First of all, I love latakia. About 90% of the blends I smoke have some latakia in them. That said, I was somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of latakia in this blend. Hovever, I was not turned off by it. Still, something was not quite right. The flavor seemed a bit sour. Anyway, I would go back to it once in awhile. Then it just seemed to disappear from my rotation, collecting dust on my shelf.

Well, the other day I grabbed the Ben Wade, which BTW has an absolutely cavernous bowl, and filled it with DaVinci. Now, I've heard tell that if you store tobacco and let it age, it will most likely be a bit different than it was originally. I'm usually to impatient to let mine age. But,different! It was like smoking two different tobaccos. The basic taste was the same, but much smoother, like an aged scotch. It was very strong, but in a good way. In the end, this ended up being a most delicious blend. Aging your tobacco? I'M A BELIEVER!

Tin note is very strong latakia, with nice sized tobacco leaf inside. It smokes great, down to the bottom with very little dottle, and layers the pipe nicely. Dedicating a pipe to just this blend makes it even better. Like it was stated above, this will always be in my collection of tobacco.

There are flakes of virginia and burley mixed in but you'll never taste them in the smoke. The lat flavor is in full force here and the virginia serves only to "take the edge off" so to speak from the latakia overload.

In conclusion I would say that, while I enjoyed this blend myself and if your a lat lover consider this 4 stars. If not, look elsewhere. And of course, pipe beginners need not apply. There really isn't any middle ground with this blend.

I'll take them at their word that the 'blend' contains anything else, but it doesn't show up in the flavor, save for a mild sweetness on the retrohale.

That's not a bad thing necessarily, but it makes for a linear lat bomb. I like it. Many will not. Don't look for complexity here, but this one could be a great end of the day smoke...or you could throw yourself into a doused campfire or climb up a chimney.

Warning: the above review contains two split infinitives.

soli Deo gloria

Wow Wow Wow!!!!

This fantastic creation is full of the beautiful black stuff my whole being cries out for. Its Latakia all the way!! If you dont like Latakia then please dont buy this!! I love it!!

The taste was pretty much of latakia only, but with a hint of body. Not much of the burley or VA flavor came through but I've smoked straight latakia and it's less pungent - and sweeter! Somehow the basic sweetness of this leaf was masked in Da Vinci but the campfire smokiness came through. Unfortunately for me, this was a monodimensional blend that rattled its sabre constantly but failed to excite. It left a very dusty, dirty taste in its wake, and the room note is what I would use to get rid of unwanted guests. No flavor development of any kind and no complexity - just the brute strength of latakia. But that's what this blend is about so I can recommend it to those who love their latakia to the exclusion of all else... and to those who might enjoy eating a big bowl of mustard!

I think this blend does what C&D intended; it's just not for me. But it may be for you.

I recommend this to Latakia lovers, but I can't see why someone not into Latakia would smoke this.