taste to House Of Windsor's Barking Dog and Cornell and Diehl's Junkyard Dawg, yet slightly sweeter. An American style psuedo english with a really soft and mild character and an excellent cool, slow and even burn. An all day Latakia offering for sure!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Dottle (162)	2005-05-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Despite the fact that B&B contains no burley, I found it similar in taste to American English blends that also contain a modicum of Latakia. Specifically, I found it reminiscent of Barking Dog and Junkyard Dawg, two other blends that I like. But B&B is a bit sweeter due to the presence of the virginia and cavendish. B&B is a very satisfying and mellow smoke that has excellent burning qualities and burns cool. Another nice offering in the C&D line from Craig & Patty.

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this tobacco 9.0 out of 10.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-01-10		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a very tasty tobacco. The latakia in it doesn't come out much in it but it does make enough of a presence to add some kick to the smoke. It has a mild flavour that seems to develop deeper into the bowl. For me, a larger bowl seems to bring out its complexity.

With this tobacco, the slower the better. It lets it build, it keeps the bite down, and it gives you time to enjoy a fine blend.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-10-16		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

A friend gave me an almost full half pound of this saying he didn't care for it, but I have enjoyed this blend. It doesn't have a cough in it. Hints of latakia and oriental with a lot of colors. Light color predominates. Packs and burns easily. This blend is smokeable all day and is a great morning smoke. I may have to pay for the next batch; darn. Worth the effort for anybody who likes english style tobacco.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-05-14		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

B&B is a very pleasant smoke. The description says ??just a bit of rich Latakia?. This is definitely light on the Latakia. So light, I bet you could get away with it even if you can?t normally smoke Latakia in the house. The Toasted Cavendish lends an interesting bit of dimension to the blend and enhances both the naturally sweet Va and the Latakia.

This is a blend that could be smoked in the summertime when many Latakia lovers tend to set aside the beloved leaf in favor of something lighter. I believe Mr.?s Pease and Tarler planned this as more of a morning smoke, but personally, I would prefer it when I am more awake. There is so much going on with Bed and Breakfast that I would hate to waste it on a palate that is dulled and disoriented from a night of sleep abruptly ended by an assault with toothpaste and mouthwash. Mid-morning at the earliest for me - I don?t want to miss a thing!

Highly recommended for everyone from the newbie to the old pro.

1 person found this review helpful.