"The Latakia? You can't handle the Latakia!"

If you think you know what a Latakia slap feels like, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

But perhaps I exaggerate. Or not. Your tongue will wonder what it did to make you treat it like this. Then it'll beg for more.

"Come on Baby, make it hurt so good!"

The label says "Full Strength Mixture." No, 'ya think???

Gotta tell you, I don't often write a tobacco review after only one bowl, but this one's a no-brainer. If you like Latakia, GET SOME OF THIS! (sorry, didn't mean to shout...)

Starts off smooth, ends up smooth. Starts off rich, ends up richer. Starts off creamy, ends with an explosion of flavor. Starts off full, ends up FULL. Don't confuse strong flavors with harshness. The quality of the Latakia is amazing, and of course building on a foundation of SG Virginias guarantees the building will stand strong. No way you're gonna forget there's a pipe in your maw.

Gotta order more...gotta order more...gotta order more...

Some view this as lacking complexity because of the ingredients, you have the virginias and lots of cyprian latakia and that's it. Here the complexity lies in the progression. It starts of with a sharp latakia attack which gradually leads to "soapyness" and becomes creamy and at the same time the sweetness of the virginias starts to surface somewhere at the last third of the bowl.

The room note repels people, but sometimes it's a good thing.

I'd give SL 3.9 and commonwealth 3.6 stars, both losing 0.1 star because of the moisture level in a fresh tin, but I'd rather dry than remoisturize my tobacco.

The first two-thirds of the bowl are creamy and rich with the taste of Latakia which is well grown and robust, much like a good coffee without the heat. The tobacco burns cool and even and has a very enjoyable aftertaste.

The end of the bowl takes on a sweet tone lent to it by the "heavily steamed" Virgina tobacco. This is a very nice flavor as it melds well with the taste of the Latakia creating a great blending sensation.

I prefer to call this a two-note tobacco because of it's robust start, and sweet finish.

Commonwealth is an English blend that is almost sure to please any palate looking for a exceptional tobacco. It is easy to see why it is compared to other big names in the latakia/English families.

The only downside is the room note as it is sure to be offensive to some if not many.

Although it’s said to be a full-strength mixture, and although it punches you quite hard on the nose when you open the tin, I don’t find that CM has a particularly high nicotine content. To my mind there are two negatives, though not very serious ones. One is that it comes very moist in the tin: it really does need quite a lot of drying. I see that several reviewers have said that it improves a good deal with age; I’m not surprised to hear it. Another negative is its very pronounced and distinctive room note. It isn’t unpleasant if you like the heavy, sharp-edged fragrance of Latakia mixtures, but innocent bystanders may well reel away choking.

In terms of my own preferences, this isn’t an all-day smoke; I have to be in a Latakia mood, and that doesn’t happen all that often. When I am, though, I like CM a lot. On this basis, I think that three stars would be a fair rating.

I also keep this mixture fairly moist which I prefer over the dry, but find that as always, moisture plays a significant role, perhaps more than most tend to think about or give credit to.

As a matured virginia plug smoker for over 45 years, I do enjoy some of the heavy Balkan type flakes or plugs and keep them in my rotation. If this were available in plug form it would suit me far more than the "broken flake". I buy this in 1 lb bulk, and I don't see nor have I ever seen a true broken flake with this tobacco.

I smoke this in a group 5 straight billiard. I especially like this in the morning with tea or coffee. In the evening with a smokey scotch. Definitely worth a good try!

....a pipe is to be savored.

I would perhaps suggest this as a good tobacco to try if you want to single out latakia and get a feel of it, to understand what it does in other blends. Or if you simply can't get enough of latakia and don't care about complex spiciness, fruity overtones and bouqets this and that. Simplicity in itself can be a great feature.

As others have also noted, it's somewhat of an overstatement to say that this is a "full" mixture. As far as strength is concerned there is really nothing to fear from Commonwealth Mixture. However, you might want to keep in mind that this is no light mixture either.

Personally I like to pack this in the morning, and smoke it in the evening (or better yet, the evening of the next day). To me it doesn't come to its right straight from the tin.

Now, I do like this mixture. The problem is just that I don't like it very frequently. I struggled a bit with how to take that into account for the sake of rating on this website, and I reached the conclusion that it's how I feel about it when I'm actually smoking it that matters the most, not how I feel about it when I'm not smoking it. And when I do smoke it, it's a 3-star tobacco.

The Latakia in Commonwealth Mixture doesn?t seem to meld well with the Virginian tobacco. Indeed, Commonwealth has a strangely monochromatic Virginia-Latakia flavor without ever achieving a Virginia/Latakia melded flavor. To be fair I?ve never let a tin of Commonwealth age for more than a few months and I?ve never aged a bulk sample: it may be that this Virginia/Latakia blend would ?meld? more if given time.

Taken as a whole, Commonwealth Mixture has many assets one might commend. Nevertheless, it doesn?t distinguish itself in a crowded field. I find Balkan Flake, another Gawith offering, to be a far superior representation of a pure Latakia/Virginia English-style tobacco.

Commonwealth provides the smoker a great campfire simplicity that develops a slight sweetness toward the second half of the bowl. While producing volumes of smoke this mixture does not burn hot, nor does it bite the tongue or make you dizzy with nicotine.

While the smoking characteristics of this tobacco are fantastic, this is not an all day smoke. Great on a crisp evening, preferably outside. I find that it does require something to sip on, to cleanse the palate. This is characteristic of all Latakia heavy mixtures I have smoked and tea is the perfect companion of this mixture.

In the company of other full strength English Mixtures, Commonwealth Mixture solidly deserves 4 stars. To my palette, however, it can only ever be an occasional smoke.

Somewhat Recommended

Others here have commented on the single note of this blend, which is entirely accurate. But if you happen to like that note, which I do -- very much -- then this is a wonderful blend. Single notes can be very pleasant: the sound of wind in the trees, the sound of river water... In this blend it's the timbre of the note that delights, and this is a velvety bassoon.

It's an ambient, terrifically full smoke that may not tease you with its subtlety or depth, and sometimes that's just what you want when all you're looking for is an excellent, smooth, simple, solid, pleasant smoke you can sink your teeth into, a real latakia lover's dream. Not an everyday smoke for me, but definitely in my rotation.

Update from the original 2006 review I did. (removed negative description)

2009 Update: I opened a fresh tin a few years ago, and I was shocked by the bland watery taste of the smoke... no Virginia sweetness, no Latakia smokiness. Then I decided to let it dry in a room with heating (and so, with quite a dry air) for a couple of days with the lid off. Only now I recognize the fine smoke which Commonwealth Mixture can offer! By all means, give this tobacco an extended drying period after opening the tin, or it will be lousy at its best! I can't condone Samuel Gawith's policy of packaging the tobacco with such a high moisture content (I am paying good money for fine tobacco, not for water!!!!!!), but if you are willing to let it dry A LOT it is a nice blend.

A dark broken flake of quality tobacco's, a good honest English tobacco and well balanced. Packs and lights easy, a well behaved burn requiring minimum maintenance and a good flavour all the way through.

Personally, IMHO, I do not find this to be a full strength mixture, more in the line of medium, a good but by no means, an overpowering amount of latakia, complimented by fine quality virginias. This can make a nice diversion, if not an occasional change from Squadron leader. Most certainly worth a try.

I like it but I prefer that sexy mouth feel I am getting from Turkish is Squadron Leader.

Quality English tobacco for heavy latakia lovers.

I smoke this tobacco in a Peterson billiard of average size.

The first thing you notice when you open the tin is the *very strong* aroma. it's almost overpowering, really. Unless you love latakia, you might be scared to try this stuff, especially since it's billed on the label as a "full strength mixture." The imagination can run wild, with the known British penchant for understatement and the whallop of the tin aroma!

Lighting up is easy enough, though you might have to pick out a stem or two, or break up a piece that didn't quite get rubbed out fine enough for easy packing at the factory. The smoke itself is all bark and no bite. In both ways. I can make this tobacco bite, but judicious, non-greedy puffing will make this a non-issue. When smoked, the flavor is about medium or average, definitely not overpowering. It has a pleasant smokey latakia taste, with a sweet background. Simple and very pleasant. I could see this as an ideal all-day smoke, particularly for when you're doing other things and don't have the luxury to sit down in your favorite armchair in the den and do nothing but savor your pipe.

Nicotine is mild: it gives me a pleasant relaxed feeling, but definitely doesn't make my head spin or anything like that, which is another plus for all-day enjoyment. The tobacco burns with minimal fussiness, though I let it dry out for a bit when I first opened the tin, and I find that it burns down to a fine grey ash, with usually not much dottle left in the bottom of the pipe.

Highly recommended, especially for those who want to get into latakia and English blends. Be warned though, if you've been smoking aromatics, it's likely your wife will turn her nose up a bit if you're smoking in a common area. The room note is definitely tolerable, but it isn't sweet or as pleasant as the aromatics that non-smokers love so much.

A well-aged tin (like the one I'm puffing on now) is a marvel of moisture-level-perfection and provides a completely biteless, remarkably cool smoke. Those hot, sugary Virginias are completely dominated by the Latakia both in flavor and in tobacco structure. The cut is fine and packing and lighting are easy as pie.

If there is any reason to complain about this product (beyond its lack of complexity) it is in the occasional inconsistencies in the tobacco cut. Any given pinch might show strands that look like ribbons alongside others that are fine as shag. This particular tin has a surprising number of toothpick-like chunks of golden colored Virginia. If we could still smoke in restaurants, that might be a positive benefit, but here at my desk, I'm partial to floss.

Ah well. Fabulous for Latakia spices, but if it's traditional English or Balkan complexity you're after, you won't find it here.

Predisposed to the combination of virginia and latakia only by Balkan Flake, I expected Commonwealth Mixture to be just a latakia heavy version of BF. It is not so: I cannot tell whether the virginias are different or the latakia is different, but BF is a little smokier than CM. Perhaps the flake form concentrates the flavours.

The mixture is very cool smoking and lasts a long time. The virginias continue to hold their own when the pipe is lit, and are not trodden over by the latakia. The over all effect is of a rich and opulent blend, not at all one-sided. (I wonder whether the proportions of the two tobaccos are by weight or by volume, and whether it would make a difference?)

I had described Nightcap as being Wagnerian, and Pirate Kake as a brass band. CM could perhaps be best described as a sonata for organ and trumpet - though I am not sure which tobacco is the organ, and which the trumpet.

This stuff is fantastic. Very sweet early on, it develops into a massively heavy smoke - terrific density of flavor at mid bowl and beyond. It's not really very complex, of course, in the same ballpark as Frog Morton, with a sweet virginia carrying a smokey smooth latakia. I find FM a bit cloying, though, and this one not so.

What else is there in this oriental-less "English" style - McClelland Anniversary comes to mind, but not much else.

This is a great smoker's tobacco, to be savored amongst the tolerant.

I like a big daily dose of latakia (along with one or two of the flower powered flakes) to break up my steady intake of virginia and virginia&perique. This hits the spot. While I do love Pirate Cake and its burley gloved black leaf slap, this is just better. Personally, I don't taste the VA leaf much in Commonwealth. It's there, but just, even if it is half the blend. Taste wise, there is a lot going on here. This is a blend I like to sit with.

Note: I have no idea what the hell the following statement means, even though I am about to author it.

If I had to pick just one blend to smoke only once a day to add variety of the many blends I'd take with me to a desert island, this would certainly be one of the ones I'd like to think about picking.

A little damp, so drying will be needed. The ribbon cut packs nicely, takes the match easily and stays lit with minimal tamping and relights. Burns cool considering the Va content and the Latakia, despite the full load, does not leave a creosote film on palate or pipe.

Very good if you don't have lofty expectations.

If you are a cigar smoker who enjoys Pepin,Camacho, La Gloria, La Flor Dom., or should I say strong full bodied smokes, you should give this a try. After giving up pipe smoking years ago I recently took up the habit again. I tried aromatics at first as this was the choice of my youth. Then I learned more about nonaromatics like the English blends. A number of these blends I have tried do not conflict with a good cigar in terms of taste or bite. Commonwealth is among the best of these. And if the Latakia here does not quite hit the spot (lol) you can always buy pure Latakia to add a pinch for a bit of customizing.

After all what is an English blend without latakia ;-)?

I'm going to try this in bulk, and I can only hope that it doesn't lose any of the qualities in the tin offerings.

If you're not a fan of Virginia's, and if you haven't made up your mind about Latakia, well then, this one ought to do the trick!

By the way. The tin I purchased was one of three on a shelf in the tobacco store where I shop. But the tin I bought was hidden behind some other stuff, and looked a bit beat up. Paint chipped, the tin itself a bit the worse for wear. But you guys are always saying things about aging, so I was hoping that the tin I bought was still intact, and that it's contents would be fantastic, and indeed all was well. I just wish that the folks at Gawith would date their stuff!

7/14/08 I see what some of you are saying about packaging consistancy. I just opened a new tin of this, and it looks nothing like the last tin I bought. It also doesn't taste the same. It's not bad, but the previous tin I bought had a much better taste. This is my go-to blend, so I hope this isn't a foreshadowing of future tin quality?

Boy, I couldn't have been more pleased about this purchase. Upon opening the tin, the aroma is that of the sweetness of the Virginias and the smoky aroma of the Cyprian latakia. If you expect any more out of this tobacco than that, you'll be disappointed. If you take it for what it offers, and prefer this combination of tobaccos, you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

Like any tobacco, I closed up the tin and let it sit for about a week before packing it into its first bowl. I wasn't let down on that first smoke. It offers in the pipe what it offers in the tin. A very consistent blend of Virginian and Cyprian latakia aromas. One does not appear to be followed by the other and one does not overpower the other. What I found was that they commingle for the entire smoke.

This evening, I just finished the last bowl of my first tin and the tobacco had started to dry a bit. Whether this is good or bad, I will need to find a better way to cellar my tobacco. However, the aroma and taste of this blend did not suffer, only improving over this course of time.

I don't think I can make enough good comments about this tobacco and not find anything bad about it. I highly recommnend this blend and I will be heading back to my frequented pipe shop to purchase several more tins, adding this to my short list of go to blends.

I have not fully figured this one out yet. First of all, the tin I smoked has been in my "cellar" (read: closet shelf) for probably 4 years. The tobacco was pretty dry; not bone dry but the only SG tobacco I have ever had to ADD moisture to. Mostly a latakia powerhouse with a significant "base" of very sweet, tangy virginias. As much as people praise aged tobacco, and I among them, this is one I really want to try from a newer tin to see if it has more flavor that way. I'll get to that anon and update. For now, this is definately a classic for latakia blends, and I think probably part of the inspiration for such current favorites like Maltese Falcon. Everyone should try it, at least if you like latakia or want to know what it's all about.

This is a full-on latakia assault of the senses! I like this blend and the smoky goodness that is risen from the ash-it seems it would go perfectly with an Islay whisky, and since it is available in bulk, I definitely recommend purchasing at least two ounces to try. That way, if you like it you can purchase more and stock it up your cellar.

The only downside is the lack of complexity, but who knows-pair this with that Islay Scotch and it may develop into a complex experience. The lack of complexity forced me to downgrade to three stars, otherwise it would have been four for the latakia component.

To hell with that.

Commonwealth is a flavor powerhouse that showcases the best of Latakia. The Virginia, although an equal as far as quantity, serves as the foundation upon which the Latakia heroically stands tall and proud.

You get the smoke, the dry campfire -- common to Latakia. But then, all of a sudden, Commonwealth grabs you by the nostrils and pulls you into a bottomless pit of Latakia lust. You're treated to the herbal elements, the vegetal undergrowth, a pinch of something pine-like, and much more.

The tobacco burns easy and cool, without bite, and with loads and loads of interest from char to ash. Amazing stuff.

This blend is simple, pungent, and damned good. You have the almost unhinged and at times hot sweetness of stoved Virginia and, should you desire a reprieve, a full, meaty Latakia will come and rough you up for a little while. The flavor is full and the smoke is strong. You'll have to take time out to smoke this, because it will not take to the sidelines. You have to treat it with some respect too, smoke it slowly, otherwise it will hurt you.

Take it like a man and you will manage to experience, in equal proportions what fine, heavily stoved, African-grown Virginia leaf can do and also get a dose of the fullness of ashy, meaty Latakia in the process.

'You game, pilgrim?

With its sweet, peaty, smoky and salty flavours I find it matches beautifully with Islay single malt whiskys.

That?s how I feel about comparing other latakia blends to Penzance, no offense to other reviewers. I like Penzance, I like it a lot, I?m usually sitting on a pound or so. So having something else that tastes like Penzance seems a bit silly to me.

Commonwealth tastes like Penzance the way Duck tastes like chicken, both are bird shaped and made out of meat, but even my jaded palate finds a large distinction between the two. I like Commonwealth a lot and it?s gotten rookie of the year in my rotation (I know, it?s not a rookie, my rotation is) but it?s not a Penzance shadow, not even made from the same stuff, not even cut the same.

Commonwealth doesn?t have the Orientals that Penzance does, in fact the only other latakia Virginia blend I have is the McClelland Syrian special (it?s something like that, I?m not going to dig up the tin to quote the name exactly). The McClelland tastes like chicken. Like chicken in a used Missouri meerschaum slathered in ketchup and lit with a blowtorch. I know, better men than I are huge fans of McClelland ?baccy, and they are ?merican gull durnit, but I can?t get around the catsup thing.

Commonwealth, however, does this blend right. Opening the tin is not like opening a catsup bottle, it?s a earthy dark leathery cocoa type of scent, a little too moist in the tin and I dried it for an hour or so. You?d think a 50/50 Va/Lat blend would taste mainly like a camp fire and the Latakia would overpower the Virginia. Maybe it?s a testament to the fine folks in the Lakeland district, but this mixture is so sublime, the harmonies so tight, that everything flows into one another like a lazy drift down a summer crick.

I give Penzance four stars and I give commonwealth four stars, I state, however, emphatically, that they are not the same four stars, though in the same galaxy, like ducks and chickens, far from the constellation albino jackalope.

Four out of four stars!

It is true that the flavor is not complex and multifaceted, but it is wonderfully smooth and straightforward. The blend required a few more relights than I normally require, but it is very cool and clean burning. The impression I get is of the very highest quality leaf, skillfully blended. This will remind you of why you took up the pipe in the first place.

The latakia is quality leaf, the VA is prepared with a skilled hand. And not to belabor the point, but CM is very comforting in its simplicity; definitely a put-your-feet-up-by-the-fire/home again kind of blend.

Very good stuff.

Meerschaum Man Smoking an Altionk Canadian Smooth

This was recommended as a replacement for "Raven's Wing" by the good folks at the now defunct Gus's Smoke Shop. While it did not have the same flavor, it did not disappoint at all. It smells like a strong Latakia blend in the tin, but when smoked, was balanced well with the steamed virginia. This blend developed the same type of chocolate, earthy note that "Charing Cross" has but not quite as complex although "meatier" in flavor. It is sweeter than that aforementioned blend too. I have been pleasantly surprised by this blend over and over, and will definitely recommend it to all those latakia lovers out there. I found it to be at the perfect moisture level for my taste and smoke it regularly, especially in big pipes.

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This is an odd tobacco in that I can't quite make up my mind about whether or not I could smoke it with any regularity. usually within a few bowls I at least have a clue as to whether or not I'd buy it. As others have stated it is the more muted end of the English spectrum. I actually find it similar to the venerated 965 but with IMO - considerably more flavor depth (not complexity, just pure dark depth).

It is quite a threatening looking tobacco which initially lets off a sweet/smokey blast of latakia but then evens out to a constant nutty leathery taste. In a relatively new briar I found an almost even interchange between the sweet steam pressed VA and the dark smoke of the oriental leaf.

There isn't the high note of the tangy orientals you may find in EMP or Durbar, but perhaps that is part of the appeal for me. A straightforward ride that indeed compliments a stout beer and a hearty lunch.

The tobacco benefits from some drying time and light rubbing of the flakes and cake. The one off putting element I've found in this tobacco is that periodically there is a tiny bite - no matter how dry I attempt to keep the pipe. And I'm not quite sure this tobacco is that unique as to warrant any continuous attention.

This nicely aged sample simply didn?t live up to expectations. The Virginia was weak, not at all assertive. All it seemed to do was to detract from the Latakia, because that wasn?t as flavorful as I had expected either. Surprisingly mild, almost to the point of being bland.

I just couldn?t get excited about this one. I can take it or leave it. Two stars.

The tin aroma is remarkable in that it is so faint. I expected a burst of deep, leathery Latakia smell, but none was there. The cut was short ribbons, appearance dark red to black.

Packing was easy, although I would recommend a little airing. Tin moisture is high. This is not all bad, since the Samuel Gawith tins don't reseal very well. Storing the opened tin in a Zip-Loc bag keeps the tobacco fresh.

The first match brought on the Latakia! The flavor is intense but the smoke is cool. After levelling and relighting, this weed smoked clear through without additional relights. The taste alternated between the zingy Latakia and a rich, heavy Virginia without much in between. There are no nuances or side notes, just the two major components coming through side by side. Occasionally one would predominate, then the other. This may be a consequence of the rather small bowl I use to smoke this blend. A larger bowl may bring a more harmonious flavor.

Although the flavor is pretty full, there was no harshness or bite. The smoke stayed cool down to the end. Ash was medium gray with no dottle.

Other blends such as Durbar and Black Mallory have plenty of Latakia in concert with other varieties, but Commonwealth provides the simple, straightforward taste without embellishment. If you like English blends, you'll want to try this. Great on a cold day.

The tin bouquet was enticing and caused my usual body trembling sensation whenever I try to patiently load a tobacco that smells this good. It was not all that easy to pack anyway because the leaf is very long-stranded. It was also way too moist; but who has time to let something that looks and smells this good dry out?

Not easy to light or keep lit, CWM did provide a pleasant, sweet flavor once I got the stuff going. The Latakia presence was there, but played second fiddle to the finely stoved Virginia leaf. While I enjoyed the subtle, sweet flavor with the hint of Latakia, the nicotine punch was so light that I decided purchasing another tin is probably not in my future plans.

And finally, I remain quite surprised that this is a 50/50 Virginia/Latakia blend. The Virginia leaf sure won the power struggle in my particular tin.

It was Commonwealth that made me realize what non-latakia orientals bring to an english blend. How so? Because they are nonexistent in this blend, in stark contrast to London Mixture or Durbar. Now, I like these last two very much, but sometimes the orientals can distract from the simpler interlay of virginias and latakia.And in the present case, simple is just fine.

The tobacco has a variety of forms, from fine virginia ribbons of varying length to nuggets of black latakia.(ooooh!) My tin arrived perhaps just a tad on the moist side, but dried out just fine after opening a few times. Not steamy in any way, just a tad hard to get ignited at first.

Another thing that I like about Commonwealth is that it does not pack the nicotine whallop that comes with most Dunhill blends. I like to go to bed w/o my head spinning, thank you. Commonwealth is, of course, no weakling in the tobacco world- just a tall, dark stranger that is worth striking up a friendship with.

I believe this one is known as KBE mixture across the Atlantic. One of the moistest Latakia mixtures I have tried (airing recommended). The mixture is composed of mainly black and dark brown ribbon cut strands, not exactly sinister looking?but close. Upon lighting, a full, straightforward Latkia blast comes through. Hmmm, not bad. Toasty and rather sweet, in that incense like sweetness, it immediately affirms itself on the palate. Trouble is, in so doing it deprives other flavours from making their stand.

Way down the middle mark the mixture is still very tasty and dry, albeit only in one direction?. The Cyprus delegation is all over the place, but where is the American leaf? It seems that in this Gawith offering the Tobacco Lords of Scotland have overpowered the Commonwealth of Virginia. This is a good, simple, strong tobacco. By no means it is a contemplative or meditative experience. It burns slowly and rather cool, yes, but there is no subtlety of flavours, there is no regional coexistence of taste spheres. While the zesty, almost salty presence of Latakia is evident, it does seem to lack the understated sour/sweet element of Turkish tobacco, as well as the nutty whiff of other Orientals, and the elegance of Virginian varieties, such as you find them in My Mixture 965, London Mixture or in the Original Balkan Sobranie Mix. To borrow a figure used by the esteemed Eulenburg, it lacks ?ampleur? Other than that, it is a very good, uncomplicated smoke. An excellent companion for cold, windy days.

Aroma: Latakia dominates the aroma of this blend, with only a trace of the Virginia noted. There does not appear to be any Oriental in the blend.

Packing: and lighting The blend packs well and lights easily, although not unusually so.

Initial flavor: The first blast of flavor is almost disappointing, based upon the aroma. The Latakia does not dominate the flavor as it does in Penzance. It is there, but balanced well by the Virginias.

Mid-bowl: Retains the well balanced characters of the sweet and smokey elements, no real layers of flavor. Somewhat monochromatic, but not boring. This can be smoked and enjoyed while otherwise occupied.

Finish: No real change in character right to the botom. As with all SG blends, a beautiful ash.

Summary: A nice enough Latakia blend, but I miss the Turkish.

Appearance: This is a dark blend, about 75% dark red and brown tobaccos, 20% dark brown and black and a 5% flash of lighter VA Bright and maybe Turkish. The cut is a fine ribbon which reminds me of Dunhill's #965.

Packing and Lighting: After packing easily into my Charatan long Canadian, the charring light goes perfectly with the tobacco raising a slight crown. The smoke is dense and rich and lacks the sharp spiciness which #965 has at first. I think this is going to be a very smooth, bite-free smoke!

Exposition: The initial flavor is very smooth, mild and smoky with no extreme flavors, i.e. no Balkan-style bitterness nor Frog Morton-esqe sweetness. It's just a mild, middle-of-the-road English blend with flavors tending to the darker end of that spectrum. Thus far it's an alright smoke but nothing to write home about as there isn't much complexity here nor any body to speak of.

The Story: Once I got 1/3 into the bowl the flavors had settled into a light, thin smokiness with hints of brown Virginias and Turkish. It's smooth, sure, but the smoke seems to lack both body and complexity, and could stand to have a more solid base of flavors for the Latakia and Turkish to stand out against. As it is, the condiment tobaccos just taste thin and strident as if the blend wasn't well balanced.

Further down, it's getting a little acidic tasting which is actually a welcome addition of /something/ to keep my interest piqued. I think the most disappointing aspect to this is the utter lack of what I call mouth-feel. I like to feel the smoke on my tongue, roll it around and really taste it. I can't do that with this tobacco - I can taste it but I don't get a sense of having something in my mouth. I guess the difference is between walking past a quality bakery and smelling cinnamon rolls vs. actually tasting one fresh from the oven. To use a term coined here on asp, I'd say that it lacks The Cookie' :) The smoke rising from the bowl as I exhale little puffs is quite nice, but not enough to save it.

It does smoke easily, burns well and requires few relights and leaves a nice leathery-smoky room aroma, but I just can't get into it. To venture a guess, I'd say that the Virginias used as a base aren't well-integrated with one another, but a blender I ain't!

Denouement: It's still burning well as I approach the last few minutes of the bowl, and the density is finally increasing a bit and becoming more varied and interesting. It's still not enough to rescue me from my ennui though, and I'm finding it to be nothing more than a last-ditch effort to seduce me out of desperation. I'm not falling for it, either.

The last dregs of the bowl sweeten up and the oriental component mingles with the Latakia in a nice way but the base tobaccos are still nowhere to be found.

Don't get me wrong - this isn't a /bad/ tobacco. I usually smoke Virginia flakes, and when I smoke an English I like something rich and complex like Dunhill (965, Nightcap) or something with well-balanced Orientals like Dr. Truesdell from Hiland's or F&P's 'Silk Road' or Oasis'. This is just an adequate smoke, no more, no less.

Pros: Smooth, nice clean English aroma, burns well and clean to a nice medium grey ash, doesn't require a lot of attention.

Cons: Thin-tasting, very low nicotine, poorly balanced flavors and complexity, no body to the smoke. Even smoke rings blown dissipate quickly in still air! The most telling thing is that, with this bowl finished, I find myself craving a pipeful of Rattray's Hal o' the Wynd'.

(Later) I smoked this again in a small Savinelli #806 Canadian which is very well broken-in and got a slightly richer smoke but at best I'd say it's a competently mediocre tobacco to my taste. I don't smoke English blends often these days, and what I do smoke has to have either subtlety or complexity to hold my interest. This is nice and might be a pleasant all-day smoke for a Latakia lover but it just bores me.