Grand Cut Pipe Tobacco Reviews

A British Virginia-based tobacco of the old style. This comes in flake form in an attractive medium-to-dark brown colour that has a distinct orangish cast. There are also some lighter yellowish flecks from the inclusion of some stem material. Where the slices appear darkest, the tobacco has the appearance of having been melted together; the lighter portions come apart more easily while rubbing out.

Its pouch aroma is a little bit perfumy, a little bit spicy, and a little bit sweet, but not fruity. Based on these observations, I was expecting something with at least a slight bite to it and of a strength that leans on the mild side of medium. However, I find it more satisfying than that, as I find numerous British blends of this style to be.

Although it does have a slight, but not irritating, bite, this is a smooth-smoking blend that is on the fuller side of medium as far as strength is concerned and makes for a nice, slow, relaxing smoke. The flavour mimics the pouch aroma, with its subtle spiciness dominating overall and providing a lively flavour, which makes me guess that the mixture contains some perique.

In fact, its flavour is somewhat like a heavier, richer, more mature version of Cornell & Diehl's #502 Stanhope. The smoke is quite rich and medium-full in body, almost buttery in texture. Although I generally smoke my tobacco fairly dry, I noticed that this one seemed to smoke a bit smoother and had less tendency to heat up at first, while my sample was a bit moister.

It begins creating a fine, white ash right from the beginning and it burns cleanly and slowly all the way to the bottom of the pipe. While not excessively strong, it is strong enough to perhaps surprise a new pipe smoker, especially given its outwardly mild character. Thanks to Mark Shelor, I have learned that there is a copy of an old advert for Grand Cut in the Winter/Spring 1994 edition of The Pipe Smoker's Ephemeris, which was supplied by Mr. Robert Hahn of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

At the time the advert was published, this tobacco was "issued by Godfrey Phillips Limited." I don't know who manufactures it today, but Ron Blackner (check out his Pipe and Pouch web page) has informed me that Grand Cut is available at Josiah Brown Tobacconist, Nottingham, England, in loose form and that he once spotted it in tinned form somewhere.

Unfortunately, Josiah Brown does not have a tobacco-export licence. It has a pleasant room aroma that is a bit sweet and quite mild and unobtrusive. Thanks much to Tony Curley for introducing me to this delicious blend.