Besides that fact, some days it smokes wonderful, others it indeed taste like sawdust. Every once and a while I will go back and give it a try and I'm treated with something new every time. Looking past its inconsistent smoking, Captain Black is still worth a try, especially for beginners. It also is very easy to pack, I always get it perfect even though it comes so moist. I'm quite new to pipe smoking, and this was the very first tobacco I had ever tasted from a pipe. I was interested in pipe smoking, and had seen online that Captain black was affordable, and was an excellent choice for a beginning smoker. Overall, I would have to say that it was not bad advice. After three bowls I decided it just wasn't for me. I hope to upgrade to a better tobacconist brand very soon, but this will surely hold me over for now. Laugh if you will, but the good Cap'n has probably started more poor souls down the path of destruction than any single blend. For that alone, it's worth a casual retry, just as I'll occasionally visit the old neighborhood to check out my old haunts, only to discover that..... The Room note is OK - I do not get as enthusiastic comments as other reviewers mention, but nevertheless it is OK. It exhausted a large brand new CAO block meerschaum pipe in about 10 bowls. If you like this blend you should also try Town Topic. The best-selling pipe tobacco in the world is Captain Black Regular . A Beloved blend enjoyed by almost everyone who considers themselves a pipe smoker. Black Cavendish cased with sweet vanilla makes up the base, with Burley and Virginia playing their part perfectly. No amount of drying will revive it. Instead, you'll get an artificial burnt-cardboard-dipped-in-marshmallows flavor. Plus it has a horrible artificial/chemical aftertaste that took me 24 hours to get rid of. The only positive point is that the room note is nice. But that alone is not enough to save this infernal concoction. Aroma is fantastic, as one would expect. I can't really speak to "room note" so to speak as I smoke exclusively outdoors, but I can't imagine anyone disliking this smell. It is THE classic American aromatic for a reason. I fall into the “Love It” catagory myself, but please keep in mind that I am primarily an English blend man and not much of an aromatic one. I have been smoking Captain Black White at least a few times a year for the past twenty years now. I find it more moist than 1Q or other vanilla blends. If not smoked too fast, I can avoid tongue bite. If you search real hard you can taste some tobacco. I guess it’s vanilla but the taste is artificial. I also get some overripe fruit on the retrohale. But be not fooled, for ye shall be plundered of dignity when ye smoke'th it. Yon Tobacco shalt be cast to the briny deep. One bad thing about it is that--compared to unflavored tobacco-- it is wet. Although this is most likely the most popular "drugstore" blend, I prefer Blender's Gold or even Smoker's Pride over CB, but thats just my personal taste. I had recently tried other "classier" brands of pipe tobbaco, only to find my tongue scorched no matter how finicky or carefull i was. Capt. Black White has none, no matter how you punish it. This tobacco has a great smell in the pouch and the smell of the smoke is even better. Have always received nice compliments how good it smells when out in public. I enjoy this most early in the morning and walking in the woods on the nature trails by my house.