A light, Larsen's Classic has a room aroma that echoes the unlit bouquet, but is surprisingly light and not at all cloying. The taste similarly echoes the aroma, with the natural sweetness of golden Virginias carefully balanced by a mix of leaf from South America and Africa, anchored by a deep, rich Black Cavendish for a bass note.

This formula has been fine-tuned by Larsen for many years. It differs from American aromatic blends in its texture, which is not gooey or wet, and in the top-quality leaf used, so that Larsen's Classic tastes like tobacco underneath the crowd-pleasing aromas. For lovers of aromatic blends, it's a dream smoke.

Skandinavik is exactly as described earlier, echoing its Amphora source of inspiration. Its pouch aroma is subtle, suggestive of prunes and apples, and the flavor when lit is broad, pleasant, and mouth-filling. TBTM does not regard Skandinavik as a gourmet treat - it was not intended as such - but it is a reliable and tasty everyday, everyplace smoke. Thanks, Orlik Tobacco, for being "regular guys."

Today, Edgeworth "Sliced" (flake) is, ironically, manufactured in Europe and imported to the U.S. It is a deep, dark Burley blend, heavily cased with molasses, licorice, and other he-man flavors. One slice or two, folded over lengthwise and placed into the pipe in a column, teased out at the top for better lighting, will last for hours, even in a breeze. Rich and full of flavor, but cool and with no bite whatsoever, this American classic is not for the timid, and is better suited to rugged Teddy Roosevelt types. Perfect for land or sea voyages of discovery. Use the empty tins for dry matches or fishhooks. Woof!