Ryback
The manufacturer (D&R) says: Developed for the smoker who has acquired a taste for the European or Dutch style of extra fine cut, fire cured tobacco. ~$20LB.
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Ahren on Sunday, 11-Dec-2011
How does the D&R Ryback compare to the Peter Stokkebye Amsterdam shag? I typically smoke a Halfzware/Turkish blend, but since the D&R and Peter Stokkebye products are similarly priced, I thought I'd ask. Ultimately, I'll end up buying the D&R product once it's time to resupply to personally compare the two myself.
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Also, which D&R product is most like the current Drum tobacco: the Ryback or Ryback Gold?
Thanks!
- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Johnny Jentle on Saturday, 22-Dec-2007
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D&R seems to have improved this blend recently. It is now similar in appearance and taste to US Drum. I would recommend this blend, especially for those who like Drum, but are looking for a less expensive alternative. I took a digital photo of a side-by-side comparison of Ryback to Drum. I'll try to attach the pic to this post.
- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Rolland on Friday, 07-Sep-2007
This is a flavorful and inexpensive tobacco. With D&R products you get a lot of bang for your buck. But do NOT mention this fire cured tobacco in the same breath as Drum or Bali Blue. It is not in the same league as those pricey sophisticated halfzwares. But, having said that, I like Ryback, especially for blending with other lighter tobaccos. I'm about half way through a 14 oz bag and would buy it again.
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- Ryback Gold
- Posted by Wazmo Nariz on Saturday, 16-Jun-2007
To paraphrase Jules in Pulp Fiction, "Mmmmmm.... this IS a tasty tobacco!"
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The aroma from the Ryback Gold seems to be less pronounced than the straight Ryback, but you *can* detect the slight smoky smell as well as the nutty smell of the flue-cured Virginia. There seems to be another aroma there that I couldn't put my finger on, but it could just be the interplay between the Ryback and the flue-cured Virginia.
In any event, this is a damn fine smoke in a FF tube...while you can, if you think about it, pick out the individual flavours of the Ryback and the flue-cured V, it's the "implied taste" that put a smile on my face. It's hard to describe, but anyone familiar with polyrhythms in music will know what I'm talking about. Using two or more different time signatures amongst different instruments in a single composition creates an "implied rhythm."
The Ryback component gives a little "oomph" to the Virginia while still giving up that sweet, nutty flavour, especially after exhale. No one flavour overwhelms any other, and they play together wonderfully.
I gave some of this to my friend Pants, who posted here looking for Old Holborn; "Damn, this is great!" she said. "Not as sweet as Old Holborn, but close enough. Maybe with a bit more of the gold Virginia...." She promptly ordered two bags as well as two tubs of Windsail Platinum to goose it up a bit.
This is good stuff. Not as strong as some who are used to most euro-style halfzwares, but tasty and satisfying.
- Re: Ryback Gold
- Posted by Pants MacGillicuddy on Saturday, 16-Jun-2007
Waz is right; I really liked this stuff! But I ordered a tub of Windsail Platinum along with a tub of Three Sails to see which might bring it closer to the Old Holburn. I'm betting it might be a mix of the Ryback Gold with the Three Sails. No matter, I can't wait!
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by scott johnson on Monday, 04-Jun-2007
I got a tub of this in my latest order. I really enjoy the taste of this stuff. Kinda like Bali Shag but a little lighter in strength.
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SJ
- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Wazmo Nariz on Monday, 04-Jun-2007
I really need to try some of that..or at least the Ryback Gold. I'm wondering if it's similar to the Drum Milde that I regularly smoked in the UK. I"d be curious to hear from anyone who has smoked both Drum and Ryback to see how they compare.
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Wazmo Nariz on Friday, 15-Jun-2007
Got some Ryback (and Ryback Gold) yesterday and have enjoyed a few sticks of the Ryback. It's certainly closer to European Drum than US Drum, yet not exactly the same (smoked my last pouch of Euro Drum a few months ago...won't be back to London for a couple months, so it'll be interesting to do a direct comparison).
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The bag had the typical smoky aroma you'd expect,but not overpoweringly so. It's a hearty smoke for sure in a FF tube, but not too strong or over the top. In fact the smoky aroma isn't really apparent in the taste except as an after-note; it has more of a "woodsy" taste with a slight hint of sweetness that really makes itself known when you've finished the stick.
Since my everyday smoking tends to lean towards brightleaf Virginias, I wouldn't smoke this regularly except as an after-dinner smoke or with a nice cuppa...maybe three or four sticks a day. Again, not because it isn't a good smoke (it most certainly is)...just that I use this sort of blend as a desert smoke or a treat. I would imagine anyone whose main smoke is a euro/Danish-style halfzware would appreciate this one.
Very fine cut with a few bits of stem and birds-eyes for added flavour, it stuffed perfectly and burned evenly and somewhat slow. I'm glad I finally got around to trying it and will certainly keep it on hand from now on.
- Ryback Gold
- Posted by V.B. on Saturday, 05-Nov-2005
As with all other D&R blends, the quality of this tobacco is outstanding. Compared to Bali Light Shag (one of my favorites for early morning coffee time), Ryback Gold is noticeably milder and the Dutch-style spice is noticeable only in the pre-burn aroma and ambient smoke, but not on the exhale flavor (as with Bali Light).
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For those who want only the barest hint of Dutch-like flavor and barely noticeable inhale sensation, this is probably the highest quality blend to have. But I think I'll stick with Bali Light because of its somewhat more pronounced Dutch aroma/flavor characteristics and just a tiny bit more strengh on the intake.
- Re: Ryback Gold
- Posted by Warren on Wednesday, 24-May-2006
Got a package today from D&R with a tub each of Ryback, Two timer and G.R Rimboche along with 50 boxes of Excel filterless tubes (D&R is the only place that still has some). The nice D&R folks also included two free tubs, one of Ryback gold and one of S.J. Rimboche. What a pleasant surprise, especially amid the current mass hysteria and witch hunt on smokers everywhere else.
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Ryback gold is very smooth, rich and not overly strong tobacco (my regular smoke is Natural American Spirit which has a bite and still induces a light buzz on the first cigarette in the morning). While Ryback gold certainly can't substitute for Gauloises (which is what I was looking for), it is quite enjoyable to smoke. When unlit, it emanates a very pleasant tobacco smell with a subtle nutty & cherry tree whiff. I liked it better than regular D&R Ryback (which is similar, but a bit sharper), US Drum or Bali Shag (and few other Peter Stokkebye's halfzwares all of which had too much added flavors). I hope D&R will come up with something closer to Gauloises, though (I am on my last pouch, and no one seems to sell them any more; Black Death was the closest I found, but that one is hard to find, too).
I also had chance to compare the two Rimboches. Although both are a bit exotic for regular smoke, they somehow seem to grow on you after just few cigarettes, a kind of tobacco one would use for special occasions or to relax with a cigarette or two after a hard days work. S.J. seemed more interesting and flavorful than the G.R. blend (at least in this initial test, after only few sticks of each). As with other D&R tobaccos, both are very smooth.
- Re: Ryback Gold vs McV
- Posted by Dano on Thursday, 25-May-2006
Funny you should mention the Ryback Gold. I got my usual order about 2 or 3 weeks ago from D&R and while rummaging through the boxes found that they sent along a carton of both the Ramback Elite & Prestige tubes as well as a tub of the Ryback Gold. D&R is a class act, I love those little surprises.
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Being a Mc V smoker I'm always looking for what's going to replace it so I ordered a tub of the 3 Sails to try out. I smoked a stick or two then noticed the Ryback Gold in there and tried that out at once. I was most impressed with it right off the bat.
I popped the top and gave it a good smell, not because i'm any kind of expert but just to see what's what. It had absolutely no smell what so ever. It was like smelling an empty tub. I thought how odd. I stuffed some into my usual rizla ff tube and lit it up. I agree with you 100%, it's rich smooth and the nutty taste is very unusual. Quite good.
Although it's not a McV replacement it does have a lot in common with McV. It seemed to me that the only thing missing was that light sweet taste on the exhale that you get with McV so I tried mixing about 1 part SJ Rimboches to 3 parts Ryback Gold.
Wow! Now that's something any McV smoker can happily live with. Certainly better than Windsail Platinum or Ramback Gold. I wonder if D&R would make a blend like that ready to go. Would be great!
- Re: Ryback Gold vs McV
- Posted by Mike on Tuesday, 30-May-2006
Thanks for blend tip; think I'll try the Ryback Gold with SJ Rimboche. I mixed 3 parts SJ Rimboches, 2 part penhooker and 1 part ramback and wound up with a very tasty cigarette. Agree that D&R is class act; got the SJ Rimboche tub free with my order.
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- Re: Ryback Gold vs McV
- Posted by Kerry on Wednesday, 31-May-2006
Hehehe! I must be doing something wrong! I never have gotten a freebee anything from D&R in any of my orders although I have read several posts here from people who say they did.
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Do you have to order more than $270 worth? That's my usual charge per order. ;o)
- Re: Ryback Gold vs McV + D&R
- Posted by Dano on Thursday, 01-Jun-2006
Hahha.. well... I guess my usual order is in the $200 range.
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Do you order via their web site? I always make it a point to phone my order in. Every now and then there's a little surprise in the box.
I always get that nice southern lady on the phone, Betty? She always makes a lil chit chat. She's got that classic southern accent that makes you think you went on vacation without leaving home and leaves you thinking that she must make one hell of a good batch of southern fried chicken! :)
- Re: Ryback
- Posted by andrew on Thursday, 28-Jul-2005
Its an aquired taste. Almost sweet like a cigar or flavored cigarette. Not as preferable for regular smoking after switching from commercial. Robust thats sweet almost like menthol or flavored tobacco, that you feel in your stomache after a few cigarettes...
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by G on Monday, 10-Jan-2005
This is my favorite fire-cured tobacco. I have tried a number of them and find Ryback to be the best tasting and to have the nicest room aroma. Also its the only tobacco of this type I have found that is not laced with junk such as sugar or propylene Glycol (ingredients I read to be present in Samson for example).
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by chris c. on Thursday, 02-Jun-2005
This stuff rocks. I prefer halfzware, so naturally I went for this stuff. I literally chased down the mailman to get it, and I'm glad I did. Not to strong with a great taste. Wow, I'm impressed! Tastes like bali shag halfzware, but not as strong. Way cheaper too.
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- Ryback
- Posted by Dan on Saturday, 18-Sep-2004
Ryback is currently my smoke of choice. It is similar to the Jester/Drum and also PS Amsterdam Shag. It is really a medium fine cut tobacco that injects very, very, nicely into tubes (unlike the ultra fine cut Amsterdam Shag). It is also not as moist as the PS brands, and arrives in the mail a perfect %65 moisture content, ready to smoke. I must say I am impressed with this D&R product as it is very flavorful and well worth the price. Quality stuff. The only drawback I have is the stem content can be high sometimes, but worth picking out if you enjoy this type of tobacco.
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Kevin on Tuesday, 22-Jun-2004
D&R's Ryback is his answer to the Drum-jester crowd & is very well done for we that like the dark rich blend that is so popular but also tends to be on the strong side, I prefer it over drum or any of the halvzware shags (except Jester).
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Smok-Daddy on Sunday, 01-May-2005
Ryback missed the mark,it is a bad dutch style tobacco imitation.I think D&R can do better with a dutch blend..
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It is a good smoke,just not a true dutch style smoke....SD
- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Dan the littledog on Sunday, 18-Dec-2005
You said it all. Also it has a funky flavor.
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Smokin n Jokin on Sunday, 04-Mar-2007
My sentiments exactly. This is a fifth rate pretend halfzware with a funky taste. I'd smoke moldy Lookout before I'd smoke this stuff.
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Rob a Newbie on Sunday, 29-Dec-2013
To me it smokes fairly soft but has a strong chemical like aroma. I'm mixing in just a pinch a tube to get rid of the stuff, mixing it with 3 sails plat. which to me is fine but a light smoke by itself. Don't leave a Ryback behind your ear while working on your car, you'll wonder where that smell is coming from!
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Rob on Friday, 28-Feb-2014
Well that statement above was 3 months ago and using just a pinch really got me to liking the flavor! I'm now using it about 1/2 and1/2 with Three Sails or Two Timer, or anything thats light in a filtered smoke. I use this for some flavor.. really like it and wanted to repost my current feelings about this tobacco.
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- Re: Ryback
- Posted by Alex on Tuesday, 09-Sep-2014
Me, I likeum strong smoke, dry aged porterhouse steak, 100 proof whiskey and strong cig afterwards.....Problem, due to tax reasons...Drum is taxed at a much higher rate, because it's taxed as a cig tobacco....Duh..Not telling you anything you don't know...but I have the Drum hook, that's what I like, I've tried so many " pipe" tobaccos, trying to save a little (or a lot) of tax money....That's what lead me to the Ryback.....Conclusion : That's what I'm smoking now, it's good, don't' get me wrong, but it's only a "similar" smoke to a Drum....If your a Drum smoker, and try this, you'll say..."It's the closest of my attempts to imitate Drum...." but it's still like 3rd, once...removed cousin.....It does the "trick" but always leaves you wishing you had Drum instead...If you happen to be particularly attached as I am to Drum,,,,,After trying it with some " pure Kentucky Dry Curr ed" mixing tobacco...all you're left with is a slightly "accepting" result...I've worked all of the "alternative" blends, an d addd ins...But if you are one of those that love Drum, because there is just never anything else like it that will satisfy you....Then, you'll always be " wanting".
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