At the tobacconist

[ivanovnegro]

Oh, I know that feeling, you think something is good but then it is just hot air, it vaporizes fastly without any taste, yeah there is N but then I can go back and smoke a good cig instead. If I cannot detect any good flavor through my nose (I think it is called snorking?), then I know it's not for me.

I am with you here on the meaning of Balkan, if the bacco is from our region (Balkanic Disorder), then it is Balkan.

Thanks for Pt. III.

[machinebacon]

Absolutely, if we talk about Nic only, we can have a good cig, but pipe smoking is about a mix of sensations, and about layers and layers of tastes on each other. If one of the layers destroys the details, there is no fun (imagine a fat Swabian housewife sitting on your face)

[machinebacon]

Cigarette Review - Double Happiness (Shuangxi Classic Style)

Why not simply review some cigarettes? Most probably these are rather uninteresting for most readers here, but you'll never know what the future brings.

So, as known, I am living in the PRC and smoke domestic brands most of the time. The main difference between European and Chinese cigarettes is the pricing. While most cigarettes are around 5 EUR per package in countries of the EU, the cigarettes in China have different pricings, even if from the same label. The costs vary between 4 CNY (around 0.5 EUR) and 100 CNY (around 12 EUR), latter is a newly introduced maximum price limit. The expensive versions are often given as present or smoked in 'higher circles', even the (Communist) Party-friendly flagship "Chunghwa" -- priced 40 CNY for hard pack and 65 CNY for the soft pack version -- are usually smoked during important meetings, rather than while waiting for the bus.
This first, short review is about a brand that can also be bought abroad and in duty-free shops. Double Happiness/Shuangxi is produced in three factories (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong - latter are produced by a gang called 'Nanyang Brothers' and come in a golden box), and they do differ in taste, look, and price.

Shuangxi Classic Style, 84mm, filtered
Guangdong Cigarette Factory

T: 11mg, N: 1.0mg, CO: 13mg
10 CNY/pack (20pcs)
As we can see, quite a full cigarette, with flue-cured Virginias. Out of the pack, the cigarettes - unlit - smell pleasantly sweet, a bit like apricot, and very lightly like apple vinegar. Regular filter length with a decorative golden banner. The tobacco is reddish brown, evenly distributed.
A rather full-bodied cigarette with notable Virginia sweetness, excellent burning qualities. No casing added, but all in all on the 'bright' side. Gains weight and strength in the second half. Filter gets softer towards the end, avarage smoking time 5 minutes. Of all Chinese lower-middle-price cigarettes, this is my favorite. The hard pack version "International" - similar in design for a slightly lower price - adds more sweetness and a little fragrance similar to cinnamon, though really barely detectable.
I give it 4.5 of 5 stars, there are not many cigarettes that I like more than Shuangxi. Nothing to criticize.

Some reading: http://www.economist.com/node/21543594

[ivanovnegro]

^ Why not, great. Though we all know you do all of the reviews just for me. :D

[machinebacon]

Yeah, where has all the BBQ flavour gone. We used to post food stuff, chunks of meat, newest tobacco products, "look what I shitted today", and now it's just screenshots of tilers running tmux, or porn.
<--- Sigh.

[pidsley]

I don't think bacon has reviewed this one, so since I just finished smoking a bowl I will give it a try.



The first time I smoked this I was afraid -- I heard all the stories about how strong it was, how it would kick my ass, how it would never stay lit, all of that. So I put it in my smallest cob and gave it a try. And yes, it was impossible to keep lit, because I did not (yet) know how to smoke it. But it didn't kick my ass, so I kept on trying. Eventually I learned that like all SG flakes, it's packed much too wet, and benefits from some drying time. In this case, a lot of drying time. Now, I rub it out and let it dry in a bowl for four hours before I try to smoke it. That's right, four hours.

Once dried, it yields its secrets -- an excellent tobacco with a unique mix of flavors, including tonquin bean, said to taste something like vanilla, and some other flavors I can't quite describe (but the infamous "lakeland sauce" is not present to any significant degree, at least to my taste). Even with the added flavoring, this is no aromatic; the predominant flavor is pure tobacco. And it's strong, to be sure, but not too strong to keep it from making a great afternoon smoke with my alcohol of choice for the day. Like all SG tobaccos, this one is quality through and through. After only a few bowls, I went out and purchased a 250g box.



I was also lucky enough to obtain a tin with some age on it (how much I'm not sure) and this tin was even better. When I opened it, the aroma was magnificent and the flakes were dark and flecked with crystals.



This made me even more sure my 250g purchase was a good idea, and I will try to let some age as much as I can, but it may be difficult considering how much I like this tobacco.

As you may remember from reading my previous reviews, I love Burley. 1792 is Virginia and Kentucky (Burley by any other name) so it's easy to see why I like it. It has easily earned a spot in my afternoon rotation along with HH Old Dark Fired, Solani Aged Burley Flake, Irish Flake, and Wessex Burley Slice. All flakes, all burley, all excellent. It's often hard to decide which to reach for, but 1792 is usually at the top of the list.

[ivanovnegro]

Thanks for the review Pid.

I am eager to try HH from Mac Baren but I am not sure if it will be a disappointment like many blends are for me. Maybe you could review that one. :)

[pidsley]

^ I was thinking that should be next -- I don't know specifically what disappoints you, but I'll just say that if you didn't know ODF was a MacBaren I don't think you could tell. No bite, no honey flavor (at least to me).

[machinebacon]

Thanks a lot, Pid. Seems you like the 'potent' ones (at least 1792 and Irish Flake are regarded as those). There's also Bracken Flake *) which is said to be a slightly different version of 1792 (in strength), maybe you can sample it sometime.
Agree about the drying time for flakes, or even some mixtures. Actually this is the only point that turns me off about SG flakes - I'd be the happiest man alive if they'd offer their Balkan Flake and the Navy Flake as mixtures. OTOH, the SG flakes really easily get these 'crystals' (or 'blossom'), it shows that they definitely know how to press stuff. And interesting to see their 250gr offering. Is it any different from the tinned version? And thank you for posting the photos, I guess these would go as 'broken flakes' for other blenders (just compare the flakes to those of K&K or Dunhill, it's like two different worlds) -- and I definitely love 'broken' flakes!
And you mentioned an interesting point about the lack of 'Lakeland essence'. I agree that most SG products (well, except of Grousemoor) don't smell or taste like what they should/did, and I also guess that that some snobs in certain forums talk about something they 'heard of', and just repeat saying it to get some street-cred. The only form of Lakeland Essence I found in 'scented' (as in "not unscented') GH tobaccos, and there it's present like the so-called honey flavor in some (!) MacBaren tobaccos.
David, the HH line seems to lack the typical MacBaren sauce (I assume this is what they wanted anyway with the HH line), by the way, so I would definitely go for it, blindly.

*) http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_det ... B&TID=1920

We have blended a carefully balanced selection of Kentucky & Dark-Fired leaf to give this medium to strong flake. For the pipe-smoker who seeks a satisfying smoke, then experience Bracken Flake, with its unique and alluring aroma, brought about by the application of a long-used essence.

sounds like something Pidsley would approve.

[ivanovnegro]

...I don't know specifically what disappoints you,...

Mac Baren disappoints me on a regular basis, even their flakes and Lat blends, this honey shit everywhere or their fucked up black cavendish. That is what I meant, I mentioned it before somewhere.

David, the HH line seems to lack the typical MacBaren sauce (I assume this is what they wanted anyway with the HH line), by the way, so I would definitely go for it, blindly.

You are right, saw that and therefore I will go for it. I heard good things about it and a lot of regular Mac Baren (the "quality" stuff) smokers seem not to like this strong HH. :) So, I assumed it is something for us.

[machinebacon]

But then again, why bother with MacBaren when you can have Robert McConnell. .. The Scottish Flake is good, so I suppose they generally don't add syrup to their baccys.

[ivanovnegro]

^ Curiosity. :D

[machinebacon]

Das hat schon einige halbleere Dosen gefordert :)
I hear you. It's like distrohopping, just in pleasant :D

[ivanovnegro]

^ Exactly.

[machinebacon]

Wouldn't it be great if they'd sell small 5 gr. portions for 1EUR each? I would definitely invest more money into different blends than buying 50gr of a potentially shitty product.

[pidsley]

You are right, saw that and therefore I will go for it.

Go for it! No honey in this one, as far as I can tell.

[ivanovnegro]

^ Nice pics.

[machinebacon]

^^ Pretty! And even got a full 4 star rating on TR. That's quite rare, especially considering the amount of reviews posted for the HH flake.
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_det ... H&TID=5214

[ivanovnegro]

^ Impressive rating.

[machinebacon]

Wellauer English Blend


Usually PLANTA stands for one of the OTC blenders and offers quantity instead of quality. Infamous mixtures are the sugar-loaden Danish Black Vanilla, the juicy Cellini or the fruity Veermaster (which is NOT the great Veermasteer)

Planta also blends for others: Solomon's Presbyterian Mixture is quite well-known (and well-received), another one of these is Wellauer, a Swiss tobacco producer from St. Gallen.The Swiss-made Wellauer mixtures and flakes can be purchased (or sold) in Switzerland only, so Planta has gotten the exclusive right to blend and distribute Wellauer's blends world-wide.

Usually, the label "Planta" means something like: Don't buy it, it's not worth it, you'll hate it, save the money for a better mixture. In Wellauer's case, it is different: the buyer won't see any mention of Planta on the package, similar when you purchase a tin of the afore-mentioned Presbyterian.

I got a pouch of Wellauer's English Blend, that comes in a nicely-designed, robust black/red-colored pouch. At first I found the tobacco to be quite strongly cased, and to be on the moist side, too moist for a straight puff. Keeping the pouch air a little has changed the casing from sauce to melange. A very, very coarse cut, in many ways similar to Germain's No. 7 (which I will review at a later date), with chunky, curled leaves in a wild color mix of light and dark brown and some black spots.
The pouch nose is rather intensive, even after months, resembling Presbyterian in many ways: a bit of smoke, forest, coal, and a lot of red wine, champagne, apple, a quite dense fragrance that does not really resemble that of a pipe tobacco.

I recommend smoking this mixture from big, wide bowls. The tobacco expands, and due to the different cut sizes it burns rather slow and cool. The taste of cork and baby powder is all appearant, but in a very pleasant way, you get as much red wine taste as from a gravy that was created by reducing red wine. Not sour and fresh, but 'flat and wide' from the Virginias, spicy and tongue-numbing (not biting) from the Perique, fragrant and sesame-ish from the Orientals, smokey and bassey from the Lat.
I find myself grabbing this tobacco rather frequently for delivering all these different tastes in one bowl, with Nicotine being quite low (MacBaren Navy Flake would be comparable), and acceptable, winery-ish room note.
By the way, I always thought this is a Burley mixture, but apparently it isn't.

Rating?

Nicotine/Strength

35%

Overall

75%

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_det ... W&TID=1273