Drucquer & Sons Trafalgar

I want to start out with Trafalgar's absolutely stunning tin presentation. Ranging from lemon yellow to orange to tan to a ruddy brown to an almost black component; this blend looked as good in the tin as any blend I've ever opened, and had Greg Pease's signature all over it. Unfortunately, the tin aroma did not quite reach this same high level as the appearance. The tin aroma was somewhat subdued and distant with no one component standing out. I compared it to the only other Drucquer tin I have open, Prince's Blend, and discovered that both the latakia and perique were fainter in Trafalgar. I also noticed the difference the presence of the Oriental(s) make in Trafalgar, as it has none of the grassiness in the background that you find in Prince's Blend. Rather, it has a more subdued and slightly woody background aroma. When I lit this blend up, I found the subdued and distant tin aroma was replicated in the pipe aroma and taste. The top third smoke was of a somewhat confused and weak nature and I couldn't get a whole lot out of it. Fortunately, this all reversed in the middle third and an Oriental-forward light English emerged that was both satisfying and unique to my recent English smoking. The bottom third finished in a more ordinary way with the Orientals now dropping back to a secondary position. All in all, a beautiful and beautifully blended light English that, unfortunately, always leaves me wanting more. I recommend this blend on the basis of it's appearance and that beautiful and Oriental-dominated middle third smoke; three stars.