Roberts' JB Blend Pipe Tobacco Reviews

This is a predominantly ribbon-cut English-style blend that is about 40% lighter tobaccos and 60% dark red and brown. Although it's a latakia mixture, it's immediately noticeable in the pouch that it gives off a sweetish scent. Upon further sniffing, one perceives an almond-like aroma that is stronger than anything else.

In fact, I suspect that this might not be categorized as an English blend if it were given to someone with no description of what it is. Once it's lit, it's apparent that it's fairly mild and smooth. Since it's supposed to be an English blend, you will smoke it in a pipe reserved for latakia mixtures, which will add more latakia taste to it than it actually has.

"Almond-like" is my interpretation of how the cavendish base smells to my nose. It also tastes almond-like to me (fresh almonds that is), a very pleasant, ever-so-slightly sweet flavour that harbours no bitterness whatsoever. My guess is that this nutty character means there is a lot of mild burley in the cavendish base.

A nice helping of latakia and maybe some other Turkish tobacco adds fullness and a rich flavour to the smoke. It is also a bit tangy, probably from some added (red?) Virginias. I enjoy this a lot because, even though it is quite mild, the smoke has a creamy body that is much fuller than the smoke is strong.

This would be a great choice for someone experimenting with English mixtures or someone who generally likes the taste of latakia but finds many English blends to be bitter. It leaves a slightly sweet, slightly smoky, tobacco aroma in the room and burns to a dry, light grey ash and a small dottle.