A & C Petersen Caledonian Melange No.466 Grand Reserve

This is a nice Latakia laden blend in thick, ribbon cut form but still burns more quickly than some offerings. Because Latakia is big on flavor and low on strength, a little Burley has been added and the cavendish eases the throttle on the burn rate - but not much.

There is good depth of flavor here (due to the fine Cyprian latakia leaf & Virginia employed), and the presentation is a little on the unusual side due to the Virginia addition.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

I would swear there is also burley in this melange! No 466 is a distinctive latakia offering, with a coarse cut. The proportion of Latakia is rather modest, making it more a light condiment. I find it is fairly mild for an English.

Old non-flat tin in the C&D style. Color runs light to black, with some chunky pieces among the ribbons. Tin nose is latakia up front with some enticing orientals to the rear. Overall kind of non-descript. I ended up not drying this as much as usual. Some noticeable moisture was best, but a half hour dry time was about right.

First impressions were the obvious ones. The latakia was light in taste but was the most noticeable flavor until about mid-bowl when the orientals made a push. The Virginias held it all together but also provided a nice sweetness, although there may have been a topping present as well. It was a bit sweeter than I'm used to from just Virginia, but I could be wrong about that. Second impressions was that this struck me as tasting a lot like the Sillem's London Blend I recently smoked... except that one contains perique, burley and Cavendish and this one does not. I certainly can't explain that, and I didn't get the wispy flavors those constituents added to Sillems. But this one brought the taste of that one very much to mind - even the cut was the same. I'd have to dig deep to tell these two apart in a blind test, granting that I don't have the most discerning taste buds in the world. I wish I had saved some of the Sillems. At any rate, this was an interesting but predictable English blend of the lighter variety in a crowded field. Good but not outstanding, and as it's out of production, it's hard to recommend. On the other hand, I doubt it would sell for much money on Ebay so if you stumble across a tin and are curious, give it a shot.

There's a soapy note in this wonderful tobacco, unfortunately no longer distributed here in Italy, that makes 466 cool, spicy, perfect for an all-day smoke. 4,5/5 in my personal rating system.

I rarely give a 4 star but I must say that this blend is impeccably well balanced. The tin is small and quite lovely and of the screw on/off type which I find keeps a better seal. When I popped it open I must admit that the smell was pleasant and quite unexpected. It was reminiscent of Miss's Vicky's sea salt and malt vinegar potato chips, a more fruity and sweet smelling vinegar. Tastewise, it is as already stated perfectly balanced with just enough spicy coolness from the Lat and Oriental and a nice sweetness. An absolute gem of a English. Diolch

Sweet and cookie-like flavour for this blend, orientals leading the game and VA and Latakia in the back row.

Latakia is very light in percentage and Orientals smell of a country farm kitchen. Anyway, a balanced blend, not too deep in taste, gives a clean and dry smoke.

Always cool and sweet, it has only a big fault in my opinion: it is way too light in Nicotine, much more than I expected. I smoke it with a little percentage of Samuel Gawith Brown Rope or Italia Kentucky Blend to add some punch and earthy taste too.

It reminds me of Dunhill Early Morning Pipe, with some more spice and a little less taste. It reminds me of McConnell Oriental too, which I like more, because of a major "cheese" oriental smell.

My tin was a spare one from an unknown tobacconist in town, it must be at least 3-4 years old; it is not too dry, lights and stays lit well and is still packed with different flavors.

Recommended mixture for those who seek for a not too strong EM in every department enjoying anyway some good good leaves.

This is a cased "à la danoise" latakia mixture. This is really too light of an english and more of an aromatic in my view.

This is one of the few Latakia blended tobaccos that can be safely smoked in public; the Latakia, though, is barely noticeable. It is quite mild yet very flavorsome, and as I can recall it has a certain topping (not so much as an artificial flavor but a kind of herbal spice) that provides a muted sweetness and a very woodsy aroma. Remember: we are dealing here with a Danish (luxury) blend.

Indeed, if smoked aggressively it can lead to tongue bite. But because the cut is sort of coarse (wild?), it burns rather cool. I would classify this as an elegant blend, polite, fresh. Latakia hounds may not fully appreciate it, but as a change of pace, in the mild side of things, this is recommended. I prefer this to the red tin melànge, and it's equally good as the blue and the black tins (the latter with a rather noticeable Perique component).

This review has a bit of a story to it. I was in my local tobacconist's shop the other day, and on his shelf lay this dusty, single, elegant green tin. I pondered at it and looked at the reverse side for the blend components. As it suited my liking and the price was surely right $6.50 I purchased it. To my surprise at the counter, he told me his dating system on his labels, and as it turned out this tin was 8 years old. He also told me to enjoy it, as it was no longer imported to the U.S. I went home, packed a bowl in my Larsen, and was in heaven. The smoke was cool, smooth, and so well balanced I was taken aback. The virginas were up front and mild, the latakia chimmed in gently and fully. Mid bowl I could really taste the orientals, and it was so balanced of a blend. Smooth like a fine single malt Scotch, and full of comlex flavors. I can truly say, this would be my firing squad tobacco. If you have the means get your hands on some of this, particularly if it has been aged. Beginners stay clear (unless you're adventurous), and experienced English smokers savor and enjoy!

Ahh, I have good souvenirs of this blend; Caledonian replaced the good old, but sadly, discontinuated, Four Square series.

Very beautiful, dark green, classy looking tin. The bakkie smells of Latakia and VA, and is of long and broad cut.

Fairly easy to fill, same to lit up, smokes a bit slow. Tasty, pleasant, nice latakia and VA taste. Not too hard on the nicotine kick, rather smooth, but the taste compensates.

Becomes a bit stronger bad mid bowl, the orientals kicking in with the Latakia while the VA fades slowly away.

Nice clean, dry finish.