Mars cigars & pipes Art's Endeavor

I've tried both the bufflehead tinned version, and the Mar's version. Both are good. I'm not a huge perique fan, but there isn't much in here to my taste buds. The virginia comes out the most. This is the only blend I regularly smoke that contains perique.

Very nice introduction to some blends that have multiple flavors profiles. I definitely like it for a change of pace away from my heavier latakia and balkan blends.

This is a two pronged review, as I have tried both the Mars offering and the original Bufflehead Art's Mixture. The Mars version is a good place for a VA/VaPer smoker, or for that matter an Aro smoker, to crossover into the land of Latakia. A bit sweet from the Va's, it allows one to test a Latakia blend without being overwhelmed by the usual large dose of this tobacco, to the exclusion of other components. I give the Mars version 3 stars. The Bufflehead version, Art's Mixture, has the added treat of superior VA's, which have aged extremely well. If you can find this one, you are in for a real treat. More complexity from the age and components, and excellent flavor and balance. 4 Stars.

Art is actually the administrator for the popular Internet website smokersforums.co.uk. He gifted me a sample of Art's Endeavor so that I could be one of his test marketers. Art, this one passed the test with flying colors! What I liked about this blend is that it had an aromatic element that was discreet, yet allowed the smoker to taste the tobacco flavor at the same time. Not a complicated smoke, but one that reminded me of Prince Albert on steroids with a misting of Vanilla and chocolate. Delicious stuff!

This is an absolute beginner's blend. High grade tobaccos are present, but the smoke is extremely light with little or no body. I do detect the flavor of the red virginia, but it is very thin. Although this blend is far better in quality than most, I can only reccomend it to the novice.