J. F. Germain & Son King Charles Smoking Mixture

J.F Germain & Son King Charles Mixture.

The unlit mixture has a leathery smell to it but you can also get the lively note of the Latakia. The mix is of a good selection of colours, being right from a few jet black pieces up to some golden yellow. It's of a superb moistness, takes to the flame amazingly, and once lit you realise just how special it is! The smoke is superb, being of a great smoky prominence with a superb spiciness to give it some backbone. If you decide to inhale with this one it causes no discomfort. This one leaves a perfectly white ash as it burns. The room note is very "classic" and not at all heavy, so it suits smoking if there are some non-smokers in the vicinity!

In all, it's a true pleasure that demands 4 stars.

I tried a sample of this a while back, sadly I remember little of it so I thought I'd treat myself as part of my current Germain's binge. Having tried Germain's 1820 and Special Latakia Flake, I'd hoped I'd be in for a treat.

The aroma upon opening the tin was one of a mild creosote, bringing back those fond memories of helping my dad applying to the wooden fence out back. As for the fine shag, it does clump together a bit, so needs a little care but is otherwise. The first two or three pipefuls were a little rough but then settle down into a nice melange of flavours. The latakia is pleasantly mild but, as the smoke goes on, begins to dance with the orientals and the virginias, providing fond reminders of Squadron Leader and, to a lesser extent, 3 Noggins. If a little care is taken with this, it doesn't burn hot and provides no tonguebite.

A very good, mild latakia blend that sits very nicely between 3 Noggins and Squadron Leader in terms of the lat hit and provides the same complexity in flavours. Another cracking blend from Germain's.

Tin aroma is one of the more intriguing that I have encountered as of late. Rich and full but not overpowering. It was easy to pick out the Virginias and Orientals. The tobacco was in a firm cake, not hard pressed, more of a Krumble Kake. It rubbed out with ease into a mixed cut ribbon. I loaded this into a Larsen Zulu, a pipe I'd used only twice due to some lighting difficulties. The tobacco was a bit damp, but easily overcome and lit very easily (perhaps my priors were user error). The aroma was warm and not the typical "English" smell. Weather was rather dreary and this provided ample reason to contemplate the tobacco. The Virginias showed their brightness and sweetness, the Orientals their spice. The Latakia kept things cool and provided a wonderful smoky background. I've been smoking "English" style tobaccos for over a year now. I'd characterize this as a mild English. The Latakia is noticeable, but doesn't dominate the blend. The Virginias provide a level of sweetness and the interplay of the Orientals is expertly done.

The subtleties of this mixture really came through in a wider billiard or pot. From the charring light the mature Virginias are deep, rich and complex- half way through the bowl it's a creamy creme brûlée and caramelized sugar dance that is just utterly blissful whilst accompanied and supported by the salty but refined orientals and subtle smokey Latakia. There is a wee topping here but it's hard to decipher from the sweetness produced from the high quality Virginias. Smoking this makes me want to take a writing class so that I may better transcribe the vast amount of flavors that are charging and counter-charging my tastebuds.

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.

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.