Half & Half - Pipe Tobacco Review
[This review has been (lightly) edited 7/19/2021]
The Pipe Tobacco:
Half & Half
Bright Virginia/Burley Blend
Aromatic style
Anisette, Cherry, Licorice flavorings
Ribbon cut
1.5oz pouch
The Pipe:
Missouri Meerschaum
The Pipe Tobacco:
Half & Half
Bright Virginia/Burley Blend
Aromatic style
Anisette, Cherry, Licorice flavorings
Ribbon cut
1.5oz pouch
The Pipe:
Missouri Meerschaum
Country Gentleman
Final Grade: C+
Lights well enough. Fresh from the pouch, you'll need to heavy re-light post char, after a short drying-wait, the char will bring you well into the bowl with slight help. Very toasted nutty nose to that char.
Bowl:
Dries the mouth a bit here and there. I get the sense of some burnt truck stop coffee fully loaded with cream and sugar. That actually makes for a decent pairing suggestion. Room note never gets too far into medium and remains kindly mellow exhibiting a sweet nuttiness that highlights the best of Burley... In the sense that it avoids cigarette meanderings/odors. It does waver a good deal to a very light room note with nearly indistinguishable notes.
Retro-hales showcase an added sense of tobacco over topping, namely a nicely sweet bright Virginia with a tad of light melon fruitiness. All told, there is a nice delineation of tobaccos throughout, and at times the flavorings shine individually, as well.
Light will need retouching if you let it sit much at all. It's a workingman's smoke and seems to require your steady laboring. A cool smoke, but not an even-keel nor calm one. Burns rather quickly. There are oft fluctuations in body, mouthfeel, and room-note. None underwhelm nor transgress, but they do vary and remain unrestful.
Some prune notes appear on the draw about halfway through the bowl. They remain to the finish and leave prior to the heel. As that note heats, it gets somewhat syrupy and approaches a sourness. Really not a bad smoke, tho. Serviceable and unpretentious. Perfect to jam in a Corn Cob, but might seem odd in a Briar, ghosting issue aside. I always recommend clay.
Heel:
Somewhat problematic. Many offerings are prone to bite here, but this one is more prone than most. Some lighting issues do not help with this.
Flavorings intensify as it heats, but all told it's still a fairly cool smoke--so the crescendo isn't deafening per se. Ash is white enough but it is very hard to evenly burn the heel without getting bit. Be a little careful here, gentlepersons. Finish is cherry and nutty. The licorice is noticeable here and has a nice set of sweet legs. The sweetness avoids being cloying due to a roasted (wal?)nuts tightening.
Bowl:
Dries the mouth a bit here and there. I get the sense of some burnt truck stop coffee fully loaded with cream and sugar. That actually makes for a decent pairing suggestion. Room note never gets too far into medium and remains kindly mellow exhibiting a sweet nuttiness that highlights the best of Burley... In the sense that it avoids cigarette meanderings/odors. It does waver a good deal to a very light room note with nearly indistinguishable notes.
Retro-hales showcase an added sense of tobacco over topping, namely a nicely sweet bright Virginia with a tad of light melon fruitiness. All told, there is a nice delineation of tobaccos throughout, and at times the flavorings shine individually, as well.
Light will need retouching if you let it sit much at all. It's a workingman's smoke and seems to require your steady laboring. A cool smoke, but not an even-keel nor calm one. Burns rather quickly. There are oft fluctuations in body, mouthfeel, and room-note. None underwhelm nor transgress, but they do vary and remain unrestful.
Some prune notes appear on the draw about halfway through the bowl. They remain to the finish and leave prior to the heel. As that note heats, it gets somewhat syrupy and approaches a sourness. Really not a bad smoke, tho. Serviceable and unpretentious. Perfect to jam in a Corn Cob, but might seem odd in a Briar, ghosting issue aside. I always recommend clay.
Heel:
Somewhat problematic. Many offerings are prone to bite here, but this one is more prone than most. Some lighting issues do not help with this.
Flavorings intensify as it heats, but all told it's still a fairly cool smoke--so the crescendo isn't deafening per se. Ash is white enough but it is very hard to evenly burn the heel without getting bit. Be a little careful here, gentlepersons. Finish is cherry and nutty. The licorice is noticeable here and has a nice set of sweet legs. The sweetness avoids being cloying due to a roasted (wal?)nuts tightening.
Final Grade: C+
@kaplowitzmedia
::: very :::