Newminster No. 23 Blackberry Brandy
It’s cooler in Southeast Louisiana with temperatures dropping into the 40s and 50s at night and the leaves on the red maple in my front yard turned red and dropped to the ground. Even the oak trees in the neighborhood are doing the same. I have smelled the smoke from fire places and fire pits. And, some pipe smokers I know are switching to blends a little heavier in Latakia because they enjoy the smokiness reminding them of campfires.
To me, it’s signals the start of holiday season and time to set aside the non-aromatics. Therefore, the time to open my collections of tobaccos blended for the Christmas season and winter is here. Instead of the English, Virginias, and Balkans, I open sweeter blends like Holiday Spirit, Peterson’s Holiday Season, Rattray’s Winter Edition, Exotic Orange and the Kohlhase & Kopp Winter/Christmas Editions. The aroma of these blends brings out memories of the holidays. They remind me of cookies, pies and cakes, hot cider… you get where I’m going with this. You can just smell the delicious part of the holidays. Unfortunately, some of these are unobtainable now. Either they’re no longer made or they are not for sell in the United States any longer.
This have sent me on a mission to find replacement blends. In doing that, I have discovered a “new” one in Newminster #23 Blackberry. Manufactured by Villiger, it’s a Virginia/Burley ribbon cut blend flavored with Blackberry, Brand, and Fruit/Citrus according to the websites. It’s comes in both bulk or tin. I bought mine in tins and believe there must be some subtle differences between the tin version and the bulk.
After reading the reviews of the bulk, which weren’t so good, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the blend. It has earned a spot in my holiday rotation though. When first opened, I smelled the blackberry and the sweet tang of brandy. I also picked up the hint of the Virginias. It was a little moist in the tin and when smoked immediately needed a couple of re-lights. While I don’t find it goopy, it does smoke better when dried out some.
This is not an aromatic for those who like to taste the tobacco foremost. If you want just a hint of the flavoring that accents the Virginias and Burley, you will not like this. On the other hand, if you want the flavor to standout without being overwhelming, smoke this blend. I got the blackberry tones from top to bottom and it was supported by the citrusy notes of the Virginias.
I have smoked Newminster No. 23 Blackberry Blend in several different briars, Meerschaums and cobs. I haven’t noticed any ghosting.
It pairs well with black coffee, which to my palate brings out the blackberry notes. For a beer, I suggest pairing it with Shiner’s Holiday Cheer as the peach notes of the beer compliments the blackberry of the tobacco. I found that sipping dark rum or a good bourbon overpowers the tobacco though.
(As always, individual tastes and experience will vary. If you like what you’ve read in my blog, please subscribe. – Pappy)
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Comments
there are very nice reviews here. what do u mean by ghosting? I been seeing that term around a lot
Author
Thanks for the comment. Ghosting is when a tobacco you smoke is heavy with a flavoring or topping or contains large amount of a smoky tobacco like Latakia and you can still taste the tobacco several bowls later. That’s why a lot of pipe smokers dedicate pipes to certain blends. For example, I have two pipes dedicated to blends that are heavy with Latakia and I have a couple of pipes dedicated to particular aromatic. Hope that answered your question.