J. F. Germain & Son King Charles Smoking Mixture

This has more Virginia's in it, along the lines of Esoterica's "And So to Bed" but without the flavoring. I like it. Nice smokey English with the Latakia a bit more balanced in the mix. When I first opened the tin I could really smell the Virginia element as opposed to heavier Oriental/Latakia blends such as Pennzance. It was rather moist as well. A Germain characteristic. A little airing and it was good to go. Thin ribbon cut, tightly interwoven in the tin. Quick light. Nice change of pace now and then.

Anyone who likes their English blends blended in England will be, at a minimum, unoffended by King Charles. It possesses a character not replicated in "English" blends from any other country.

There are, however, more eloquent and more enjoyable statements to be smoked. There is nothing objectionable in this mixture, but, alas, there is nothing redeeming either. It is merely an acceptable smoke.

The Virginias, indeed all components, are top-grade, well-aged, and processed properly. They just, IMHO, are not worth the price when there are many of other "light" English blends that offer more bang for the buck...Like Piccadilly from GL Pease.

Two out of four stars.

Appearance: Nicely variegated in color, traditional British ribbon cut. Goodly proportion of dark leaf evident here.

Aroma: Very rich English/Balkan aroma. The Latakia, Oriental and Virginia all are readily detectable.

Packing: Packs easily into almost any pipe. You may want to tear the ribbons when loading a small bowl. Lighting: Starts burning readily, just tamp and relight.

Initial flavor: Just as promised by the aroma, lots of condimental flavors on a good Virginia background. Nothing stays in the background here, all the elements come out to play immediately.

Mid-bowl: If asked to pigeon-hole this blend, I would have to call it English with Balkan tendencies, not a Balkan per se. The Virginias are still slightly dominant.

Finish: Burns cool and dry all the way down. There is a fairly strong mouth feel here, but not overpowering. Summary: An excellent blend from Germain. I wish it were offered in larger sizes, as is the Esoterica line. That?s my only complaint.

Pretty good, nice natural flavor. Can't say that it's among my favorites so far, but definitely a notch above Brebbia's Preludio blend.

There was a time when all I would smoke were English blends. It then came to pass that I found them harder and harder to enjoy. It was often to the point that I could not stand the taste and sensation brought on by Latakia.

King Charles, though, is a blend that could make me return. This is among one of the finest English blends I have had in quite a score, though not perfect.

I love the long, almost shag cut that burns so well once it is got going. The flavor is all that an English should be, without any one component taking centre stage.

This said, it was not all that it could be and I think that I will be with my classic American style mixtures for some time still. I noticed a tendency to go out at the first stages of a bowl. Also, the restrained hand with which the condimental leaf was applied in combination with the blonde virginia base did make for a bit of a bland smoke at times. A bit more turkish, I think, would do the trick.

A truly natural tobacco! This blend would be described by many as flat,yet it really is not. The Latakia remains in the background while the orientals and virginias provide the bulk of the flavor. The blend starts cool and mild and remains that way right to the end. It yields a very nutty taste that leaves no aftertaste ata all. This is very similar to blend 1820 by Germain.It is not complex but it is smooth and rewarding. This is when you need a break from latakia laden English blends. No casing, no bite, only natural flavor 3 of 4 stars.

I must pretty much echo what has been said in the reviews above. I am down to the last couple of bowls left in the tin and will probably not buy another, but this is not to say this is not a high quality blend. I simply prefer blends with more strength and taste.

The Taste, though not strong, is by no means monochromatic. The Virginias of course give their natural sweetness while the Latakia and Oriental components lend a teasing smokey-spicey interplay. This is a blend best enjoyed while seated quietly on a still evening, listening to the crickets and tree frogs calling out their love songs. Any activity, for me at least, will distract from the enjoyment of KC's subtleties.

The most positive point for this blend is that the moisture content was perfect out of the tin. I have hardly ever had to relight a bowl of KC.

My impressions of dear old King Charles run in the same direction as the above review by the Mailman. Really a bit hard to describe because the blend is quite unique.

My tin was about 4 years old, so, it was aged nicely. I enjoyed the subtle tones of the Latakia, which did not overwhelm my palate. The semi-sweet taste of the orientals came through as well, but it was the Virginia base that I tasted most.

If you like a very light English blend without casing, then pull King Charles out of the can. If, on the other hand, you prefer a stouter Latakia blend, leave the King in his coffin!

Tin Aroma: There is the mustiness of Latakia, the zest of Orientals and the pungency of bright leaf Virginia in the pouch aroma. The interplay of these three elements is wide and varied, with this blend sometimes smelling musty like a proper english blend, sometimes smelling warm and sweet, like a good virginia blend.

Physical Characteristics: A short ribbon cut comprised mostly of lighter colored pieces, this blend came out of the tin in a very smokable condition, and improved only slightly with exposure to the drying effects of ambient air. Packs easily, owing to the shortness of the cut, and holds together very well during smoking, leaving a dark grey ash that is almost sandy in texture.

Notes: The sample tin I smoked had been aged for 5 years, which may have colored my perceptions of this blend enormously. I enjoyed this blend immensely in almost all of my briars, though both meerschaums and corncobs seemed to add ( or detract, I cannot say which) something fro mthe flavor that was integral to my enjoyment of it. The taste is full and satisfying, without being overpowering, which is, to me at least, quite an accomplishment, as most blends I have tried fall either to one side of this equation or the other, being too full and powerful to really enjoy a whole bowl, or so flat and mild as to offer very little in the way of body. This blend requires very few relights, even with my meager smoking skills, and burns evenly and smoothly to the bottom of the bowl, leaving only ash and a stray scrap or two of tobacco. Probably the highest accolade I can give this tobacco is that bowls of it always seem to end too soon.

Verdict: This is a stellar blend, and rapidly becoming one of my favorites.