AJ
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2012
- Messages
- 2,689
- Reaction score
- 3
Today I received a sample of Three Friars sent to me by a my good friend Rande (Brewdude). As I opened the bag I was immediately met by the aroma of a tobacco barn where tobacco was flue cured. As a boy I spent many hours loading and unloading tobacco barns and always enjoyed the smell of fresh cured tobaccco. I've only smoked 3 bowls so far but it is enough for me to decide if it is a tobacco that I'd keep in my regular rotation and this one will certainly be there. The evenly colored medium golden brown ribbon cut tobacco had a perfect moisture content being just a little on the dry side making it an easy tobacco to pack and light. The first few puffs made me smile because the Perique delivered just a hint of spiciness and a bit more of sweetness. It was noticable for sure but I could tell it was there as a condiment and not the main character. My taste buds are not very sensitive but each component had sufficent strength for me to to detect. The fruity sweetness of the Va.'s are perfectly balanced with the rich nuttiness of the burley. For me the nicotine was spot on having enough effect to satisfy my craving. As I continued to smoke I noticed that each puff delivered a large volume of rich tasty smoke. The volume was so large and the sensation felt so thick that it almost demanded that I chew. The combination of all three types of tobacco throughout the bowl remained perfectly balanced with none becoming dominant. The sweetness was subtle but the taste simlar to brown sugar was left on the stem of the pipe which is a characteristic I find exceedingly pleasurable. Three friars burned all the way to the bottom of the bowl requiring only a couple of relights to each bowl. It didn't give any hint of tongue bite but would begin to burn quickly if I started to puff agressively. This quick puffing caused the bowl to get too hot to hold in my hand but returning to slow regular pufffing allowed it to cool down so I could enjoy the rest of the bowl. At the end of each bowl there was nothing left but some gray ash. The pipes used were a Mauro Armellini freehand apple, an Aristocob, and a sandblasted black Design Berlin bent brandy. I'm not sure what effect aging will have on this blend but you can rest assured that by the time I finish smoking all of this sample Rande sent me I will have ordered at least a dozen tins to stash away in my cellar. It comes in bulk but I don't have the room for anymore jars in my cellar. If you like a blend that has all these types of tobacco with no one type being dominate then this may be a blend you'd find to your liking.
Rande I sincerely appreciate you sending me the sample. Your generosity will be rewarded. Thanks again.
AJ
Rande I sincerely appreciate you sending me the sample. Your generosity will be rewarded. Thanks again.
AJ
