As with all my reviews, the opinions expressed are 100% my own and your mileage may vary. The tobacco being reviewed has been purchase by myself and I’ve personally smoked several bowls, in various pipes before writing this review. I’ve also linked the TobaccoReviews.com review for your cross reference.
Pipes Used: Briar, Cob
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: TobaccoPipes.com
Strength – Medium
Taste – Medium
Flavoring – None detected
Room Note – Pleasant to Tolerable
Tin Note – Smoky, Earthy
Rating – ****
Cellared – Not yet
More Details
While I was out of the country on vacation, I had heard about the Sutliff Virtual Pipe Club (VPC). Actually the very day I heard about it was the very last day one could sign up to be included in the July offering. Actually I even believed I had missed the boat on July as just after signing up, I received an email from Sutliff stating that registration had closed on the first meeting and I would need to wait until October. But much to my surprise, on the 29th of July I received another email from Sutliff stating it was “Last Call” to take advantage of the July offer. So lucky me!
The way the Sutliff VPC works is really simple. You sign up on their website to enter the pipe club. It’s 100% free to join. A few times a year (perhaps quarterly?) the virtual meeting is held and members will receive an email regarding how to take advantage of the discounted selected tobacco. The sell and distribution of the tobacco is handled through TobaccoPipes.com which has been my “go to” online tobacco retailer of choice for some time. You simply place your order for the VPC tobacco (in July it was Sutliff Crumble Kake English #1) and enter a coupon code which is provided in an email from Sutliff. This dropped the price of the 1.5 ounce tin to $3.00 plus s/h. As I had other tobacco items I needed, I was able to combine to maximize my overall savings.
My Review
I want to make clear that while I smoked many pipes 25-30 years ago, I never really bothered to educate myself on the true art of pipe smoking. Back then, I was more concerned with whether the pipe I was using was authentic to the period (US Civil War) and would smoke whatever tobacco I could get at the time. You can read more about my return to pipe smoking here.
Anyway, I’ve been wanting to broaden my experience of various blends of tobacco since returning to pipe smoking. For over a year now I’ve been absolutely happy with a couple of different aromatics (including Lane 1-Q) which is in my tobacco rotation. But I know there is so much out there and while I know there’s no way I can sample it all, having an opportunity to try something new in this fashion was certainly worth the gamble. Of course, I’m looking forward to receiving my first Tin Society package (hopefully this week) as that will help introduce me to new blends on a monthly basis. Anyway, let me get on with this review….
This was my first English blend since returning to pipe smoking. The tin of Sutliff Crumble Kake English #1 arrived in the mail on Thursday, 1 August. I couldn’t wait to get home, open the tin and smoke my first bowl. Upon cracking the seal of the tin and giving it the nose test, I was taken back to 30 years ago when I smoked non-aromatics. My nose detected a smoky, earthy smell and after more than a minute or so my wife asked me if I planned to smoke it or just smell the inside of the tin. I explained to her that this was the first non-aromatic tobacco I’ve had under my nose in over 30 years and I wanted to cherish the moment. But likewise I was also anxious to pack my pipe and smoke it.
Likewise, this was also the first crumble cake style tobacco I’ve experienced. Ever! I broke off a section of the cake and began to break it up on my leather tobacco mat. Right out of the tin the moisture level was similar to other tobaccos I have in my rotation. The tobacco packed well in my pipe and with the charring light out of the way, I proceeded with the true light while giving my pipe some good, strong puffs. The smoke was thick and hung in the air much different from other blends I frequently smoke.
To my taste buds, the flavors I was getting mostly matched the tin note with a smoky, earthy, woody taste. I immediately noticed the difference between this and several of the aromatics in my regular rotation. Of course this is a good thing and what this is all about. I did have to perform a few relights but this may have been more to do with my slower cadence and my desire to truly take this moment in.
A really interesting thing occurred about half way through the first bowl. I began tasting a bit of a spicy flavor which I had never experienced before. Even after smoking a few more bowls over the next couple of days, this spicy flavor doesn’t seem to be noticeable until about half way through the bowl. But this is a blend which is enjoyable all the way down to the last burning ember.
My overall impression of Sutliff Crumble Kake English #1 is very positive. I scored it four out of four stars and for now, this will go into my rotation and be my main English style tobacco. The nicotine hit was only slightly more than I’ve experienced before but wore off quickly. While I wouldn’t consider this an all day smoke (for my personal tastes), it is something I’ll return to again and soon.
TobaccoReviews.com
https://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/11717/sutliff-tobacco-company-crumble-kake-english-1
Thank you for taking the time to read this review. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this particular tobacco. Please leave me a comment below.
Until next time…
Happy Piping!
Jerry