Split Decision

Great tin note and taste. The cake was as expected. Maybe a little damp out of the tin for me but a small amount drying time did the trick. Will buy another one.

Love the fruity and spicy flavor of the blend. One of my favorites

A sweet and tangy twist on vaPer

Absolute great smoke. My favorite blend as of the past couple weeks.

Excellent

This is an all time favorite for me! Since it's a VaPer or smells like gym socks that were heated inside an old boot in the tin but has a nice room note and tastes delicious! Lights and smokes perfectly right out of the tin and burns to the fabled fine white ash. The taste is sweet, earthy, and smooth

Possibly the best tobacco I’ve ever smoked. R.O. Really hit the mark on this blend in my opinion. Excellent room note. Very balanced.

This blend is one of my favorites and I say that because I can taste the different components independently of the others through the bowl. I'm not able to do that with some other similar blends. I have to dry the tobacco out for around an hour before packing. No bite for me and a real nice sweet that pops up when needed. Very enjoyable in my cobs.

👍

Excellent blend that I feel falls under the radar. Great flavor with a fruity and slight spicy perique kick.

Outstanding blend, easy breeze

I'm hunting a new daily tobacco, I don't know that this is it but I'm buying another tin.

I bought ten tins of RO's Fire Storm in June of 2020, and they've been stewing in the cellar for two years now. I did an initial review when I first purchased it, and now, two years later, I just popped a tin open, and I'm giving it a try. Well........time is beginning to do its magic, and I'm really liking what I'm experiencing after the two years in the cellar. It's quite smooth and easy to smoke, very well behaved and balanced. The sweet Virginias make their self present right from the start, and the spice from the Perique and Dark Fired Kentucky Leaf slowly emerged as as the bowl progressed. There is a complexity that is unique, and the ample amount of Perique adds its fruity pepper to the smoke. The Dark Fired Kentucky Leaf adds a subtle smokiness, which I like. I'm smoking this tin in my 1908 Sterling Silver Mounted Calabash gourd pipe. If you don't own a calabash gourd pipe, you owe it to yourself to get one. They deliver a rich room temperature smoke that's hard to beat. I'm thoroughly enjoying Fire Storm at the two year mark. I have eight tins left in the cellar, and I can't wait to see how they turn out next year.

This one's a winner!

Love it

One of the best Va/Pers and one of Russ Ouellette’s best blends! Grab this and stock up on a fantastic tobacco blend.

Very good. I like it better than anniversary cake

Probably my favorite VaPer. The addition of its proportion of DFK really makes this stuff incredible.

I have smoked it in the past so I know it is good, haven't opened the tin yet.

A great fall blend. It wasn’t quite a 5 for me right out of the tin, but I’m interested to see what some age does for it. Looking forward to it!

Medium across the board. Good smoke

I bought ten tins of RO's Firestorm a year and a half ago, and I just opened the first tin a few days ago (delayed gratificationhe tin aroma was underwhelming, but I can smell the aroma of sweet dried fruit and a bit of ketchup. I've been enjoying the pipe since 1979, when I bought a Dr. Grabow Grand Duke and some Captain Black tobacco, but I'm fairly new to Virginia Perique blends (three years ago). Once I discovered latakia blends, that's all I smoked for about twenty years. I burned out my palet taste wise, and I couldn't really taste anything else. I took a year off the pipe (four years ago), because of a suspicious chest x-ray, that eventually turned out to be nothing but some scar tissue from Vallely Fever.. When I picked it back up, three years ago, I tried out Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake and Luxury Bullseye Flake, and I loved them. I could actually taste it now! It started my current affair with VaPer blends. Since then, I have made my way through about a dozen different VaPer blends (Peter Stokkebye L N F is my favorite so far) This is a great one, too, like Elizabethan on steroids. I can definitely taste the Anniversary Kake base (I have twe pounds of it). It has a rich flavor and a medium nicotine content (I'm very nicotine tolerant). The moisture level in the tin was just right, and took about fifteen minutes of airing out on a sheet of paper to achieve the perfect smoke. It takes a light well, and it's well behaved. It burns cleanly, all the way to the bottom. I'm about half way through the tin now, and I'm really starting to like this one. I wish Russ would make it available in bulk, like the Anniversary kake, but I will say that I am impressed with the volume of tobacco that fit into the tin. It fills a half pint mason jar to the top, stuffed it in fairly tightly. I think that it would be a good stepping stone for the aromatic smoker who want to crossover to English blends, it's a great, naturally flavored tobacco that I am enjoying very much.

This is one in my top 4 rotation. Love the taste and burns cool. A very pleasant vape.

I like it. Ill buy it again

This blend has a bold finish with an earthy aroma.

Wife says it smells like a sweet campfire. I like this blend a lot.

Just a delicious blend.

Not what I expected the smell out of the can isn't my favorite but the smoke it good

This stuff is good , don't let the name fool you .

Good merchandise

Good strong toasty and spicy blend. I came here to update and improve my previous review and it seems it has been deleted. Anyhow, I let this sit in a mason jar and get a little air. Night and day contrast to how it tasted upon my initial smoke right after opening. Enjoyable!

This blend is nice. It starts off being sweet and the spiciness builds till the end. Smokes clean, a great blend when you want something different from the standard Vaper.

One of my favorite blends. Smooth and tasty.

Just started really smoking non-aromatics and this tobacco is amazing. First bowl was, to me harsh, second bowl amazing. Probably my absolute favorite tobacco, Period!!!

Very good

Not a bad smoke, but as a new smoker, this might be "too much, too soon" as I don't have the experience to fully enjoy it. I'm saving it until I make it through the rest of my stash.

Oh my gosh this is amazing. New pipe smoker here and it was the first English. The time note was extremely fruity plumb and raisins. First light, taste exactly as it smelt. Storage after time 2-3 weeks, and it definitely calmed down. I believe I stored it improperly since I’m new. I’d have to say this is my number 1 favorite to date and I will definitely order more. I found my self relighting the ash even it was so good.

I'm pretty spoiled ( and fussy ) when it comes to VaPer. I've always had access to Esoterica Dorchester. Pricey, but .. I'm fussy. I couldn't get Dorchester, and I've always enjoyed RO blends. Every one has hit 5 stars for me, so when I saw this, I gave it a try. Honestly ? As long as I can get this, who needs Dorchester ? Fire Storm is at least 'As good' ( might be better, a few more tins will tell ), it even had that same 'terrible' smell on opening the tin that Dorchester has, even though it tastes and smokes excellently.

It was the exact elemental feel I was looking for.

A very intriguing Vaper. Starts with a Casis and finishes with a spicy dark crouqet. The Perique and Dark Fired marry together under the Virginia to bring a subtle, naturally induced aromatic element. A moderate cadence brings joy throughout the bowl. Great for smoking in the Fall, awesome year round.

Great blend

I didn’t know what to expect when I ordered this. I’ve been smoking a lot of Latakia and smokier blends lately (Think Plumb Pudding). This blend blew me out of the water. It’s dark, spicy, Smokey, Fire, stormy, amazing. Gotta try it for yourself. Warning: there’s a good amount of nicotine in this tobacco. One can feel it through the nostrils on exhale. Really good smoke.

Rich flavor

Awesome Balkan blend. Lots of flavor.

This is probably my most favorite tobaccos at this time. Great job, Russ !!!

This is hands down the best VaPer I've tried. I was skeptical, but it really does start out with a cinnamon taste (specifically Ceylon Cinnamon) and then gets super spicy as you smoke the bowl. The moisture level in the tin was perfect and it burns great. Definitely gonna order more.

It's a fantastic blend. I really like it!

Earthy flavor and good nicotine kick

Wow, That’s what best describes this blend, it’s sweet and mild with hints of cinnamon at first and then a peppery raisin taste in the last half of the smoke. Amazing

Heavenly smoke, but I don't break it out too often. I'm kind of sensitive to perique, but I can get through a bowl of this just fine.

Smooth flavor but not my style.

The tin note is plum and other dark fruits, very good smell. The kake is extremely easy to break small chunks off and crumble apart to fill the pipe perfectly. The moisture content straight from the tin is perfect. It took me about three charring lights to get it going but once lit it was one of the best burning tobaccos I've ever had. The taste starts off very subtle with some sweet cereal notes, then about a quarter way into the bowl it become a little more fruity from the Virginia's and then the spice from the perique started and sticks to the roof of the mouth and that to me is the best part! It carries the dark and deep fruity flavor and spice throughout the rest of the smoke and just keeps getting better. The nicotine to me was around medium, just the right amount to let you know it's there. This is the first Vapor blend I have tried so I can't say how it compares to others but I will definitely keep some of this on hand at all times because it is a great smoke. The after taste is spicy fruit and is also enjoyable. Smoked in a Missouri Meerschaum Country Gent Corn Cob

This blend has everything I love in a smoke but in just the right amounts. I understand why other reviewers thought it might have an added top-note or flavoring - that’s just the interplay between the different tobaccos. The perique is really rich and prominent, and along with hints of smoky Kentucky is so perfectly balanced with the sweet Virginia and the bit of creamy Turkish that I can’t imagine why anyone would ever want to smoke a candied aromatic ever again after trying this! The family even loves the room-note. Bottoms half of the bowl is stout and peppery just as advertised but without losing the flavor from the top, and it’s extremely consistent throughout the tin. You know you’ve got a winner when even the taste of the ashes makes you smile. Russ really knows how to do it, I’ll certainly need to try the other RO blends!

A great smoke, no bite, smooth and tasty. Another favorite

Maybe not as refined as other Va/Per blends, but, the more I smoke of this, the more I like it. This stuff really starts to hit it's stride for me anyway, after about the first quarter of the bowl. Where the virginia really evolves in flavor with the nice light fruity spice of perique. If you are a fan of Bayou Morning Flake as I am, or even if you're not, give this a try as it is just different enough to make for a nice change up in your Va/Per rotation.

Firestorm is a blended tobacco of various spices and tobacco's, quite smooth but the spices are rich and flavorful, the Russ Ouellette has become one of my desired tobacco's

Great Blend! One of my favorites!

This a great smoke, not sure what kind of perrique is used, but a very nice smoke mild, not very spicy.

If I had to pick only one pipe tobacco this would be it. Smooth and flavorful. If you smoke it slow enough you will get a cinnamon toast flavor which is fantastic. The spiciness builds to the end. Russ created a masterpiece with this one!!!

The RO Blends- Fire Storm is an excellent smoke!! I believe it will make my top five list!!

“Terrific tin”

Spicy and full of flavor you can really feel the tobacco

Definitely a delicious blend. I tasted notes of cinnamon toast and a slight fruity essence. Take it slow, I find it can bite you if you’re not careful. All-in-all, a delicious treat. Will purchase again!!!!

Good flavor, but a little bit to strong for me

This is not a bad tobacco, just not my favorite. I bought it in part because I was hoping it would be similar to Rattray's Hal O' the Wynd, one of my all-time favorites. Both are a blend of the same three leafs: Virginia, Perique, and Dark Fired Kentucky. But Fire Storm clearly has a higher perique content, and probably a bit more Kentucky. Consequently, I do not detect the same sweetness of the Virginia in this blend that I get from HotW. The perique is present early and overtakes the Virginia altogether in my experience. YMMV.

Leathery with some pepper and sweetness make this a very enjoyable smoke. I mixed some of the Firestorm with Plum pudding and my head nearly exploded from the joy I experienced!

This is one of the best tobacco that I have smoked and it is DELICIOUS!!!!

This tobacco is sweet, spicy and nutty. definitely one of my all-time favorites. It smells so good when you open the 10 it’s hard to believe it’s not an aromatic

I am relatively new to pipe smoking. I enjoy english blends and am branching out. This starts off as fruity and finishes very spicy. It is a pleasure to see how the taste changes throughout the smoke. I would recommend.

Has a very nice cinnamon tin note. The moisture is perfect and ready to smoke right of the tin. For me the Dark Fired Kentucky and Perique dominates the smoking flavor. That's not to say that they were too much, but rather that the other tobaccos were more of a background and support to the flavor. All said and done it is a very smooth, cool, and quite flavorful blend.

Tastes great, could be my all day smoke.

Russ hit it out of the park with this blend. It is one of my favorite in my rotation. Everyone needs to give it a try.

This VaPer is right on time! As long as you give it a little dry time(2-3 hours) on it, this wonderful blend is a classic in the making. I prefer it in my churchwarden but the subtle, sweet tones of Virginia and the Spicy tang of the Perique come through, even in a cob. I would give it 10 stars if I could!

I'm a newbie at pipe tobaccos, so take this for what it's worth. The tartness and spiciness of this blend was a little much for me. I cut it with 50% blending virginia and love it. I don't think anyone would find it lacking in character.

Delicious!

If you want to see the progression of a tobacco blend, try marble cake, then anniversary kake, then fire storm. It's really interesting. Marble kake is a good base, but not something I'd recommend smoking by itself, it's ok, but it's nothing special on it's own. Add some perique and you got Anniversary kake, it's good, maybe a 4 star, I know everyone freaks out over it, but it's not the be all end all, something is missing from it. Then you add some kentucky and BAM it all comes together somehow to make this perfect blend. Somehow the additional perique and kentucky just make this stuff perfect. The first 1/4 of the bowl is a little monodimensional, dare I say it, but a bit carboardy. But then all of a sudden the perique and kentucky kick in and it's just smooth sailing from there on out. And somehow it's not that spicy. I find Escudo spicier. Somehow all the elements just meld perfectly making a very dynamic, tasty, bready, slightly spicy smoke. It's different than other blends of the same ingredients somehow, somehow this stuff just works and works well. If you like va/pers you gotta try this, it's a special special blend.

Relatively new pipe smoker. I love Firestorm! It has become my new favorite blend. I really enjoy the sweetness from the Virginia and the spiceyness (almost cinnamony) from the Perique. I'm definitely stocking up on this blend...

Really enjoyable. Great flavor.

My first bowl of Fire Storm was somewhat bland, but it was in a new and unfamiliar pipe. It was interesting enough to cause me to want to give it a try in a pipe that I know.

Has a very rich flavor, probably my most favorite blend

This has a great tin note, fruity and spicy. The smoke itself is very complex and ever changing. I got notes of cinnamon, tangy fruit and a nice peppery spicy taste as well. If you're not a fan of medium/full strength tobacco then don't let that scare you off! Some blends like this pack quite the buzz but I never got that with this smoke. This is one of my favorite blends, has a nice thick smoke....a must have!

This is one of my favorite blends in my collection. A great all around smoke. Easy to pack, easy to light. Cinnamon, dried plum followed by earthy pepper at the finish. I will be buying several more tins to add to my cellar.

This IS my favorite blend. ive smoked plenty of VaPers but this one has everything i love. that fruity tangy tin note (less mushroom and more dark fruit from the perique), with a little whiff of vinegar. smooth mouthfeel and medium strength. sweet virginia. the dark fired adds a little bit of a savory note as well. while it is based off of Anniversay kake, (and i REALLY enjoy Anni Kake) it has a little bit more of what i want in a VaPer. a little wet, but no worries.

This is hands down my favorite blend at the moment. It has a great thick and creamy smoke with tons of unique flavor. While seemingly simple in the list of tobaccos this blend is deep and complex. It has a great host of dark fruit, plum, raisin, cinnamon, and pepper flavors. There is a dash of wood and some nice dark earth. Plus, the flavors all work together to provide a rich bouquet of aromas. Even though the flavor profile and presentation is different, this is the closes thing to the experience of smoking a $12 cigar that I have found in the pipe world. Russ scored a home run with this blend.

This tobacco has a very complex taste that would be impossible to describe, and I have not been able to find anything quite like it. The sweetness slowly creeps up on you, and it is for sure there! It is my favorite winter time/holiday blend. Very warm and comforting. Burns very slow and cool, with no residue. I smoke it in a large corncob.

This blend wasn't too bad, the name was slightly misleading I was expecting a kind of dunhill my mixture blend but instead it has a more fruity taste, but all and all not a bad blend.

This is the top of the genre -- using dark fired Kentucky to perfect the balance and depth of the soft, sweet-ish, Virginia and fruity Perique. Great body and whole mouth feel too.

this is a very un-scientific review, when I smoke this blend it reminds me of Cinnamon toast, it has that bready quality, sweet and cinnamony. Highly recommended

Amazing stuff, has a complexity of flavor that IMO matches Lux BE Flake. Not deeply peppery, but it will start to hit you a bit around mid bowl for sure.

A quite mild, smooth creation. Very tasty. I like it.

The name and description sure suckered me in. I am disappointed with the lack of spicy taste.

This is a good product , enjoy it every night.

One of the best VaPers on the market. I suggest that you grab a tin and try this for yourself.

This blend is fantastic. I'm relatively new to pipe smoking, and have tried several blends already. I sort of enjoyed aromatics but firestorm is what really made me enjoy pipe smoking. It is such a full flavored tobacco. The first third of the bowl is sweet, and as you smoke it down the flavor changes to a more robust spicy perique taste. From start to finish this is a fantastic constantly changing flavor living up to its name! I am about to order more now and I hope it's here to stay!

One of the best VaPers on the market! If you like Sutliff 1849, this one will bowl you over with taste.

s friend recommended that I try RO-Fire Storm as I was still searching for a pipe tobacco that mirrored my Nicaraguan Puro cigars. Fire Storm comes very close. Good enough that I'll be stocking up.

I've ordered a few tins of Kajun Kake now and each one I've received has been covered in mold. I realize that there has been a quality control issue at C&D but it makes me wonder why every tin that may have been affected wasn't pulled and played on back order until it was no longer a problem. Three tons I've had to throw away and haven't yet had the opportunity to enjoy more than the first bowl I've tried from a sample I received. Wish I could give it a score it deserves but the quality issue is really killing it.

It's a very good tobacco, and very similar to Anniversary Kake. I'm interested to see what aging will do to it.

My interest was prompted by the description of the blend. The name Fire Storm had me expecting a very bold and robust smoke. It came up a bit short for me. Good but not the full mouth feel I was expecting.

Excellent quality. It's everything advertised and more. Blending and taste are on par with all RO products

Russ nails it again. Wonderful blend, great for an all-day smoke.

Fire Storm is an excellent VaPer blend. Wonderful flavor and aroma. I like the addition of the dark fired leaf. I bought five tins immediately after trying a sample that I received at the NY Pipe Show!