Appearance: A broken flake, still very much in flake form. Rubs out easily, and has perfect moisture out of the tin. Primarily medium-dark with flecks of brighter leaf here and there.

Flavor: This is an Academy Award nominee.

I am really enjoying this stuff! From the opening credits, there is a richness that hints of the best cigars I’ve tasted. To me, a great cigar is not just cigarish, it’s also toasty, rich, complex and strong. Key Largo is like a rich, creamy cigar dressed with all the characteristics of your favorite pipe tobacco. Or is it a great pipe tobacco wrapped in the garb of a rich, creamy cigar? I’ll have to talk to the wardrobe department about this…

As the actors take the stage, I notice the Oriental leaf first and foremost, astringent and sassy, but it’s very smooth and not as tangy in my nose as those in the first four “full English” blends we’ve tasted. It certainly knows its place and does not hog the camera.

Next comes the Latakia, smoky and rich, adding that campfire character that will make this an incredible camping/fishing/outdoor smoke – next time I light the burn pile this will be my leaf of choice while tending the fire.

The Virginias balance the blend with a sweet richness that is foundational. The tin notes state that this blend uses Red Virginias. I’m not good at distinguishing the various types of Virginia leaf from one another in a blend, but I think the Reds add a little spice of their own, at least as compared to a rich, dark stoved Virginia.

The cigar leaf lurks to one side of the stage, never very strong, certainly never in the lead role, but also never fading into the background. It’s always noticeable and is actually the star of the show. The cigar leaf gets the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. I would really like to try this blend with just a bit more cigar leaf, just to get a better handle on the specific cigar flavors.

“Spicy” and “rich” are good descriptors. There is the Oriental spice in my nose and my soft palate, and there is the cigar leaf that is not so much spicy as – well, earthy, just like in Pease’s description. But this blend is also smooooooth. In my experience, smooth and spicy are often mutually exclusive, but Greg pulled it off here. The various types of tobacco play very well together, and although I listed them above in the order of appearance to my palate, yet it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish where one leaf ends and another begins.

During the last third, the Oriental spice fades (but does not disappear), and the cigar leaf and Virginias vie for the lead role. To me, the mark of a great cigar is that it smokes flavorfully to the very last – in other words, a knuckle burner. Not many cigars do this for me, as I favor the richness and toastiness typical in the first half of a cigar. Key Largo is a knuckle burner.

My only regret is that I first tried this in one of my favorite English pipes and I’m now concerned about ghosting the pipe. I will be dedicating a pipe or two to Key Largo and Robusto. Obviously this blend is a great crossover for cigar smokers looking to get into pipes.

Like a movie that just flows beautifully, blurring the passage of time, this blend will help you while away your time with ease and panache. I have no idea what to expect from this stuff as it ages, but I’m confident enough in brilliant results to stash a stack of tins. One thing I know for certain – I’ll be buying more!

I've smoked the short strokes of stogies in pipes before. The result typically tastes like smoking Milton Berle's dentures combined with George Burn's nail clippings. Perfect human repellant.

I have enjoyed McClelland's Dominican Glory Maduro for years- a superior product, as genteel as Julie Andrews in a novice habit. But what expectations for a cigar blend with Latakia and Turkish leaf? Blessed are those without expectations for they shall not be disappointed.

Key Largo is what it is advertised and certainly not disappointing. It's effects on me are like being greeted at the door with a pipe, slippers and robe, giving all the comforts of an English blend with just a little something earthy and manly.

The cigar leaf is effectual and yet transparent. The Latakia is soooo soft it will convince skeptics that Latakia really does belong in a pipe and not on a barn floor. Virginias and the remaining orientals are barefoot contessas: regal, supportive and mild. This did well in small and large pipes, less v. more moist, and kept tamped after being lit.

Time to open my tins of Robusto, 123, Bankers and order samples of P&W Churchill and Peretti's Cuban Mixture, maybe even Havana Daydream, Billy Budd and Strike Force. I'm onto a vein and reenforced again with reasons why I like this hobby.

And that's why I will never buy another tin. That damn long lingering finish is impervious to food, brushing, mouthwash and time, just forget about it, it will be with you at least until the next day.

SOAP BOX TIME, Even though I will never buy another tin, I gave it a strong three+ stars, why, because it tastes good and it delivers! It delivers what the tin says it delivers, including that long finish that I didn't like. I point this out because I see many aromatics get one or two stars because the reviewer will buy a blend that claims to be aromatic, or mild & sweet, states it on the tin, and then, that same reviewer will give it one star and claim " I smoke Latakia blends, I don't like aromatics" or "This blend is mild and sweet, it's for little girls"

Well, we now know it's not for RETARDS !!! Why did you buy it !

I'm Sorry. All I'm trying to say(IMHO)is, judge an aromatic as an aromatic, judge a Balkan blend as a Balkan blend, an English as an English.

It's the Right thing to do!

P.S. Oh ya, I forgot the best one of all, no no really, someone wrote this, "I really liked this blend, it tasted great. But I could never give an aromatic more than two or three stars". What in the hell does that mean? Who are these people? There are all types of quality blends out there, and there are bad blends in every genre from english to aromatic. Judge them for what they are.

OK, I'm done. I'm sorry.

For the first bowl I smoked, I took a couple of flakes and folded them in half horizontally. Then I sort of rolled the result into a tube more or less the diameter of my pipe bowl. This worked but will take a lot more practice until I get used to it. I was concentrating so much on the mechanics of keeping it lit that I couldn't concentrate on the experience itself. For the next several bowls, I rubbed out a bunch on a sheet of paper and have been smoking it this way. This was much more satisfactory for me.

What can I say that hasn't already been said? This is definitely not an English blend, but it has all the charm of one. There is just enough Latakia in the blend to establish the mood, but the orientals and the cigar leaf give it the individual character that makes it stand out from the crowd. As my technique with flakes improves, I look for this blend to be a special treat but probably not my regular blend.

It is a lovely smoke.

I load this straight out of the tin in a jumbo bowl Savinelli Baronet I have dedicated to this and Robusto. The large flakes in these tobaccos burn nice and even in this bowl for a nice long session of "sipping".

There are definitely things I like about this blend. It's a nice english blend with cigar leaf added, perfect for the right palate, I suppose, but though it's nice it's not great. Only two stars for now -- I expect some aging will help make this really come alive.

The tin appearance is of dark tobaccos in a broken flake. The tin aroma is of a mild English without the Cyprian Latakia standing out. KL benefits from a little drying out of the tin as do most tinned blends.

It is easy to rub out into a bowl that will burn with amazing consistency and coolness. As it progresses down the bowl, you get a dry, white ash.

The initial impression upon lighting is of an English that is not too dependent upon Latakia, that leans toward the Orientals but...with a difference. The cigar leaf, which I do think is noticable, adds a spicy element that ties the whole together harmoniously. The spice increases down the bowl to a satisfying conclusion for the English lover.

My only criticism is that the room note may not be for all. My wife, who likes the smell of Latakia, turns a mild thumbs down on KL. That being said, I like KL so much, I smoke it in the house anyway.

I don't generally do cartwheels for every Greg Please blend, but this one "got me" from the beginning. I'm loading up on it as it can only get better with aging as the cigar leaf continues to develop.

A strong coffee is a terrific companion for KL--it seems to bring out the spice. (I even got suckered into buying two Key Largo coffee mugs to enhance the experience! That's how much I like it.) In all, highly recommended and congratulations to the Dark Lord on hitting a home run with Key Largo.

I give it 3.5 stars, only because most of the times I end up with a rather bland 1/3 of the bowl.

//Original Review 05/13/2009// Well, I loved this tobacco... unfortunately it did not reciprocate. I thoroughly enjoyed the rich Red Virginia, the hint of latakia and the occasional subtle taste of cigar wrapper leaf. However, each time I smoked it I developed horrendous heartburn. Some blends do this to me and I've never been able to pin down that specific element that brings the heartburn on. I can and occasionally do enjoy cigars on their own; my favorite pipe blends are the heavier English / Balkan mixtures (I can smoke C & D's Pirate Kake all day) and I very much enjoy the various manifestations of Virginia/Perique as well as straight Virginias such as Sam Gawith's FVF or BBF. None of my favorite blends give me heartburn and I was very much looking forward to establishing a deep and abiding relationship with Key Largo. Indeed, my first bowl started out fantastic - I thought "Oh man, this is gonna be great!" After about five minutes the heartburn started... however I stubbornly finished the bowl (after chewing down several Tums). Next day the same story and the day after that, etc. and each time it seemed as if the heartburn began quicker and became more painful. So I gave the rest of the tin to a friend who is not experiencing any problems at all... he loves it, as well he should, for it is an excellent blend. I have three tins of Key Largo that I've cellared; Lord willing I'll open a tin once it's got a year on it and see if a bit of age has destroyed or at least diminished the heartburn element.

Pease is, as most pipe hobbyists know, a master blender who takes pride and care in his work. Key Largo is a shining example; creamy, a bit on the dark side, an easy burner and cool on the tongue and palate.

If a heavy cigar taste is what you are searching for then you better keep searching. You detect it, but only faintly in the background from time to time.

I may have had better tobacco... I just can't remember when.

Do not let the Cigar leaf keep you from trying this blend. As others have commented, the cigar leaf does not dominate the tobacco but adds a rich creamy base.

Update 2012-12-25: I still smoke this blend daily. Every morning I pack up my old beat up Brebbia, grab my coffee mug and off to work I go. Great blend that is consistent from tin to tin and never fails to satisfy.

THIS STUFF IS FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!! I can taste a hint of cigar leaf but only so far as to add a totally different feel. This was the alternative to the steady diet of english I was looking for. This will be an addition to the late evening smoke outside in the wild life viewing area this summer/ Creamy is the perfect word for describing this tobacco. PLEASE NOTE - THERE IS NO HINT OF TONGUE BITE IN THIS TOBACCO. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THE GENTLEMAN WHO SAID IT WAS SO BAD EITHER LOADED IT POORLY OR SMOKED IT TOO FAST.

THANKS MR PEASE FOR ANOTHER FANTASTIC SMOKE/

Bravo Mr. Pease, bravo!

It's the same if he's a blender with the chops to do it and do it well. Putting out creations that expand people's horizons is fraught with a degree of risk. It isn't even so much that many pipe folk wouldn't like them if they suspended their expectations and gave them enough time and attention to "get" them as that, since they don't key a familiar "Good" response, they tend to get written off from initial disappointment.

As it comes across on this end, Key Largo is even more full of subleties than its predecessor, Embarcadero. It takes longer to adjust to and zero in on, it's more sensitive to the pipe it's smoked in (and how rapidly), and it has an even wider range of flavors within its basic taste profile. It just doesn't whomp you upside the head with something familiar and obvious like "cheeseburger."

Key Largo is pleasently dry, the way Embarcadero is. It has a similar thread of sweetness running through it that smoking it too rapidly can (similarly) obscure. Above all, it has a dark quality to its taste that can be a really refreshing change of pace.

Just made, it reminded me of forest loam after a rain. As weeks went by and it found the pipes it likes, it started showing flashes of its constituents. It surprised me at first that I couldn't find the cigar wrapper element in it, nor could four other people I compared notes on it with (all of whom have much more refined palattes than mine). It's only been with the mellowing effect that several months in an occasionally opened jar seems to have on a tinned blend and repeated, careful attention that the cigar wrapper element has shown itself as a discernable element in it along with the sweetness of the Virginia and the Latakia spicing the outermost edges of it.

Smoked so slowly and gently that it's on the verge of going out, Key Largo has as subtle an interplay of flavors as anything the Dark Lord's put out.

Only six months into the journey with it, there's probably a lot left in Key Largo I haven't managed to get to come into focus yet. But there's more than enough even so to keep me coming back to it.

This tin was purchased immediately after the release of Key Largo in July. I've only had two smokes from it so far, but feel confident enough of my impressions to make a review. The cigar leaf is not overwhelming by any means, but is present throughout the smoke. The virginias are in the forefront, especially in the first half of the bowl, with the orientals and latakia very low key. Overall, a slightly sweet, dry, and pleasant smoke.

I don't rub it out, being an outside smoker, and had no trouble keeping it lit. Smoked slowly, it left a gray ash and a clean bowl. Definitely a keeper, and one that I think will reward the patient user after cellaring.