Spring 99 Volume IV Issue 2

In colonial days, sailors twisted tobacco into a roll and tied it tightly, often moistening the leaves with rum, molasses, or spice solutions. As the tobacco dried and contracted, the flavors melded. To smoke the concoction, they cut a slice of "twist" or "curly" and stuffed a pipe, hence the terms "sliced twist" and "curly cut." In time, all twisted tobacco, and later pressed tobacco, became known as "navy," because it was convenient for sailors and outdoorsmen, due to its compact size and long-lasting, slow-burning qualities.

Traditional manufacturers of navy-style tobacco make a plug, cake, or twist, which are sliced into rectangular pieces, or little coins. To use these tobacco blends, you rub out a little in your palm to break up the density. "Ready-rubbed" means the tobacco is already broken up for the smoker. Two of the tobaccos reviewed below use the term "navy," but neither is ready-rubbed.

Swedish Match, the company that produces Borkum Riff, a long-established pouch-packed favorite available everywhere, is bringing two new premium blends on line, but in tins only. Similar to the classic mass-market offering, these new blends - one flavored with Highland Malt Whisky, the other with Champagne - use a slightly larger, rougher cut that bums well and smokes cool, with a pleasant, comforting room aroma that is rich, not cloying.

Highland Malt Whisky is TBTM's favorite because it is a spiritual experience (oy!). The malt flavor enhances the Virginia/Burley blend with deep, woodsy notes, providing a well-rounded taste with no sharp edges, and a classic aroma. The Champagne-flavored version of the same blend plays the higher tones and brings out the tangy Virginia component with its fruity, bright characteristic. Both of these new products add a welcome new lighter side aromatic to the quality import lines.

Escudo is a great, completely natural blend produced in thin cakes, pressed flat, rolled, compacted, and sliced into one-inch rounds, like a coin. It provides a full and piquant taste of pressed and aged pure Virginia and pungent Perique, with a delicious "I'll eat it right here" bouquet. With a tang that takes some getting used to, until you want to smoke nothing else, and a room aroma that makes instant converts, Escudo is a winner, and one of TBTM's all-time favorites.

Some enthusiasts prefer to rub it out before smoking, while others choose to make a little roll of the "coin," stuff it straight into a pipe, press down the top, and light up.

The brand dropped out of sight for a few years, but thank the goddess (My Lady Nicotine) that A&C Petersen, one of the best tobacco companies ever, recently revived it. For more information and history on Escudo, check out the A&C Petersen website at: www.myownblend.dk]

This is a classic navy cut that is thinly sliced, like chewing gum, from a larger pressed cake and packed neatly into a small rectangular tin. The blend differs from most in that it consists predominantly of Burley, with a small Virginia and dark Cavendish component added in.

By using Burley as the base instead of Virginia, the blend is less "tangy" and thus is easier on the neophyte tongue. The bouquet is like honey and dried fruit, reminding TBTM of the brown honeycakes grandma used to bake to go with afternoon tea scrumptious without being overly sweet. The room aroma is light and refreshing, the flavor subtly sweet.

Thin cut flake tends to break too finely when crumbled, so TBTM suggests folding a slice or two of Mac Baren Navy Flake in half, stuffing it straight into the bowl, and pressing down lightly at the top only. It's a relaxing afternoon smoke, especially with a cup of tea.

This full-bodied Scottish mixture was devised a century ago for a Rattray's customer who wanted mixture he could enjoy both at his office and on the golf course. Most English/Scottish mixtures derive their flavor and aroma from a subtle interplay of the dark and light Virginias and the dark and light Latakia and Turkish tobaccos, generically known as "Orientals." Turkish tobacco attenuates the Latakia punchiness and allows the taste to merge successfully with the Virginia. But Rattray dropped the Turkish entirely for Accountants' Mixture and increased the black, stoved Virginia dramatically. The result is a full, rich taste, without harshness, because the Latakia proportion is actually lower than most of the other Rattray tobaccos. Challenge regarding the Turkish omission by an on-line "tobacco weenie" who asked, then persistently battled, TBTM consulted the manufacture and verified the blend formulas in person. Accountants' is a deep, hearty, but not aggressive indoor/outdoor smoke for any time of the day.