Profile | |
Tobacco | Dark Fired Kentucky, Perique, Virginia |
Style | Non-Aromatic |
Room Note | 3 - Balanced |
Cut | Ribbon |
Packaging | Tin |
Country of Origin | United States |
Package Size | 1.75 oz |
Flavor Intensity | 4 - Distinct |
Brand: | RO Blends |
More Details |
I’ve been blending pipe tobacco for nearly forty years, but ten years ago is when things really took off. I had made some blends for our brick & mortar store that did well, so we put them up for sale on P&C, and that was the beginning of Hearth & Home. Recently I was asked to make a new series that would let me stretch my wings, as it were, trying to think outside the box, and to use tobaccos and techniques that were different than anything I had done previously. I welcomed this challenge. The powers-that-be, here at P&C wanted me to put my name on these blends, and here’s the first entry in the RO Series – Fire Storm.
While most of the RO Series will be small-batch, limited editions, Fire Storm will be continuously available. I took the Virginias I used in my best-known Virginia-based blend, Anniversary Kake, and amped up the Perique content. Then I added a splash of some very nice dark-fired leaf. Fire Storm starts out, as does Anniversary Kake, quite sweet, but the spice shows up shortly thereafter and builds gradually through the end, with a peppery finish. If you like bold Virginia/Perique blends, give it a try and you’ll understand the reason for its name.
Very nice blend - starts off smokey,sweet and spicy as you smoke it you lose the sweetness and pick up more spice with a hint of cinnamon and for me a woody leather finish. Wonderful smoke - reminds me of a great cigar. Definitely buying more of this blend.
An excellent Va/Per blend. Tin note reminded me greatly of Haddo's Delight. But this is very much unlike Haddo's. It's sweet and savory. Gaining depth and body as the bowl progresses. Large rough cut flakes, moist to the touch and needs a bit of drying prior to lighting, but once lit, stays lit with no effort. Seems to resist over-heating and little to no tongue bite. Very nice strength to this blend - once a bowl is finished I am hankering for more, though I am quite satisfied. Room note seems to be more pleasing for the by-standers than most other Va/Pers. Truly a wonderful blend. I'll be ordering quite a bit more and hopefully at some point they'll bulk it. I think this blend will age very well.
I have yet to hear a bad review on this blend on any of the pipe forums I frequent. If there was one, I'm sure I must have missed it. So far, I've heard only good things and so decided to give this blend a try. In the few short years I've been smoking a pipe, and the different blends I've tried in that time, I've discovered a short list of blends I must make sure I keep on hand. Fire Storm has just become the newest addition. I've read the description, I've read other reviews. What I was not expecting was the blast of sweetness that hit my tongue on first light. This may have been a fluke, as it didn't happen on the second bowl. However, the sweetness was there and as the bowl progressed, it became more bold, peppery, and I think even earthy in very good way. At times, hints of sweetness would reappear, and then it would become bold and peppery once more. Although bold and peppery, the smoke was very smooth, and I detected no bite. This blend is exciting, and keeps you interested. I'll even say it was fun. A truly joyful experience I hope to repeat time and time again. Russ, thank you for working your magic on this wonderful tobacco.
So smooth. Wonderful taste, smokes like a charm. Hope this will be available for years to come.
Very nice smoke with full body flavor. It leaves a nice aftertaste which reminds me of Three nuns of years ago. Particularly bold spicy accents. Bravo!
This is really good, has a real good flavor and easy to smoke "no bite." My new late nightly smoke!!!!
Russ has once again hit it outta the park with this blend! Very tasty and complex blend that changes flavors throughout the bowl. The taste I get is a nice meaty/barbecue taste from the Kentucky. That lasts a little bit before the hay and sweet flavor of the Virginias kicks in. That lasted until a little past the mid-bowl where the classic flavor of Anniversary Kake kicked in (with a more dominant flavor of the perique) and finished off the bow. This blend is truly amazing. If you like heavier and fuller flavored tobacco, you need to try this. No tongue bite, comes ready to smoke with minimal drying needed, and is not strong to the point of making you dizzy or nauseous. An awesome tobacco that will remain in my rotation from now on.
I cracked this tin open today and loaded my favorite pipe (Missouri Meerschaum Cherry Bent and yes I own a Savinelli but this is my best smoking pipe). The first thing I noticed was a nice natural sweet taste and a cinnamon room note. A asked my daughter to come out on the porch and she smelled cinnamon also. As I worked through the bowl it switched from sweet to cinnamon spice back to rich natural tobacco taste. What a complex flavor experience this was it is a regular masterpiece! I will be buying more of this in the future!
Russ you are a monster!! This is like having an elegant Cubano Puro, it is to savor. It's everything and more than the description. Thank you.