There ARE a Lot

 Cornell and Diehl has 221 different tobaccos and Sutliff has 177.  This is only two of about 100 different tobacconists on Smoking Pipes website.  And of course one can do one's own blending and the list is virtually endless.  I could do nothing but write tobacco reviews here.  There are a lot of tobacco blends out there including tobaccos sold on other sites.  I read there are several thousand tobacco advertised blends with some hardly ever reviewed.  I read tobacco reviews, but I don't really pay a lot of attention to reviews.

Some respond to reviews and I've only written a few reviews that I've posted.  One example is Old Professor that didn't get a very high rating, but it is a favorite.  Early Morning Pipe by Peterson has a lot of reviews, but I smoked that quite a bit when Dunhill had that blend.  Various English blends are similar with some being more rich and bold than others.  Many Aromatics are similar with Aromatics being mostly Virginia based with various amounts of Burley, but each having their own flavor.

This is why a pipe club can be beneficial with other pipers bringing their favorites to meetings for others to try.  I used to hang out at pipe shops and try various bowls as samples.  But it's been a long time since I last did this.  Very seldom do I buy just an ounce of tobacco.  And my problem is that I have my favorites and would rather buy them in bulk than samples of many.  

I enjoy reviewing various tobaccos, but I want to smoke the same tobacco in various pipes for a proper review.  I'm still working on a pouch of Half and Half I've had since I bought it over a month ago with a pouch of Mixture 79.  The latter I smoked entirely and didn't care for it.  Some likened Mixture 79 to soap while others said it was like perfume, saying it was like grandma's closet.  I just lit another bowl of Half and Half and have yet to figure it out.  

Half and Half has some bite to it.  When a tobacco has bite there is a slight burning sensation on the tongue.  I can see why I set the pouch aside.  I'm not fond of Half and Half.  It has a pleasant room note, with just a hint of Bourbon.  But I can see why I set it aside.  I won't be ordering more of either Mixture 79 or Half and Half.  But I'm curious about Carter Hall as old timers say it is the best of the old blends.  All these blends are Aromatics, but Carter Hall has more Burley which many old timers like.  

I'm less concerned about buying Carter Hall in bulk.  I can remember the old Carter Hall commercials on TV.  Old pipe tobacco commercials can be found on YouTube.  So my next order will include a large tin of Carter Hall.  There are just so many blends to try and I'm glad I tried a pouch of each Mixture 79 and Half and Half.  But many of these old time tobaccos can be compared to wines.  One might like the cheaper Cabernets until one tries a premium Cabernet.  There is a huge difference between an $8 bottle of Cabernet and one costing $25.  But a good Cabernet can be found at $15 or so.  It just depends.  

I liken Carter Hall to the better Cabernet at a good price, but we shall see.  Today it is my Peterson System pipe with the last of my Half and Half.  It's not half bad, but I've had better.  Maybe I can say Half and Half is half good and half bad, or it's only half as good, as say, Tropical Export.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave