Pipes & Cigars carries a brand called Daughters & Ryan. D&R tobaccos are well-priced, and they seem to be high quality leaf. Most also appear to be RYO tobaccos marked/marketed as pipe tobacco, but that's not really a problem for me.
D&R Ryback is made from burley and fire-cured tobacco (note that the "gold" version also has virginia). I recently ordered a pound of the regular Ryback. It is shag-cut, and in the bag it smells like bacon which means it probably has a significant portion of fire-cured in it. It also came very dry, which is actually quite nice since you get more tobacco for your money that way (you're not paying for water). I tried smoking it a couple of times like it arrived, but it burns way too fast and doesn't have much flavor.
I've since rehydrated the tobacco (moist towel draped over a glass bowl full of some of the tobacco, 24hrs) and that makes all the difference! The cut allows you to stuff a lot in the pipe and pack it relatively tightly and maintain a good draw. The flavor is a rich mixture of burley nuttiness and fire-cured smokiness. This is my first exposure to fire-cured in a pipe, and I'm pleasantly surprised how good it is -- a totally different beast than latakia. The nicotine content seems to be on the high side of medium, but it's by no means a nicotine hammer. It goes great with a peaty scotch or whisky, or a smoky stout or porter. I find that the shag cut is very easy to light and burns well without requiring too much tamping. The room note is sweet (like a cigarette) with a bit of smokiness that makes it smell almost like barbecuing meat.
If smoked too fast, it can get harsh. While I can't seem to get it to bite, the flavor gets pretty sour if you push it. Keep it at a normal pace, though, and you're rewarded with full-bodied deliciousness. It's hard to beat the value, too.
On a scale of 1-10, I'd rate this blend a 7.
D&R Ryback is made from burley and fire-cured tobacco (note that the "gold" version also has virginia). I recently ordered a pound of the regular Ryback. It is shag-cut, and in the bag it smells like bacon which means it probably has a significant portion of fire-cured in it. It also came very dry, which is actually quite nice since you get more tobacco for your money that way (you're not paying for water). I tried smoking it a couple of times like it arrived, but it burns way too fast and doesn't have much flavor.
I've since rehydrated the tobacco (moist towel draped over a glass bowl full of some of the tobacco, 24hrs) and that makes all the difference! The cut allows you to stuff a lot in the pipe and pack it relatively tightly and maintain a good draw. The flavor is a rich mixture of burley nuttiness and fire-cured smokiness. This is my first exposure to fire-cured in a pipe, and I'm pleasantly surprised how good it is -- a totally different beast than latakia. The nicotine content seems to be on the high side of medium, but it's by no means a nicotine hammer. It goes great with a peaty scotch or whisky, or a smoky stout or porter. I find that the shag cut is very easy to light and burns well without requiring too much tamping. The room note is sweet (like a cigarette) with a bit of smokiness that makes it smell almost like barbecuing meat.
If smoked too fast, it can get harsh. While I can't seem to get it to bite, the flavor gets pretty sour if you push it. Keep it at a normal pace, though, and you're rewarded with full-bodied deliciousness. It's hard to beat the value, too.
On a scale of 1-10, I'd rate this blend a 7.
