Drucquer & Sons Blairgowrie

Blend: Draquer & Sons Blairgowrie Blend Type: Scottish/ Virginia forward English Cut: Rubbed out Flake Topping: None Detected Taste: Medium Strength: Mild Availability: 100g tin, 200g tin

Hello again today I'm reviewing D&S Blairgowrie. To start off, this is what I've heard called a Scottish mixture and that's what on the tin description. Now I wasn't that sure on what that meant at first so I looked it up and on some forums people will say it's a Virginia forward English blend.

Upon opening the tin there a very typical English like campfire smell, and it does smell a little sweeter than usual to me and I will chalk that up to the Virginia. The play of the Orientals and the Latakia is sort of tangy. The cut is a broken, rubbed-out flake. Overall it does pack well, and I have no problems lighting it, it stays well lit throughout the bowl and needs the normal amount of relights. I find the room note to this really pleasant.

The first thing I notice is just how well balanced this really is. There is some very natural almost herbal sweetness coming up front from the Virginias, but the Latakia is nice and leathery and blends in seamlessly. The smoke is cool and I detect no topping. The Orientals in the background offer a little incense like hint as you puff softly. I will say the taste is solidly medium, but Lady N is quite mild.

If you are looking to try the lighter side of English give this a try. As for me, this blend is in my top 3, I can and do smoke it all day.

Do you like Nightcap? This blend has a lot of the same charm as Nightcap -- medium latakia, medium perique, with a strong virginia and oriental backbone. I find this mixture just slightly lighter than Nightcap, particularly fresh (Nightcap mellows and does better with some years in the cellar), and it has a somewhat more fermented fruit tangy flavor. But the basic flavor profile is quite similar.

This is an EXCELLENT smoke. The perique gives it a jammy fermented sweetness with just the barest touch of spice. The latakia is far from overwhelming, and simply ties everything together. There is an underlying pleasant sweetness, not overwhelming and not cased in any way that I can tell.

The overall balance is absolutely amazing. I'm always amazed when mixtures can take a "kitchen sink" approach with so many different flavors and actually make them all work together, where I can taste each individually but also enjoy the combination. This mixture is the perfect example of that.

It's not mild -- definitely in the medium to medium+ category. It's got some vitamin N -- not overwhelming, but I can feel it in this mixture. Although I sound like a broken record, the best comparison is well-aged Nightcap. Who can complain?

Another example of G. L. Pease's blending ability. It's a tasty Scottish blend that has some punch & smokes mildly. I'd say it's perfectly blended, producing a subtle sweetness. Once you pop the lid & give a whiff, you know you're going to like it... that is, if you prefer these types of blends. The Red Virginias are the main player in this blend & the Cyprian Latakia is basically condimental. The mild, sweet Orientals lend some extra spice & flavor & play an important roll in this mixture. The Perique provides a subtle, sweet, fruity flavor.

The strength level is very close to the strong threshold which surprised me because it smokes so mildly. However, I wasn't disappointed because strength in a blend with an enticing flavor is what motivates me toward a good, tasty blend. This review is based on a fresh, new tin of Blairgowrie. I just finished the first bowlful in a large, Cavicchi Dublin. Next: I just popped the lid on a tin of Levant which I understand is even stronger & will sample some Trafalgar in the process & pass my notes along. Some more of G. L. Pease's "old timey" flavor.

This broken flake is dry and ready to go straight out of the tin. Easy to pack and light.

First and foremost is the full bodied Virginia base. Sweet, Bready, woody, nutty, tangy, a fair amount of spice with the orientals supporting and the Latakia in the background. Towards the end of the bowl the profile changes quite a bit, ramping up the woody notes and gaining quite a bit of earth and sourness. Rough around the edges at times, but in a spicy black pepper kind of way. Burns well, if not a bit hot. Strength is Goldilocks level perfect, leaving me sated, but not turning my legs into noodles.

If you enjoy Virginia forward Latakia mixtures this should definitely be on the top of your list. Blairgowrie is spicy and stout, full of complexity yet balanced and easy to enjoy. This is a mixture I can (and do) smoke all day.

Absolutely my favorite from the line… and probably my favorite blend from GL Pease. The Virginia and Orientals combine for 60-70% of the taste, and the latakia and perique make up the other 30-40%. Just a perfect combo. Not too heavy, not too sweet. It’s in the Goldilocks zone between English and Scottish. A desert Island smoke for me.

Another example of G. L. Pease's blending ability. It's a tasty Scottish blend that has some punch & smokes mildly. I'd say it's perfectly blended... producing a subtle sweetness. Once you pop the lid & give a whiff, you know you're going to like it... that is, if you prefer these types of blends. The Red Virginias are the main player in this blend & the Cyprian Latakia is basically condimental. The mild, sweet Orientals lend some extra spice & flavor & play an important roll in this mixture. The Perique provides a subtle, sweet, fruity flavor.

The strength level is very close to the strong threshold which surprised me because it smokes so mildly. However, I wasn't disappointed because strength in a blend with an enticing flavor is what motivates me toward a good, tasty blend. I just finished the first bowlful in a large, Cavicchi Dublin. Next: I just popped the lid on a tin of Levant which I understand is even stronger & will sample some Trafalgar in the process & pass my notes along. Some more of G. L. Pease's "old timey" flavor.

I personally love how much latakia is in this blend, which is very little. The orientals and virginias go so well and are at the forefront of this blend. To me, this is more of a va/per. Creamy creamy creamy. Just a fun smoke. Slightly Unique.

Tin note of sweet vegetation, dried fruit and spices. Tobacco is a reddish-brown broken flake. Moisture content is great. Larger pieces may need to be rubbed out. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and consistent, with notes of toast, wood, spices, leather, floral, savory sweet, mild Rasins, fermented sour, musty earth, orange peel/zest, herbal hay, moderately spicy, citrus, smoky, lemon grassy, a tangy stewed fruit background note, and a peppery retro. Virginia is leading with Oriental/Turkish and Perique supporting. Latakia is bringing up the rear. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

This is really good tobacco, its blended perfectly. Great flavor, just enough nicotine to be relaxing. It smokes perfect right out of the tin. I love 965 and nightcap, I smoked them religiously when dunhill still controlled the production. I loved being able to buy them in bulk. Now that no longer an option, I've searched for a bulk on the same level with no luck. Blairgowrie is available in a 100g tin which almost fills a quart mason jar for $30. So it's a high quality smoke that'll last awhile. If you're a fan of good tobacco with no extra flavoring, then I highly recommend it.