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.