Essential Information
Tobacco Specifications
- Tobacco Name: Hampton House Firepit
- Ingredients: Fire Cured Burley, Whole Leaf Dark Burley, Flue Cured Virginia
- Manufacturer: Hampton House Blends
- Blend Type: Burley/Virginia
- Cut: Ready Rubbed
The Experience
First Impressions
Bag Note
Cracking open the bag of Firepit, you’re greeted with the unmistakable perfume of hardwood smoke mingling with earth and toasted grain. It smells like the dying embers of a campsite fire soaked into thick wool—primitive, comforting, elemental. The fire-cured Burley dominates the air, cloaked in a burnt sugar sweetness from the Virginias and a darker, almost fermented undertone from the whole leaf Burley.
Appearance
The leaf is rough-hewn and rustic: chunky flecks of midnight black Burley, dark chocolate strips of fire-cured leaf, and streaks of sunny, golden Virginia. It’s loosely ready-rubbed but substantial, evoking the look of something hand-pressed and torn, not factory shredded. It has just the right springiness—pliable, never sticky. This isn’t the clean uniformity of hot-pressed flakes. It’s raw and honest.
The Smoke
Packing and Lighting
Firepit packs with ease. It responds well to both gravity fill and light tamping. The charring light produces a sharp tang of campfire and leather, followed by a deeper wave of roasted chestnut and dry oak bark. A gentle tamp and relight sets the bowl aglow with an even, manageable burn.
Initial Flavor
From the start, the smoke is meaty, almost primal. The fire-cured Burley brings a bold campfire character—smoked brisket bark, charred mesquite, and smoked paprika. Yet it doesn’t bludgeon. The sweetness of the flue-cured Virginia rises like steam from wet pine. There’s a balance here: bright over dark, sweetness threading through smoke.
Mid-Bowl
In the heart of the bowl, Firepit softens. The whole leaf dark Burley stretches its legs with a toasted hazelnut quality, cocoa powder dryness, and an occasional tang of black pepper. The Virginias glow more warmly now—a honeyed cereal note with a faint citrus zest. Retrohaling produces a leathery warmth with an almost pepperoni-like savory flourish. In a wide-chambered Dublin on a humid evening, the layers unravel slowly, with smoke curling around the tongue like wool.
Finish
The final third grows earthier. Ashy, dense, but never bitter. The smoky elements recede slightly, replaced by damp forest floor and walnut shells. There’s a faint floral whisper—lavender and dark tea leaves. Burn is near perfect: a fine white ash and steady ember. There’s no ashy mess or harsh snap at the finish, just a gentle descent into warmth.
Room Note
A fragrant echo of firewood and roasted nuts. It’s potent, no doubt—lingering like pipe smoke ought to. Non-smokers may raise an eyebrow, but pipe lovers will find it classic and contemplative.
Strength
Medium-full in strength, with a firm nicotine backbone. Not overwhelming, but you feel it. Best savored after a meal or with a strong drink.
Final Thoughts
Overall Assessment
Overall Impression
Hampton House Firepit is not just inspired by Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired—it is a dedicated match blend. Developed to emulate the character and flavor profile of ODF, Firepit stands as a legitimate and successful recreation of a beloved classic. It doesn’t replicate the hot-pressed flake exactly, but it achieves the same sensory notes through careful blending and fire-curing techniques.
Where ODF relied on steam pressing to unify its elements, Firepit allows each component to resonate more independently—yet the end result evokes the same campfire essence, rich depth, and satisfying balance of strength and sweetness.
It’s nothing short of incredible that this blend, using entirely different tobaccos, manages to conjure such a strikingly similar experience. It speaks to the masterful selection and balancing of leaf—proof that with care and craftsmanship, a blend’s soul can be preserved even as its ingredients shift.
In a post-ODF world, Firepit is not just a replacement—it is the match. Faithful, robust, and full of soul, it carries on the legacy with authenticity and respect.
Smoking Experience
The experience of Firepit changes with environment. On a damp morning, it’s a bracing wake-up call in a cob. On a dry night, it sings softly in a sandblasted bulldog. It burns slowly, responds to cadence, and never bites.
Pairings
Ideal with strong black coffee, rye whiskey, or even a bold root beer. Avoid sweets; the Virginia does enough lifting.
Similar Blends
- Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired – Hot-pressed elegance, now gone.
- Gawith Hoggarth Dark Birdseye – Stronger, sharper, with more Lakeland character.
- C\&D Burley Flake #3 – Drier and woodier, but shares the boldness.
Recommendations
- Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars)
- Who Should Try It: Anyone seeking an ODF replacement or who enjoys rustic, smoky Burley blends.
- Who Should Avoid It: Those sensitive to strength or expecting ODF’s smooth press.
- Additional Notes: Cellar-worthy. Expect the fire-cured elements to mellow and deepen in 6-12 months.
Firepit doesn’t just fill the gap left by Old Dark Fired. It is the match that keeps the fire burning.
