You may ask why I am ranting. Why it is something trivial, of course! I just finished my experiment mentioned in a previous post. This is an experiment I have been working on for a bit over two months. This experiment involves dedicating a new cob to a new tin of tobacco through the whole tin. I have done this before and never been disappointed with the results. Those cobs then go on to be graced by other blends and move through their life as a happy cob in my collection until they pass their ultimate usefulness.
So this experiment was absolutely, totally, remarkably and amazingly: fine. I must admit I will likely not be buying another tin of Durbar. It claims to be for the "experienced pipe smoker", though it fails to tell us what experiences are required. I found this blend to be on my medium low end of preference. It was by no means painful to get through the tin, nor was it one I gave up on (as I did with Early Morning Pipe and Sweet Killarney). But it just didn't make it quite to the place of expectation that I have set with My Mixture 965, London Mixture, and Nightcap. Those blends never fail to blow me away.
In contrast to the greats I would say that Durbar is a good blend. I found that the orientals didn't speak too much, but it had that nice middle or the road experience. It also took quite some time to really get comfortable with it. For some reason I often had a mild tongue-bite that started right around the middle of the bowl.
So try for your self, dear reader. I don't think you could be too disappointed. Durbar is a nice blend of quality tobacco and perhaps you will be the pipe expert experienced enough to draw all of the greatness out of Durbar Mixture.
