A & C Petersen Caledonian Melange No.466 Grand Reserve
(3.10)
A solid and classic blend with great character and a distinctive balance between Virginia, Oriental tobaccos and a slight touch of latakia from Cyprus. Truly a continental, mild mixture with an outstanding taste balance.
Details
| Brand | A & C Petersen |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | St-Group Assens |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Coarse Cut |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Denmark |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.10 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 05, 2017 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild | Pleasant |
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.
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.
Age When Smoked:
20+ years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 18, 2012 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 12, 2013 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A light Latakia mixture that burns cool with interesting notes. A tin was offered to me by a fellow pipe smoker and while I could say that it has a light Latakia presence, the Oriental and Virginia complement this mixture quite nicely. There is a topping that shows up once in a while but it doesn't deter from the experience. All in all a balanced choice for a Latakia beginner and a change of pace for the Latakia journeyman.
Virginia lover
Virginia lover
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 24, 2010 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
This is an excellent introduction to English mixtures if you can get some.
The latakia is not the dominant player but detetctable. The VAs are amazingly tasty and tangy.
It's a nice, big cut mixture that burns rather slowly.
The latakia is not the dominant player but detetctable. The VAs are amazingly tasty and tangy.
It's a nice, big cut mixture that burns rather slowly.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 2009 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
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 melà nge, and it's equally good as the blue and the black tins (the latter with a rather noticeable Perique component).
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 melà nge, and it's equally good as the blue and the black tins (the latter with a rather noticeable Perique component).
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2009 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I like this one a whole lot.
It was difficult for me to determine whether to give it three stars or four. I opted for three since I like to reserve four stars for my personal masterpieces. But even though I don't consider this one a masterpiece, it's one of my favorites. I mean, you just can't listen to nothing but Beethoven's last string quartets all the time, right? Sometimes you want something lighter and more simply entertaining but still quality.
That said, this is a manifestly pleasant smoke, with enough complexity and subtlety to maintain interest. It's very smooth and remarkably balanced, with the subtly sweet virginias sometimes coming to the forefront, other times the slightly tangy orientals or nutty burleys, with the latakia always gently lurking in the background. It's smooth, and delightfully and delicately spicy, mild, but not too mild.
As has been observed by others here, one peculiarity of this blend is the subdued opening. I won't pretend to understand how this can be, but the "flavor is almost undetectable", as fortezero says, when you light up, though there are some hints of what's to come: it's like a soft, shapeless ambient texture that, as you get a little further into the bowl, gradually blossoms and develops into a fugue of flavors. I don't know any other blend that opens up like this one does.
This has become one of my default blends, one I just naturally grab when I want a great smoke that's not a gourmet delight. It may not be a masterpiece, but it's perfectly satisfying. (Maybe I should give this four stars... no, not yet.)
It was difficult for me to determine whether to give it three stars or four. I opted for three since I like to reserve four stars for my personal masterpieces. But even though I don't consider this one a masterpiece, it's one of my favorites. I mean, you just can't listen to nothing but Beethoven's last string quartets all the time, right? Sometimes you want something lighter and more simply entertaining but still quality.
That said, this is a manifestly pleasant smoke, with enough complexity and subtlety to maintain interest. It's very smooth and remarkably balanced, with the subtly sweet virginias sometimes coming to the forefront, other times the slightly tangy orientals or nutty burleys, with the latakia always gently lurking in the background. It's smooth, and delightfully and delicately spicy, mild, but not too mild.
As has been observed by others here, one peculiarity of this blend is the subdued opening. I won't pretend to understand how this can be, but the "flavor is almost undetectable", as fortezero says, when you light up, though there are some hints of what's to come: it's like a soft, shapeless ambient texture that, as you get a little further into the bowl, gradually blossoms and develops into a fugue of flavors. I don't know any other blend that opens up like this one does.
This has become one of my default blends, one I just naturally grab when I want a great smoke that's not a gourmet delight. It may not be a masterpiece, but it's perfectly satisfying. (Maybe I should give this four stars... no, not yet.)
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 24, 2007 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 05, 2007 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I'm not a big Latakia fan but this is one of the better such blends for me since as advertised, it has a slight touch from Cyprus. It doesn't overpower the smoke and even doesn't get much more intense near the bottom of the bowl. The VAs are sweet and I found the overall balance enjoyable. Packing and lighting were easy and relights not required even though the ribbon cut is rather coarse. That may have helped to cause a cool smoke without a hint of bite. It's getting hard to find these Caledonian blends but give this one a try if you prefer an English that's not so rich and heavy.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 04, 2003 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
As I opened the tin, a full latakia aroma told me what it was. No surprise under the match - a rich latakia blend shows character. It is a bit harsher and less balanced than my favorite dunhill latakias - london mixture and night cap, but still a nice bowl.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 27, 2001 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
This blend is one of my personal favorites for an "eye-opening" tobacco to be smoked on the walk to class.
Phase I: Opening of the Tin upon first inserting the pipe tool/coin/knife/whatever, under the lip of the can and giving it a twist, one is greeted with the re-assuring "ssspop!" of a broken vacuum seal, and a bit of a latakia aroma rush. Removing the tin, the commonplace "coffee filter" and paper brand tab are found tucked carefully inside the tin, and when removed, reveal a very attractive, variated tobacco. Caledonian 466's tin aroma is again, very mild, but with a hint of the nutty earthy aroma of the latakia, and a bit of the sweet aroma of a finely chopped virginia, ready to be pinched and packed.
Phase II: The packing Since I smoke this traditionally while walking to University classes, I smoke it in a smallish (group 3 sized) meerschaum pipe (surprise!), and found almost no problems with the pack in those groggy times of morning. The feel of the tobacco is quite nice, almost like a soft carpet, with nary a shag-cut, or rough cake peice in sight. No rubbing is necesarry since, like I said, its perfectly prepared from the tin. Just take a pinch, let it fall into the bowl, and repeat. A simple gravity feed with a bit of finger tamping will suit this one just fine, and will get you ready for pleasure to come.
Phase III: The Smoke Ahh, the most important (and satisfying) part of the piping experience... the smoking part! Once the tobacco is packed neatly into a pipe, I like to suck a couple breaths throught the pipe for some reason. This serves two purposes; to elilminate the in-tin moisture of many blends, and also to prepare the palate for the flavor of the same stuff burning. Anyway, after the initial char-light, the tobac is lightly tamped and lit again. This is the last time you will need a fire for the duration of the smoke (unless its raining, or windy, or you like to drool in your pipe bowl.) At first, the flavor is almost undetectable, but its still there. The latakia is the first thing to hit the palate, my theory on this is that your tastebuds are still 'waking' up in the morning, so they detect deeper, richer flavors first (of course, I may also be completely wrong, but it helps me understand), and the sharper, 'higher' notes of oriental and virginia later, mid bowl-ish. As I've stated, moisture isn't a problem with this one, so constant relightings won't be necessary at all. By the time you hit mid-bowl, the flavor will begin to mix in your mouth, and the joy of a dead even mix of virginia, latakia, and oriental will take you in its hold. After the introduction with the small, subdued taste during the top-bowl, you glide smoothly into the mid-bowl, and then to the plateau of the end of the pipe. The flavor, unlike most tobaccos, doesn't get much stronger when you get near the end of the bowl, instead, it stays rather steady from mid to finish.
This is, by all means, a wonderful wake-up tobacco to get you all happy about being alive for another day. I've noted the room aroma as 'medium' only because that is the flavor and aroma I get from the burning tobacco. Like I said, I smoke this while walking to class, so I honestly have no clue whether this one will please or offend, but I can't imagine it would be too different from any other VA/Latakia/Oriental blend. Another thing I recommend for this is a dedicated pipe, which for me, is no problem (not because of many pipes, but because I love this blend so much!).
Phase I: Opening of the Tin upon first inserting the pipe tool/coin/knife/whatever, under the lip of the can and giving it a twist, one is greeted with the re-assuring "ssspop!" of a broken vacuum seal, and a bit of a latakia aroma rush. Removing the tin, the commonplace "coffee filter" and paper brand tab are found tucked carefully inside the tin, and when removed, reveal a very attractive, variated tobacco. Caledonian 466's tin aroma is again, very mild, but with a hint of the nutty earthy aroma of the latakia, and a bit of the sweet aroma of a finely chopped virginia, ready to be pinched and packed.
Phase II: The packing Since I smoke this traditionally while walking to University classes, I smoke it in a smallish (group 3 sized) meerschaum pipe (surprise!), and found almost no problems with the pack in those groggy times of morning. The feel of the tobacco is quite nice, almost like a soft carpet, with nary a shag-cut, or rough cake peice in sight. No rubbing is necesarry since, like I said, its perfectly prepared from the tin. Just take a pinch, let it fall into the bowl, and repeat. A simple gravity feed with a bit of finger tamping will suit this one just fine, and will get you ready for pleasure to come.
Phase III: The Smoke Ahh, the most important (and satisfying) part of the piping experience... the smoking part! Once the tobacco is packed neatly into a pipe, I like to suck a couple breaths throught the pipe for some reason. This serves two purposes; to elilminate the in-tin moisture of many blends, and also to prepare the palate for the flavor of the same stuff burning. Anyway, after the initial char-light, the tobac is lightly tamped and lit again. This is the last time you will need a fire for the duration of the smoke (unless its raining, or windy, or you like to drool in your pipe bowl.) At first, the flavor is almost undetectable, but its still there. The latakia is the first thing to hit the palate, my theory on this is that your tastebuds are still 'waking' up in the morning, so they detect deeper, richer flavors first (of course, I may also be completely wrong, but it helps me understand), and the sharper, 'higher' notes of oriental and virginia later, mid bowl-ish. As I've stated, moisture isn't a problem with this one, so constant relightings won't be necessary at all. By the time you hit mid-bowl, the flavor will begin to mix in your mouth, and the joy of a dead even mix of virginia, latakia, and oriental will take you in its hold. After the introduction with the small, subdued taste during the top-bowl, you glide smoothly into the mid-bowl, and then to the plateau of the end of the pipe. The flavor, unlike most tobaccos, doesn't get much stronger when you get near the end of the bowl, instead, it stays rather steady from mid to finish.
This is, by all means, a wonderful wake-up tobacco to get you all happy about being alive for another day. I've noted the room aroma as 'medium' only because that is the flavor and aroma I get from the burning tobacco. Like I said, I smoke this while walking to class, so I honestly have no clue whether this one will please or offend, but I can't imagine it would be too different from any other VA/Latakia/Oriental blend. Another thing I recommend for this is a dedicated pipe, which for me, is no problem (not because of many pipes, but because I love this blend so much!).
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