A couple of days ago after getting a haircut on base, I paid a visit to the tobacco section of the Exchange to see what was available in pipe tobacco. In the lowest shelf of tobacco section were three pouches: Captain Black, Borkum Riff & Smokers Pride. Since my wife has already brought home Smokers Pride, I chose the other two. Bokrkum Riff is what I'll review first.
I decided to smoke this Borkum Riff with Bourbon Whiskey in my Medico Crest 32 which is my oldest pipe. The packaging of a tall ship just called the Medico :) Anyhow, this blend is a mixture of Black Cavendish & Virgina ribbon cut. It was in between moist and dry, but leaning a little more to the dry side. The bag note has just a hint of sweetness and whiskey. Once I lit the baccy, it felt like a "dry" coat of smoke over the tongue with a flavor of oak (possibly) / whiskey and sweet hay. The room note is something I couldn't pinpoint except that there was a little sweeness. It has a low nicotine level, produced a mild smoke with mild flavoring. About the halfway point it got a little better with a little more sweetness but it did smoke a little hot in the Medico. Overall, it wasn't a bad smoke. If I needed some tobacco in a pinch I could smoke it.
I was informed by a fellow piping IG'er that this tobacco was rated one of the worst tobaccos on TobaccoReviews.com. I haven't experienced many tobaccos but in my personal opinion it is a tobacco that I would consider the worst. There is only one time that I threw away a bag of tobacco after smoking the first bowl. It was an aromatic that was gifted to me and it's too bad I don't remember the brand. I just hope I don't stumble across that blend again!