This is an interesting blend. It seems to be a standard latakia/orientals/virginia but it tastes sweeter, brighter and creamier than most "balkans". There was an underlying essence that I was quite familiar with, so I did some sampling. Indeed, this tasted to me as thought the latakia and orientals were housed on a bed of McClellands Royal Cajun Ebony. That same mild but full tasting, dark roast coffee essence pervaded this one, with the condiments on top. I'm not sure if the RCE is actually used, but it certainly tasted like it. It was one smooth character, never biting or offensive, with a sweet creaminess that would be a great place for newbies to balkans to start their journey. It's hard to imagine any balkan fan not enjoying this one, although it's not my personal favorite.

Someone asked if this were similar to McClellands Oriental #14. Based on my memory of that, I think he's correct, although I didn't have any for comparison. This is a 3.5 star blend, just narrowly missing what I consider greatness. Well worth a try for someone who likes their balkans sweet and mellow.

The smoke itself was flavorful though not overly strongly so. The taste was in line the tin aroma, smokey and slightly sweet with a hint of nuttiness backing up the full tobacco flavor. Again given the full flavor and relative thickness of the smoke, I found it surprisingly mild on the tongue and mouth. The room note was as you would expect for an English, fine for me as a smoker but probably not appreciated as often by non-smokers.

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Bottom Line - A very nice high quality English Blend, nice flavor and relatively thick smoke but not harsh at all, smokey/slightly sweet taste. Highly recommended as a mild mannered English but a bit on the expensive side for an all day smoke.

22 Feb 08 This is my first review on this site, and I hope I can add something useful here. I've only been smoking in earnest for about 10 months, but this is the tobacco I've smoked most, and I seem to like it best. I only have 2 pipes, and I certainly am no expert, so please bear that in mind. :)

I have tried the Latakia No. 1 as well, and I have to agree in general with PipeStud's characterization of this as a more delicate taste than No. 1; it seems to have more sweetness and a bit less Latakia.

I love the smell of this tobacco out of the tin. It reminds me of a smokey campfire, or perhaps barbeque. Seems to be a good moisture level upon first opening, perhaps a bit on the moist side. All the tins I've bought thus far have been stamped "302005". My understanding (not sure) is that 30 represents the blend, and 2005 is the year.

It has a mild to medium sweet flavor and a decent bit of Cyprian Latakia, and I have definitely grown to notice and enjoy the mild nutty flavor. This is a very smooth tasting smoke, to me.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.

I'm smoking a 2005 tin, opened in fall 2007. I have been impressed by the quality of the leaf and the blending. I also must say that this has a fantastic, latakia-rich aroma that I find absolutely delightful.

Where this disappoints is in terms of flavor. In short, there is none. I was shocked that a blend that could smell so wonderful could have so little impact on the tongue. . . almost like an aromatic that you endure just so other folks are happy. (Not that a latakia-rich aroma is going to make others all that happy. . . but you get the idea.)

I was so disappointed in the lack of flavor that I thought I might actually toss the remainder of my tin after three bowls. But I've never done that with a blend that was so well-made and that smelled so rich. So I continued. . . and I did find that the flavor improved slightly if you could dedicate a pipe to it. As another reviewer here has noted, this feels very much like a relative of Frog Morton; it just lacks the distinctive qualities that make the Frogs so interesting. More second cousin than sibling.

I would highly recommend this blend for new-to-English smokers or those who plan on smoking it all day. But if enjoying a pipe is something you do only once or twice a day, as is my situation, then I think you'll want something that can deliver more flavor along with the entrancing aroma.

Bob

Four and a half of Five stars.

Aroma: Probably the best tin aroma for an English that I have experienced. Smoky sweet, and almost has the smell of an old tudor mansion. (Figure that one out.)

Visual: 80% Black and Dark Chocolate, with the lightest tobacco only reaching the caramel color spectrum. Short/wide ribbon cut, and ?thick? looking pieces.

Texture: Soft and maybe a bit on the moist side, which doesn?t bother me a bit. Interestingly enough, I pour all of my tobacco onto a piece of clean white paper before packing each pipe, and this left a seriously dirty mess when I would pour the excess back into the tin. ?!

Pack/Pipe: A little more difficult to get the proper pack than I would have expected from such a manageable cut. I would recommend packing with a bit firmer hand than usual. (I am a flake smoker, so this could have something to do with me tending to pack lightly).

Light: One match to char, one to send it on its way. Usually required two-three relights to finish off, which is a lot by my standards.

1st 3rd: Fantastic smoky flavor with not nearly as much sweetness as some of the McClelland English blends I?ve smoked. (ie: Ashton Old Dog). It has a taste that stays on the tongue. Kind of like lemonade. (The way it stays on the tongue, not the flavor!)

2nd 3rd: Actually gets a little less flavorful here, which is not my experience with most other tobaccos. Not bad, just a bit muted. (Could have something to do with the ?tongue? effect stated above). Often needed the first additional match here.

Final 3rd: Usually lost even more flavor here, and if I didn?t keep the ember rolling, lost a lot more. Very seldom smoked entirely to ash and bits, usually had a small amount of dry but not charred tobacco remaining.

Notes: Having the tin open for a while didn?t seem to affect this blend too much. A very consistent smoke.

Stogie Rating of: 5 Fair Fonsecas

This leaf comes in a round tin with an attractive label. Upon flipping up a ring and ripping off the top, the smoker is rewarded with a burst of raisiny-citrusy aroma, over a background of rich Latakia, Virginia, and Turkish tobaccos. The cut is a medium ribbon, with no stems or knots. You can easily make out the different components. The tobacco is loose and contains just the right amount of moisture. Although a snap-on plastic lid is provided to keep the tobacco fresh, I like to store the partially used tin in a Zip-Loc bag for extra protection.

Packing was easy in the larger bowls that I prefer. To give some extra springiness to the bowl, it helps to air out the leaf for five minutes or so before packing. The unlit tobacco has a tangy aroma which promises greater things to come.

The first match yields a rich billow of dense white smoke with a tangy, nutty taste and some citrus overtones. Level it off and apply another match, and the bowl burns clean to the bottom without additional relights. The ash is very light grey, fine, and loose.

Cruising down through the bowl, the taste is of a well-balanced English blend, although without the heavy nicotine hit of the Dunhill family. The smoke is creamy and cool, with definite weight and body. The smoke curling off the top of the bowl is sharp and crisp without being harsh. This is a great tobacco for blowing smoke rings. The flavor is full and rich without being overpowering, and definitely balanced. No single component of the blend stands out above the others. There is a distinct nutty taste as the bowl progresses past the half-way point.

Most of my smoking is done out of doors. This blend seems to expand in the still air, and achieve a satisfying fullness without seeming the least bit heavy or close.

Down near the bottom of the bowl, the smoke becomes a little dryer and thinner, and then, it is gone. Too bad, I always want more, but am satisfied for several hours.

If you like English blends that are rich and full without a large dose of nicotine, this is one you should try. Old John Cotton may be gone, but the aroma of this blend is close enough to awaken old pleasant memories.

The blend easily packs and does not need a relight. It burns to a medium/fine gray white ash, without condensation in the heel at the end.

After my initial bowl or two I was not greatly impressed. Maybe I had rushed the experience. Now I find that several days have passed and when trying the blend again, I appreciate the subtle nuances to a far greater extent.

Just a really nice, smooth, what I would consider as an all-day smoke.

If you are a latakia lover who wants a more delicate taste than #1, then you've found it here.