John Patton Dark and Stormy

I thought that the addition of Latakia to Storm Front might not work because it would dilute the little bit of sweetness it had and a lack of sweetness is big negative for me. Not so in this case. While this isn't as sweet as SF (and SF isn't very sweet), it still has enough to make this pleasant. There may be a touch in this Latakia. This is a very good smoke. The addition of the woody, smoky notes do add to the complexity, but at the same time they hide a little of the Burley flavor. It's a trade off. I think I prefer SF a little more than this, but this is still worthy of 4 stars in my book. A smooth smoke.

Medium in body and flavor. Burns fairly well, but will need a re-light occasionally.

This is a wonderful medium strength burley with some cigar leaf and latakia on the side. The burley is earthy, slightly sweet and even more slightly nutty. There is a smoky, woodsy quality to it that has a different quality than the parent - Stormfront. It is a little more woodsy. The cigar leaf and latakia play together nicely. I think there is a subtle topping that adds to the sweet, but it is so subtle, I can't identify a flavor or even swear there is one.

Compared to Stormfront, this one was easier to like initially. Stormfront grew on me as I smoked more. There is a quality to this blend that is hard to explain. The flavors are subtle and not in your face, but they are having a party in your mouth. This is an excellent blend and easy to recommend.

John Patton - Dark and Stormy.

The blend isn't that coarse, really, it just looks like a standard ribbon. It's a medium shade of brown with a few light and dark specks.

The Latakia really makes this blend: it gives a good smoky/cedar note that's the leading taste. The Cigar Leaf isn't too pushy, it has more of a richness as opposed to a caustic cigar flavour. The Burley gives a good nuttiness, but again, this isn't too formidable. The only added taste I get is a VERY delicate perfume/floral one, but this is extremely light. The burn's steady and the smoke doesn't bite me at any time.

The nicotine's quite medium, and the room-note (to finish on a low point) is too much for me: lots of aroma and plumes of smoke.

This isn't bad, it just isn't one for me.

Somewhat recommended.

From the first puff to the last, this blend tastes very smoky / like a campire. The finish is like that of a cigar with slightly spicy notes.

I'm not getting any flavours that I can compare to real foods, but maybe cloves? The flavour is consistent and obvious. It tastes good and something I do enjoy, depending on the time of day/week.

It burns nicely and the smoke is thick and smells just as it tastes, though the tin-note isn't exactly the same as the room-note + taste.

It's a flavour cigars can't mimic and for that, I give it a decent rating.

As a big fan of Storm Front, I decided to give Dark and Stormy a try with my last order. I have smoked about 2oz of it. I really like it. Everything I like about Storm Front is still there, only with the addition of Latakia. It is a very pleasant, cool smoke. It stays lit very easily like Storm Front. The Latakia is present but more as a smooth background flavor instead of a bold English type flavor.

I still prefer Storm Front, but will also keep plenty of this on hand as it is a nice change and complement to Storm Front. Very nice... if you like Storm Front give it a try. If you like light English bends, give it a try. There's not much about this blend that I could find objectionable. Good stuff!

Dark & Stormy is John Patton's STORM FRONT with some Latakia added. SF is one of the finest Burley blends anywhere, flavored with cigar leaf and a favorite of mine; it smells like TOBACCO, by God; it's as "tobacco-ey" a blend as you could ask for. So D&S is a blend of Burley, cigar leaf and Lat. The John Patton blends are terrific, overall, if you have not made their acquaintance. You get them from 4Noggins.com, btw.

I didn't like D&S much at first. In fact, my first impression was yiicch! This is partly because I am not much of a Lat fan, though I am always looking for blends to like that are lightly flavored with Lat (so many claim to love Latakia that I keep thinking I should cultivate a taste for it). And maybe I kept expecting it to be Storm Front. But I stuck with it and came to appreciate its good qualities, which are considerable. The Lat is much stronger in the jar (this is bulk tobacco) than in the taste, or aroma. I would probably like even a little less Latakia, but less might not work as well; maybe the blend would then simply smell a little off instead of announcing that Lat is present. The combination is a grand one for those who like Burley and cigar leaf.

This is excellent-quality tobacco that packs well and burns slow. Unlike other reviewers, I don't really get much sweetness. The different leaves go together well. Sometimes the Burley comes through more, sometimes the Lat. Not the most complex blend around, but I'll take genuine tobacco taste any day. Because of the Burley and Cyprian Lat, I doubt this one will age that well, but some blends are made to be smoked when you buy them and I think this is one of them.

If you are not a Burley fan, or are turned off by cigar leaf or Latakia, Dark & Stormy is not for you; the Latakia probably won't redeem it. But if you do like them, or if you like English blends, Dark & Stormy definitely is one you should try.

I cannot help but getting notes of plum from the bag, bought in bulk. Whether an extremely mild topping or from the tobacco itself is hard to pin, but doesn’t matter much. Otherwise is earth and nutty burley notes, and a hint of sweet woodiness thanks to the addition of Latakia.

On the tongue it remains sweet, again with the plum, or maybe prune?, the burley nuttiness and earthiness is prevalent, and the Latakia adds a sweet, woody dimension. The cigar leaves ads body to the smoke without overwhelming it. It’s highly pleasant and, though unique, does not necessarily leave a lasting impression, and this retracting a star from its rating.

The sweetness lingers in the finish, and doesn’t leave the charred and barbecue-y scent or taste as often found in Latakia blends, underpinning its meagre addition. Some cigar earthiness is also very pleasantly left on the tongue.

It is exactly what it says it is. A derivative blend of Storm Front with Latakia added. There are periods where the Storm Front is quite obvious and other times where the Latakia takes control. It did not manifest as a halfway blend to me.

I expect that if you really like Storm Front, this would be a let down but if you like your Latakia (as I do but only in moderation), Dark and Stormy would be a good gateway drug to Patton's Cigar leaf Burleyland. I guess someone asked for it just as Dark Horse is a customer-requested derivative of Soulmate's Kiss.

On the whole I like it and recommend it. 3 Stars.

When I hear the surname of Patton, what instantly comes to mind is the image of a surly, tough, bold persona; reference to the renowned and honorable General George S. Patton. As a very young boy, I remember my grandfather, who actually served under Patton during WWII, attesting to the fact that, although the man was tuff as titanium nails, he was genuinely admired by his troops. A principal and pinnacle figure with worthy qualities of assertive leadership, commitment to the cause, and common-sense intelligence. So what does any of this have to do with pipe tobacco? Enter one John Patton … hm?

What I have gleaned in my study of this particular Patton from the prevailing cyber-lore and forum postings is the appearance of a certain degree of congruence between the two respective men beyond the shared last name. Namely for many of the old guard brothers of briar, John Patton is highly regarded as a key impactful figure and innovator in the world of piping. Personified as being outspoken, assertive, and largely esteemed for his knowledgeable contribution, Patton was the creative genius behind favored product blends enjoyed by many piping enthusiasts. Revered as a veritable demi-god on the subject of Burley and cobs, John Patton published to the world his famous Complete Corncob Primer; an insightful entertaining manuscript. John Patton, arguably so, should be perceived as the “tobacco man’s man”. On that note, one of his well-liked varietals, Dark and Stormy, now takes center stage in this subject review.

There was a high degree of working man’s simplicity to the recipes that were developed by Patton. Known for essentially taking ordinary, conventional and basic elements of this and that, thereby arriving at straight-up but colorful blends, Patton has since disappeared from the industry scene. Needless to say, this development was a heartfelt loss by many who found great affection for his concoctions. All is not lost; however. The wonders of Patton’s standard mixtures maintain their legacy by the continuing efforts of 4Noggins.

As I pursued the compilation of existing knowledge relating to John Patton’s blends, two selective preparations struck me as exceptionally intriguing. This one in particular, Dark and Stormy and the original mixture called Storm Front; a different discussion for a later date. Given that I am an avid cigar aficionado on a quest for savory Burleys, being further perplexed by a passion for fire-cured Oriental, this fiercely named combination’s gale whistled at me loud as freight train. With its predominant Burley-base, touch of Latakia, and inducement of cigar leaf, my weathervane was spinning rather excitedly with possibility of something grand in scale about to strike. Ah, just perfect, truly match made in heaven were my thoughts. Excited to taste this tempestuous offering would be a justified understatement.

Dark, brawny, and course would be an accurate description of the mélange of tobaccos that I gazed upon. A beefy compliment comprised by the aforementioned strains of individual tobaccos, perfect in moisture level. The bulk of its composition is presented as a thoughtful melody of white and dark Burleys, being extensively coarse cut while showing some scant evidence of cubic configurations. The lighter strain is definitely more abundant which signaled to me to expect a smooth mellower Burley character about the taste. Gorgeous shards of blackened Latakia, @ 10% by weight in my estimation, circulate within the overall mass. Floating randomly about are the variable, thin-skinned morsels of a red-brown cigar leaf; Connecticut Shade is my guess. Connecticut is characteristic of earthy, zesty and somewhat nutty nuisances; much like one will find in a Macanudo Hyde Park cigar.

The prevailing winds of the pouch note on Dark and Stormy is a forceful blast from the Latakia. The robust and familiar campfire smokiness dominates the bolus of the front-end aroma. As that initial gust dissipated, then the current of Burley pushed through, personifying itself as a pleasantly mellow sourly chocolate-woody essence. With the trailing note, I could discern a little spicy earthiness as evident by the minor presence of the cigar leaf; nothing too overt. An interesting point of conjecture, however. There is a very light distant, tannic sweet finishing flair that was familiar, although I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Only to say that I reminded me of OTC Burley pouched products that I have encountered. Additionally, in accordance with the specifications on this blend, there are no casings or flavoring additives present; yet I wonder.

Moving this blustery blend forward to the discussion of taste, let me state that this mixture is a well-balanced recipe that is neither overly complex nor one dimensional. Inherently Dark and Stormy captures a very nice package of essential and distinct flavors that work well together in colorful harmony. Despite the lightening crash of the Latakia nose within the pouch, it sits way in the back on this one like the rumble of a distant thunder. Occasionally shining through the cloud of Burley with more attentiveness but in general, the Latakia endows a smoky calming mid-note that just melds into a very creamy complement to the base Burley.

As I expected the Burley is characteristically softer and gentile in nature as opposed to being dark and bold. It’s shows a front of mellow slightly sweet wood-nuttiness, that I can only describe as new/green wood or cedar-like. With each drawl the mix offers a wonderful sour skunky overtone as the finishing Burley note. So you have this fabulous turbulence of sweet and sour besetting each other in delightful amalgamation producing a very tasty combination. Additionally, echoes of dark potent molasses are presented, which were very challenge to register, as they are subtly masked by other celebration of flavors.

The cigar leaf adds a velvety earthy spiciness to the lower registration. Zesty-pecan nuisances that are extremely well checked by the other compliments leave a remarkable impression in the mouth and animate the nasal cavity all the same. There is just enough stirring in the storm of flavor for the typical cigar smoker to detect and enjoy. Finally, because of the cigar element, the smoke that is produced is thick and meaty.

Depending upon how the various strains fall within the bowl, the different taste accents and combinations can move around a bit, but for me that’s what makes the smoke interesting. Nonetheless Dark and Stormy, overall, is a very consistent blend being rich and satisfying for the entire bowl. It leaves very little aftertaste and is not a bit dry. A few re-lights but with the application of slight pressure with the Czech tool periodically as you smoke, the mix genuinely burns nicely.

With this blend you will discover a sweet spicy warm creaminess to the aroma. Highlights of cedar and nut fill the room with a very pleasant sour twist. It is rather light in weight despite the thickness of the smoke, and it tends to hang low with a medium time duration. I found the room note to be very tolerable and pleasant given all the elements that have come together.

I deem this to be low in nicotine as the Burley carries the principle load. Latakia and a Connecticut wrapper are by nature meager on nic and help curb some of that jarring effect. For that reason, I personally could smoke this particular mixture throughout the entire day. It has all the cherished attributes of a quality standard Burley, yet is mellow and smooth enough to be casually enjoyed. For someone just venturing into the genre of Burleys this would not be too brash to trial. For a cigar smoker transitioning into the world of pipe smoking, Dark and Stormy with its combination of American Burley, fired Oriental, and the cigar leaf would be ideal inaugural blend in my opinion.

Final note, cob or briar take your pick the smoke is enjoyable and about par for the course, The Lat does pop a little stronger in the briar. The cigar and burley are a little more flash burnt through a cob. A match made in heaven, perhaps? I could argue for little more Lat. If Dark and Stormy is in the forecast, it is a nebulous tempest that I can weather quite well.