Alcohol Content: 45.2%, 90.4 proof

Price Point: Low-Mid Range around $35 for a 750 mL bottle. Can be found just about everywhere.

Nose: Oak, Vanilla, Fruit

Flavor Profile: Very woody oak, some sweetness from vanilla and fruit, slight metallic taste like copper

Bottom Line: Woodford Reserve’s regular “Distiller’s Select” bourbon is a good, crowd-pleasing bourbon. While it feels like a premium bourbon, it’s approachable and easy for people not into whiskey, but has enough character to be special. 

Woodford Reserve’s Distiller’s Select bottling makes it feel like a premium bourbon. It’s a unique bottle design with it being so wide. My bottle was bottle 3549 of batch 3848, but I didn’t pay much mind to that. The “Distiller’s Select” is Woodford’s regular line of straight bourbon. The batch and bottle numbers are good marketing for making it seem more high-end than it’s price point suggests.

Pouring it into my Glencairn glass, I get primarily oak and fruit. It’s not very harsh at all. There really isn’t a whole lot to process when it comes to the nose on this one. It’s got the classic bourbon scents.

When it comes to the flavor it’s fairly thin and sweet. This bourbon shows little hints of vanilla, banana, and citrus over oak that intermingle nicely. It has more burn than you would expect for this low proof of a bourbon, but because it’s thin it leaves you wanting a bit more flavor altogether.

Overall, Woodford Reserve’s Distiller’s Select straight bourbon whiskey is a good crowd-pleasing bourbon that would be good for those who like bourbon or those who prefer cocktails. It doesn’t have deep, complex flavors that make it nice for not-quite novices and can be enjoyed when the focus of the night isn’t the bourbon. For many, it’s the first bourbon that gets people hooked on drinking the livation straight. Woodford’s marketing and presentation make it seem like a higher-end bourbon than it really is and can set you up for disappointment if you go into it expecting more. The bottom line is that it’s approachable and good on the surface. Just don’t dive too deep into the bottle and instead make your focus of the night the company you’re with.

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Brand: The Country Squire

Contents: Flavored Black Cavendish, Virginia, Burley

Cut: Ribbon

Strength: Mild

Flavoring: Medium

Taste: Mild-Medium

Room Note: Very Pleasant

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum Eaton

Bottom Line: A seasonal aromatic with a combination of wonderful pleasant scents. It smokes like it smells and will be enjoyed by yourself and those around you. A perfect, sensational dessert tobacco. You can pick some up here.

Figgy Pudding is a seasonal blend from the Country Squire in Jackson, Mississippi. This blend tends to be in high demand with their limited supply each year since it is only available around Christmas in 2 oz increments. As soon as I opened my package from The Country Squire, I could smell the sensation of this aromatic blend. It only comes in bulk shipment in a Ziploc bag – and this baggie can’t hold in the powerful notes of vanilla, cocoa, and slight hints of cherry. The tobacco is slightly damp, but it packs well and doesn’t need to be dried before smoking.  As far as aromatics go, I’m impressed before even bringing a flame to my bowl. The first light makes me remember why people love aromatics, and why my wife wants me to smoke more of “that stuff that smells like marshmallows.” (That’s Lane 1-Q, by the way). 

I can taste every smell in Figgy Pudding. This is not your average aromatic. It’s the perfect Christmas dessert. It’s cherry. It’s chocolate. It’s wine. It’s vanilla. Altogether, then individually. The flavors meld together and stand on their own all at once. There isn’t much nicotine and anyone that is sitting near you will enjoy this smoke as much as you do. It’s a very easy, very enjoyable smoke. As with many other aromatics, be careful not to smoke it too hot or there will be some tongue-bite.

Figgy Pudding tastes like it smells and the name does it justice. It’s full-bodied and should be on everyone’s list to try this (or any) holiday season. This tobacco is the aromatic that other aromatics should aspire to be. It’s a great, delicious Christmas treat to smoke next to the chestnuts roasting and the partridges in a pear tree.

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Contents: Black Cavendish, Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia

Cut: Krumble Kake

Strength: Mild-Medium

Flavoring: None

Taste: Medium-Full

Room Note: Pleasant/Tolerable

Pipe Used: The Tinderbox “Jura” 

Bottom Line: Plum Pudding is a good smoke that checks all the right boxes. It’s a comforting blend that won’t give you any surprises. Not an all-day smoke, but one that definitely deserves to be picked over others every now and then. Plum Pudding is a tobacco that is Medium-Plus in all regards. “Very satisfactory” is the best way I can sum it up.

The tin note of the Plum Pudding that’s been sitting on my shelf for the better part of a few months is one that is sweet and woodsy. As far as initial impressions go, I immediately thought it was going to be good. I broke up the kake into smaller chunks and then topped it with bits that were rubbed out. Rubbing it out causes it to light fast. Though I enjoyed this smoke with some bourbon, I think I’ll have to try it with a red wine (perhaps the wine Captain Cork recommends). Plum Pudding is a smooth, almost buttery smoke that has a constant flavor. A blend like this has more going on in the background than what comes out at first. You can understand why it’s called what it is with notes of fig and dark fruits.

Everything about this smoke just barely pushes it over the line, not falling squarely in any category. The nic-hit is between mild and medium and the room note falls just shy of tolerable. While not exactly an all-day smoke, it’s definitely one to be enjoyed time and time again.

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Whether you need a pipe on the go or just a convenient way to bring everything outside with you, a pipe pouch is definitely a need for any pipe smoker and makes the time to unwind that much easier. I keep mine in the middle console of my car, keeping two pipes, a spare lighter, and pipe tool so that I never have to worry about forgetting the essentials. The pouch does a good job of blocking the scent of any tobacco you store in it. Overall, when it comes to getting pipe accessories, a pipe accessory accessory is something you should have.

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Contents: Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia

Cut: Ribbon

Strength: Mild-Medium

Flavoring: None

Taste: Mild-Medium

Room Note: Pleasant/Tolerable

Pipe Used: The Tinderbox “Jura” 

Bottom Line: This bulk blend available from pipesandcigars.com is a well-balanced, medium English tobacco. It smokes cool, stays lit, and leaves little moisture in the bowl. Lots of flavor that doesn’t overwhelm. Definitely one to put into a regular rotation.

I don’t know how else to describe this tobacco other than a perfect Autumn smoke. It’s great for when the temperature dips and you want to enjoy relaxing outside while you still can. As one of the first tobaccos I purchased, it’s one that will continue to remain in my normal rotation. It packs well, has an almost pleasant room note, and has enough complexity to keep you interested. This tobacco sits nicely between the Latakia heavy and the lighter blends with a hint of sweetness from the Oriental. 

Throughout the smoke I had few relights and was constantly checking to see how much I had left in the bowl so that I could pack another. It’s on the mild side as far as strength goes and would be an excellent first try for any new pipe smokers. It’s only available as a bulk tobacco from Pipes and Cigars, which makes it a cheaper alternative to something like Dunhill Early Morning or London Mixture. Scotty’s University Professor would be a great all day smoke or even one to enjoy after a good dinner in the company of others.

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