Italian Flag Tobacco Reviews©
Miscellaneous Page 1

Amphora: Full Aroma (Red) Regular (Brown)
Imperial: Capstan Medium Capstan Mild St. Bruno Three Nuns
Petersen: Escudo      

 
Numerical Strength Guide
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ex. Mild V. Mild Mild Mild-Med Medium Med-Strong Strong V.Strong Ex.Strong Overwhelming

 
Name: Amphora Full Aroma
Type: Flavored Cavendish
Strength: 5
Photo: Pouch - Tobacco
On Pouch: "When occurs to you when you see shredded, bright coloured tobacco, which still seems to live between your fingers...? Recognize the mixture? Burley, Kentucky, Oriental and Virginia, all first-grade tobaccos. Smell the whiff of pure fruit blossom we've added? This enhanced smoking pleasure is due to our unique Cavendish process, which reveals the richest properties of this special blend: fresh, sweet and slow-burning. Amphora Full Aroma. The quality of over two centuries of craftsmanship and experience."
My Comment: No one can deny the fact that this tobacco has been one of the most popular tobaccos of its kind and that it is still highly sought after. It's one of very few industrial, flavored tobaccos that I don't mind smoking smoking occasionally; I actually enjoy smoking it when I do. The pouch aroma is pleasant but not indicate of heavy casing; I do detect a smell of vanilla besides the fruit essences used. It's very easy to pack and burns very smoothly. The taste when smoked is both sweet and spicy; however, it smokes a bit wet, unless you let it dry out a bit before packing. Like most flavored tobaccos, the taste seems to deteriorates the closer you get to the end of the smoke. The pouch seems to be very effective in keeping the tobacco in good condition even if you smoke only one bowlful a day (and maybe less).

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Name: Amphora Regular
Type: Natural (?!) Cavendish
Strength: 5
Photo: Pouch - Tobacco
On Pouch: "Feeling the smooth, shredded tobacco in your hand, seeing its lively colours, smelling its rich flavour... Can you imagine the excitement when this perfect mixture of Burley, Oriental, Kentucky and Virginia tobaccos was first created? Our unique Cavendish process discloses the characteristics of this blend ever more broadly. Mild and mellow. Honest tobacco in its clearest form. Slow-burning, to extend your smoking pleasure. Amphora Regular. The quality of two centuries of craftsmanship and experience."
My Comment: To my surprise, the pouch aroma is discret, pleasant and natural, with no evident casing or toppings. The tobacco is easy to pack and light, due to the uniformly cut Cavendish. The variations in the cut are mainly in the length rather than the width of the ingredient tobaccos. The taste of the tobacco upon light provides further proof of the lack of casing. It's smooth, slightly spicy, and sweet. The taste of the tobaccos are evident, and I can see what this is a classic Amphora ("classic" would be better than "regular")! I believe it is one of a few tobaccos I know of that can be equally enjoyed by those who mainly smoke flavored tobaccos as well as those who prefer natural tobaccos. It has a pleasant room aroma, and is ideal to smoke indoors and outdoors and at any time of the day. The only thing I wish were different is the fact that the taste seems to deteriorate a bit in the course of the smoke, without being bitter or unpleasant.

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Name: Capstan Medium
Type: Flavored VA Navy Cut
Strength: 6
Photo: Tin - Tobacco
AITS Index: A medium to mild blend of carefully selected Virginia tobaccos with a natural aroma enhanced by a subtle flavour.
My Comment: I must admit the smell of the tobacco unsmoked might be a turn-off to those who prefer and are used to natural tobaccos. However, the smell seems to dissipate quickly, and the tobacco starts smelling more like a natural tobacco. Having said that, the smell is very pleasant and fruity, though a bit too sweet to those who are used to (more) natural tobaccos. The tobacco was tinned too moist as most British tobaccos are. I had to let it dry out for a while before packing. The name Navy Cut is evident in the wide "flakes", each as wide as the inside of the tin. I started enjoying it more with my third bowlful and onwards; the taste and aroma became more discreetly sweet. I see it as a good tobacco to smoke any time of the day, and especially in the company of non-smokers as well as outdoors (if you don't rub it out well).

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Name: Capstan Mild
Type: Flavored VA Navy Cut
Strength: 4
Photo: Tin - Tobacco
AITS Index: Not listed.
My Comment: What surprised me upon opening the tin is the color of the flakes: It's SO orange that it's hard to believe this is the natural color of the leaf used! The smell is very similar to that of the Medium, but this one is a bit more sour. When lighting it, I got a confirmed taste of "orange"; I wonder it is flavored with orange! It's truly mild, and I had a strong desire to smoke a strong(er) tobacco right afterwards. I very much recommend letting it dry out for a while before smoking it for the first time; it was tinned SO moist, to my taste. What bothered me during the smoke is the lack of consistent taste of "tobacco"; I taste "orange" more of the time. It might be a very good transitional tobaccos for flavored tobacco smokers who would like to get into natural pressed VAs.

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Name: St. Bruno
Type: Natural VA Flake
Strength: 8
Photo: Tin - Tobacco
AITS Index: "Blend of Virginia and other selected tobaccos. Slow burning and cool with a pleasant aroma."
My Comment: While the pouch aroma is still not as natural as I would like it to be, it's definitely more natural-smelling than a lot of the industrial tinned and bulk tobaccos declared as such. It's a full-bodied smoke and may be a bit heavy on an empty stomach. This means it might not be an all-day smoke, at least to some. I very much like its sweet, fruity taste; this taste is very consistent throughout the smoke. What is impressive is that the smell of the unsmoked tobacco is almost identical to what its aroma when smoked. My biggest problem with it is the fact that it imparts its taste to the pipe, and hence it will take a few pipefuls of another, more neutral tobacco in the same pipe till the St. Bruno taste disappears. It also seems to be pleasant-smelling to people around you.

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Name: Three Nuns
Type: Natural VA Curly Cut
Strength: 7
Photo: Tin - Tobacco
AITS Index: "A blend of dark fired and sun cured tobaccos mixed with the finest Brazilian Lights to produce the unique flavour and mellow smoking characteristics for which Three Nuns is famous."
Louisiana Perique is also present in a good portion. TM.
My Comment: This tobacco is every bit as good as it is claimed to be. Whether or not it is similar/identical to the older version is nothing I want to get into, since it has no purpose. I do enjoy smoking this one, and I like the natural, sourish taste and aroma. It is a treat for anyone who appreciates natural, pressed VAs with Perique. The taste is very consistent till the last shred of tobacco. You can either pack it as it is or rub it out; in any case, it is a slow, cool burning tobacco. The combustion is also quite regular. I see it as a tobacco you could smoke the whole day long, and it has a pleasant after-taste, and does not compromise the taste of the pipe(s) you smoke it in. The taste and aroma of the Perique is quite evident, and is truly delicious.

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Name: Escudo Navy De Luxe
Type: Natural VA Navy Cut
Strength: 6
Photo: Tin - Tobacco
My Comment: I personally believe that no one could have done a better job reproducing such a historical tobacco blend. Though it might not be identical to the orginial one, it is just as good, and if you let it age for a few years, it could become more similar, if not identical, to the original. For the natural pressed Virginia-Perique smoker, this is a true treat. I consider Escudo one of the best natural tobaccos ever manufactured. It's a wonderul all-day smoke that leaves you with a strong urge to pack another pipe and start all over. The taste is so delicate on the tongue, with a bit of spiciness and tanginess.
Unfortunately, the tobacco has been discontinued, and the liscense is rumored to have been transferred to Dunhill. This seems to be true at least as far as the European market is concerned!

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Numerical Strength Guide
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ex. Mild V. Mild Mild Mild-Med Medium Med-Strong Strong V.Strong Ex.Strong Overwhelming



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