BriarWorks International Pete's Beard's Blend

The smoky, woody, earthy, musty, floral, lightly sweet, slightly spicy Cyprian Latakia is the lead component. The lemon Virginia offers a lot of tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, some floralness, tartly sour lemon, sugar, light wood and earth with a few pinches of spice, and a little acidity. There is a little earthy, woody, herbal, vegetative, floral, sour, spicy, bitter Turkish (probably Izmir) in a condimental role, though the description doesn’t list its presence. The strength and nic-hit are just short of the medium mark. The taste is a step past the medium threshold. Won’t bite or get harsh, but it does sport a little roughness. Burns clean and a tad warm at a moderate pace with a very consistent, mildly sweet rather sour, savory, spicy campfire flavor that extends to the lingering after taste. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. The room note is pleasant to tolerable. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran, and repeatable for the less experienced. Two and a half stars.

-JimInks

I bought this one bc I liked the back down south I bought from them. And wanted to see what their English was all about. Odd that the shop stocked the line, as it mostly caters to older gents. Maybe I'm changing the business model haha.

Anyway. It has a bit of a sweet smokey nose to it, which is to be expected. It comes fairly dry in the jar, and is almost a cigarette cut ribbon. It's really jam packed in there too, being a full 2ozs. (America!) Mostly yellow with varying browns thrown in. It packs, lights, smokes and burns very well.

The taste is decent, but it grew on me the more I smoked it. A mild English in the best sense of the term. It is sweet, has a bit of smokey goodness and more strength than I would have thought. Well balanced, with a slight deviation in flavor that pokes up to surprise you along the way. I can't tell for certain what else it has in it, but it tastes like it has orientals, Maryland and burley. Maybe some of that is dark fired, I can't tell.

I would say if you're looking to try and find an easy smoking all day English that won't ruin your palate, this is for you. Don't expect a deep experience from it, you'll be disappointed. Much like the back down south, it is more complex than they let on, but in a mysterious sort of way. There is more going on here than what's on the label, but I can't tell what for certain. I'm beginning to think the whole line may be like this.

BriarWorks - Pete's Beard's Blend.

Unique packaging, but be careful when you remove the lid, it has a tendency to spill out because it's brimmed to the top! It has about an equal share of yellow and brown ribbons but far fewer black ones. To me this nearly qualifies as a shag, the cut is that fine. The blend itself is a bit dry, I'm not convinced the jar's up to the job, it looks pretty but a normal tin might seal it better.

Because I enjoy an English as a morning smoke I chose this today. I can see how this would make a great All Day blend, but I have English's in the morning and want more 'oomph'. The Latakia gives quite a mild character, as opposed to being heady and overly smoky. The Virginia's presence is indisputable, it doesn't get lost behind the Lat' (a common problem with English/Balkans for me). Although the main flavour's nice enough, a more 'sprightly' English, there's a sour/lemony top note which secures my rating of two stars; especially after halfway when it gets stronger. That, and the speed of the burn: fast.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: pleasant to tolerable.

Pete's Beard's Blend? Somewhat recommended:

Two stars.

I smoked worse but I've smoked better. The Virginias aren't spectacular, they irritate my sinuses as Virginia often do early on in the bowl but with little payoff; that is they don't seem to sweeten or develop. The balance with the Latakia isn't bad and I like this sort of a light Lat blend but I'd much rather reach for something like Squadron Leader or Ashbury if I wanted a Virginia forward English. Go slow to keep it from getting harsh. Had a hard time finishing both bowls and don't know if I will finish this sample. Left a fairly bad aftertaste; my mouth taste like I ate an ashtray. Out of 4 stars I'd give it 1.5-1.75. To earn 1 star or less it has to be as despicable as something like Black Ambrosia and PB isn't even close to that horror. Depending on your smoking rhythm and pipe maybe you will get better results. This taste very young so I think this may get better with age if the Virginia would sweeten or at least mellow.