Seattle Pipe Club's Plum Pudding Special Reserve is a 4 oz. pressed block of English mixture. This mixture is based off the original SPC Plum Pudding, which is a popular blend held in high regard. For this unique Special Reserve the oriental and possibly the virginia leaf has been replaced with a small batch of premium tobacco. Pressed into a beautiful dark brick, this limited edition is a modern classic that should not be missed.
Brand: Seattle Pipe Club
Blended By: Joe Lankford
Model: Plum Pudding Special Reserve
Tobacco Type: Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental, Perique, Virginia
Cut: Plug
Blend Type: English
Strength: 2 of 5
Taste: Medium
Room Note: Tolerable
Flavoring: None
Country: U.S.A
Size: 4.00 oz.
What is in it?
Inside the tin is a very dense crumble cake of strong and dark looking tobacco.
Latakia: Cyprian Latakia is present in quantity. This is usually near the front of the flavor profile.
Black Cavendish: This is unsweetened and untopped. Perhaps adding some sweetness, this must be used in a small quantity.
Virginia: Both Red and Black Stoved Virginia are used. This brings a rich earthy flavor to the blend.
Oriental: Upgraded sun cured Oriental is used in this Special Reserve. There is a saltiness and sweet and sour flavor from this component.
Perique: The spiciness and fermented fruit flavor comes from a small amount of perique.
What does it smoke like?
Seattle Pipe Club's Plum Pudding Special Reserve is so good it's unreal. Many blends pressed and presented in plugs or flakes have a consistent flavor profile. I found a lot of variation in flavors here. Like a good ribbon cut, the smoke meandered all over the flavor spectrum. You will find sweetness, sour briny flavor, buttery creaminess, and rich smokiness. Surprisingly, the Latakia is hard to distinguish, as it alone is steady throughout the bowl. Every other component fades in and out, but they all have a bitter woody smokiness with them. All of the flavors of an English mixture are here, and presented in a traditional manner. I would call this a great tobacco for a new to English smoker. With the clarity of flavor, it would allow one to identify the components they do and do not like and this could guide future purchases. Make no mistake; if this blend is a limited run, and it seems to be, it will be very sought after and remembered fondly when production ceases.
How to prepare it?
Opening a tin will reveal a plain dark brick of tobacco. It is quite possible to break off pieces to rub out. I found the moisture to be ideal, and I would recommend cutting the plug up and putting it in an airtight mason jar shortly after opening. Don't rub this out too much, it is rather easy to get a lot of wasted tobacco as powder. Some chunks may require more relights, but will smoke slowly and deliver excellent flavor. Pack very lightly, as the chunks will expand during smoking. A lot of work compared to a ribbon cut, but the experience is well worth the effort.