W.O. Larsen Premium

I really agree with Tantric on this blend. This Tobacco is definately more pleasing to those around you. I have tried alot of the Larsen Blends in these ornate tins and, none really float my boat. Many of these tobaccos have an acrid taste that is really offensive to my pallet. I've tried using a variety of puffing techniques but, I always get scortched by an overbearing citrus twang. I prefer more robust tobaccos than this line of collectables has to offer. Larsen uses quality tobaccos but these are not up to snuff. Nothing that I have ever smoked has produced such wicked bite when puffed agressively.

Premium is one of those tobaccos that are sure to please those around you, but unfortunately it is not very rewarding smoke wise. It comes in a beautifully decorated 100 g. tin,wrapped up in golden metallic paper. Upon opening the seal there is a very nice and subtle aroma that reminds me of peaches or apricots. It is fairly dry, and it is composed of visually contrasting black and bright ribbons, as well as of some dark and light browns in broken flake form. The tobacco is fresh but not moist. It packed easily in my new billiard Parker Viscount (I thought, and I was right, this would be a good blend to break in the pipe, as the black Cavendish component usually helps to build up cake). When lighting the tobacco, I was greeted by a very nice and pleasant aroma (i.e., ?That's a good one!?, said the SLW) and by a rather sweet, smoky flavour. As the pipe was new, I had to relight a couple of times. The burning rate is pretty slow and even though I can not define it as a cool smoke it did not burn hot either. I got through the first bowl, smoking as slowly as possible not only because I always try to do so, but because the mildness of the mixture could, and did, produce tongue bite. I smoked a number o bowls the following weeks before getting this review done. I tried it in different pipes, except in those I usually reserve for Latakia based mixtures or straight Virginias. My impressions did not change much. A very good but exceedingly mild smoke. This accounts for the tickly feeling in the palate after smoking it. The aromatic ingredient, though moderate, goes a little bit over the line for my taste. Soft, smooth, elegant, the mixture lacks body and strength. This is a tobacco for the beginner or the sporadic smoker. I don?t think a well established, regular smoker?-especially if into natural blends?-would make much of it. The tin is very nice, and seems to form part of a series of very attractive tobacco caddies designed for Larsen?s. The SLW keeps buttons and coins in them.