That's the way I understood it, at least. So I picked some up from Pipes and Cigars for an amazing price. Russ has won accolades, many times over, and there's little wonder why.

Larry's Blend is a heavy hitting Latakia powerhouse with a sharp, intense taste, yet mellow enough to negate the fear of a painful bite. It arrived in seemingly beat up shape. I got mostly crumbs and a few ribbons in my bag, very dry in consistency. I tend to cut bulks some slack, though. But those two factors seemed to add up to a pronounced plume of billowing smoke rising into the air, and a burn rate with consistency and a complete lack of gurgle.

I'd say that Larry's blend seems to be a bit stronger than Odyssey, with a fuller taste, and a greater portion of Latakia. I don't know that to be true, however. It's just my opinion. And if you care to hear the end of it, I'll tell you. This is on the immediate list. Great taste and an unbeatable value.

Four of Four.

It is incredibly smooth, very slow burning and consequently very cool. My supply arrived dry in the bag in a cut which is most accurately described, if you please, as ready krumbled. Simply gravity feeding the blend into the bowl suffices. Pure Balkan pleasure from beginning to end.

Superlatives can be depressing, but the three blends I have tried from pipesandcigars.com - Anniversary Kake, Sunjammer and Larry`s Blend - have passed all tests with flying colours. I only wish the company shipped to where I live.

There's so much rich flavor here. I have a tendency to rush this one, and even with my impatient cadence it still won't bite (though it may nibble a wee bit)---it's just that smooth. Usually creates voluminous smoke and leaves lovely flavors on the palate afterwards.

Just fantastic stuff.

It needs to be packed with a light hand so as not to compress the bowl into a hard draw.

It chars the tastebuds a bit but I'm thinking that is just a byproduct of the amazing flavor. I enjoy Two Friends' Bed & Breakfast as a lighter all-day version of this; however, this tobacco remains at the pinnacle.

This blend evokes images of undead zombies rising from their graves, reclaiming some vendetta long-forgotten by the living, successfully ascending to an earthly throne.

Namaste'

This would be better with some (or more than some) Perique, then it would remind me a little of Ashton's Artisans blend, and that's a compliment.

Meerschaum Man Smoking an Altinok Smooth Canadian

I have three negatives to mention about this blend: it's one of the "twiggier" blends I've smoked, with a larger than usual number of big woody bits; the high Latakia content makes it a more effective wife repellent than a steady diet of beans, broccoli and microbrewed ale; and the temptation to smoke it constantly can lead to a "leather mouth" condition, where my tongue and palate become not burned, but numb. If I succumb to that temptation, I can sometimes spend two or three days with a seriously impaired sense of taste.

That said, let me say that it's worth it. I have simply not found any other blend like this one. Twigs are niggles, my wife is forgiving, and oversmoking is my own darn fault. Larry's Blend is - for now - MY blend, the one I reach for before any other.

Scores for Larry's Blend; taste- 17 of 20; packing and lighting- 8 of 10; value- 9 of 10. 34 points equals **** for this fine tobacco.

This particular blend reminds me nothing so much as the smoothness of Penzance but with the strength of Odyssey. Salty, smoky, smooth, and deliciously wonderfull. This is a pentultimate English taken to extreme levels of perfection. Larry, whoever he might be, obviously must have some divinely inspired tastes for tobacco to have guided Russ into creating this angelic wonder.

This ranks with Odyssey, Margate, and Penzance in my opinion. It is significantly more full than 965. It is also not a clone of any of these but a unique blend. If you like latakia, then you should certainly sample this magnificent blend!