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.
Photo Info: Velvet Pipe Tobacco, Kaywoodie model 51 Standard, Czech Pipe Tool, Zippo Lighter with Thunderbird butane insert, Northwest Gentlemen Bison Leather Tobacco Mat, My Grandfathers WWII Dog Tags. Photo by TheSaintlyCatholic
Pipes Used: Briar, Cob
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Local Store (OTC)
Strength – Mild
Taste – Mild
Flavoring – Mild
Room Note – As if my Grandfather was in the room
Tin Note – Burley, Liquor
Rating – ***
My Review
I’ll be honest, I was concerned. While I purchased both Velvet and Half & Half from my local “Smoker Friendly” store, I honestly had no expectation that I would truly enjoy either of these blends. I considered it a punt just to get an alternative experience. While I’ve been smoking a pipe for over a year, I still consider myself very much a rookie. Especially when it relates to tobacco.
I know my grandfather smoked a pipe. I remember he had a small, round pipe stand. In the middle was a glass humidor/container which stored his tobacco. While I remember exactly which cigarettes he smoked (Chesterfield), I don’t recall which brand of pipe tobacco he smoked. At least I didn’t until recently.
I picked up the Velvet (and Half & Half) a few weeks ago. Both pouches sat on my desk in my man-cave and remained in the cellophane wrappers. As I’ve talked about in a few of my recent YouTube YTPC videos, my house for the past several weeks has been a construction zone as well as an oven. The mess made in the kitchen ceiling by the leak in the upstairs master bathroom has finally been fully repaired. And the upstairs AC unit which went out and left us with no AC in the upstairs portion of the house for six days (over Labor Day weekend) has also been repaired. As I’m typing out this article, my wife and I have enjoyed just a little over 72 hours of absolute peace.
While I’ve certainly been “choochin” (I just love that word) on a few different blends during this ordeal, I wanted to wait until the world slowed down enough where I could truly sit back, relax, clear my mind and enjoy (or try). But as I stated above, I considered this a punt and I honestly had the expectation that I wouldn’t like Velvet. My assumption? Well simply that it would be much, much stronger than what I was used to smoking and the nicotine hit would leave my head spinning. After all…Velvet is a codger blend!
However, my experience couldn’t have been further from my expectation. I honestly and absolutely enjoyed Velvet so much that as soon as one bowl was finished, I cranked up a second. I’ve never done that before. Everything about Velvet is as smooth as the name implies.
I smoked Velvet over a few days and each time I was in my basement mancave. Today when I walked into the room I experienced something wonderful. Instantly….I was carried back in time some 40 years and the room note left behind from having smoked several bowls of only Velvet over a few days instantly reminded me of my grandfathers smoking room. I sat down in my chair and closed my eyes and for a few minutes I was a little boy and my grandfather was near me smoking his pipe.
Last year when I returned to pipe smoking after a 25+/- year hiatus, I absolutely had no notion (perceived or otherwise) that smoking a pipe would have the power to reconnect me to not only my past…but reconnect me to a man who I dearly miss and truly admire, my grandfather. As I’ve now lived longer without my grandfather in my life (31 years since his passing), there’s never a day that I’m not reminded of him in some subtle way. If we on earth are granted guardian angels to look over us and protect us, my grandfather is mine.
Now before I close this out, there’s a reason why I published this review about Velvet when I did. Just a few days ago, 11 September would have been my grandfather’s 99th birthday. While I can’t be 100% certain Velvet was the blend of pipe tobacco he smoked, it was the blend which triggered the memory I described and well…that’s good enough for me. So while I’m writing this a few days before his birthday, I’ll be certain to head down to my mancave on Wednesday, 11 September and smoke a pipe in memory of my grandfather. Of course, 11 September is also the day in which we honor and reflect on the memories of all the brave men and women who lost their lives 18 years ago in NYC, Washington DC and Shanksville, PA along with the slaughter of our US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty in 2012. Since 2001, it’s always been difficult for my family to truly celebrate the life of my grandfather on a day which is somber. But I’m reminded of the fact that my grandfather was truly a patriot and loved his country and loved the State of Texas.
TobaccoReviews.com
https://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/1269/scandinavian-tobacco-group-stg-velvet
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Until next time…
Happy Piping!
Jerry