Rich's Sasha

My pouch is labled "Sasha Plus". I am not sure if this is the same or slightly different than what others have smoked here. According to the blender, Steve Books, this blend has Turkish, 3 different virginias, perique and Syrian Latakia (no Cavendish). Those looking for a Latakia bomb need not smoke this. This is just great stuff and great blending. Steve Books says high quality Syrian Latakia is available to blenders. They grow it every year in Syria and did not elaborate as to why other blenders don't use the stuff. I must say that I love the Syrian latakia. It is less one dimentional than the super smokey Cyprian stuff and has a fuller and more complex flavor that does not overpower the other flavors. This is a blend I am putting away until the weather turns cold as it should be perfect then.

***12/24/09*** I pulled out my jar of this for Christmas Evening and WOW Absolutely Fabulous!!! Full flavor, full strength, full pleasure.

*** 9/4/11** Yumm! great stuff

*** 10/17/13** I have been smoking a mixture of different tobaccos. Nightcap- like it a lot, Peterson's Conosiour's Choice, Treebeard (aromatic from Just for him) like it a lot, Light Flake from Dunhill - love it. Mostly VaPers and English style blends and some fun aromatics in the evening. Sasha Plus from late 2008 and blended by Steven Books is by far the greatest blend I have ever smoked. Every time I smoke it I taste sweet,tart,sour, spicy,butter,carmel,raisins......just the best tobacco. I have only about 1 oz left from the supply I bought 5 years ago. I just bought a small 2oz pouch from Rich's last week. This is NOT blended by Steven Books. I have not yet tasted it. I wanted to smoke a couple of my last bowls of the old/aged stuff first before I went on to the new stuff. The new stuff looks very similar. A little darker. Smell seems to be smokier. Rich's tobacco is good but seems to be a little expensive. Yes, Oregon has a big tax but Rich's own blends are more expensive than tins imported from the most expensive and well known companies. The owner must be getting RICH off these blends. No wonder he calls himself "Rich". The price tag of 2 oz of this is THE SAME from 2008 yet taxes increased.

10/21/13 - Ok. This new stuff in the pouch has a significantly stronger smoke smell and the taste reflects a larger amount of Latakia. Not as good. I rate new stuff a 2.5. Too bad. The other ingredients seem the same but the Latakia is either higher percentage but likely is actually a different source entirely. Steven Books always said his Latakia was from Syria. I am not sure, but he did report that Cyprian Latakia (which he did not like to use much) uses sappy woods like pines while the Syrian Latakia uses hardwoods. Anybody who BBQ's would know the difference and Hardwoods are preferable. Something about the Latakia is different from 2008. Could be the blender, could be the type of Latakia, could be both. Either way the result is a sad mirage.

After reading the website, they actually have both a Sasha and a Sasha Plus. Mine is Sasha Plus.

I don't smoke a lot of English style blends, but of the ones I have smoked, this one rates highly. I had the best bowls when I let the tobacco dry for about 15-30 minutes and packed it in the bowl a bit looser than usual. The ash is powder fine and looks like white frosting on the bowl as it burns down. I did smoke a couple bowls of this blend a bit too quickly, and my tongue paid the price! Going easy on the pedal will give you a smooth ride every time!

Though people from that part of the world are difficult to warm up to, Sasha is a Russian you will actually enjoy putting your arms around with gusto and without the need for a vodka chaser. Another masterpiece of Steve Books?s impeccable skill and care, this is the most thoughtful English crossover blend I?ve ever experienced and now another in my already crowded inner circle of favorites. The best English crossovers in this vein include that spicy Slavic ?Count Pulaski?, the properly Protestant ?Dr. Bradley? and the lightly sweet ?Jack Schwartz 120? with its delightful berry essence. Once again, the latakia is peppery without being forward and the whole ensemble has an ethereal, almost impressionistic ring. Again, there is hardly a pouch aroma to make you curious, and how unfortunate it would be if you stopped there. The blend is herbal with a wee pinch of salty brine to invigorate the tongue. The room note is faint, fleeting and heavenly. Nothing you have ever tried is like this; a tobacco to put you in reverie at the end of a long day. Sasha is a subtly sensuous knockout of unique flavors providing no less than luxurious smoking pleasure. A perfect blend; the way pipe tobacco was meant to taste!

Five and a half of five stars

Very good stuff. A rather muted and ethereal quality to it. It has substantial Latakia but is quite reserved. Not my particular taste but I would recommend it to friends.3 of 4 stars