Probably my strongest attraction to Collector's is its use of toasted burley. The aroma of this leaf is subtle, but extraordinarily seductive. The burley provides a satisfying yet reasonably mild bass note that harmonizes well with the spectrum of other flavors provided by the Virginias and cavendish.

The toasted quality of the burley gives the blend a particular lusciousness that increases with each successive smoke. I can smoke this blend all day in different pipes without it ever losing its charm. Though toasted burley is used in many Larsen blends, its presence in Collector's is perhaps the most pronounced of all. So, what exactly does this burley smell and taste like? That's impossible for me to describe, but I can say that it pleases my nose and palate in much the same way that a beautifully roasted chicken does, though of course it smells and tastes nothing like that. I suppose one could say that it gives the impression of toast, chocolate, and coffee, only in a very subtle way.

Collector's has an extraordinary room-note, but it's not strongly aromatic. The black cavendish is understated, and serves only to balance and smooth out the other flavors. I'm tempted to describe the cavendish as "unsweetened", since there's no trace of the fruity or vanilla character that you find in Signature and Sweet Aromatic, respectively. Again, the emphasis here in on balance and harmony, so the cavendish is not allowed to stand out. Rather, it contributes a smoothness that serves to round out the vibrant edges of the Virginias, allowing them to blend seamlessly into the deeper burley flavors.

The flavors are beautifully integrated. At first, one doesn't notice separate burley, Virginia, and cavendish notes. Instead, there's a delightful marriage of all three flavors that manages to transcend each one in isolation. This is undoubtedly the whole point of blending, and Collector's is a brilliant demonstration of the art.

The mixture is best smoked in a medium or large pipe, and should be savored slowly to obtain maximum pleasure. Though normally sensitive to some Virginia tobaccos, I experience no tongue-bite at all when smoking Collector's. I would characterize this as a medium-bodied blend: satisfying, yet amenable to repeated smoking (which I've done on MANY occasions). Currently, I have a nice charge of Collector's simmering away in my Dunhill diplomat, and all is right with the world.

I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending this blend to lovers of the highest-quality aromatics that deliver excellent tobacco flavor and burn to a nice dry ash. Collector's is now at the top of my Larsen tobacco list, having recently unseated the also-excellent No. 50. Were I to purchase a high-grade Danish pipe dedicated to a particular tobacco, there's no doubt that Collector's would be its partner.