Drucquer & Sons Loch Ness
(3.33)
Artfully developed by Gregory Pease, Loch Ness is a Scottish-style crumble plug mixture comprising ribbons of small-leaf Oriental, smoky Cypriot Latakia, and rare Louisiana perique, elevated by bright lemon and matured red Virginia tobaccos. Once blended, the loose mixture is pressed and aged in cakes to meld flavors, then cut into plugs — combining the flavor-enhancing benefits of the pressing process with an easy, straightforward preparation for the pipe.
Details
| Brand | Drucquer & Sons |
| Blended By | Greg Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Krumble Kake |
| Packaging | 100 grams Tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Extremely Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2022 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Plenty of immediate thoughts about Drucquer & Sons' Loch Ness, just not sure where best to begin. My tin is dated 06-08-22, which means any aging in my tin obviously occurred prior to the manufacturer dating it. And, indeed, it was/is aged sufficiently when I first smoked it. The tin note reminds me of top, bygone “English English” blends, subdued, smoky peat and musty, wheat/rye bread, smelling like it sat long and undisturbed in the tin. It’s easy to pinch off wads from the “krumble kake”, roll and stuff them loosely into “the right pipe”. It lights easily and smokes down slowly to nothing. Tastes are similar to but much better than the tin note, with savory-rather-than-hot, spicy, sour Orientals and sweet (and/or sweetened) VAs well shaded but not at all overpowered by the sour, very “classic” Latakia, which is some of the best I’ve smoked in many years. The Perique is musty, also sour, more dark figgy than anything else, and the lot is very well melded, more sour than sweet, but not so much as to spoil anything. Strength and tastes both ramp up past medium the way I smoke it, and the aftertaste is a long, sweeter trailing off of the best of an excellent smoke.
For many years I have thought that the best English blends had a lock on the “good Latakia”; but here is another example of American Greg Pease’s exceptions to this “rule”. I’m pretty sure experienced pipers will love this stuff, and beginners can use it as a time machine, to try something that tastes “like this sort of tobacco used to taste”. 4 stars, right out of the gate. My educated guess is that it will age well in a sealed tin. However, I will probably smoke it steadily from now on, in case it’s like some of the best English blends that fade sadly once they are jarred.
For many years I have thought that the best English blends had a lock on the “good Latakia”; but here is another example of American Greg Pease’s exceptions to this “rule”. I’m pretty sure experienced pipers will love this stuff, and beginners can use it as a time machine, to try something that tastes “like this sort of tobacco used to taste”. 4 stars, right out of the gate. My educated guess is that it will age well in a sealed tin. However, I will probably smoke it steadily from now on, in case it’s like some of the best English blends that fade sadly once they are jarred.
Age When Smoked:
right fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2022 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Drucquer & Sons - Loch Ness.
Think of the standard cardboard inners that hold the tobacco in a C&D, G.L. Pease, etc, 50g tin. Well this has two, stacked on top of each other. The kakes have a musty, tangy, vinegary smell, but the aroma isn't putatively in ''Lat-bomb'' territory. They crumble easily and aren't too wet.
The Latakia and Oriental form the leading flavour, easily. However, I don't find a my palate being lambasted with a whopping-great smoky flavour, instead the Lat's quite ''calm''; there's lots of it, but it's woody, camphoraceous, with less causticity than is often. The Oriental pairs nicely at the front. It's a little ''zingy'', but not overly floral. I find a definite ripeness from the red Virginia, this collaborates excellently with the citrusy bright Virginia. The Perique? Much less of this than the others. For the initial half I barely notice anything other than a very light pepper-note, but towards the end this taste of pepper becomes much clearer. The burn from it's brilliant, very reliable, giving a bite-free smoke.
Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: a little ''busy''!
Loch Ness? Had first bowl yesterday afternoon, smoked only this since; and ordered more! Highly recommended:
Four stars.
Think of the standard cardboard inners that hold the tobacco in a C&D, G.L. Pease, etc, 50g tin. Well this has two, stacked on top of each other. The kakes have a musty, tangy, vinegary smell, but the aroma isn't putatively in ''Lat-bomb'' territory. They crumble easily and aren't too wet.
The Latakia and Oriental form the leading flavour, easily. However, I don't find a my palate being lambasted with a whopping-great smoky flavour, instead the Lat's quite ''calm''; there's lots of it, but it's woody, camphoraceous, with less causticity than is often. The Oriental pairs nicely at the front. It's a little ''zingy'', but not overly floral. I find a definite ripeness from the red Virginia, this collaborates excellently with the citrusy bright Virginia. The Perique? Much less of this than the others. For the initial half I barely notice anything other than a very light pepper-note, but towards the end this taste of pepper becomes much clearer. The burn from it's brilliant, very reliable, giving a bite-free smoke.
Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: a little ''busy''!
Loch Ness? Had first bowl yesterday afternoon, smoked only this since; and ordered more! Highly recommended:
Four stars.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Kenmare X220
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 2022 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
This freshly opened tin has notes of fruity alcohol, smoke and mild Rasin. The mostly brown marbled crumble plug has a little black and tan mixed in. Tobacco is moist but doesn't really need drying. Breaks apart and rubs out with little effort. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild to medium. No flavoring overtly detected, though tin note said otherwise, and I admit it could be a little fermentation (tin date 032322). Taste is medium to full and mostly consistent, with notes of musty herbal spices, dry earth, lots of smoky wood, floral, sweet grass, tart lemon, mild burnt toast, mild sour vinegar, tangy stewed plum, and very mild peppery retro. Oriental leading Latakia supported by Virginia and perique. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great.
Pipe Used:
2013 J.M. Boswell Poker
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
8 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 02, 2023 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I'm back with another tin of Druquer and Sons, this time it's a semi-newer release as of last year. I believe, but correct me if I'm wrong, that this is the second of the new releases for this lineup. I do like Scottish mixtures, Blairgowrie being my one of my top 10, so I thought it would prove to be an interesting smoke.
Opening the tin I see a famous C&D style crumble cake. The cake in question has a nice mixture of colors and does like the tin says it does: break up easily. The tin note is really pleasant with lots of hay like, sweet, bready Virginias, soft Orientals, light Latakia and some fruitiness from the Perique. After crumbling some of the cake and loading my pipe, I find it at the right moisture for a good light.
Lighting up, the Virginias taste the most up front to me. This is a very bready smoke. The Orientals are more herbal than they are incense like and the Latakia offers a slight smokiness. The Perique is hiding in the background. This is a very smooth smoke. I have to admit it benefits from a large deep bowl more than a shallow one for me personally.
The taste in this one is a straight medium. It fills your mouth and then pleasantly lingers. The strength is also a medium. This is like a walk in the park with Lady N. I say nothing to room note, though I think with the increased Virginia content this blend may smell better than your average English blend. I give this blend a solid four stars.
Happy Piping!
Opening the tin I see a famous C&D style crumble cake. The cake in question has a nice mixture of colors and does like the tin says it does: break up easily. The tin note is really pleasant with lots of hay like, sweet, bready Virginias, soft Orientals, light Latakia and some fruitiness from the Perique. After crumbling some of the cake and loading my pipe, I find it at the right moisture for a good light.
Lighting up, the Virginias taste the most up front to me. This is a very bready smoke. The Orientals are more herbal than they are incense like and the Latakia offers a slight smokiness. The Perique is hiding in the background. This is a very smooth smoke. I have to admit it benefits from a large deep bowl more than a shallow one for me personally.
The taste in this one is a straight medium. It fills your mouth and then pleasantly lingers. The strength is also a medium. This is like a walk in the park with Lady N. I say nothing to room note, though I think with the increased Virginia content this blend may smell better than your average English blend. I give this blend a solid four stars.
Happy Piping!
Pipe Used:
Kaywoodie Birkshire Panel
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New
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