J. F. Germain & Son King Charles Smoking Mixture

About time I added a few comments since I've been enjoying this blend for many years.

First off I adore this typically British ultra-thin ribbon shag, so versatile you can finger-press it up like a flake or a loose gravity pack and everything in between all the while it burns just great, takes a match like nobody's business with voluminous smoke all the way down leaving a talcum like ash, every last shred accounted for.

This blend has a great balance, notable with the interplay between the Virginias and the Orientals. Latakia is present for the entire bowl akin to a very tight rhythm section with the groove locked and rather complex if one pays attention, best on a pensive evening either alone or with quiet company. A subtly sweet blend, a small spoon of honey in a bowl of porridge with a pinch of salt. Very consistent though the entire combustion no 'sick spots' a sign of properly fermented and aged leaves with a touch of Nic but nothing making you run for the bog.

Highly recommended and cellar worthy.

This typical English blend comes with the perfect level of moisture, ready to smoke right out of the densely packed tin. It is mild enough for an early morning smoke, and interesting enough to puff all day long.

The Latakia is applied with restraint, always present, but not overpowering. The sweetness is very subtle.

Unfortunately, after about 40 grams, King Charles has been banned from my house after my wife pronounced the smell to be unbearable. She adores Presbyterian Mixture and various Virginia blends. But this one caused her to gag.

No big loss for me, KCM was never going to make my regular rotation. It is not as interesting as Penzance, nor as enjoyable as a half dozen English and Oriental blends already in my cellar.

I've tried a few latakia blends. Including Germain's Special Latakia Flake, which I enjoyed. As a latakia fan, I found this tobacco to be an excellent smoking experience, and at the moment, has taken the lead as my favourate latakia blend. The tobaccos used in this seem to be of very high quality, and are blended together to complement each other with extreme care. The tin aroma is full, but not over-powering, the tobacco packs and lights easily with very few relights and burns to a fine ash with little to no dottle. This stuff could well be one of my new favourate all round, and has strengthened my liking to Germain's as a blender. Excellent, 4 stars!

I bought this tobacco on a trip to Latvia. As usual I walked into a shop, where perhaps the only interesting tin was this one. I kept it in the closet for one more year, and when I opened it, I felt like a fool because I didn't get all 5 tins from that shelf. The tin must have been there for quite a long time because the piece of paper inside was dark brown which means it had matured a lot. Great mix gives you a strong natural taste of tobacco. Includes Virginia, Oriental and Latakia. Thin cut, easily fills the bowl and also lights easily. Keeps the "sweetness" to the end of the bowl. I ordered more tins to see if the fact that it burns quickly, was because of the cutting or my "furious" smoking, because of my enthusiasm. First place in my preferences in latakia

A Latakia mixture that is ideal for a beginner or for someone who wants a classic English Latakia tobacco experience. This shag cut mixture is nice for an all day cool smoke, tasty, spicy, smoky and always reliable.

Virginia lover

A classic English mixture, and one of the best for sure. Exquisitely balanced Virginias, Orientals and Latakia with no tobacco dominances and a mellowness and sweetness seldom found on similar mixtures.

Packing on the light side will prevent choking of the airway, a problem it oftens comes up with shag cuts.

Good ol' Charlie boy. If this was your baccy, then you got one thing right.I tried this on the "back" so to speak of other Latakias, the penultimate being "1820", ( which was itself good,) but for me started with promise, then dissolved into a stronger swirling mist of "partlies". King Charles starts, for me, with promises, then one by one they are fulfilled.Light-up reminds me of " Morris's Blue Book " cigarettes when I was a youth.They could only be bought at "Sylvesters" opposite Sheffield Town Hall, along with " Sullivan Powell " Turkish ..... ah those were the days. Then the Latakia, smoky and lascivious, not harsh or pungent, but a reunion with an old mistress who has aged very well, although adept and kindly when young. It may have been nostalgia, but I got hints of Egyptian as well. The tastes, introduced along the way meld into a well orchestrated Sonata ... "Exposition, Development " and then, "Recapitulation." Clean tastes, clean burn, clean pipe,white ash, smoked to exhaustion with no problems. No tongue-bite, no heavy aftertaste, clean your teeth with impunity.Economical in use, easy burn, and smoke then fill again. Parfait !! Definitely a tobacco worth losing your head for.(??)

Nothing special here. One of the most boring English blends I've ever smoked. It is wet out of the tin, so some drying will be required. Basically just a medium English not unlike dozens of other medium English blends. There are far better choices available. I wouldn't buy it again.

Without a doubt one of the best tasting English blends available. The buttery orientals really make this blend complex and flavorful. The Latakia is there, but not overwhelming. A very balanced blend. My tin has a few years on it, so it's all the better. This is a winner.