Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Half & Half

Back in the late 90's I bought a pouch of this (the pouch was in a box). I thought it was truly vile. My grandfather smoked H & H for many years. I always like the smell of it. However, when I tried it, I wondered how he could stand it. (I couldn't ask him because he's been gone for 34 years) It was awful. Burned like dry old kindling, was very hot, and the taste was so strong and unpleasant I couldn't finish the bowl. I tossed the pouch, and made the decision that I'd never smoke it again. It's about 17 years later; a friend gave me two pouches which I politely accepted. They have been sitting around my house unopened for a few months. Finally, I said, "What the h*ll. I 'll give it another try. I'm very glad I did. The pouch aroma was nice. I could detect a toping, almost raisin-like. I smoked it in a cob. The cut is a very fine ribbon, even a shag, I'd say. It packed well and lit well, didn't burn too quickly, didn't burn hot, wasn't at all goopy, and didn't burn my tongue. It was simple and straight forward. No complexity; and I wasn't expecting any. I could taste some Virginia, but mostly a pleasant nutty burely with a very faint hint of licorice. I smoked the whole bowl and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a very relaxing no-nonsense smoke. This pouch is from the Scandinavian Group. The stuff I tried 17 years ago was probably Pinkerton, I'm not sure. All I know is it seems to me to have improved ten-fold. I will say this, I left it on the front seat of my car for two very hot summer days. The pouches expanded like balloons, but deflated after a while when I brought them into my air-conditioned house. Was this the secret? I don't know, but I must say, I enjoyed it, and will certainly smoke it again once in a while when I'm looking for an old fashioned bright and burley smoke and thinking about my dear old Grandpa.

Around here, drugstore blends were what the old timers smoked when I was a kid. This is one of those blends, and although I've been smoking a pipe off and on for about 10 years, I had never tried this blend until recently. Let me just say this: it isn't for everyone. No, it's not the finest grade of tobacco. No, it is not a complex blend. Will it bite? Yup, like a junkyard dog if you don't watch it. So why do I recommend it? Because it is what it is: a classic American burley blend with some young VA's thrown in somewhere (I can taste them about half-way through). Try it with your morning coffee and you'll see why old-timers loved it as well. It's one of my go-to wake-up smokes (the other being Sutliff's Great Outdoors).

Going to try and give this tobacco an honest review that it deserves. I see a lot of people saying that it's unsmokeable and absolutely disgusting, which it is not.

The pouch note is that of a nutri-grain bar. I want to say the word berry or the smell of blueberry but don't let it fool you. It is not a sticky goopy tobacco. It's actually pretty dry and at the right moisture level for smoking right out of the pouch.

It packs easily and burns very evenly. The smoke is pretty much mild on all fronts. Not too much Vitamin N, there is a hint of flavoring that I can't put my finger on, but it's there. PhillyB has a really good review of this and I pretty much agree with that poster's assesment of the baccy.

There isn't too much to rave about but to hear people say they would never smoke this if it was the last tobacco on earth kind of boggles my mind. It is not THAT bad and in a pinch, it could suffice (especially in a cob as it gets a little sweeter and nuttier)

It's a standard steak and potatoes burley pipe tobacco blend. If you want a tobacco to get a feel for a new pipe or to break it in/build a cake, this could be the one to leave in your cellar. If you're looking for a tobacco to refresh a bowl after a S/A treatment, this could be the one. If you're interested in tyring out a pipe and are afriad of Perique, not interested in Latakia, don't understand Orientals or are afraid of VAs, this could be the one. * If you're looking for a cheap tobacco that has a great flavor, this probably isn't the one*

I could see reviewers giving this a 3 but when compared to Prince Albert or Carter Hall and the other great OTC blends, I think this falls a little short. For that, it gets two stars.

A good and cheap tobacco that gives yu what you expect. It's not the best around but for its price is very good. You've to love the gender because if you don't like it it's just a waste of time and money.

Just a good honest smoke. Nothing fancy, just a good old time Virginia/burley blend. Not interesting enough for an all day smoke, but a nice change of pace. Will continue to buy this from time to time. No tongue bite, and a pleasant aroma both in the ouch and room note. A nice change of pace from the ARO's that I normally smoke. this would be a great starter tobacco for someone just taking up the hobby. IMHO.

I started smoking a pipe in 1995 while in college amidst the cigar boom, with a desire to sample all the finer things. Somehow the selection of these OTC burleys at RiteAid didn't match the mystique of Lane aromatics in jars at the mall tobacco shop. Later progressed to tinned tobaccos, and then sought to sample all the OTC burleys based on various Internet reviews.

I tried a pouch of half and half 4 years ago. I was put off by the sour aroma, appearance and overall taste of the tobacco. I tossed it after about 5 bowls.

Seeing that STG is manufacturing this now, I tried a pouch. It is different. Our tastes and observations are different and can change. This is different than i remember. I find the pouch aroma less sour cider. It actually now reminds me of a chocolate covered coconut Easter egg. The cut seems more consistent. Instead of dust from the floor, appears some longer pieces mixed in. Just a tad moister than preferred, but smokes great in a cob.

Burley forward. Mild and smooth. Slight vinegar and cider overtones during nasal exhale, along with what I sense as anise and coconut flavors peeking in and out. None of these flavors are cloying or chemical to me.

This tobacco is really enjoyable and refreshing. Great while doing home chores or for a quick break. . On a 2nd pouch, I foresee this becoming a standby, especially in the warmer months.

As I sit here smoking a cob full of half and half I have to chuckle at myself. My maturation process as a pipe smoker has led me in a direction that at the onset I would have considered a degradation.

My journey in the wonderful world o tobacciana started in the cigar realm (I am still in the cigar realm, as I enjoy a good pipe and good cigar equally). One quickly learns in the cigar universe that there are two basic types of objects. There are cigars, and then there are things that look like cigars. Cigars come from a real tobacconists humidor, and CSO's (cigar shaped objects) come from the shelves of drug stores and gas stations. In the cigar world "drug store" cigars are essentially trash. Some can suit your purposes if you are fishing or what not but high quality and master craftsmanship can not be found on a shelf that also holds Newport cigarettes.

Having this knowledge I avoided all "over the counter" pipe blends when I first partook of the noble briar. I was too stuck up and distinguished to fill my pipes with any swill from a grocery store. Boy was I wrong. While this still holds true in the cigar world, pipes are remarkably different. Blends like carter hall, granger, prince albert, Sir Walter Raleigh, and half and half are excellent smokes at excellent prices.

This blend is really nice. It has a comforting flavor that it does not take a master piper to bring forth. The burn is excellent and the taste is good. This is a non thinking tobacco, you don't have to give it your complete focus to reap its benefits.

There is a flavoring here but I cant really distinguish what it is. Some say apple, and I can kinda believe that but I don't really think that is truly it. Whatever it is its intriguing and nice.

Pick yourself up a pouch. Its recommended.

Incredible drugstore brand smoke. I picked up a pouch of this stuff and CB White, and I wish I hadn't wasted my money on the White. H&H has a great room note and it actually feels like you're smoking something. This is only my 4th blend (I'm a newbie) but this is by far my favorite all-around 'baccy so far. I have a tin of Nightcap which is incredibly powerful and packed with flavor, but I'm not quite sure it's for me anyways. This H&H will surely become a staple in my collection. Highly recommended.

Good American burley, very slightly flavored with Annis, nutty and without too much flavor, bite free, this is an easy and maintenance free smoke for outdoor that does not require your attention, also this is an excellent pipe tobacco for those who want to switch from cigarette to pipe.