Drum (US)
Republic Tobacco's US Drum. A reasonably mild dutch blend with a slightly smokey/dry taste. A readily available and popular blend. Fine cut with medium length strands. Numerous bits of leaf, stem, etc. Low ~$22lb.
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- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Trader John on Tuesday, 04-Oct-2011
I was curious about the additives in Drum. I have been smoking it for a week. I was smoking American spirit tobacco, the black pouch, but it is quite harsh and tarry. I really liked the Drum but wanted an additive free tobacco.
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After searching the web and coming up without an answer, I called the company and they confirmed that the tobacco has absolutely no additives. Im pretty happy with it but wanted to share that tidbit of info with you.
In relation to the above comment about getting exceptionally dry tobacco, I had the same experience this week. The pouch I bought at a local supermarket was desert dry. I simply put it im my humidor for a week and its fine now. I didn't notice a drop in flavor like the prior post noted.
- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Kerry on Thursday, 14-Feb-2008
Although my first foray into Zwares left me not liking them at all, that was a few years back when I was changing from manufactured cigarettes to SYO. I knew, or thought I knew what I was looking for and it wasn't a Zware of any type.
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During that period, I happened to buy a couple of pouches of Gauloises (Mellow/Caporal) and I didn't like it much then. I recently found one of the pouches left and found that the Zware tobacco really grew on me!
So, I went looking locally for Zware or Halfzware tobacco but could only find Drum(US). I have to agree with the description at the top of this page "A reasonably mild dutch blend with a slightly smoky/dry taste".
The 5.29 oz tin was moist enough to have to let it dry before stuffing and I didn't notice any of the stems and other stuff some folks have seen.
After Gauloises, this stuff is really tame and fairly bland. Of course Gauloises was a full Zware and Drum is a Halfzware, but Drum just doesn't light up the taste buds. Also, after smoking several sticks it left me with a bad taste that lingered.
Although mild in draw and taste, it seems to have somewhat of a kick, but not overly powerful. However, I could never see this replacing my everyday personal blend which is equal parts Ramback, Ramback Balkan, Two-Timer, and Windsail Platinum. A sweet smoke with depth and subtleties that really satisfies.
Drum(US) is not bad, but I know there is better stuff out there. I doubt I will purchase this one again unless I am pressed and it is the only thing available, which is possible where I live!
- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Friday, 23-Nov-2007
I picked up a pouch at the local grocery the other day, and true to form, it was dry as Death Valley! After re-hydration it kind of disappointed me, because it reminded me of Jester without the Java leaf. I noticed some odd cuts the size you'd find in pipe tobacco; kind of out of place in a shag, a fair amount of birds eye as well. Laid out side by side with Jester; they look pretty much the same except there was more birds eye and stuff in the Jester. By scent, it's easy to note the similarities. I decided to make a "Duplex" smoke; an easy task with a cranker. I put the Jester from the filter half way, and Drum the in the other half. Quite interesting, and gave me a chuckle to boot when I got smoked down to the Jester and the Java leaf started burning; like adding a spice to the kettle! I'm sure some will enjoy the European taste Drum imparts, but Look Out Milde Shage still holds first place with me in that department (Shag). Drum is a nice treat, kind of bold, but not as bold as Five Brothers Smoking Tobacco if you get my meaning. A nice treat though! Capt Mike
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- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Wazmo Nariz on Saturday, 24-Nov-2007
I've never had a dry pouch of Drum; I think it kinda depends on where you buy tobacco, though. I've never bought a pouch at a convenience store or a grocery store, where the tobacco (I would think) would tend to sit around much longer before purchase.
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I've been in the UK a lot lately, and I've gotta admit that US Drum is starting to close the taste gap on Euro Drum...but there's still a ways to go. I think the US version still relies a little too much on the fake smoke additive as compared to the Euro variety (or maybe just an infoerior fake smoke additive, I dunno). I any event, the gap isn't quite as wide as it was a few years ago, which is a good thing.
- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Sunday, 25-Nov-2007
What kind of fake smoke additive are you talking about? I know it's risky picking up tobacco at the grocery, but that is the only place around here I can get Five Brothers Smoking Tobacco; none of the tobacco shops around here have it. It's not to much of a bother to rehydrate the tobacco to me since up here in Northern Ohio on the shore of Lake Erie I have to do it all winter with my other tobaccos to a much lesser degree though. I've never heard of a fake smoke additive? Capt Mike
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- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Wednesday, 28-Nov-2007
Curiosity getting the best of me I decided to have a close look at the contents of my pouch of Drum, and was quite surprised! What I found was Dark Fired, about 50% by the look of it, and about 40% Burley; finished with about 10% Virginia. The cut was same for all the components, and the scent for the most part comes from the Dark Fired it seemed. By a closer look, I meant under magnification of 2x,4x,6x, and 8x.
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While I was at it I compared some Jester, and Five Brothers Smoking Tobacco. With the Five Bros, it's easy to see the different tobaccos that make up its' composition; since there is at least three different cuts present, and the Dark Fired. There are birds eye in the Five Bros, mostly of the round type indicating the leaf was cut from one end to the other, and only a few side cut (length ways) cut. These resemble a stem cut down the middle, and dark in color. I still haven't decided which of these three I favor, but I'm leaning towards the Five Bros. I've discovered the distinctive scent in all three blends comes from the Dark Fired component. Dark Fired tobaccos are cured in a barn with smoldering embers on the floor (about 3 feet deep) for several weeks to infuse the smoke aroma, the main ingredient in Drum. I'm not sure of the types of wood used to cure the tobacco though. Dam, it's 2 AM already! Capt Mike
- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Johnny Jentle on Sunday, 25-Nov-2007
I occassionally buy pouches of Drum (US) at the local tobacco shop, and it does tend to be dry, dry enough to need re-hydration. Another thing I've noticed with Drum, both pouches and cans, it has small stems in it, not enough to ruin the tobacco, but enough to detract from the quality a little. With canned tobacco, I expect high quality, and that means no stems or bird's-eyes.
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Right now, I have a can of Drum and won't let a few stems stop me from enjoying it. But between Drum and Bali blue, I find the quality of the Bali to be a little better. And for that matter, the quality of Jester is probably a little better than Drum too (although I don't consider Jester a true halfzware, due to the Java leaf, but maybe that's a bit of a technicality). I like to have a good halfzware around as an occassional smoke, but in the future I'll probably select Bali blue over Drum.
- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Wazmo Nariz on Monday, 26-Nov-2007
Actually, the birds-eyes and stuff are in there on purpose, adding a bit of woodsiness to the smoky flavour...so it is, indeed, a quality issue--just not in the way you think.
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- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Johnny Jentle on Monday, 26-Nov-2007
I know what you mean. Stems can add a bit of character to a tobacco. I'm not taking a dogmatic, my-virgin-eyes-must-not-see-a-stem attitude. With my regular, everyday tobacco, I purposely use pieces of stem when injecting. But with the higher quality canned tobaccos, it junks up the flavor a little. The flavor is a little less clean and smooth.
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Where I live Drum is not a popular tobacco. So, it's possible the can I bought a couple weeks ago is 2 or 3 years old. The composition of the Drum being produced currently, and therefore its quality, could already be different from what I'm getting.
- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by michael on Wednesday, 26-Sep-2007
Anyone get any bad cans of drum lately? My last two cans were very bland in taste and smell. Same thing with bali shag, so it could be me I guess.
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- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by David Brown on Wednesday, 30-May-2007
I use drum as a treat, I normally smoke a premium full flavor house blend from Tobacco Station.
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When I get it here in the pouches since there is no smoke shops where I live. The only issue I have is it is rather dry and I usually put it in a container with a couple of moisture buttons to bring it back to life and when I inject I let it dry slightly.
I ordered some samples from American Thrust which should be here tomorrow. All Shags and some vera cruz tubes and will find one I really like to use as a treat during the month.
- Re: Drum (US)
- Posted by Turtle on Sunday, 24-Dec-2006
Pretty much the same as bali shag blue to me, very good, but very strong.
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- Re: Drum
- Posted by Dan the littledog on Saturday, 17-Dec-2005
The Drum of old is long gone. The latest incarnation shows great improvement after several false starts. This is an average in tin aroma,body,and smoothness for a halfzware. Certainly nothing to write home to Mom about. Available in cans it is worth the money for the first can as it looks neat and you can re-use it for a long time. Then spend the same amount of $$ to get 500 grams of Lookout Halfzware.
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- Re: Drum
- Posted by Gary on Monday, 11-Jul-2005
Could you let me know where you find the extra mild shag drum?? Been looking with no luck......thanks
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- Re: Drum
- Posted by cignut on Friday, 10-Sep-2004
The old drum was the best tobacco on the market. the new U.S. drum is crap. A lot of trash in it.
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- Re: Drum
- Posted by OleEd49 on Thursday, 13-Mar-2008
You are on the mark there cignut! I first started smoking Drum about 15 years ago and it was great back then. Mild yet full flavored, few birdseyes and it was never "dry". When it disappeared from the market and reemerged I was smoking Jester and the crap that pretended to be Drum was ..well crap. I recently had to find an alternative to Jester b/c the one shop in town ran out and all they had was Drum. It took me three full days to get it rehydrated and it still was crap. My only hint is to add a thin slice of apple to the pouch for at least two days to mellow it out, give it some kind of flavor and kill the nasty aftertaste. Either that or take a shot of Jack after each "puff".
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- Re: Drum
- Posted by Alist on Thursday, 13-Mar-2008
I am no fan of Drum either. First of all, it's far too strong. Second of all, it makes me want to cough. Third of all, Bali Shag light is soooooooo much better for that style of tobacco, in my opinion.
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- Re: Drum
- Posted by Tim Aydt on Friday, 26-Sep-2003
Drum: I got turned on to Drum while it was still an import, many years ago. A friend rolled his own and I was suprised by how mild it was in an unfiltered cigarette. Years later, when I made my first foray in to SYO, I tried making cigarettes with a small handheld machine, I believe it was a Bugler, using full flavor king tubes, and Drum tobacco. The shag cut didn't work well in the machine, it was very strong, and I really didn't know what I was doing. That, combined with the fact that Drum was being pulled from the market, ended my first SYO experience. Now that I have educated myself, thanks to site like this one, I realize several things. Drum is fine alone in a handrolled cigarette, because there really isn't much tobacco in them, so the flavor is mild, the halfzware shags really need to be blended with other tobacco to stuff properly, and you need a good machine.
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Drum provides a flavor that I, personally, desire in my cigarettes and I can't imagine smoking SYO without it. I can't describe how it tastes, because no premade cigarettes have its flavor. Try a bag, use between 1/4 and 1/8 blend and see the difference.
- Re: Re: Drum
- Posted by educated smoker on Monday, 01-Dec-2003
Drum is quite simply a fire cured dark kentucky tobacco halfzware shag nothing special and there are many tobaccos like it for the RYO/SYO market but for those of you who prefer the pre-mad market the above info about acigarette pre-made that tastes like drum not existing thats wrong. There is one a dutch company makes that is imported by an american company. it tastes exactly the same because it's fir cured kentucky like drum. it is the one and only of it's type and they are called black death cigarettes it comes in a black pack with a skull wearing a top hat on the front and their motto "I smoke em and I like em'" the motto is to say that you know it's going to kill you and you don't care becase it's a simple pleasure you enjoy in life. they are a fine quality cigarette but may be hard to find have your local smoke shop order them or pick them up offline. if you like drum and want a premade pick up a pack you'll be pleased.
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- Re: SYO Drum
- Posted by Tim Mc on Thursday, 05-Feb-2004
Personally when I am in between internet orders of fresh tobacco I always go to Drum as my "fall back plan". Its tasty, reliable, and easy to stuff in my Supermatic I. I would definitely agree with the experience of it being too harsh in a full flavor tube. However, I find that in the Zig-Zag Light tube or a Premier Light tube (the two I use most often)it is a very smooth and cool smoke, yet it's packed with flavor.
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Alot of my friends who buy store bought smokes fall in love with it. I don't find it that interesting, but in the right Light tube, it is admittedly a solid, flavorful, and faithful smoke.
- Re: SYO Drum
- Posted by ikonoklast7 on Friday, 10-Sep-2004
I agree that Drum in a light tube tastes just perfect. Actually, I don't think I've ever tried it in a full-flavor tube before. If its in a light tube or unfiltered, it tastes incredible to me, and is always in my regular rotation of RYO/SYO tobaccos.
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Here's something...well, unusual, to say the least...to try with Drum.
Try handrolling some in a Juicy Jay's bacon-flavored rolling paper. Yes, I know it sounds disgusting, but to me, Drum has an almost hickory-smoke kind of flavor, so the two meld very well.
Well, at least they do for me.