Dobie's Four Square London (Green)

Dobie green label is a sensational Virginia/Oriental blend. Light on the Orientals, but certainly detectable with the tingling glow of spice. Also in the traditional Danish fashion, the blend is moderate on the flavor and strength meter, offering the smoker an exception smoke without a slap to the face.

A unique thing about this blend was the unusual spice flavor I detected, particularly during the first part of the bowl. Once I reached the bottom half, it was gone.

If you want a palate pleaser with a bit of flavor and no bite, get yourself a tin!

This tobacco has a nice aroma, smooth cool draw and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. What is also nice about it is that you get a little bit of sweetness here and there and no bite. For this reason, when I want to puff like a locomotive, I fill it in a big thick bowl and go to town. This one works both heavy puffing or sipping.

This review is taken from a tin I'd estimate to be between 15-20 years old.

Orientals are the first thing you notice, with the flavor starting out slightly tart but not bitter. After just the first few minutes, the Latakia becomes more pronounced, developing the wine like characteristics you'd find in a good Syrian Latakia (sweet, creamy & chewy).

At the bottom half of the bowl, the flavor deepens even more and takes on a nice spiciness. All the flavors & characteristics come into play as you near the bottom of the bowl, alternating between spicy, deep, tart and chewy.

Overall, it?s a smooth and cool smoke throughout, with no hint of bitterness, heat or mustiness sometimes found in Oriental mixtures.

The aroma is slightly malty, deep, spicy & woodsy, becoming more pungent and deep towards the bottom half of the bowl.

Tins of Dobie's London Mixture show up occasionally on e-bay and usually go for a reasonable price; I'd recommend you pick up a tin if you have the chance.

At least 10 years old this blend has mature well and I was extremely lucky to get my hands on some tins . I remember this one originally as being a little on the harsh side and not being one of my favourite latakia blends. It has become a lot smoother and richer tasting as the latakia has become less prominent without loosing the sense of being an English Mixture .As I get further down the tin the more it seems to improve . This happy acquisition has convinced me that cellaring is something that I should concentrate on ,as if aging a blend that I did not really like has the effect of making it one that I love ,what will it do to one I really love .

Again, a shame that Four Square is not available anymore...

The contents section in the description is wrong. This tobacco contained Latakia, and a good proportion.

This was my first English mixture ever. And it was love at first smell!

A bit overwhelming in taste but this is when I realized that unaltered tobaccos were a lot better than cased tobaccos.