**PRE ORDER** Captain Black Gold Pipe Tobacco (50g Tin)

ALL ORDERS WILL BE HELD UNTIL DELIVERY OF THE CAPTAIN BLACK

• Cut: Ready Rubbed
• Blend: Golden Virginia, & Burley
• Strength: Mild
• Aromatic: Gentle honey-style aromatic
• Packaging: 50g tin

Captain Black Gold Pipe Tobacco – 50g Tin

For years, Captain Black was one of those names that British pipe smokers remembered rather than actually saw on tobacconists' shelves. It had been discontinued in the UK, although it continued to enjoy considerable popularity across the Atlantic. Every now and again somebody would ask about it, and the answer was invariably the same: still going strong in America, but sadly absent over here.

Well, Captain Black has finally made its return to Britain, and among the familiar blends making the journey back is Captain Black Gold.

Gold is an interesting member of the Captain Black family because it puts the emphasis on Golden Virginia tobacco, giving it a lighter, more tobacco-led character than the darker Cavendish mixtures for which the brand is perhaps best remembered.

Virginia is a wonderful tobacco when handled well. Its natural sugars develop during curing, producing that characteristic sweetness which can range from fresh hay and honey to something rather more bready or toasted. It's a leaf that has formed the backbone of countless pipe mixtures over the years, and for good reason.

In Captain Black Gold, the Virginia is complemented by Burley, creating a mild aromatic blend with a gentle sweetness and a soft, approachable character. There are suggestions of honey, a little vanilla and lightly toasted tobacco, although the overall impression remains firmly on the mellow side.

The tobacco comes in a ribbon cut, which is straightforward to prepare and pack into a pipe. It's a familiar style of cut that suits everyday handling, although a little care with packing density and smoking pace is always worthwhile.

What appeals to me about Gold is that it offers something a little different from the classic Captain Black Original. Where Original is closely associated with its sweet Black Cavendish character, Gold gives the brighter Virginia leaf more room to express itself.

It's worth remembering that aromatic tobacco doesn't necessarily mean a blend has to smell like somebody has emptied the contents of a sweet shop into the mixing bowl. There are plenty of variations within the category, and Gold sits towards the lighter, more restrained end of the Captain Black range.

The brand itself became a familiar sight during the great expansion of American aromatic pipe tobacco in the twentieth century. Its distinctive nautical imagery and recognisable blends helped establish Captain Black as one of the best-known names in the business.

For British smokers who remember the Captain from years gone by, seeing these tobaccos available again is a welcome development. And for those encountering the range for the first time, Gold provides an introduction to its lighter Virginia-based style.

Captain Black Gold is supplied here in a 50g tin, suitable for keeping in the tobacco cupboard or transferring to an airtight jar after opening.

After such a long absence from British shelves, it's good to see the old Captain back in port. Gold seems an appropriate cargo for the return voyage, although I suspect His Majesty's Customs would take a rather dim view of anyone arriving with an actual chest of the stuff.