I was smoking it in a mini meerschaum, you know the ones with plastic stems that look ridiculous compared to real pipes. I can remember clearly driving down the Garden State Parkway with my Father as we were buying our first boat. Strange I thought I reviewed this back in 2004 when I first tried it. However, I consider this part of its charm and it seems to really fit its character as a truly great, lazy summer smoke. it is comparable to, say, Nightcap in strength. Nicotine-wise, it can take some getting used to if you are sensitive.

As other reviewers have noted, aging does improve the overall experience and even as little as six months can produce a noticeable difference. It never bites and it generally burns right down to a light-grey ash with only one or two relights. This blend absolutely shines in a smaller pipe, particularly in hot weather. This alternating sweetness/spiciness really keeps things interesting in what would otherwise be a high-quality but fairly pedestrian straight virgina. This favor is both sweet and smooth, but it also really nails the spice and pleasant mouth burn of a good rum that gives it an almost perique-like character at times. All the while, a gentle and above all NATURAL spiced rum flavor floats around in the background. Dark and rich, they give this blend a lot of body without ever becoming heavy or musty as C&D virginas can sometimes be. Initially, it smells strongly of rum, though in the actual smoking it is the virginias that are the main player. This is a blend that is definitely best smoked as it comes right off the cake. First of all, the presentation is wonderful the cake is very easy to break apart into a medium/fine cut by hand (it tends to peel into layers) and though it can feel quite dry at this point, resist the urge to hydrate it. What this blend is trying to do, it does well -very well, in fact. Most of the non smokers comment on how nice the smell is. It's nice to bring on a fishing trip or camping with some cobs for friends who don't smoke pipes much (cigar smokers). High quality but the cut is weird! All in all good stuff and fun. It's not quite a regular smoke like NC, though. BR is good to have on hand though and I have it once in a while for a change of pace. One of my main smokes is McClelland's Navy Cavendish. I pack little bunches and put very small pieces on top. I tend not to rub out as much as flake tobacco because I'm afraid I will end up with saw dust or fish food. The only problem I have is that the cut can rub out to be too small sometimes. Flavor seems to be only quality rum and like it was truly soaked in it. Great range of virginia flavors with a wonderful rum flavor. It's fun to smoke while gardening but I reach for Navy Cavendish 9 times out of 10 instead. It's too bad because I love the cake and the rum used. I find dry tobacco bitter anyway but this is very bitter dry. Theres a bitterness no matter how you smoke it. After smoking more of this I've found that the virginias used are just too harsh.

Blockade runner