Sir Walter Raleigh

TheDuke · Sir Walter Raleigh

I bought my first pouch of SWR today on OS reccomendation. I opened the pouch to...what the hell? The "ever fresh" pouch seemed anything but. The baccy is dry and had pieces that I had to roll out. Is this the way it's supposed to be? Confused

The first bowl I had was an enjoyable smoke and I'm off to have another.

ozark southpaw

Duke,I have found that SWR in the pouch is indeed dry and has some "nuggets" in it!
I usually buy it in the 14 oz. tin which is more moist.in fact I leave the lid off for a day or so to dry it out!! It is my favorite tobacco with Carter Hall running a close second!

drbridges

I smoked SWR exclusively for several years. I finally discontinued it because I found it so inconsistent from pouch to pouch.

Sometimes it can be great ... other times it can be less than that.

slowburn

Back when I quit smoking cigarettes and took up the pipe, I knew I would be a burly smoker (for obvious reasons) my first burly tobacco was Sir Walter Raleigh. I have smoked it for years, it's a cube cut burly which burns cool and dry, I really enjoy smoking this tobacco.

Gig

I mix 50/50 SWR with cigar leaf. Cigar bought from local toacconist, crushed and mixed and allowed to marry for at least a week. It gives the SWR a little more flavour in my opinon Smile

TheDuke

I'm still liking this one! Gave the local B&M one last chance-first pouch open is dry again! Gonna place a TAD order and am looking foward to it outta the tub. GIG-I find myself mixing Five Brother's to everything for the kick!

Dave

The pouch is usually dry when I buy them
The tubs are not dried and show a better consistency in the cut and seem to taste better than the pouch to me

TheDuke

Got a tub coming so I'll report later.

Flycruiser

I love some SWR as well. For me it fills the void left by Edgworth.

ted

WES...Have you met MAC? You, he, and Edgeworth make a fine trio....Mack loves(D) it....ted

Flycruiser

Codger

I buy SWR by the tub and have not had any consistency issues. It continues to be one of my favorites. I have 3 tubs in my cellar and will add another shortly.

LokoMac8

gillywalker

Do you guys find SWR at your local grocery or drugstores? Or do I have to go the online route?

steverino

I have not tried SWR yet. Are yall saying it tastes similar to Edgeworth? If so, I may have to get a can of it. Half and Half tastes a lot like Edgeworth to me.

ozark southpaw

Gilly.I have bought SWR at a local supermarket and a discount cigarette shop.

gillywalker

BWThomas

LokoMac8

steverino

I'm pretty much the same way. I'm learning a little bit by smoking a lot of different tobaccos and noting the similarities and differences and comparing that to what the tin says is in it, but that's about the extent of my connoiseur abilities.

BWThomas

I'm sure you guys have been to tobaccoreviews.com. I almost hate to go there because I'll sit and read for hours. Some of those fellas have an exceptional ability for describing tobacco flavor and qualities. I have found it very helpful in deciding what to try and what to pass up.

Steve...I read a post of yours not to long ago, describing a few tobaccos, seems to me you have that ability too.

BW

LokoMac8

steverino

Well, thanks to both of you for the compliment, I think it's mostly just that I've worked for the government for so long that I find it easy to bs, er, talk my way through things.

gillywalker

I found it today at a small Tobacco Discount place. I had a bowl in my Grand Duke which I've smoked everything through and it was good. I like it more than PA and Half and Half. I could see this and CH being my go to burleys.

Terry292

Picked up a pouch of SWR Regular and one of the Aromatic today. I guess I haven't smoked straight burley in 30 years or more. I'm having a bowl of the Regular now in one of my cobs. It's not bad, a little bland for me, but not bad, at all. With a little latakia, or perique, this could be right up my alley.

I leave it to Steve to do the 'formal' review. He's better than I could ever be.
Terry

BWThomas

Terry292

This Sir Walter Regular is starting to grow on me. I'm going to have to find a full can of it somewhere around here.

On the other hand, Barry, the Aromatic has been hit or miss, so far. Sometimes I think it will become a regular part of my smoking rotation. Other times, it comes across as just a little too sweet. It seems to work better in the evening, just after dinner. It's like a dessert tobacco. Satisfies my craving for something sweet, but without calories.
Terry

gillywalker

Does anyone know if SWR has changed at all in the past 15 years? After my father passed away I cleaned out his office and put all his tobacco in box, I wasn't smoking at the time so I don't know why I kept it but now I'm glad I did because I've got better understanding of what types of tobacco he liked.

In his box is a pouch of SWR but it's not in the captain black style fold over and tape shut pouch, but more of a smaller carter hall/prince albert style pouch. When did they switch?

introibo · SWR

GillyWalker and others

The guys to ask about changes in SWR is either Morleysson or John Patton, because they have been smoking it for several decades, at least off and on.

I don't find that SWR is like Edgeworth, because the cut is different and the SWR pieces are softer. However, it is a substitute, given Edgeworth's demise. Luckily, I still have about 56 ounces of Edgeworth RR left, which I smoke rather rarely, hoping to prolongue its life time. But SWR is great in its own right. I smoke it as a kind of nod to the venerable history of US pipe and tobacco heroes, and dream of great days of yore while puffing.

Another possible substitute is Peter Stokkebye Cube Cut -- a little bit sweet, but more or less a genuine burley.

I saw that SWR is now produced by Lane (Conwood) I think. That would probably account for their dropping ERR -- no point having two basic burley blends. There is, however, a gap in the market for something like the old ERR, if any of the blenders can come up with something. John Patton has a new one out called Smoked Burley, and I look forward to trying that one.

Best,

Pete

LokoMac8 · Re: SWR

Terry292

I'm not much for after-market blending, but, after smoking a pouch of SWR Regular and finding it somewhat lacking in something, I decided to conduct an experiment. Yesterday, I bought a 14 oz tub of SWR and one 200g can each of McClelland's Oriental and Perique. Last night I divided the SWR in half and mixed 7 oz with 200g of Oriental. The other 7 oz, I mixed with the Perique. Then, I took half of each of those mixtures and blended them together. Now I have 6 oz each of SWR/Oriental, SWR/Perique, and SWR/Perique/Oriental.

They're all resting comfortably on a shelf in the spare room. I'm going to let them marry for a week or so and see what happens.

Anyone care to make any predictions about how any of these will taste?
Terry

LokoMac8

introibo · SWR

Thanks, LocoMac

I often wonder about 79. everyone says how bad it is, yet it keeps on selling. Who owns Sutlif?

One thing I can't understand -- when they recall the brands from the market, eg ERR, what happens to the recipe? You would think they could make money auctioning the recipe, even if it had to be sold under a new name. I would be happy to buy ERR even if it was called something else. As it is, Lane/Conwood has a recipe sitting there, earning nothing. Ditto for a lot of other blends through the years. Go figure.

Regards

Pete

drbridges

gillywalker

I got headaches 3 days in a row after smoking SWR - Aromatic. I'm afraid to try it again now.

steverino

Tell you what I'd like to do - for some reason, no one I can find around here sells SWR in single pouches, and I don't want to purchase a tin yet since I haven't tried it. Does anyone have a pouch of the regular and the aromatic that they would sell me? I will be glad to reimburse for postage as well. Thanks.

BWThomas

steverino

LokoMac8 · Re: SWR

ted

#79, and all the Sutliff brands are made by Altadis Tobacco in Richmond.

Same folks that make El Producto and Dutch Master cigars.

They also make a lot of the "mixing tobacco" for pipes shops, and "put up" the pound bags that are sold in Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, etc. under the names Dream Castle, Smokers Select (Maybe), and I'm sure many more. Dream Castle Black Cavendish (not vanilla) is my favorite for mixing. It's a bit like BCA or UST"s #805 and #803.

I believe they took over the UST private blending operation in Richmond. While UST had it they (Aubrey Evelyn) made some wonderful stuff...ted

steverino

BWThomas

BWThomas

I got some SWR regular with my last tobacco order. First time I've smoked this in ages. Like I posted above, it has always been terribly dried out and harsh tasting. This pouch is fresh, well...fresher than anything I've ever had before. I truely enjoyed this. I'll order a tin and keep this one around.

Ahh...simple pleasures. I truely enjoy the flavours of a high dollar tinned tobacco, but it really pleases me when I get such satisfaction from an OTC like this one and PA, CH, and my SWR Aromatic. I am wanting to try Walnut, haven't seen it in a pouch, so I'll have to get a tin (tub). Can anyone give me a hint about this one. I was never a true pure English smoker, but I do enjoy Stokkebye English Luxury, which I understand to be a 'near' English. And I've read that Walnut has a bit of a nicotine punch to it. Some of the reviews I've read about it makes it sound like the Chesterfield cigarettes my grandfather smoked. Pap would breakup a cigarette and stuff it in a pipe....said the paper was bad for you!

Steve, I'm looking forward to a review of SWR Aromatic from you. I am hoping that you can point me towards other blends that have the same characteristics...only better. I like the sweet of the SWR Arom, just wish it were a richer blend, a bit more flavor.

I'm smoking a bowl or SWR regular right now, it is good, may try to mix it with the Aromatic just for s & giggles.

BW

Terry292

steverino

You know, from the way you guys are talking, you might want to try Spilman Mixture. This comes in a 7 ounce tin and I've got a tin if anyone wants a sample. It sounds very much like the Walnut - burley, latakia, probably some Virginia, maybe some others, etc. Check tobaccoreviews.com and see what you think. I think it's quite good, kind of English but not edgy like a proper English.

steverino

BWThomas

BWThomas

I guess my tastes are changing. The more I smoke the SWR regular, the more I like it...even better than the Aromatic. I am really surprised by this!

ted

BWThomas

steverino

It does seem weird. The grocery stores have cut way down on anything related to pipe tobacco. Walmart only has a few pouches of Captain Black regular and Royal and some Prince Albert. Also a couple of bag-type products, Smoker's Choice or some such. The Food lion keeps one tin of Captain Black and one tin of SWR regular - and that's it. The CVS, last time I looked, had nothing. Could it be that people around here have been listening to Hugh Holliman long enough that the anti-tobacco message is beginning to take hold? I don't believe he'll go back to Raleigh again, though.

ted

PLEASE,PLEASE...do something with Holliman. I've had all of him that I can stand.......Please tell me who to contribute to.....whoever can beat him..ted

steverino

Our county commissioners chairman, Fred McClure, will be running against Holliman. I believe he has a very good chance of winning.

steverino

Well, since this is the SWR thread, I thought I'd put my comments about SWR and SWR aromatic here.

SWR

Two things about this tobacco caught my attention right off the bat. One was the pouch aroma - licorice - most definitely licorice. One reads all the time about licorice being used as a flavoring in tobacco products, but this is the first time I've ever been able to clearly detect its presence in a pipe tobacco. The aroma does not, however, transfer to the smoke.

The other thing I noticed was how light a smoke SWR is. It was almost difficult to assess the flavor/aroma once lit. I was actually surprised at how light it is. I've smoked Prince Albert, Carter Hall, Half and Half and Edgeworth and SWR is far and away the lightest tasting of them all to me. There is a slight bite on and off throughout the bowl, but this can be mitigated with slow, easy puffing.

The texture of the tobacco is interesting. It appears to be a cube-cut, but I would call it a "random" cube cut. There are lots of pieces in the mix that aren't exactly cubical, but not ribbon cut either. Either way, it packs fine and is easy to light.

How does one characterize the flavor? This is a bit of challenge as light as it is. Burley is burley, after all, and if you've smoked one, you've smoked them all, right? Well, maybe not. Of the "drugstore" burlies I've smoked, they fall into two distinct groups: the more or less "straight" burlies (PA* and CH) and burley/Virginia blends (H&H and Edgeworth). Though I can find no real evidence of Virginia tobacco in SWR, the taste seems to lean in that direction to me. The first 1/4 to 1/3 of the bowl reminds me more of Edgeworth than PA, and that's a good thing, as I prefer that direction myself.

Once the halfway mark is reached, the initial flavor is all but gone. What remains is what I call "plain burley". I get this same taste from pretty much any burley blend at this point in the bowl. The question is, will it turn bitter or sour? SWR did not go bitter on me, but I do get just a little sourness near the end. Not enough to dump it, mind you, but close.

SWR finishes up with a respectable salt and pepper dottle and little, if any, moisture in the pipe. I felt a very small effect from nicotine, again putting it into the category of a mild tobacco.

I would certainly recommend SWR to anyone looking for an all day, every day smoke with a burley tobacco. It should work wonderfully well in this application.

* PA is said to have some Virginia in the mix but you can't prove it by me.

SWR Aromatic

A sweeter pouch aroma greets the nose with SWR Aromatic. The smell is almost dessert-like but, alas, as with SWR, the aroma doesn't transfer to the smoke...except maybe a little bit.

The consistency of SWR-A is a little more ribbon-like, with the appearance of some bright tobacco in the mix. The sweetness of the flavor vouches for this, as some of the taste is bound to be from a bit of Virginia leaf. There is also the taste of the casing but it is not overpowering to me. In fact, I like the way the casing seems to combine with the Virginia to keep a sort of consistency throughout the bowl. The flavor is not as sweet at the end, to be sure, but it is there, and that's what I like most in any tobacco - consistency.

Many of the characteristics of SWR-A are similar to SWR. Packing is easy, lighting is easy, just a teeny little bit of bite here and there (but I think less than with SWR) and the finish is relatively dry with maybe a bit of a moist bottom in the bowl - no moisture running around in the pipe as with some blends.

One thing I noticed about SWR-A is the volume of smoke. This stuff can make you look like a steam locomotive! Probably just my imagination, but it does seem to produce a lot of smoke. It does not, however, produce much in the way of nicotine effects and this is fine with me. I've never cared for getting dizzy and weak in the knees anyway.

As with SWR, SWR-A could definitely be an all day smoke. I can easily see how this tobacco has been around for many years. I'd recommend it to any smoker looking for a good, general-purpose aromatic for every day use.

LokoMac8

BWThomas

Steve, that was excellent. I have been waiting like a kid waiting for Christmas to read your review on the SWRs. You certainly have a knack for this.

Just two comments... The SWR we're smoking right now is not as cubed as I have experienced in the past. In fact, when I opened the pouch, I was surprised to see the appearance to be so different from what I have had with SWR regular. It had always been dryer and the cube was actually hard little nuggets of tobacco.

And... nictotine. I do believe that at one time, this was back when Brown & Williamson was producing this blend, was at a greater level. I recall when my brother-in-law and I would sit by the pool and get high off this stuff. But then, it may not have been the nicotine, but the coumarin that was part of the recipe back then. It was a better blend then, taste wise.

Conwood produces this now, the same company that puts out Captain Black and Smoker's Pride.

Now, I am hoping that you can relate what you have experienced with these two to some of the high priced blends you have smoked, especially the Aromatic. Is there something out there with this sweetness, but with a bit more punch...without the goop and gurgle?

Excellent review Steve, very nice!

BW

steverino

steverino

BWThomas

BWThomas

Terry292

steverino

Barry, I'll get some samples together - it may be Friday or Saturday before I can get them in the mail. If you would, PM me your address.

Flycruiser

That Walnut sounds pretty good. I'll have to hunt it down here. Seems like I may have seen it at one store or the other.

LokoMac8

Dave

JR Cigar and WV smokeshop both carry it

http://www.wvsmokeshop.com/walnuttin.aspx

http://www.jrcigars.com/index.cfm?page=pipes2

BWThomas

Flycruiser

I FINALLY found a local shop that sells SWR regular in tubs! I've ordered online before, but I'm excited to finally be able to get them locally. $21 a pop, but not bad considering that an online order adds shipping. So I'll actually come out a little cheaper. I'll be heading over to pick some up in a couple of hours and will check and see if they have any Walnut or other exciting stuff around. Sad somethig so simple can get me this excited....

Flycruiser

Sir Walter Raleigh

SWR

Re: SWR

SWR

Re: SWR