Tobacco Review: McCranie's Red Flake

This is my first foray into any of the McCranie's tobacco although I have always heard great things both about the tobacco and the shoppe. As I understand it, McClelland processes and tins all the house blends of McCranie's Tobacco after McCranie's acquired a quanity of the 1983 Red Virginia crop which was a particularly good year. This 1983 crop was processed into McCranie's Red Ribbon and McCranie's Red Flake. The 1983 crop is all gone and currently this tobacco consists of a 1996 North Carolina crop.

Manufacturer's Description:

A beautifully aged Red Virginia like no other. Brimming with rich, mellow flavor as only nature can provide. A special allotment of prime 1996 crop North Carolina leaf has been secured for our discriminating pipe smokers. The softest, most enjoyable straight red Virginia we've ever smoked. With a light vacuum seal, the tobacco will continue to mellow with age. MSR: $7.95 50 gm tin.

Review
This tobacco is a beautiful reddish brown with lighter mottling and cut into a moist broken flake. I was afraid of the McClelland 'ketchup' but I can smell no trace of it. Instead, I get a rich sour with a hint of vinegar. The Red Flake packs easily and burns well (one match for the whole bowl) into a light gray ash. The smoke is medium-bodied and smooth with no trace of spice or sweetness - in fact it is almost bland. The room note is light and pleasant and is a good all-day smoke.

Perhaps this is completely psychological, but this blend reminds me of red velvet cake - not in flavor but in texture. The smoke is smooth and creamy but simple and lacking complexity. Still, this is a great everyday flake that is perfect for enjoying around others where contemplation is not possible. If you enjoy McClelland 5100 then you will love this as it is much softer, drier, and cleaner. However, if you enjoy a lively or complex smoking experience then you will probably find Red Flake boring.

Rating: 3 Puffs out of 5

-Safari Bob

New Pipe: Mark Tinsky 1 Star Sunrise Prince

Today I received a new pipe in the mail: a Mark Tinsky Sunrise 1 Star 5 Prince. After I smoked my first Tinsky, I knew that I wanted a seven-day set. I find the Sunrise finish most attractive and so I asked Mark to carve a prince for me. Four days after I made the request the pipe arrived at my doorstep! That is service for you!

I think the next pipe I ask Mark to carve will be a straight apple Sunrise 5 with a saddle bit. I am not sure what will be after that; I wonder if he would carve a straight bandy glass?

-Safari Bob

New Pipe: Mark Tinsky 1 Star Sunrise

I broke down and finally purchased a Mark Tinsky pipe. I had been eyeing this pipe at Gray Fox and I took advantage of the Christmas sale to finally pull the trigger. I love Apple shapes, both straight and bent, and I just loved this rendition of a 1/8" bent apple.

This pipe is comfortable and well balanced, has a good draw, and the pipe cleaner passes through the draw hole perfectly. The craftsmanship is 'top-notch' in that the draft hole is centered flush on the bottom of the bowl. It does smoke well although the bowl does get a little hot. In the past, I have had pipes that have done this only to break in after a short time with no further display of this excessive heating; I think the Tinsky will as well. In any case, the smoke is cool, dry and clean with no 'woodiness' or 'stain-fumes.' Overall, I am pleased.

If you are interested in looking for a Mark Tinsky pipe, I would recommend either Gray Fox or Mark Tinsky's website. His pipes range from $100 (at Gray Fox) and up.

-Safari Bob

Why the Rest of the World Hates Americans

Some media sources seem to imply that the rest of the world hates Americans. I am skeptical of such implications but I may have found evidence of why this sentiment could exist: The Gold Pill. What other culture would invent some expensive means to add 'bling' to someone's excrement? You just can not make this stuff up!

Gold Pills

By Just another Rich Kid and Tobias Wong

Pure gold passes straight through the body and ends up in your stool resulting in sparkly shit!

Gold Leaf and capsules; each approximately 1 inch long; set of three

$275.00
$247.50 Member [1]

This is the ridiculous world in which we live.

-Safari Bob

References
[1] http://www.newmuseumstore.org/viewItem.asp?ItemID=10013350&UnitCde=1

I-35: The Holy Roller's Holy Roll

CNN is reporting that a group of Christians believe that I-35, which runs across the midsection of the USA, is the 'Way of Holiness' that they believe is mentioned in Isaiah 35:8 [1]. For the life of me, I cannot fathom how this kind of thought gets started (apart from copious amounts of liquor, that is) let along how upon reflection people can continue to believe it. Cindy Jones, a Texas minister with obviously too much time on her hands, received a revelation and says "she can't be sure Interstate 35 really is what is mentioned in the Bible but says she received a revelation to start this campaign after once again reading Isaiah, Chapter 35" [1].

Oh..my..God..

The verse in question says:

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. [Isaiah 35:8; NIV]

This is a quintessential example of isogesis, or the reading in of meaning to a text. I suppose that the Reverend Jones has noticed that Isaiah 35 could be associated with I-35 - if one ignores the context of the pericope. This passage is describing Israel's triumphant return to Zion from exile: "They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them and sorrow and sighing will flee away" [Isaiah 35:10b; NIV].

Forget how this passage forms the end of First Isaiah and transitions into the exile phase of Second Isaiah [2]. Forget how Zion is a abstract concept that Eliade would refer to as an "archetype" [3]. What is more reasonable? That Isaiah 35 would refer to I-35 or that ancient Hebrews would engage in hegemony by describing a 'Way of Holiness' that led back to Israel from Babylon?

I tell you honestly that no one can make this stuff up! This is the ridiculous world in which we live!

-Safari Bob

References
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/19/btsc.tuchman.roadsideprayer/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
[2] Blenkinsopp, J. (2000). Isaiah 1-39, The Anchor Bible Vol. 19. Doubleday, New York, pp. 454-457.
[3] Eliade, M. (1996). Patterns in Comparative Religion. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, pp. 371-372.

Tobacco Review: McClelland Navy Cavendish

Over the years, I have grown to respect Mike and Mary (the owners of McClelland) and I have enjoyed their blends. When I was a tobacconist at Just For Him, they were very kind to me and would spend a lot of time with me describing their blends and discussing the gossip de jour in the tobacco world. I love Arcadia and still think that the now defunct X-40 was one of the best burley flakes I have ever smoked.

Manufacturer's Description of Navy Cavendish

With this tobacco, we reintroduce the smoker to the traditional Navy Cavendish aged naturally with dark Jamaican rum to enhance its sweetness and aroma. 50 gm or 100 gm SRP: $15.95 (100 gm)

Review:
When one opens the tin, one is confronted by a sweet rum aroma and sometimes the tell-tale ketchup smell of some McClelland Virginias. The tobacco is dark brown or black with lighter cuts mottled throughout the broken flakes. I do not rub-out my flakes so I clump the pieces together and slide them into the chamber. One certainly experiences a rum sweetness upon the initial light that does fade over time. As the bowl proceeds, one gets more of the Virginia sweetness with an accompanying spice that is also pleasant. The room note is sweeter than a pure Virginia alone as the tobacco burns into a medium gray loose ash. Even with the loose ash, I only had to relight once near the heel of the smoke.

I have smoked several tins of Navy Cavendish and unfortunately this blend seems to change from tin to tin. Some have an inexplicable 'ketchup' smell and others do not. Still, it is a regular in my rotation and overall I continue to enjoy it.

Rating: 3.5 Puffs out of 5

-Safari Bob

Logical Fallacies I have Known: Ad Hominem

Have you ever been involved in a debate when the argument turned personal? If so you have probably been the target of an ad hominem attack: an attempt to counter someone's claims or conclusions by attacking the other person instead of their position in the debate. This fallacy can take many forms and, for some reason, seems to be pervasive in American culture. Often this tactic is found on the playground but it seems to have made its way into our culture's collective consciousness as a viable strategy.

For instance, Paul Joseph Watson (InfoWars.com) is arguing for reasons that Hillary Clinton would be good for America when Watson attacks Bush:

Bush has betrayed his fake Christian ethic even more times than he's flipped off a television camera. [1]

By using pejorative terms such as 'fake Christian ethic' and 'he's flipped off' Watson is not addressing the reasons for Hillary but rather attacking Bush's character - a common tactic in political rhetoric. This tactic does bypass the issue at hand and is an ad hominem fallacy.

-Safari Bob

References
[1] http://www.infowars.com/articles/us/hillary_clinton_good_for_america.htm

Tobacco Blending: 1042

I was wandering around on Gray Fox Forum (http://grayfoxonline.mywowbb.com/) when I was reminded of an old tobacco recipe that is passed down from tobacconist to tobacconist called 1042:

1042
10 oz Black Vanilla Cavendish
4 oz Light White Burley
2 oz Golden Virginia Flake

Essentially, it is RLP-6 (or Captain Black in the White Pouch) clone and it is designed to be modified. For instance:

8 oz Black Cavendish (I used Lanes Toasted Cavendish)
4 oz Light White Burley (BLWB)
2 oz Golden Virginia Flake
2 oz Latakia

This makes a good, medium-bodied English. Of course, until the last 5-10 years or so, a heavy latakia blend was 7-12%. Further modifications can be made to get a rich aromatic such as:

8 oz Black Vanilla Cavendish
2 oz Black Cherry
4 oz Light White Burley
2 oz Golden Virginia Cube Cut

The possibilities are endless.

-Safari Bob

Court Summons Hindu Gods to Testify; Monkey God Pleads 'The Fifth"

The BBC is reporting that a judge in India has summoned two Hindu gods, Ram and Hanuman, to help resolve a property dispute. Judge Sunil Kumar Singh has demanded that the Hindu Gods Ram and Hanuman appear in person to settle a 20 year debate over 1.4 acres of land between two temples of the gods in question. The judge has sent letters to each deity asking them to appear to settle the dispute.

I can not make this stuff up.

My question is this: Did he send the letters postage due? Is that why the honored deities refused his summons?

This is the ridiculous world in which we live.

-Safari Bob

References
[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7132124.stm

Tobacco Review: Samuel Gawith's Christmas Mixture 2007

I remember when this blend first was offered (2004 I believe) and the storm it created. Everyone wanted it and shortages ran amok. I seem to remember that it was only available in one pound bags and that I was unable to acquire any for the shoppe. Also, we sold clove cigarettes and the rumor spread that this blend was a clove pipe tobacco. In some ways, the buying frenzy of this blend corollated with the high demand of Opus X at the time.

Manufacturer's Description:
Blended Virginias to which have been added traditional festive flavours Cinnamon, Rum, Sherry & Cherry. SRP: $8.95 50gm

Review
A distinct sweet cinnamon and clove aroma is present upon opening the tin; in fact it is highly flavored and the aroma is pervasive. The tobacco is moist and comprised of gold ribbon and crimp cuts that pack well and allow a slow burn. The tobacco burns well and combusts into a light mottled-gray ash. Initially, the cinnamon and rum comes through strongly and, as the bowl progresses, these flavors overpower the pallet and subside into a sweet, generic spice with a touch of clove. This blend is not hot - just spicy - and certainly reminds me of a Christmas flavor; in fact I swear that I tasted a hint of egg nog about midway through the pipe.

This blend reminds me of one of my blends at Just For Him: Cinnamon Cordial. Certainly SG's Christmas Mixture does not disappoint to remind the smoker of Christmas. This is a good holiday blend but I am not sure that I would smoke it any time during the rest of the year. I am curious about how this will age so I have included a tin in my cellar.

Rating: 4 Puffs out of 5

-Safari Bob

Tobacco Review: Ashton Smooth Sailing

The latest Ashton blends came out in 2005, if I remember correctly, and replaced some great tobaccos that were reputedly tinned by McClelland (I still have several tins of Pebble Cut and Original Old Church that I covet). These new blends are, to me, a surprise (I particularly enjoy Winding Road) and over all I find them to be quite tasty. I can not remember who is currently blending these for Ashton and all that is found on the packaging is a cryptic: "Blended by hand in the European Union."

Manufacturer's Description:
Pleasurably palatable and wonderfully smooth, this aromatic mixture is slightly nutty, boasting flavors of maple, coconut and dark chocolate. SRP: $10.50 for 50 gm.

Review:
The dark chocolate and coconut are immediately evident when one opens the tin; it reminds me of a Mounds bar. The blend itself is an attractive mixture of black cavendish, brown ribbon, and gold flake cuts. The tobacco is on the dry side, easy to pack, and smells wonderful. It lights easily and burns into an ash that is darker gray with white speckles. The flavor is darker and less sweet than the aroma promises. Throughout the smoke the dark chocolate is present and builds as a subtle roasted nutty tone circles the edges. Overall, a surprisingly complex flavor that is not too sweet accompanies a clean burn and delicious room note that is a sure fire crowd pleaser.

This reminds me of a much more sophisticated Consolidated 333 or a lighter, more pleasant Mac Baren Honey Chocolate. It does burn a little quickly for my taste but I think that this is a good medium all day smoke for around the wife or relatives.

Rating: 3.5 Puffs out of 5

-Safari Bob

Tobacco Review: Astleys NO 44 Dark Virginia Flake

Astleys Tobacco is made in Germany by Kohlhase & Kopp (K&K) since 1979 and is currently imported by XYZ Direct, LTD. NO. 44 is a square-cut dark Virginia flake that the blender describes as "full strength." I enjoy Virginia flakes and have tried my hand at blending, stoving, and pressing one in the past. K&K describes this blend as "cold pressed" (a process with which I am not familiar) and I can hardly wait to try it.

Review

The tobacco is dark brown with some yellow mottling, moist, cut into fragile 1 1/2" x 1" rectangles, and smells "malty" with a subtle sour hint. I rolled a few flakes into a tube and packed the tobacco into my pipe. The smoke is medium to rich in body with a subtle citrus tone and (thankfully) no trace of the McClelland ketchup. As the bowl progressed, I did notice the citrus subsided and a not unpleasant sour flavor emerged. I was expecting more spice but it is smooth and I experienced no tongue bite throughout the smoke. This flake burned evenly and slowly although I did have to re-light twice throughout the bowl. The ash is darker gray and the room note was present without overpowering.

Overall, this is a pleasant satisfying smoke that would be perfect for outside in the woods. The closest I can place this tobacco is either McClelland 2035 without the ketchup or MacBaren Roll Cake without a trace of topping or spice.

Rating: 4 Puffs out of 5

-Safari Bob