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

ALL ORDERS WILL BE HELD UNTIL DELIVERY OF THE CAPTAIN BLACK

• Cut: Ready Rubbed
• Blend: Virginia, Burley and Black Cavendish
• Strength: Mild
• Aromatic: Caramel & Vanilla notes
• Packaging: 50g tin

Captain Black Royal Pipe Tobacco – 50g Tin

There's a certain irony in calling a tobacco Captain Black Royal. One imagines the Captain receiving a promotion, acquiring a rather grand uniform and immediately finding himself responsible for considerably more paperwork. Fortunately, the tobacco is a good deal more interesting than naval administration.

Captain Black Royal is the blue-labelled member of the famous American aromatic range, known for its mellow character and sweet, creamy aroma. It sits comfortably alongside the Original, Gold and Red varieties, although Royal has a personality of its own.

The blend brings together Virginia, Burley and Black Cavendish tobaccos, producing a mild mixture with a soft, rounded character. The aromatic treatment introduces creamy vanilla notes, a suggestion of caramel and a gentle sweetness that complements the underlying tobacco.

Black Cavendish plays an important role here. Cavendish is a method of processing tobacco rather than a particular botanical variety, often involving heat, moisture and pressure to develop a softer, sweeter character. It's become a familiar ingredient in American aromatic mixtures, particularly those intended to produce a smooth, fragrant smoke.

Royal belongs firmly to that tradition. Its flavour is generally described as sweet and creamy, with the tobacco itself providing a mellow foundation rather than the stronger, earthier character associated with many traditional English mixtures.

The ribbon cut makes it straightforward to prepare and pack into a pipe. As with most aromatic blends, it pays to smoke gently. A little patience helps preserve the flavour and prevents the tobacco from becoming excessively warm. Pipe smoking has never been a particularly successful activity for anyone in a desperate hurry.

Of course, one of the more interesting things about Captain Black is that we're seeing it on British shelves again at all.

The brand was discontinued in the UK many years ago, despite remaining a familiar name among American pipe smokers. During its absence, it became one of those tobaccos people would occasionally ask after, usually accompanied by a recollection of a favourite blend or the unmistakable aroma.

Now Captain Black has made its return to Britain, and Royal is among the varieties available once more. It's an opportunity for those who remember the old range to revisit it, while giving newer pipe smokers a chance to discover a brand with a considerable history.

Captain Black became particularly prominent during the 1970s, when American aromatic tobaccos were enjoying widespread popularity. Its distinctive nautical branding and accessible blends helped establish it as one of the most recognisable names in the international pipe tobacco trade.

Royal offers a sweeter, creamier interpretation of the Captain Black style. Compared with the brighter Virginia character of Gold or the fruitier character of Red, it places greater emphasis on mellow Cavendish sweetness and vanilla-like aromatic notes.

Supplied in a 50g tin, Captain Black Royal is a welcome addition to the returning range. For longer-term storage after opening, a clean airtight jar will help maintain the tobacco's condition.

It's rather pleasing to see the old Captain back in British waters, particularly after such a lengthy absence. And if he's now acquired a Royal title, I suppose we'll have to start addressing him with a little more respect. At least until he starts giving orders.