HavelDad's Old Forum Reviews

Blend: D&R's Cockstrong





Intro: So let me preface this by saying I don't really care for most burly blends (Mac Baren is an exception so far holy shite I just splurge for them so w.e) but I grabbed this because of a few things. Obviously the name, its silly, its fun, and got my eye. Then there is the "Tin" art, which is a ripped arse rooster showing off his girth. But then this 3.5oz tin can be had for seven dollars, seven darn dollars for almost a quarter pound of tobacco? In a tin? What world is this. Well, I guess I should really mention that it doesn't come in a tin, it comes in a SOUR CREAM TUB right as if you didn't think this could get any better its in a damned plastic sour cream tub with the clear plastic seal over the top once opened to boot. This thing is just fun, all around I already like what it has going for it.



Type: Burly, Oriental, Virginia. It claims to be modeled after a "Traditional American Blend" so maybe trying to be a cowboy killer?



Cut: Ribbon



Sour Cream Tub Note: Not very good in my opinion, it smells unlike any traditional burly I've smelled before. Doesn't really smell at all like Virginia or oriental, I really cant find anything to compare it to in my mind. Its almost sour or acrid? Like rotting hay or something? I honestly cant describe it.



Room Note: Sort of like chestnuts mixed with oakwood smoke.



Smoked With: MM corn cob



The Smoke: The ribbon cut is pretty nice, but there are some thick and hard pieces in there. The moisture level was actually Ideal for instant smoking, not dry but not wet, when pushed down in the tub it springs right back up to form. This lit up in a big puff of smoke when starting, filling your mouth with a thick white smoke. The taste isn't as punching as the smell, in fact its quite pleasant with a calm earth and dead plant matter taste. Very smooth mouth feel, and the burly is 100% the star of the show here, If you told me this blend was 100% burly I would believe you. The oriental may be there hidden, but if so its more of an aftertaste than anything. One thing I can already tell from this blend is that there is nicotine in this bad boy, the strength rating is only a 3 on smoking pipes but only a quarter way through and I'm already starting to feel it (Keep in mind I can smoke an entire bowl of some of the strong blends like Brown Bogie and 1972 and just get a toasty buzz at the end). This isn't bad at all, very simple and has a nice nicotine thrust to keep you awake.



Final Thoughts: Well if you like burly blends, and you like nicotine, give this a try. For the price I honestly don't think it can be judged too hard, and as a workhorse tobacco this would fit the bill perfectly. Whilst its not my favorite thing I've smoked, its not bad at all. The rooster is quite strong so make sure you eat some before gobbling it up, this is a simple straight blend for the no frills smoker. I'm going to be giving this whole tub to my friend in WA state seeing as they don't allow online tobacco purchases and he loves burly, I'm sure that will make him happy. Overall? I'm giving this one a 5/10, not bad but not great, but the price is very reasonable.

Blend: C&D Barrister

Intro: Frankly another purchase that was caused by a small sale, a humorous tin description, and an urge to try more C&D blends.

Type: English

Cut: Wonderful Ribbons.

Tin Note: A faint chocolate, Smokey Lat that is pretty mild, with a nutty undertone of everything.

Room Note: Smokey smooth latakia, familiar and friendly. Reminds me of a warm fireplace.

Smoked With: Savinelli 320KS

The Smoke: Another one by C&D that right out of the tin was the perfect moisture content, not too wet or dry, let her sit for 5 minute and put right into the pipe. The thin ribbons let this baby stay lit easily throughout the smoke. The taste is primarily mellow, the Lat dancing around calmly providing a nice toasty/leathery taste, whilst the burly is incredibly nutty and provides this nice milky mellow note over the Latakia. The virginia is there, but its pretty much been thrown in the city jail, very muted and just adds a bit of hay to the blend. Its vert pleasant blend that provides nice notes of everything included, as well as not being too overbearing in Lat if you can't handle all that smokey goodness

Final Thoughts: Whilst I don't think this is a blend fit for a king, its certainly fit for the town squires. Its well put together, and certainly tastes quality. If you're a fan of mild Englishes or just want to try something with a different flavor profile than you might expect, then kneel before the king and ask him to grace you with this blend. Another quality product from C&D, so I'm giving this one a 6/10.

Intro: So I'm not gonna lie I have tried this 3 times before this review an hated it every time. So I went into this expecting to just go on a rant and rip into this blend. However things have changed.


Blend: 6 month old Orlik Dark Kentucky

Type: Virginia/Burly. Vabur?

Cut: Awful stupid flakes that break in the middle making your ratio of dark fired and Virgina be off. They also stick to each other like crazy.

Jar Note: Similar Virgina notes that you get from Golden sliced mixed with this grossly sweet molasses smell? Not sure what exactly it smells like, but it has some typical burly notes hidden under it. This I believe mostly comes from the Kentucky in the blend. But I could be wrong. Overall scent? Virginia and medicine.

Room Note: Pleasant, just sort of a mild grassy smell and not much more.

Smoked out of: Kaywoodie Medico gold plated Meer

The Smoke: What was once a sickly sweet one note blend is now a boring two note workhorse blend. You basically will just taste a very tame one note Virgina with a tame one note burly that I don't think I care for. I think it has some weird topping which I believe gives it that nasty medicine smell, however the taste of the smoke is just a slight sweetness. Nothing too offensive. It did get 30 minutes of dry time and still needed relights and the retrohale burned a bit so may need a bit longer.

Final Thoughts: I wouldn't recommend this blend as of now. Perhaps its too young, but it started frankly sickening and then evolved to be boring. Not a big upgrade. Its not offensive and if you're new to these types of tobacco I'm sure you'd enjoy it, but I found it as a whole to be underwhelming. So I'm giving this one a 4/10.

Capstan color unknown


Intro: A tobacco that is produced by Mac Baren is a good one. I dont hear much about this blend so its either super average or a hidden gem.

Type: Virginia

Cut: Flake

Bag Note: Hay, dying grass, soil, similar to HH pure virginia except it doesnt have a vinegar/fig undertone. Perhapse its a similar plant/crop.

Room note: It reminds me of baking bread or frying flour tortillas, weird I know but it makes me hungry.

Smoked with: Medico Kaywoodie gold plated meer

The smoke: Dried for 30 minutes and lights up nicely. The retrohale is smooth and doesn't burn, the taste is that of a very pure Virginia, all the notes you'd expect to be there are in fact there. Grassy sunshine, sweet but not like candy, no topping is detected and honestly its a bit simple. The flavors here unsurprisingly remind me of HH pure Virginia. Though ironically I think the HH Virginia is more topped than Capstan, and in a twist is a bit more complex. Overall its not bad at all, but I dont think it will be blowing anyone's socks off.

Final thoughts: Is this the review thread of "Blends similar to a blend this brand already produces?" Who knows. What I do know is that this Virginia is good, not amazing and not too complex but if you wanted a good workshop Virginia I believe this would fit the bill. Especially with how few relights it requires. Another good Mac Baren Virginia, but nothing above average. So I'm giving this one a 5/10.

Brown Flake Licorice G&H




Intro: Well I should preface this by saying that I really hate licorice, but I do love G&H blends, so if this comes off a bit negative just know its because licorice can go die.



Type: Aromatic


Cut: Flake



Bag Note: Doesn't smell like licorice at all (This is good) it sort of has that Brown Bogie virginia scent for lack of better term, it also has this sort of smokey latakia scent? Its interesting.


Smoked out of: Savinelli 320KS



Room Note: Someone took my Rum twist then dipped it in melted black licorice and spit in my face.


The Smoke: Like most other blends by this brand, it is incredibly wet and needs some drying for sure. Even with the drying however, it required a few relights and was a bit hard to get going. Whilst this claims to be a Licorice, I'm not getting it has heavily as the other blends claiming to have it that I've tried, and I wouldn't really call this an aromatic? The very familiar G&H Virginia is at the forefront here with a nice dark hay, followed by I assume the nutty earth that is the burly and topping lingering in the background, which I still don't really like, its not awful, but its just not for me. The nicotine content in this blend is noticeable though which Is nice, not harsh or too strong but its there.



Final Thoughts: Like I thought, this really wasn't for me, however It wasn't so awful I wanted to die, the flavors are familiar with a topping of grossness slapped ontop. Licorice can really stop existing and I wouldn't care. The next review is the dark flake version, woowee I hope its better. I'm giving this one a 4/10, if you like this flavor and the taste of G&H tobaccos this might be a really really good smoke for you. So try it under that context.

Keep 'em coming.

Thanks for these, haveldad.

You know, I missed some of these at the other place. Glad you saved/shared them.

And keep em coming!