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Cup O' Joes
This hardy blend celebrates the oldest battleship in the U.S. Navy, the U.S.S. Constitution. This blend is a latakia lovers dream. A high percentage of Cyprian latakia is complimented by Kentucky, Oriental, and Virginia tobaccos. Cake aged for twelve weeks, this flake cut blend is full and cool smoking.
Favorite Of 13 Users
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipestud (1829) |  |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Old Ironsides will ram you, boys! Even lovers of most Latakia infested blends will surely cry "uncle" with this one. Whew! I needed to brush my teeth for a week after smoking Old Ironsides before my wife let me back in bed. Seriously, this is quite strong as well as full of flavor. The Virginia element was a little overwhelmed by the Lat bomb within, but I think I did taste it some. The Orientals never had a chance.
I gotta get more of this stuff!
32 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentleman Zombie (729) |  |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I was expecting a Lat bomb here but got much more. At first light I got Latakia and Orientals. Almost balanced. The Lat has a slight edge. A few more puffs in and the Kentucky shows itself with a nice earthiness that is easily discerned. Slowly a very mild sweetness starts to come through from the Virginias. There's just enough sweetness here to make this blend work. If there were just a little more this would reach 4 star status for me. Never quite gets there. It's a bit of a dry smoke. A beverage within reach is a necessity for me. There is a fair amount of spice in the smoke that I found to be very nice. Overall a very good smoke.
Medium in body. Medium to full in taste. Burns well. Ready to smoke right out of the tin. Probably not for everyone, but I enjoyed this tin. I'll stash a couple more.
Pipe Used: MM General, MM Country Gentleman
Age When Smoked: fresh
Purchased From: smokingpipes.com
27 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| andmer (5) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Unnoticeable |
A Very very flavorful mixture. Really enjoyed this, comes in a broken flake. I rubbed it out slightly, packed and smoked it immediately no drying time. Smoked wonderfully right out of the tin.
Has a super rich flavor, not your average latakia mixture by any means. I think the kentucky has a strong role in developing this taste, but not overbearing on the other components.
Smoke this last if you plan on sampling other blends in your session as it will seriously leave an impression on your palate that you can't shake off. I consider that a good thing though.
Sweet, cool, smokey, thick, long smoke. Just plain savory and delightful.
Pipe Used: Bent Bertram
Age When Smoked: new
Purchased From: smoking pipes
15 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StevieB (2080) | |
Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Dan Tobacco - Old Ironsides (American History Mixtures).
The flakes are starting to break apart, yet not enough to justify the name Broken Flake. The colouration resembles tiger stripes: the way the lighter and darker leaves run vertically forms a pretty appearance. The moisture was perfect when I first opened it.
Although the Lat' creates a heady smoke, it doesn't monopolize the smoke, entirely. It seems to me to be a flavour where the Kentucky's second in command, so it's not just woody-smokiness from the Lat': the Kentucky gives a sharper, fiery, note. It's this that raises my rating of the taste from full, to very full; and also removes a star from the final recommendation. I get the least enthusiasm from the Virginia, maybe a gentle sweetness, but the others are too formidable to allow something with the word Gentle in its camp to share much of the action! It burns evenly, giving, like it says in the description, a cool smoke.
Nicotine: strong. Room-note: full, but I don't find it totally abhorrent.
Don't get me wrong, Old Ironsides is a well made blend, but it's just a touch too heavy a taste for me to give it full marks:
Recommended.
Pipe Used: Askwith Poker
Age When Smoked: Five months
Purchased From: 4noggins
13 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sasquatch (90) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Beautiful presentation in the form of roughly broken flake. This stuff is smooth smooth smooth. Hardly any sweetness compared to a lot of other "lighter" English tobaccos (like, say, Squadron Leader or Frog Mo). More like a cup of coffee with no sugar. Can be smoked all day with no fear of bite.
Room note: Old coffee and maybe maybe a touch of spilled beer.
I like this stuff better than Penzance in taste and in leaf style. Not a clone, but in that ballpark. If you expect to require your sense of taste for about 6 hours after, don't smoke this stuff. I can just see a wine-tasting now: Lovely ruby colour, bouquet... Latakia. Taste... Latakia. Finish... mm hmm, more latakia.
12 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| TEO (33) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Wow, this is tobacco time machine! A sort of "dual" blend, It starts as English and evolves in a spicy balkan, a full flavour flake.
Old Ironsides is the only tobacco I fell in love with after the very first bowl. Strong, with a full, nutty, crispy and smoky taste that just push you dreaming of a london night, back into a dark and smokey tavern on the river Thames, in the mid of the 18th century! I packed an entire flake down my small Peterson and had some little trouble keeping it lit, as it was just out of the tin, but after all, what a great flake!
The generous amount of latakia it contains comes from great leaves along with the base. It doesn't stun, obviously it doesn't bite and smokes veeery quiet and slow. As you proceed down the bowl, a certain deeper spicyness, that makes me think of perique or matured red virginias, shows up and stays there, enriching the taste with some more complexity.
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Jakob Kiilerich (120) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
As a huge fan of Bengal Slices and Penzance, I was looking forward to this one - though a bit suspicious of the added Kentucky. Upon opening the tin, I thought I was in for a treat, because the Latakia really smelled high-class.
The texture and cut however, is quite different from the crumbly Penzance Krumble Kake etc. This one is quite rubbery like Full Virginia Flake. But when rubbed out, it is as if the charred "dust" from the Latakia separates from the other tobaccos. It is also very hard to light and keep lit.
Unlike Penzance, Bengal Slices and Krumble Kake, the other tobaccos used here does not support the Latakia, and the flavors does not blend at all. Therefore I got this unbalanced and disharmonious smoking experience of smoky Latakia and strong acrid Kentucky. The other tobaccos; VA and orientals were totally absent.
I consider this a rough and crude attempt at a Latakia flake - not good, not good at all...
=== Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark ===
Pipe Used: FRB Bulldog
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: 4noggins.com
Similar Blends: Esoterica Tobacciana - Penzance, Bengal Slices - Bengal Slices.
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Pipestud (1829) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Old Ironsides will ram you, boys! Even lovers of most Latakia infested blends will surely cry "uncle" with this one. Whew! I needed to brush my teeth for a week after smoking Old Ironsides before my wife let me back in bed. Seriously, this is quite strong as well as full of flavor. The Virginia element was a little overwhelmed by the Lat bomb within, but I think I did taste it some. The Orientals never had a chance.
I gotta get more of this stuff!
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| JimInks (3046) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
The mildly sweet Cyprian Latakia provides a wealth of musty, leathery smoke, earth, wood, some herbs, floralness, and light spice as the lead component. The mildly sweet and fairly sour dark fired Kentucky offers plenty of earth, wood, herbal vegetation, floralness, some spice, and light nuttiness as an important supporting player. In the third slot is the earthy, woody, floral, spicy, vegetative, incense-like, herbal, mildly sweet and rather sour Orientals. The Virginias produce some tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass, bread, sugar, floralness, and a pinch of spice in the background. The strength is at the center of medium to strong. The taste is a couple of steps past that mark. The nic-hit is a notch below the overall strength level. There’s no chance of bite or harshness, but there is a mild roughness present. The flakes are moderately moist and pliable, and as always, I did not dry them. Burns cool, clean and slow with a very consistent, deeply rich, sour, floral, spicy, mildly sweet, savory campfire flavor that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. The potent room note might isolate you from your family. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires some relights. Not an all day smoke. Three and a half stars.
-Jiminks
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Stefanos (222) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Smoky and leathery full-frontal Latakia mixture which you can tell from the moment you pop the tin. Smokes cool and dry. Has medium strength and medium weight although taste is very full and mostly Latakia. Orientals and Virginia sure play a part but they are not really discernible per se. For me they just add the cushion upon which Latakia sits and add a small variety.
It’s not as complex or as refined as Penzance but it really has similarities and the Latakia used here is of high quality and very reminiscent of that found in Penzance.
It is dry tasting, with no harsh points but does not have any juiciness or sweetness which, if present, might make Old Ironsides an even better blend. In larger bowls it may become overwhelming, but I think it can be smoked, if not all-day, at least quite a few times a day, as it is not a really strong blend. Room note is very intense though.
Flakes are very dry but as I said they smoke cool and I didn’t try to rehydrate them. However while rubbing a significant part of the Latakia crumbles to black dust. Not to mention that my hands get dirty from it.
3.5 stars from me, it’s a fantastic tasting Latakia. Highly recommended as such.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| dixcreek (184) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
If you are not a Latakia fan please stay clear of this one. If you love Latakia, order you a tin asap! Excellent smoke-- smokey sweet Latakia with a side of Virginia and just enough dark Ky and oriental to make a winning combo. Tin note is excellent and the moisture damn near perfect. Rubbed out easily and packed well. Stays lit throughout with few relights. Goes really well with a pint of Guinness extra stout as well. While this is not an all day everyday smoke for me it will become one that I will smoke several times a week, most likely as my last smoke of the day or night.
Pipe Used: Peterson 303
Age When Smoked: New tin
Purchased From: Smoking pipes
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Johnny M (6) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
A very creamy, sweet, rich and full Latakia Flake. Burns very cool and slow. For me it is the best Latakia Blend i smoked so far. Highly Recommended for Lovers of a very full Latakia Mixture.
Pipe Used: Briar
Age When Smoked: fresh from the tin
Purchased From: Dtm Dan Tobacco
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| DeathMetal.org (231) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Summary: a sweet English with depth of flavor.
This blend makes the venerable English into dense flakes, which brings out the sweetness of the Virginias and reduces the tang of the Orientals to a slight vinegar-bittersweet flavor which melds with the Kentucky Burley to give the blend a bit of spice. On top of that, the Latakia injects a warm smoky flavor, and when taken as a whole, the blend performs like a sweet English with some depth to it and strength behind it. These flakes, less dense than the UK variety, burn easily and smolder long, making this tobacco perfect for long drives when you want something to think about other than the mile markers ticking past.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| getyur@sstomars (26) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
You know itll have enough lat for ya when you rub it out and you have lat dust on your hands.
has a very nice tin note. fist the lat hits you then you smell the nice sour fermented virginias which to me smell very quality.
when smoked you get the lat first, thats pretty par for the course. the orientals come in shortly after that, and lay a nice kinda sunflower seed flavor to the mix. aftter a few minutes with it you can get some sweetness from the Va's. but in my opinion not enough, it could use some more imo. but all in all this is a solid balkin style flake. and im gonna get a few tins to age, figure ill let one go for 3-5 years and one for 10 years.
now its not what i would call a lat bomb but its not mild with the lat. i would suggest this and i would buy again but tht being said its not ever going to be a part of my daily rotation. so i would give it 2 1/2 stars but cant do 1/2 stars so ill give it a solid 3.
Pipe Used: cob,falcon,brebia paneled dublin
Age When Smoked: new
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Pryhosm (248) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
This is the strongest Latakia tin note I have ever experienced...MMMM alotta Latakia. The broken flakes are easy to rub out, dry and pack (do let it dry or it has a tendency to bite). Once lit the smokey Latakia hits you between the eyes, but not overbearing. Sweet and smokey. I get a chocolate like flavor, not from a topping, but the sweet Latakia with the DFK and Orientals blend into what my palate describes as chocolate. Very consistent flavor down the bowl and leaves a grey ash. I got the sense from other reviews that there is a big nic-hit with this. I did not get that at all...and I am fairly sensitive to nicotine. Great after dinner smoke.
Pipe Used: Briar, meerschaum and cobs
Purchased From: B&M
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| RoundTwo (38) | |
Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Listed as a Balkan there is some sweet and sour noticed during the smoke which offsets the smokiness of the Latakia and Kentucky to create another successful straightforward blend from Dan Tobacco. Rich in flavor from the quality tobacco, this blend does not need a topping or strong casing to carry it. I could still taste it on my breath the following day but it was a welcome obtrusion like finding some leftover Remoulade in your beard from the night before.
Age When Smoked: Fresh
Purchased From: Iwan Ries
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Gaius Baltar (25) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Broken flakes with optimum moisture, dark brown. The smell is smoked by distinguishing two types, the resinous aroma of latakia and the dry woody of fired kentucky. It is a mixture dominated by latakia and kentucky, these appear at the beginning of the smoke, later the oriental are shown as spice, I do not encounter virginia, the smoke is not sweet, it is very dry. It is a potent mix for lovers of latakia, highly recommended.
Pipe Used: Stanwell
Age When Smoked: New from new tin
Purchased From: Duaso tobacco shop from Barcelona
Similar Blends: Mac Baren - HH Vintage Syrian.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Knightsmoker (218) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
This is a very good blend overall. The Oriental's lead the way just a little. They are musty, slightly floral, and have that buttermilk like sourness to them. This is trailed by the Lat., which is smokey and sweet, with hints of old leather here and there. The KY comes within a few puffs once it is going good. I get some earthiness and a slight spice which may be from the KY or perhaps the VA which is a little sweet but not overly so. It is way in the background. The finish is about average and the nic hit is closer to the mild to med. end. The flakes come ready to fold or rub no need to dry.
Age When Smoked: 2 yrs.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| the_dalai_lama_himself (43) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Smooth the Latakia and Kentucky create a kind of salty sweetness when mixed with the oriental and Virginia, which adds a bit of vegetal notes and woody spice. Tastes like a Balkan blend, well balanced and easy to smoke fast doesn't get too hot, and does not cause any Dottle.. the broken flake in my tin was pretty much ready to go with no drying time needed and rubs apart easily. You've gotta enjoy Latakia / Kentucky to enjoy this blend.. it's not one I reach for all the time, but has its place in my cellar.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Gloucesterman (5) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
I can't say I liked this blend. I found it somewhat monochromatic. That is to say it lacks complexity. From beginning to end the flavor is consistent and overwhelming. I usually like dark English flakes but this one doesn't seem to have much to recommend it. The latakia predominates in a way that is just overpowering and I can't get any other flavors to come through. Even when slow sipped there is but a single taste. Not my cup of tea. If Latakia is something you can't get enough of this might be your blend but for me Latakia is and should be a condiment tobacco and in this blend it's dominant.
Pipe Used: GBD 9438
Age When Smoked: six minths
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Budman (25) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
I remember lighting up a bowl of this while driving down the interstate a few years back. Within minutes I was reeling from the punch this packed! Old Ironsides is said to have over 40% latakia and you can believe it. The latakia taste stayed in my taste buds the entire day and also lingered in the pipe for quite some time. If you really love latakia then this is for you. Smoking this at home around any living persons would not be recommended. I have used this for blending and it did compliment some weaker blends that needed more back end. It's just to much for me on it's own.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Extremely Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Extra Strong |
I was puzzled by the one or maybe 2 other Reviewers who mentioned Old Ironsides as a 'late night' blend. In theory, this makes sense; by the end of the day, our tastebuds have been somewhat numbed or taxed from receiving, for most of us, a broad variety of flavors, thereby it takes a little more intensity to make 'em "sing" with pleasure.
In addition, I found that when I did try Old Ironsides late at night, I was greeted each time by, yes, Old Ironsides firmly imprinted on my tongue first thing the following morning. What that eased that effect somewhat the most recent time was a good brushing on the tongue with toothbrush and paste right before bedtime, a good way to cleanse the pallet for the next morning in general (and a typical practice in India as a general means of oral hygene/breath freshening, as I understand it).
Also, my schedule doesn't seem to permit a nice full meal and then an evening of relaxation most nights. It is with no doubt in my mind that I tell you that a hearty meal in the belly is what's required for me to enjoy a blend like this! Whoa Nelly!
I am indeed a fan of Latakia. But I suppose even my fanaticism has its limits. The strongest blends that I've enjoyed in the past include Timm's London Blend 1000 and the currently available Balkan Sobranie (European pouched edition, not available in the USA). I've gotten enjoyment from those fine blends, usually in small bowled pipes with enough shank/stem length to add a bit of coolness. But Old Ironsides...whew...I guess this sailor is just not enough of a 'manly man' to handle this intensely smokey flake. Not sure what to do with the remainder in the tin...who knows, maybe it will grow on me? I'll Zip-Lok the tin and give it a few more tries ...
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
The U.S.S. Constitution (aka Old Ironsides) is the 'oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world'. The battleship has been celebrated with honours, including being the namesake of Dan Tobacco's blending inspiration (perhaps the ship's greatest achievement besides its age). Blended for C.A.O., Old Ironsides is a Latakia flake-based weed that I rather like. I have been critical of tobacco in the past for being uniform in taste. In this case, oddly, I like the fact that the flavour is basically unchanging from the beginning of the bowl to the bottom. There is a charm about its unvarying flavour. I am not a fan of flake form, but Old Ironsides would lose some of that charm if it were not a flake cut. The fact is that I noticeably like packing this flake in my larger pipes. The raw peat-like smell of the weed is welcoming but second only to the taste. In this case, it is a full and smoky experience without an abundance of nicotine. The latter, however, is just about right--enough for a kick but not too much to cause a headache. This stuff produces bellows of grey smoke and burns to a nice similarly-coloured ash. And I enjoy greatly the lingering aftertaste. What prevents Old Ironsides from getting another star (besides the War of 1812 against Great Britain--even if that was the ship and not the tobacco) is the fact that its flavour can become slightly harsh, but that harshness can be avoided. Significantly, it must be smoked gently and that is difficult to do due to the desire to enjoy abundantly and puff profusely (or at least faster than usual). That aside--and in mind--this is a satisfactory solid smoke that occasionally reminds me of a fine cigar (although I no longer smoke them). Latakia is my favourite component in tobacco, but if it is not yours than admittedly you will not like Old Ironsides. If Latakia is a requirement for your smoking pleasure, find your way to the Navy yard and cruise aboard the U.S.S. Constitution with this dreamy delight--you will certainly not be disappointed.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer (345) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
As a Latakia lover, I wanted to try some blend with the emphasis on this dark and fascinating tobacco, something different from my usual Dunhill London Mixture and Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. Well, I went for advice to Mr. Bollito (a tobacconist in Turin, one of the best in Italy) and he suggested this. Well, his experience couldn't have been more valuable. Upon opening the small tin, I was rather shocked by the huge and thick black broken flakes: being used to the small cut of my other favorite latakia tobaccos, this was a surprise. The smell was very strong, very smoky and dark: like Balkan Sobranie, but stronger and deeper. I was uncertain on how to pack this stuff, but I decided to stuff the flakes in my Savinelli without crumbling them into little pieces. I just broke the hugest ones, pressed with my finger and then lit. Lighting proved itself a challenging task: this stuff doesn't want to get on fire! Not because of wetness, just because of the size of the flakes! This made me fear for the worst about relightings, but I was wrong. This tobacco is hard to light, but then if you puff regularly it never extinguishes. The large cut of the flakes is very helpful indeed in keeping the smoke very slow and cool: the pipe gets noticeably less hot than with Dunhills or Balkan Sobranie, and this is great. The smoke comes out at the perfect temperature, allowing you to taste the aroma without scorching your tongue or overwhelming you with excessively intense clouds. But what about the taste? In my opinion, it is very good. A bit monochromatic, perhaps, in comparison to the aforementioned Latakia monsters: straight, sincere, but enormously satisfying. The intense smokiness of Latakia is the dominant taste, for an in-your-face dark experience, with all the usual nuances one has to expect. Hints of licorice, of burning wood, of salt... Mmmmm, this tobacco makes my mouth water!!! It can get too salty at the bottom of the bowl, but never harsh. If only it were a bit fuller in body (maybe adding some orientals and red virginia... but then again it would be easier to smoke another blend!)... In spite of this rich taste, this tobacco doesn't seem too strong: the nicotine content is just right for me, and the overall strenght is OK, definitely lighter than London Mixture or Balkan Sobranie. For me it is a great choice when I want something less complex than my usual favorite Latakia blends, but be warned because I found that it can be very nasty and unplesant to non-smokers who should happen in your presence: they often complain that its pungent smell reminds them of burnt horse dung!!!!!! But so they say about Balkan Sobranie, which could be interpreted as a huge compliment to Old Ironsides...
2011 Update (after 6-7 years): Well, I hadn't tried this tobacco since a long time ago, so I got a new tin. Bad surprise... it has changed considerably, even from the looks of it. Much softer and larger flakes, not as dark and leathery as they used to be. And the taste disappoints too: no longer the strong Latakia blast of old, no longer as stout and licoricey. Should have stocked up the old version...
2021 Update: With the change of production from CAO to Dan, it has become a recommended blend again. Still not as dark and rubery/leathery as old times, still not as "thick", but at least once again very flavorful. Great juicy sweetness with added smokiness, like a nice barbecue sauce. Simple, but enjoyable.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| RK_Oz (15) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
A fairly dark semi broken flake with yellow stripes...not too moist, not too dry... just about ok to smoke out of the bag (yes I ordered 250g). Nevertheless I let it air dry for sometime before packing.
Tin note: Latakia smokiness combined with some spicy and sweet aroma.
Firstly, let me tell you that I am still finding my Latakia bearings and although this blend is Latakia heavy I was captivated.
The smoky, mildly spicy, floral Latakia is in the lead throughout the smoke but very very nicely complemented by woody, earthy and mildly nutty Kentucky. Some notes of leather are present past the 15 mins mark.
The orientals and Virginia show their presence on sipping adding the tangy, zest and fruity sweetness.
As the bowl progresses, it gets creamier without compromising the above mentioned notes and some coffee nuances.
Retrohale is fantastic throughout with notes of white pepper blended in a creamy sauce.
Note: the spice and tang will be overwhelming if one puffs or sips too hard on this blend
It makes the mouth slightly dry because of the generous amount of Latakia present in the blend but I didn't find it off-putting.
A cool, dry smoke with minimal relights and burns into fine ash.
The strength is medium with a fuller taste and strong room notes.
Not an all day smoke for me but something to have in the rotation for sure.
4 stars.
Age: 5 months Pipe: savinelli dolmiti poker with 9mm balsa filter
Pipe Used: Savinelli dolmiti poker with 9mm balsa filter
Age When Smoked: 5 months
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jt100 (8) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
If you gravitate toward English/Balkan blends, you will surely like like. Well balanced, flavorful and cool. I’d put it up against any English tobacco. Pair it with a nice bourbon and have an enjoyable evening.
Pipe Used: Peterson Dublin Filter
Age When Smoked: 1 year
Similar Blends: Westminster.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Eagle Moore (1) | |
Very Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Strong |
Old Ironsides - Dan Tobacco
Thick flake fills the tin in oily tightness,
Strong and full, from the ashes of Erebus
Intense smokiness, lingering sweetness
Caveat fumator: latākia bomba est!
Pipe Used: Peterson Flame Grain 2004
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FilipPruncu (89) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This tin has been very weird for me, because it started off one way and ended up differently.
Tin note: When I opened the tin, I was blown away and said to myself “Wow, this sure smells good!” I could detect a good amount of leathery oriental and latakia. Leathery, woody, smoky, spicy. Quite strong actually. However, as time went by, they changed to a more floral scent with some market spices.
Cut & Moisture: The flakes are not in the best shape, and since the tobacco came quite moist in the tin, the flakes were stuck together and broke when I tried to separate them. However, once dried, you can actually pack the pipe with folded flakes, since they are easy to pack unlike other flakes, but it will need some relights.
The smoke: Same as it happened with the tin note, at first there were leathery notes and it was really smoky. Tangy at times, probably from the kentucky, yet still delivering a sweet taste and lots of smoky and leathery notes.
The first description I gave to this blend was: This is Nightcap’s balkan brother. First lines I wrote about it were “The smoke is both creamy and spicy. To make some comparisons, I’d say it has the creaminess of Margate, the straight-in-the-face leathery orientals of London Mixture and the latakia of Nightcap, however only with the kentucky added, to make it even more complex and straight in the face. This would be Nightcap’s balkan brother. And indeed, it’s perfectly defined as a balkan since the balance of orientals and latakia are perfect, unlike an english blend. For those who think that SG’s Commonwealth Mixture has a lot of latakia, they probably didn’t try this one. There is a complex taste and flavor to this tobacco that it really surprises you when you take the first smokes. There is a high quality oriental that delivers both floral and leathery notes, a kentucky that gives just a little spice, a virginia that gives a good amount of sweetness and the latakia which is smoky, woody but also sweet. It’s a dance of flavors! It is by no means a dull tobacco. It has its complexities given by the orientals and the kentucky which change and dance with the latakia, and the virginia is the one that keeps them burning and dancing.”
However, this has changed. The smoky character is almost gone, and so is the leathery taste. Now it’s floral and sweet with some cinnamon notes, thyme, oregano, rosemary, juniper, figs, anise and even a bit of vanilla. There’s spiciness which can be from the orientals and the kentucky. The latakia has laid back, unlike it was when I first had the first bowls.
It probably contains basma and izmir, however the izmir is probably in a higher amount.
It’s still very good, but I would’ve preferred if it remained the same as it was when I opened the tin. I prefer a leathery and smoky blend instead of a floral, herbal and bit fruity blend. I will most likely buy another tin, and when I do, I’ll be able to have a better impression of this blend.
This baby is definitely medium to full.
Delivers a thick, cold, and dry smoke. The room note is quite strong, so I don’t suggest smoking this in the presence of non smokers
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madox07 (43) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Before trying this, I remember a friend describing it as a "Latakia railroad track of a blend". Well ... the latakia is present in this one, and is quite a fore front, but not the sole player by a long shot. It is no doubt a strong blend that starts off with a latakia scent, full and smokey, but as being a complex blend it carries off into a spicy, earthy and quite fiery Kentucky direction. The first half of the bowl is smoky rich with a hint of sweetness, from the Virginia, while the latter part evolves into the fiery/spicy Kentucky, which at first is not that obvious. The orientals are a mystery, one can get a scent here and there, but the main balance is a battle between latakia and the kentucky. I guess the blend wouldn't taste the same without that oriental leaf, but it sure isn't a major component. Vitamin N is present in quite a dose. I smoke this in a no 4 Dunhill pot, which gives one a fix to the point I feel a little light headed if I stubbornly finish the bowl in one sitting. Not an everyday blend for me, a good blend, but not a day in and day out smoke ... perhaps a good digestive after a rich meal. Overall 3.5/4 because I am not that big of a fan of strong Kentucky, but a good blend non the less. Mine was not obviously moist out of the tin, although I did drain the pipe a couple of times.
Pipe Used: Dunhill no 4 pot
Age When Smoked: roughly 1 year
Purchased From: https://www.danpipe.de/
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TheSeuff (5) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
English Flake Nirvana! Well worth the wait and hunt to get ahold of. If you like English blends and Latakia this ones an absolute must to try.
Pipe Used: Peterson Dublin Edition Sandblasted (B57) Fishtail
Age When Smoked: 2 years
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old German puffer (106) | |
Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
With a 4am wake up and coffee in hand I pulled a tin of this out for my wakeup smoke. I love a strong blend and this delivers. Packs in a bowl very well. Lit with one match. Tamp and smoked for an hour plus. Very earthy and nutty taste from start to finish. Heavy smoke as well. Goes in and out of my rotation.
Pipe Used: Peterson
Age When Smoked: Tin - 1 year old
Purchased From: JR'S Cigar Outlet
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| natibo (169) | |
Medium | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
Tobacco was a little drier than I prefer. It has lot's of Latakia. However, it has none of the sweetness that a blend like Odyssey has. I just found nothing special about this blend.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipepundit (168) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Not a Penzance clone. Excellent burn qualities, as it smokes cool and dry with a brilliant white ash. My reason for withholding the fourth star is the quality of the non-oriental component. I am not able to say whether it is the virginia or the kentucky that gives Old Ironsides a sharpish edge which diminishes the overall experience. Nonetheless, a very pleasant smoke.
The best Balkan flake in my experience has been Abu Riha, a flake made in England for G de Graaff and Sons of the Hague. In the mid-nineties I was able to obtain a couple of dozen tins but subsequent efforts to locate some have not been successful.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| zulujerk (146) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
The tobacconist sold this as a Penzance clone with a stronger kick. Since I've never tried Penzance, I can't compare the two, but to me, it's a one dimensional latakia smoke, which isn't to knock it down--I just prefer a blend that is a bit more varied, like Dunhill 965.
As far as knocking me on the floor with its punch, I was somewhat disappointed. I found this to be a cool..and, yes, creamy smoke, but not overwhelming in strength--though it is full. I didn't have a problem packing this like some suggested. It rubbed out very nicely and lit with ease despite its flake form, burning consistently throughout.
Honestly, I need something more in this, so I've been blending in a little perique to diversify the taste, with nice results. I will say that I was a chump to buy this for $13, as I have seen it advertised online for less than $9..and I would buy it again, at the latter price.
UPDATE:
I'm upping this from three to four stars. I've got around ten blends on hand and I keep turning back to this..to the point that I don't bother adding anymore blending Perique but instead throw some of this into my Elizabethan Mixture. It's nice and rich, so it makes its presence known right away. Good stuff. Still wouldn't pay $13 though.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEWMAN (305) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Strong |
I normally don't smoke Latakia but this was in a nicely prepared, moist flake form that I prefer. Mostly black in color, the tin aroma = high test latakia. The taste and room aroma are similar. I made the error of trying a bowl before dinner and still had the tobacco taste with my desert. However, after dinner, this cool, creamy and rich smoke is really enjoyed. I can't judge the influence of the other tobaccos in this blend due to the latakia dominance but the end result is good. You should probably dedicate a pipe or two just for this blend since the intense flavor impacts the bowl and effects other tobaccos even after several complete cleanings. The room aroma is not accepted by my family members and I therefore smoke this blend only outdoors. Even this can be a problem. On a recent trip to Vegas, I was puffing while walking between casinos and received many stares and several negative comments from others. Naturally, none were pipe smokers. In fact, I was surprised that over the week that I spent there, I only saw one fellow puffer. With this in mind but considering your own needs, if you enjoy Latakia, this one is a must try.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TallPuffO'Burley (633) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I enjoyed my time with this one. This blend is right up my alley. It has all the flavors and complexity of a balkan, but a substantial amount of body thanks to the kentucky used in the blend. It made smoking this one a joy to me.
The Kentucky does not overpower this blend in taste or nicotine as it is prone to do with many blends in which it is used. In fact, I could not necessarily distinguish it on its own; whereas, the latakia and oriental presence was out front all the way in varying shades. the flavor shifts in this one against a very smooth and somewhat creamy background.
The flakes were not necessarily presented well, like most flakes in a round tin, but they were easy to work with and were at the perfect moisture level upon opening. The tin I had was 10 yrs aged and the latakia still tasted as fresh cyprian latakia should to my tastes. If I was still buying tobacco, I would buy more of this one to scratch the latakia itch.
Age When Smoked: 10yrs1mth
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ondraash (13) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Well, this is not going to be an objective review! This tobacco is the one I love. I just love this one! This is the perfect tobacco for me. Truly a friend. Everytime I lit this one I feel home. Immediately. I've been given this mana by my inner man as the archetype of my inner strength. The taste and aroma is just godly. My wife told me that if you pick the right perfume you are not able to smell it on yourself but the others are. The same goes for this tobacco for me. I can't distinguish the particular tastes here. It just work togheter to give an absolute delightful symphony. A masterpiece!
Smoke and drive: Guess what! A heaven! I can imagine smoking this one even on a bike or during lovemaking :)
Pipe Used: cob, Krška
Age When Smoked: from fresh to 1 year old
Purchased From: etrafika.cz
Similar Blends: Mana from Heaven.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank27 (14) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Tolerable |
This is one of my preferred tobaccos. If you liked HH Macbaren Latakia and Old Dark Fired, THIS will make you feel as the USS Constitution in the middle of the Ocean. Love it!
On the other side, after the first tin , I would add that this tobacco is not a every-day smoke for sure. I think is a special tobacco for special moments. It's very strong and can really shake you somehow.
Pipe Used: Rattrey's Joy
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCraven (11) | |
Medium | None Detected | Very Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm smoking this for the first time in maybe twenty years. It was one of my first encounters with Latakia as I was transitioning from bulk aromatics back then, and I recall at the time that I found it almost overwhelming but intriguing enough to finish the tin. I've since run the gamut of Balkan / English mixtures (and all other manner of blends) and found myself feeling nostalgic enough to give it another go.
The presentation is one of a solid flake of mostly black leaf with streaks of lighter brown tobacco in rather sparse measure. The tin note is pure campfire and well-done meat.
Needless to say, Latakia takes center stage here, but to dismiss this flake as a simple Lat bomb does it a disservice because whatever amount of the other ingredients are in here do a fantastic job in support of the lead. The relative pinches of Virginia and Orientals lend the Latakia a well rounded flavor that prevents it from devolving into a tire fire as you make your way through the bowl, and the Kentucky gives it a nice jab that puts the FU in full. As such, the flavor has a remarkably consistent and somewhat addictive steak-y quality to it that makes you not even miss the salad and baked potato. There is little to no dottle left and no moisture in the bowl at the end of this feast. You may well find that it fatigues your taste buds a bit to the point of feeling like your tongue is wearing a overcoat, but it will not bite or heat up your pipe no matter how hard you push it. I'd recommend it be your last smoke of the day if you're not used to it, and I can't count it as an all-day smoke no matter how much I like it. And if your significant other finds the room note pleasant, you've got a keeper. I know I do.
I'm glad I came back to this blend. It's easy to dismiss tobaccos like this as unsophisticated Lat bombs with little thought given to balance or complexity, but Old Ironsides is not an indiscriminate instrument of war, but rather like the ship itself, an example of how old-fashioned craftsmanship can merge elegance and power seamlessly. A must for the Latakia aficionado.
Pipe Used: Tinder Box Sherlock Holmes LE Calabash
Age When Smoked: New
Similar Blends: Hermit Tobacco Works Co. - Captain Earle's - Ten Russians, Hermit Tobacco Works Co. - Captain Earle's - Stimulus Package, Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Balkan Mixture.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karam (59) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Opening the tin reminded me of Nightcap - which was the only thing I smoked in my first two years of pipe smoking - just a tad lighter. This is probably due to flakes having a smaller surface area than ribbon cut because it has quite a full taste.
The taste is initially strong Latakia, a bit soapy, smoky, backed up by the sour notes of the Orientals, no sweetness at all to be found here. The taste really stays consistent throughout the bowl, with the soapiness trailing off past the half way point, and the Latakia chasing around the Orientals for dominance. A single folded and stuffed flake burned down to white ash after a LONG and cool smoke. What impressed me is that the flavours that come through are clean and distinct. The Kentucky works well, and is heard loudly in the smoke, giving strength and body, and additional spice, with the Virginia showing up only once in a while but providing a solid background.
Overall I really enjoyed it and would even call it a flake version of Nightcap, I could easily put it up there with Nightcap as a prototypical English blend, although it is not in origin (it is German), or recipe (has Kentucky). For me this is not a Lat bomb, it is a keeper.
Pipe Used: Savineli 626
Purchased From: Estervals pipe house
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob73 (77) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I loved C.A.O. American History Mixtures series, unfortunately no longer available here in Italy. My last tins are ten years old, now. Old Ironsides is a very rich, intense, meditative blend, full in Latakia (but not overwhelming), perfect for an evening smoke. Memorable! 4,5/5 in my personal rating system.
Purchased From: Hobby Fumo, Milano (Italy)
Similar Blends: Brebbia Latakia Flake n.9.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf Packer (30) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This tobacco is very heavy with latakia , (my vice) It is creamy and smooth had no bite, and very relaxing. Nicotine will body slam ya' if not use to it. It will probably age well it has some Virginia, so a few in your cellar for at least 6 mos. to year would be delightful. If you never had Latakia give it a try, if you can handle this tobacco , a whole new world awaits with my favorite leaf
Pipe Used: Matt Van
Age When Smoked: fresh
Purchased From: Tobacco Pipes
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubagalline (6) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
Ok, here I have a fan p.o.v. I've left Erinmore Balkan Mixture, Dunhill EM & 965, and only smoking a little Squadron Leader (weekly) for this. Can't live without it, I've got to smoke Old Ironside at least once a day. Latakia set free (thank you, Kentucky!), with ghosts of english history all around. I'm addicted (I told you I'm a fan, right?)
Pipe Used: Butz Choquin dublin
Age When Smoked: 2 years
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia lover (218) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
I a word a Latakia bomb but a good one. Full bodied and never monochromatic, the other tobaccos are there in subdued notes.
Tin art is very nice and the mixture produces a huge amount of smoke that I think should be enjoyed outdoors.
The crumbling flakes are not so dark but the smell tells you of potency and that you should proceed with caution. An after meal or evening tobacco for the Latakia addict or the experienced smoker or better yet both.
Virginia lover
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| juvat (36) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Reminiscent of Esoterica's Penzance but with a slightly stronger taste in the latakia department giving it strong notes of leather and campfire without being too overpowering. I thought Dan tobacco had stopped producing it, but I'm now seeing it show up again at the major online retailers. Hooray!
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| salopst (15) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
How much can a man love a tobacco? I'd sleep with Dan on a bed of this crumbly flake and have no regrets in the morning.
It is just great. I do not think there is much more that I can say that other reviewers have not mentioned. Except maybe that I do get a touch of anise, and slightly burnt cob nuts. I also found my tin labelling funny. It came with a German health warning, which I peeled off only to find a printed health warning in English underneath. I guess this particular tin was destined for export!
In my rotation? If I did not know of Peterson's Perfect Plug and S. Gawith's FVF there would be no rotation!
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
where do i start! i got a tin and was just happy every time i went to smoke it. light it up and you are just puffin fat clouds of latakia. first the tin is just cool its got a ship and then you open it up and the paper has a compass on it. then you get to the tobacco and there is just flakes of black gold. i don't like crumble flakes though i would rather have a dense packed flake u could through at a wall and it would not fall apart. but you cant be to picky. crumble it up and enjoy. i gave it to a a buddy that does not like latakia and he loved it. buy it and love it its that simple
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JackSparrow (16) | |
Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is a unique EM...nothing similar (yet). When i opened the tin first time i was amazed by its flavour, toasted, smoky, creamy. Moisture is almost perfect when the stuff comes out of the tin, but i preferer letting it dry out for half an hour, after rubbing the flake. Latakia is the main actor but after a few puffs you can taste the sinfony of VAs and orientals, perfectly blended with latakia and a with touch of kentuky, which brings a nice N surprise to the mixture. The more you go through the bowl the more you can taste creamy and toasty notes, always in a cool and dry smoke. My afternoon and after dinner EM (for the morning i use 50% Commolwealth Mixture + 50% Squadron Leader). Highly reccomended!
Update
For a full fantastic after dinner smoke try this:
50% CAO Old Ironsides 50% SG Brown Rope N. 4.
Simply amazing! Full round smoke, with a good N load. If you like strong stuff this is a must try. Absolutely legendary: you'll crave for it more and more....
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| thomasanswered (11) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
The former incarnation of this was a true 4-star blend, but it's dead now. The current Old Ironsides, though less, is a balanced latakia, a salt and ketchupy leather creature, strong enough to please regularly.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mate (3) | |
Medium | Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I managed to get 8 ozs of this after much searching as it has been discontinued.
While it is not bad, I was disappointed in that I have heard Lancers Slicers compared to Old Ironsides.
To me Lancer's Slices if far superior in taste and fulfillment.
One thing I will give Old Ironsides, is that it is the easiest Flake Tobacco that I have ever smoked to keep alight.
But for me something is missing in the flavor. Maybe I need more nicotine kick and more Latakia
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
I love complex foods and complex tobaccos. But these are usually enjoyed in moderation; a special event, a nice weekend evening, a holiday, etc. I find I tire of these quickly and they become less exciting.
Most of the time I am all about "meat and potatoes". It's the simple stuff that makes the world go around. A good plate of Mexican food or a greasy burger. Old Ironsides is a GOOD greasy burger.
I love this stuff. Wonderful plumes of Latakia smoke. Full, rich, predictable - exactly what the doctor ordered. A true friend indeed. Smokes good in just about every pipe I own.
This new release of it (thank goodness, because my stash of the original stuff was dwendling) is just as good as the original. The look is a bit different - more lighter components - and maybe the tate is slightly more smooth. But overall it is still the same Latakia drip I was used to.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KahveDelisi (73) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is it! This is it!! Ah there's also Midnight Ride.. but again, this is it! I want a full cabinet filled with Old Ironsides. Anyone looking for latakia-heavy blends, look no further Old Ironsides is the one.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietl (8) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
OIS is back. I just received a few tins after a long hiatus of unavailability. This was the first Latakia blend that I tried some years ago and was my favorite for a long time until it went dormant.
I'm not sure if my tastes have changed or if the blend has changed, but I find the new OIS fairly mild to the point of boredom. It may be the former as I've probably smoked a half pound of Penzance and another half-pound of Squadron Leader in its absence, but it seems to lack the underlying rich taste of these two. It is now what seems to be almost a pure Latakia taste which to my palate is almost a 'menthol' taste.
From the start, it appears different in the can. Instead of the finer grain that it used to be, it's now a nicely packed stack of slices like Penzance used to be. In fact, it looks like the old Penzance. Perhaps in the old packaging they crumbled the slices up, but it looks different. Given the cut I think it would be better packaged in a rectangular can rather than a round one. However, the aroma in the can is exactly how I remember it to be; that very smokey smell of Latakia. Cosmetically, the can now has an orange circle around the logo instead of the yellow one. Not sure why, but maybe to indicate that this is a slightly different blend. ??
Again, it may be my changed tastes, but this new OIS seems rather bland. A strong Latakia taste, but almost nothing underlying it to support and compliment the Latakia. A bowl full of OIS leaves me longing for the old Penzance.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELF (40) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
....10/10....Your significant other Wld-probably"Divorce You"if you smoked this mix Indoors(Good Hunting Shack-Smoke)...BUT I LOVE THIS MIX !!! :+))
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLong (36) | |
Medium to Strong | Mild | Full | Tolerable |
I'm giving it 5 stars for if you're a latakia lover.
I went through half a tin in three days. No matter how hard I puff this stuff it is smooooth with no bitterness, bite, or whatever. It's full bodied and has some Balkan creaminess to it. It's tasty in a subtle way. Nothing complex about it.
Edit: This tobacco is best if a load is dried out for 30 minutes and well rubbed out. Stays lit better and smoother smoking.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tabaco (112) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Alas, another fantastic blend which has gone the way of the Dodo bird. At first opening this is a full-on, petal to the metal Latakia blast which I really enjoy. It's not as complex or creamy as Esoterica Penzance, nor as contemplative as J. F. Germain & Son's Special Latakia Flake; regardless, it's a great smoke.
I should add that after having the tin open for a few weeks, the Latakia has tempered considerably. Overall, the blend is much more complex and mellow. At first it was a very good smoke, now it's excellent.
I find slices to be one of my favourites, especially the taste and they gently smoulder away for such a long time; just great. It really satisfies on all levels. I find if I have one bowl for the day and I really desire that certain "satisfaction" this is a good one to reach for.
Since, it's no longer made and doubtful to make return, I would suggest Cornell & Diehl's Pirate Kake which is somewhat similar, yet not as complex nor mellow. Of course, I always say the room note is tolerable, others especially your beloved may be pleading with you to move . . . "Just as soon and I'm done this bowl."
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sailorjack (57) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
If you like a good kick of Latakia in the mouth than this will do nicely. Oh, by the way when it comes to English blends I am a bit of a Latakia junkie. So this is right up my alley. This is not my all time favorite by any stretch but I think CAO makes great quality tobaccos and this is no exception.
My favorite English right now is Larry's blend from pipesandcigars to which I added a large dose of straight Latakia. Told ya' I am a bit of Latakia freak. I've never run into a blend that I thought had too much.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| constantsmoker (65) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Fantastic! Perfect blend of VA/Oriental/Latakia. And the Latakia sings!
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pkloop (53) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
"A Latakia lover's dream." "Full and cool."
Fwiw I agree with the tin description. Upon opening the tin you will discover beautiful dark flakes with a few lighter strands contained within the flakes. The tin aroma, naturally, smells strongly of Latakia. Moisture content seems slightly high, as I prefer it that way its perfect for me.
Packing: I like to use the flake folding method with Old Ironsides and the tobacco complies well with this. A little sprinkle of fully rubbed out OI on the top helps with lighting.
Smoking: An easy charing light followed by a quick tamp/relight and I'm on my way. This one does, imo, seem 1 dimensional. Its Latakia followed by more Latakia. Mid-Bowl I taste more Latakia..and the finish is a nice smoky Latakia taste. :) Burns to a fine grey ash with no wet goop. It does indeed smoke full & cool and doesn't bite at all. Quite nice overall.
Room note: I would think it unlikely that anyone other then our pipe smoking brethren would enjoy/tolerate it..don't expect the wife to be jumping with joy when you break this one out. Outside only for this pipester.
I do like this smoke when in the mood for a nice, heavier evening smoke after a hearty meal. Or pair this one up with some Jack Daniels on the rocks..
And yeah..if your not a fan of the dark leaf..skip this 3 of 4
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spike (296) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
01/14/2005: Even though I don't smoke these big-flavored blends all that often I rated it at the top anyway. The Latakia is not acrid or harsh like many tobaccos of this type. It is rich and tasty. It is too full flavored for an every day smoke. Best to save this for the last pipe of the day. If you smoke it first you won't taste anything else for a good long while!
11/27/2006 Update: Latakia overload.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
Old Ironsides is just what the package says: a Latakia lover?s dream. It is all Latakia, all the time, with no messing around. Oh, I suppose they blend it with something or other just to keep it interesting. And sometimes, late at night, in a big bowl, this is just what you need. But it lacks the complexity to hold interest over the long haul. There?s a useful contrast with Penzance: the latter sacrifices just a bit of firepower in the interest of greater diversity of flavor, but the result is that Penzance is a great tobacco while Old Ironsides is simply very good. The cut is nice: like a flake that's been pre-rubbed -- very convenient! If you like Latakia, I?d recommend keeping some on hand for a broadside every now and then. Luckily, it ages particularly well.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
I really like this tobacco it leaves a rich full flavor in the mouth. It has such a powerful Laktiva room note and there is no mistaking it for anything but good pipe tobacco. This stuff is a nice evening smoke. Now I like Midnight Ride better from CAO since it is a little more demensional. This is not as complex of a smoke. I find that this stuff burns very well once lit but the odd bark like cut takes some crumbling and relights to get going. It is a very cool smoke since it burns slow.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| sasha (228) | |
Extremely Mild | None Detected | Full | Strong |
As a Latakia Lover, I just had to smoke this one, and smoke it I did. Upon opening I was pleased by the look of the dark flakes and by the big, leathery smell. Packing and lighting aren't a simple task, and neither leave the flakes on the air nor rub them out won't make that much easier. When you'll have finally managed to light your pipe, Old Ironsides becomes an easy-going tobacco, it burns extremely cool and stays lit without the least problem, making it a perfect outdoor tobacco. It can be smoked with great satisfaction especially during summer for its almost incredible refreshing qualities, leaving your mouth with a slight peppermint aftertaste. A must-have for all latakia heads. The only complaint is that it's really too light in body.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moe (46) | |
Medium | None Detected | Overwhelming | Extra Strong |
I enjoy a nice Latakia blend ,and had high hopes for Old Ironsides, after all, with the higher price tag that is common to CAO/Dan products, I figured " this cost alot, it must be greeeaat".
Unfortunately, to me it wasnt that great, the cut is to large to just pack , so I had to rub it out, now I dont mind doing that, but this is the first tobacco that actually made my hands dirty, like I just arranged the charcoal in my Weber grill.
The flavor wasnt all that outstanding either,it tastes kinda like hot asphalt smells...And it takes many relights, which I thought odd, being it feels dry when rubbing out.
It took a month to smoke thru the 50 grams and I dont think I will buy it again, instead I'll grab the Nightcap, or Stokkebyes Proper English, or one of the many other Latakia rich blends that I enjoy much more for my Latakia jones.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Mild | None Detected | Extra Full | Overwhelming |
This was my first experience with an English Latakia blend. All things considered, it was pretty brave of me as my first choice since it is almost entirely Latakia. When I opened the tin I was greeted with a whiff that instantly reminded me of the dark brown cork tiles I had in my bedroom when I was young. (I hoped it wouldn't taste like cork.)
This is a flake tobacco?in long, thick strips (like beef jerky), so it needed to be rubbed between my fingers until I had enough to fill my pipe. It has a very heavy consistency, so I didn't pack it very tight. I then retired to my upstairs balcony where I lit it up. Before long the little enclosure was filled with its aroma. The flavour tasted of a cross between unsweetened chocolate and dry-roasted coffee (latté, anyone?) or a very stout brew. (In fact, I imagine sipping a Murphy's Stout or Scotch with it would be very nice indeed). I had only filled my bowl half-way, and it burned very, very slowly and stayed cool the entire time, despite my rather quick smoking pace.
The smoke and taste is so rich and heavy that after a while of smoking I felt like I could scrape dark brown powder from my tongue. This tobacco was quite a change of pace from my lighter varieties, and I enjoyed the fullness of it. Better yet, I felt no ill-effects from its low nicotine content. The room amoma is, of course, rather heavy, and I'm not sure I would inflict it upon a roomful of people.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
OLD IRONSIDES. Do you really love latakia? If so,you'll really love this. I'm a lady pipe smoker who really appreciate's,a good strong dose of latakia. I've enjoyed every smoking moment with Old Ironsides,I have smoked so far.
The first bowl took 3 to 5 relight's so,from then on I aired the tobacco out for 10 min's before packing.Only one relight was required after that. In one word "DELICIOUS" all the way to bowl's end. Definitely no sourness detected at all,without goop leaving a nice dark grey ash.
Highly recommended.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
The appearance and taste bring one thing to mind: a latakia cupcake. Ironsides is death by latakia. It is to pipe tobacco as flourless chocolate cake is to dessert and kobe steak is to beef. They are rich, overwhelming, almost over the top, but ohhhhhhhh, how sweet it is! This is the kind of blend you reach for when nothing else will do. An excellent scotch accompaniment, but probably more fitting for after dinner, as the flavor will make your tastebuds go on furlough for awhile. I first compared this one to Penzance turned up several notches, with favor on the side of Penzance. I now find that both of them have their own magnificence, and they both deserve a place in any discriminating smoker's latakia repertory. It's an expensive luxury, and the flakes are packed in huge circular chunks, which means you'll go through this stuff pretty quickly. Ironsides, Penzance and Sasieni form a mighty triumverate of the very best latakia & spicy oriental blends out there that leave the smoker yearning for more.
Four and a half of five stars
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Very Strong |
This is an unusual blend for me and one I only want occasionally. Frankly, I may only finish the tine I have and never get it again. It's nice, it's full, and if you love a little tobacco with your latakia, this is for you. Latakia overload is the perfect thing once in a while. That it comes in flake form is what attracted me to this blend. I can barely sense the Kentucky -- the latakia overwhelms all!
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
WOW!!!!! A Latakia flake! This is on par with the wonderful Penzance.It actually burns a little cooler and milder.The flake needs to be rubbed out and takes about 3 lights to get going,but when it does, this is latakia heaven!It lacks the complexity of Penzance but is truly a close second.The flavor is rich and creamy.The burn is cool and leaves no residue,and no gurgle.This is for the Latakia purist.3.9 of 4 stars (only Penzance gets 4!)
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
one word of caution here; if you do not like strong latakia blends, don't even consider this one! a notch below pirate kake, this tobacco still hits you right between the eyes, from the time you touch a match to it. personally, i like latakias, so i get along very well with it. it seems to be a little harder to keep lit than it's milder cousin, patriot flake. this is not the one to bring in the house if your spouse has an aversion to the smell of non-aromatic tobaccos or good cigars. the flavor stays consistent from lighting to the bottom of the bowl. i think this is a tobacco that would be good for a cigar conniseur who has decided to try out the delights of bowl and pouch, who would also not be too put off by the premium price. this is not an everyday smoke for me, but i did enjoy it. 3 stars.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | Strong | Extra Full | Very Strong |
The tin says it correctly, "A Latakia Lovers Dream". Old Ironsides is a crumble cake similar to Esoterica's Penzance in form and taste, but stronger in the latakia department and produces very thick smoke and lot's of it. I like great billows of smoke and this blend affords that with out any tounge bite. Burns very slow, cool and crumbles out nicely, packs well and burns evenly. The flavor stays consistent from lighting to the bottom of the bowl. This is truly a Latakia lovers dream and definately not for the timid smoker or aromatic fancier.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I?ve been opening up some aged tins for the first time and trying them whereas I am used to smoking only newly opened tins. At only 4 years, aging has served this blend very well.
Tin Opening-Musty, Leathery. English ? Latakia definitely present but not as overwhelming as with a new tin.
Packing-I needed to cut it up to pack it well.
Lighting-Required two primer lights and a final light.
First Impression-I remembered when I first tried Old Ironsides; it was like a Latakia punch in the face but this is more subdued and mellowed. The Latakia is present but the aging has merged the other tobaccos bringing them more to the front.
Mid Bowl-By mid bowl, this has settle into a wonderful full smoke that is smooth without being heavy. The Latakia is dancing in the background but Virginias and Orientals make themselves more known. It's more complex than I remember but still smokes with the same coolness and without a hint of tongue bite or wetness.
Finish-Stronger, richer and even more flavorful at the finish, this is a delightful smoke.
Over all-I was surprised at how much time as changed this blend. It has certainly mellowed over time and the tobaccos have married well into a more refined version of the newly tinned version.
Recommendation Buy it and stash it!
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Strong |
I love this blend, although I must admit that there are alot of other latakia blends that I prefer to smoke over this beauty. Fortunately, when I got into pipe smoking, I was exposed first to Dunhill's 965 and shortly there after became a huge fan of latakia. Old Ironsides will quench the latakia craving in any smokers heart who has an appreciation for the greatest "black" commodity to come from the middle east since oil. At the opening of the tin you'll get a blast of deep, rich, earthiness that will give you visions of smoked beef and fertile soil. The cake is sliced and is easily rubbed out into a fine composition that appears to be annointed with dark cocoa powder. Don't let this description be misunderstood though, there's nothing sweet and chocolatey about this blend. Old Ironsides burns really clean and cool. I like to puff aggressively, and I haven't been bitten yet. As others have stated, this blend is best appreciated outdoors or in the company of other pipe smoking bretheren. All said, if you love latakia Old Ironsides will sail you away on the seas of extacy.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Very Pleasant |
It's fitting that my review comes immediately after the one posted by the gentleman who sent me a generous sample of Old Ironsides.
I love Latakia. I've smoked top-grade Latakia on its own. I know the stuff. When it's used well in a blend, there's nothing like it. When it's either misused in a mixture -- or if the rest of the blend doesn't agree with it for one reason or another -- Latakia is like fanning the flames on a pile of burning tires. Luckily, the latter is not the case with Old Ironsides.
Describing this blend as Latakia-forward is not enough. This blend owns every house on Latakia Lane. It's a one-way ticket to Latakia Land! While the room note is fine to me, you can bet your ass that it'll offend every man's wife in a five-mile radius.
All that being said, I wasn't too impressed with Old Ironsides. Yes, it has a boatload of Latakia. And while that's nice, Old Ironsides just doesn't hold its mud in the company of the classic Krumble Kake from Smokers' Haven (the recipe that spawned Penzance). Krumble Kake and its Penzance offspring also serve up boundless helpings of rich Latakia. But more importantly, they offer the one thing I missed in Old Ironsides: depth of flavor (known to some of you as complexity). Old Ironsides just didn't excite me.
Old Ironsides is full, but not too heavy or nauseating. I've smoked some pretty big bowls of it (for example, in a virtually bottomless Ser Jacopo Maxima and in an astonishingly cavernous Paolo Becker Oliphant) in single sittings with no ill effects.
I gave this the "Might try this again, but will not keep it on hand" rating because I will finish the nice sample I received. However, buying more is out of the question. I would like to once again thank my esteemed cohort for allowing me to experience this tobacco, even though it didn't make the cut.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Extremely Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Extra Strong |
Menacing. Dark. Foreboding. The Dick Cheney of the tobacco world. Empty stomach? Fugeddaboudit. Standing up? I don't think so.
Old Ironsides is a much more manageable flake than Penzance (a natural comparison), and is loaded with more latakia than that already heavy blend. It burns very slowly (thankfully) and is quite cool. It compares well with Nightcap and Red Raparree, but if you think it's just too overbearing, I won't disagree. Still, it may just fit the bill for a late night treat for lovers of powerful, heady smokes.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer (345) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
As a Latakia lover, I wanted to try some blend with the emphasis on this dark and fascinating tobacco, something different from my usual Dunhill London Mixture and Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. Well, I went for advice to Mr. Bollito (a tobacconist in Turin, one of the best in Italy) and he suggested this. Well, his experience couldn't have been more valuable. Upon opening the small tin, I was rather shocked by the huge and thick black broken flakes: being used to the small cut of my other favorite latakia tobaccos, this was a surprise. The smell was very strong, very smoky and dark: like Balkan Sobranie, but stronger and deeper. I was uncertain on how to pack this stuff, but I decided to stuff the flakes in my Savinelli without crumbling them into little pieces. I just broke the hugest ones, pressed with my finger and then lit. Lighting proved itself a challenging task: this stuff doesn't want to get on fire! Not because of wetness, just because of the size of the flakes! This made me fear for the worst about relightings, but I was wrong. This tobacco is hard to light, but then if you puff regularly it never extinguishes. The large cut of the flakes is very helpful indeed in keeping the smoke very slow and cool: the pipe gets noticeably less hot than with Dunhills or Balkan Sobranie, and this is great. The smoke comes out at the perfect temperature, allowing you to taste the aroma without scorching your tongue or overwhelming you with excessively intense clouds. But what about the taste? In my opinion, it is very good. A bit monochromatic, perhaps, in comparison to the aforementioned Latakia monsters: straight, sincere, but enormously satisfying. The intense smokiness of Latakia is the dominant taste, for an in-your-face dark experience, with all the usual nuances one has to expect. Hints of licorice, of burning wood, of salt... Mmmmm, this tobacco makes my mouth water!!! It can get too salty at the bottom of the bowl, but never harsh. If only it were a bit fuller in body (maybe adding some orientals and red virginia... but then again it would be easier to smoke another blend!)... In spite of this rich taste, this tobacco doesn't seem too strong: the nicotine content is just right for me, and the overall strenght is OK, definitely lighter than London Mixture or Balkan Sobranie. For me it is a great choice when I want something less complex than my usual favorite Latakia blends, but be warned because I found that it can be very nasty and unplesant to non-smokers who should happen in your presence: they often complain that its pungent smell reminds them of burnt horse dung!!!!!! But so they say about Balkan Sobranie, which could be interpreted as a huge compliment to Old Ironsides...
2011 Update (after 6-7 years): Well, I hadn't tried this tobacco since a long time ago, so I got a new tin. Bad surprise... it has changed considerably, even from the looks of it. Much softer and larger flakes, not as dark and leathery as they used to be. And the taste disappoints too: no longer the strong Latakia blast of old, no longer as stout and licoricey. Should have stocked up the old version...
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Very Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I love latakia blends, but for some reason I don't rate this blend as highly as many other folks do. It has a wonderful tin aroma, everything a latakia should be but when I try smoking it, I like it but don't love it as much as some other latakia mixtures. It definitely is a quality tobacco, and I will finish the tin I have, but I won't be reaching for it as much as others and don't think I'll be buying this anythime soon,
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Full | Tolerable |
I got this blend one evening at a rare tobacco store that stays open until 10pm, so I could swing by and get on while coming home from my second job. I had run out of latakia tobacco and only had the lighter stuff at home, and for my last smokes of the day, I want it strong. So, I got this, and sure enough, it is a latakia lovers dream. What surprised me was how full it tasted also, as blends with this much latakia seem heavy in aroma and taste, but often that taste seems a bit thin, but there's obviously just enough oriental to add fullness. Another surprise was seeing it in slice form, which I normally don't like, to me it can make a smoke bite (for me anyway), but it smokes very cool and dry. It's a smoke for one kind of smoker, but if you are that type, this is perfect. It's replaced Dunhill Nitecap as my favorite late night and after dinner smoke, and my only objection is it's higher price.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Pleasant |
I'm mainly these days a Burley fancier. But I still enjoy the smokey Latakia from time to time, and this my friend is LATAKIA!!! The tobacco is pressed in to cakes and cut into flakes,and looks like Tar Baby.(anyone remeber that?) It breakes up easy, but takes a few lights to get it going. Once lit you get some very delightful creamy smokey lucious tastes. My wife says "it smells better than a lot of those camel poop tobaccos you smoke".It does taste good,and is very relaxing. It's definetly not for land lubbers, and those who haven't been with a pipe long. Smokey and salty, like a good Islay Scotch.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Very Strong |
The tin says it correctly, "A Latakia Lovers Dream". And that it is! I love Latakia and have yet to find a blend that has to much. If you love Latakia this is a blend for you. I am a hard puffer. I like great billows of smoke and this blend allows me to puff until I am blue in the face with out any tounge bite. My bowl only got slightly warm no matter how hard and how often I puffed. I will be smoking this on a regular basis.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Strong |
If you love latakia, as I do, this should ever be on your list. I smoke it straight in a small bowl, but will also add it in to other blends from time to time if I want to "kick it up a notch". Although the smell is strong, the smoke is surprisingly mild.
As with hot pepper sauces, proper manners when offering Old Ironsides to a novice would be to give full disclosure, but offer it nevertheless. If he loves it, you know he has the heart and soul of an Englishman. If he hates it, then there is nothing to do but hope for his eventual conversion.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCUSElder (244) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
I love latakia, but not just any latakia. This blend has done a superb job in blending this to a rich, smooth, and sweet smoke. The flakes rub out easy (yes, latakia in flake form), the moisture was perfect on my tin dated from 2002. It smokes very cool with no tongue bite whatsoever. The smoke is very thick, you can almost chew it . It will scare away your significant ones though with its room note, unless they love latakia. The flavor is consistent all the way down the bowl with just a slight increase of richness toward the end and leaves a medium grey ash with no dottle. The only draw back to this blend is that it is so rich, that you will need to rest your tastebuds for a few hours before your next smoke. The tin looks small for the price, but it smoked so slowly that half a bowl in my ashton xxx sovereign billiard lasted an hour. Regardless of the cost , this tobacco is an excellent example of masterfull blending. Highly recommended!!! Update: 9-25-03 I just opened a fresh tin and realized that the previous tins in my possesion were well aged. This fresh tin was definitely a little "raw" and smoked a little harsh. I definitely recommend that you age this blend as it is tastes much better when aged. Rating 5 out of 5 points (when aged) By the way, did I mention that you should age it? Enjoy...
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Extra Full | Very Strong |
Old Ironsides- love it or hate it, it is undisputably one of the heavy hitters in the Latakia world. I love it. As my teenage daughter would say, "its the BOMB!" (Actually she hates the room note, even when the room is outside.) This is NOT going to win friends, aroma-wise, but that is not why we smoke anyway, right? OI is to tobacco what Laphroig and Ardbeg are to single malt scotches: In-your-face smoky, skanky hardcore stuff with a sharp attack, huge body, and lingering aftertaste that really only appeals to those with an acquired taste for such things. That is me, I guess, but I can see how you could really hate this product...
OI officially comes in flake form, but my tins thus far have contained broken flake at best, really more like shredded flake. No problem though, I just stuff them in the pipe w/o further rubbing, except for a little finer consistency for the top light.
This stuff looks and feels like leather. It even smells like leather- like one might expect a smoke-tanned Indian tipi to smell. Its the real thing. Being that it is somewhat moist (and pliable) it is even harder than many latakia-heavy blends to light. In fact, I sometimes sprinkle a little Commonwealth Mixture on top to facilitate ignition. It will also go out if neglected, but it is such a cool, satisfying smoke that it encourages steady puffing.
Some have commented here that OI is rather one-dimensional, and that is a fair evaluation of this weed that I notice each time I smoke it. Though the constituents listed include Kentuky, Virginia and oriental, they are overshadowed by the looming latakia. The thing is, I LOVE this particular dimension! It is among my all-time favorite tobaccos, though I could not smoke it every day. It would lose its specialness.
The downside of this tobacco is the price. Even at Internet prices, it is pricey, and not available in bulk (that I know of). I also seem to burn through 50 g faster than I do with almost any other tobacco. This is contrary to my experience with other flake tobaccos; my half-tin of Marlin Flake seems to have lasted for ever. Maybe it is because the experience is so enjoyable that I puff harder and the bowl is finished sooner. At any rate, compared to wine, scotch, cognac, and various illegal substances, even expensive pipe tobaccos remain one of life's most cost-effective pleasures. Thats why I always try to have several tins cellared. Who knows when natural disaster may strike?
I would HIGHLY recommend this tobacco to anyone who considers him or herself a latakia fan.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Extremely Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Extra Strong |
Ok, I admit, I love Latakia, I mean I realy like the stuff. Lets face it, most pipe smokers either love it, or hate it. I am reviewing based upon my love for the stuff. I have smoked many latakia blends. For a while I was searching for the perfect English. It must be cool, rich, easy to light, and flavorful. I found many that had the flavor, but burned hot. Had rich tobacco overtones, but where was the Latakia? Found some to be cool, but again, no taste of the smokey stuff, or very little. I was begining to think no one could blend the perfect English. I was wrong. Old Ironsides was found! It is cool, rich, and has flavor. I mentioned staying lit, well three out of four isn't bad. This is a hard tobacco to keep lit. Nevertheless, It is my all-time favorite tobacco. Leave it to the Germans, to blend an English, using tobacco from all over the world, with Cyprian Latakia at 70% and naming it after an American ship, of the Revolutionary War. Go Free Trade!
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
One of the monster Latakia blends. This is one of the best , seemingly having a touch more virginia than Penzance making for a slightly different experience, but overall latakia rules O.K. which is fine with me. I would guess latakia is getting on for 66% or more. I like to smoke these blends in a big pipe, weekend size. Not an all day smoke but great when the mood dictates. The only rub is its only available in tins which makes regular consumtion questionable as Penzance is virtually the same, but half the price in bulk form.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is a SUPERB blend. Nice, dark flakes. FULL of latakia. Latakias are generally nice and SMOKEY tasting. Some don't like it, but THIS piper LOVES it. Very sweet tasting, very smoking, VERY RICH. A perfect winter smoke. This is truly a latakia lover's DREAM. It's one of my favorite latakia tobaccos.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Full | Strong |
This is an outstanding blend and only gets better the more you smoke it.
Upon opening the tin one encounters a pleasently musty aroma with a unique note I can only describe as meaty. In fact, the smell reminds me somewhat of my late grandfather's very smoky deer jerky, and I am occasionally possessed by an irrational desire to forego the elaborate ritual of packing and smoking a pipe to simply eat the stuff instead. ( I have not actually done this... yet)
The tobacco comes in an odd (for latakia mixtures) thin flake cut. I have settled on the strategy of folding the flakes over on themselves several times and packing the whole bloody mess into the bowl. As the flakes are thin and fragile, they crumble into small chunks when subjected to this treatment. Lighting can somewhat of an ordeal, as with most heavy latakia blends, but given three heavy lightings, it tends to hold flame fairly well.
Obviously, latakia flavors predominate throughout, but this is not to say that the blend lacks complexity. There is an intriguing rich nutty flavor just below the surface, which is exposed by faster puffing. You may puff this blend as quickly as you want, by the way, as the smoke is cool and creamy. One could probably smoke this out of a crackpipe using a welding torch without experiencing any adverse oral effects. The latakia starts out smoky-musty, becoming more musty-smoky towards the end of the bowl. Note that when I say "musty" I mean something good, more like chanterelle mushrooms and less like your basement. Smokes especially well in a meerschaum.
This blend has two potential drawbacks: price and room aroma. If you have a wife, and your wife has some olfactory capability, you should definitely smoke this either outside or in the comfort of your local tavern or tobacconist. Its priciness may put a hole in your pocketbook but only a small one, as tobacco remains the undisputed bargain among life's luxuries. If a penurious peasant like myself can afford this stuff, then you certainly can.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Strong |
One dimensional latakia delivery system without a lot of fullness nor much else in the way of character. The quality of the tobacco itself is good and the smoke is cool. This latter point is important because the tendency for me was to smoke it rather fast in search of some flavor as it is surprisingly weak on the tastebuds for such a latakia heavy blend.
There is a flavor in this that almost seems like licorice, although I cannot place it properly.
The blend is somewhat moist in the tin. It does dry upon exposure to air, which really seems necessary in order to smoke it. I rub this out, but despite my best efforts, the resulting texture is overly stick-like for my preference. I try to rub flakes out to long soft strands, and that just isn?t possible with this blend from my experience. The tin design itself is to be commended, as it retains a seal nicely despite having been open for several months.
This blend just does not call to me from the shelf.
October 2002.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Very Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Like the other reviewers I found Old Ironsides to be a rather strong Latakia crumble cake. It is similar to Penzance or C&D's Black Frigate in form and taste, but somewhat stronger in the latakia department. Of the three, Old Ironsides also has the smokiest latakia. I personally love all three of them. Old Ironsides crumbles out nicely, packs well and burns very evenly. While it is certainly dominated by the latakia, I found that the bottom third of the bowl definitely yielded some change of flavor into other ranges.
One problem with Old Ironsides is that the aroma really tends to linger in the room, developing a musty, sour smell the next morning. Not a tobacco to please the wife.
Overall I found this to be a great blend. If you want something similar, but with less strength of latakia, try Penzance.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Very Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Pleasant |
Latakia power .If you just have to have a latakia fix this is it . It burns great , packs great andsmokes great . One of my top shelf tobaccos .
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Albion1956 (42) | |
Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
The sun begins it's slow assent, rising over the endless parade of shifting sand and blowing wind. This could be the image, in the North African desert, or perhaps in your den as the first match applies fire to the recently packed bowl of Old Ironsides. A Latakia lovers dream, perhaps, but the smokey reminder that long ago the camel dung fires, along with pine and anything else would dry out the now known Syrian Latakia leaves. Yes it is smokey, and creamy, and visions of old leather chairs, and thick air supplant the taste. I ran across this while in pursuit of some Bengal slices, and I did not get dissapointed. The broken flakes are very dark, with tinges of light color, perhaps Virginian, and although moist, it is not cloying. This tobacco is menacing in it's appearance, but don't be thawarted, it is just a visual image. Charring may take two matches, but that should be it, and then you can stretch out and sour above the remnants of lost civilizations and only imagine if they were able to partake. This is a full tobacco, not in the nicotine sense, or a Balkan takoff, but just a full flavor. Chocolate mousse comes to mind, light and airy, but filling. Burns leaving a dull grey ash, and very little dottle, a pleasure, to be sure. The Bengal slices were never found, but I may have stumbled on a replacement.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Mild | None Detected | Extra Full | Very Strong |
I've always considered myself a latakia fan, but this blend is just too one-dimensional for me. Not really sure why, but I suspect that it's because it's basically a straight Cyprian flake, and in my experience Cyprian acquires a dirty, muddy taste beyond 40% or so.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
Camel Dung anyone?
This is one of the most latakia-laden blends I have ever seen. Latakia is NOT a condiment tobacco in this blend, it's the actual meat and potatoes. What first caught my attention with this blend was that it came in flake form, a beautiful flake which (though there are Virginias and orientals present) was , you guessed it, largely dominated by the black gold. The dark flake gave off a wonderful smokey aroma when the tin was opened- though not as overbearing as I would have thought. But I must warn (if you haven't figured it out already)... don't go near this unless you can appreciate latakia.
Upon lighting, a thick whitish cloud whisped from my bowl and I knew I was in for business -thank God I am single. However, despite the strength of the aroma, the tobacco itself is rather mild. It is a very cool, easy burning tobacco which (though not as complex as say a full english blend) is rather enjoyable. For me, the VA and orientals are definitely dominated by the latakia, perhaps if I had a more refined palate I could better describe the nuances of their interplay, but alas when i try I seem to get stuck on the latakia. I mean it is clear when one smokes this that there is something happening, it's not merely smoking straight latakia, but it's clear this is no balkan. One would think the massive amount of latakia would be too harsh but it's actually quite mellow. thee is no btie whatsoever, as the latakia ensures a cool smooth burn. It is an enjoyable smoke, though I can't see myself smoking this everyday. If you like latakia, this is a must try....but if you don't, it's a must avoid.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| TheOtter (70) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is a seriously smoky blend with the character of smoked beef jerky. The grassy Virginias are present, adding to the aforementioned grass-fed beef flavour. The bold taste with a fine dose of nicotine makes this a great pipe for unwinding in the evening. You could even say it's a midnight snack.
4/4 - This is a proper nightcap blend for the latakia lovers out there.
Similar Blends: Cornell & Diehl - Engine 99.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
This is the first tobacco I smoked that sent me into a trance. I sat there speechless, sipping and grinning for several minutes after lighting this one off the first time. My friend just watched and chuckled until I could find the first words, "it's like I'm smoking a barbecue..." Very full and delicious smoky flavor. To me it tastes like you are straight up sucking hickory smoke from a low and slow brisket on the barbecue, or at least what that bbq smell would lead you to believe it would taste like. The only downside to this blend is that its so good, when I smoke it its all I smoke until I am tired of it. Also, over time I noticed that if I rubbed it out, it tasted unpleasantly bitter. Instead I like to just pull apart the flake and stuff it. I haven't tried it folded, but certainly will on my next tin, and there will be many more to come.
Pipe Used: briars and cobs
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| GergelyAdam (10) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Old Ironsides. Tin note is the smell of black forest smoked ham. It immediately draws our attention to the tin for a closer look . The flakes seems tasty yet the the latakia seems almost small in ratio. But all of this is only part of the strategy ... It can be a little difficult to ignite, but then immediately, without any refinement, the attack on the taste buds begins. In the first third of the bowl, my tongue and palate was practically conquered by the latakia and some black pepper flavor. Maybe there is also some gunpowder mixed into the tobacco. I realized at that moment that the appearance of the flakes was a deception. The taste is more like a forest fire than a campfire, in a good way. During the mid bowl, on the other hand, the tobacco smoothed out or might be that my senses just gave up. Turned out that it was also just a diversionary operation. While the smell of smoked ham comes up again seductively, in the background the matured Virginia starts the nicotine attack. By the end of the bowl, you are just leaning back and smoking, surrendering yourself to the experience and recognition: you have lost this fight. Presumably this tobacco got this name because you need an old comrade who drags you back to reality after you’ve done with the pipe. By then, however, your nervous system will be ironed from the tobacco so much that you are ready for a war with the world. The whole armada can come! ... especially if you drink some more rum right now!
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
I'm writing this review from memory; it's been a few years since I last had any of this and I'm not sure if the blend has changed since then. As I recall, though, the other reviews are pretty much spot on. Latakia. Smoky, smoky latakia. This is a blend for the people who like to lick charcoal. Somehow it still smokes smoothly though and I'd recommend it as at least worth a try to most pipe smokers who enjoy the dark leaf. Don't try it within forty-eight hours of needing your taste buds for other things, though, as nothing short of steel wool will abate the aftertaste.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I love the description on the tin, it says "A Latakia Lovers Dream" Well, I am a Latakia addict and im in a dream!! I love this blend!!
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Picked up a tin of this hoping to find a suitable substitute for my beloved Commonwealth that is near impossible to find. I was only looking for a heavy latakia blend, not thinking I could ever get the taste of Commonwealth from another tobacco.
Opening the tin, it smelled wonderful, was a little moist, but I don't bother drying out my flakes, I just fold tease and stuff. I lit easily, and then the taste hit me. It was delicious!
I only tasted Latakia and a bit of a sweet Virginia, and no Orientals. The taste went to mostly Latakia about half way through the bowl, and stayed there all the way through. It never got hot hot, never got bitter, and didn't bite my tongue.
The only thing I can say bad is that it has the tendency to really dry out my mouth and throat while I'm smoking it.
Great tobacco, great taste. Recommended.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Strong | Full | Tolerable |
I love this tobacco. It burns very well in my best pipes.
Opening the tin is a real surprise of aromas and tastes, and when you light it, the taste sounds extremely better.
It is a strong tobacco, not for frist-times-smokers, it requires a bit of experience in tobacco tasting.
The room note is tolerable (personally I love it but not alla the people might like it), so that when I smoke it I feel very well, and the smell that pervades the room gently wrap me in an overwhelming sensation.
I love the taste that Old Ironsides leaves in my mouth after smoking, even if, I repeat, it is not an "easy" tobacco to smoke: it requires you'va quite experience with the oriental tastes.
One of the best tobaccos I've ever smoked, and always present in my whishlist!
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is why I keep trying the heavy Latakia blends. When I come across one I like it makes me very pleased. The aged flake/cake in my tin is in perfect condition for easy pack and ready smoke.
Ironsides provides the nice leathery smokiness that I expect from a blend like this, but without the flat or bitter taste that I have experienced in other English/Latakias. Smokes very cool.
If it was still readily available, I would add it to my rotation.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
We were in Las Vegas and I found a tobacco store on the strip. The only non aromatic they had was a tin of this. Fool I was to open the tin and smoke the whole thing only to find out I cannot get it anymore. The Latakia was excellent.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Mild | Medium to Strong | Very Full | Tolerable |
This may sound strange coming from a cross over blend lover, but this stuff is great! I am sorry that I discoved it too late, in that it is no longer available. I am buying up tins that I can find, and storing them for later enjoyment.
I tried it on a lark, and fell in love with its rich and creamy taste. Low nicotine content also appeals to me since I am not a cigarette smoker. It takes some work to get it lit, but after the initial lighting process it's smooth sailing. Very cool burn, with not bite what so ever. The flavor is sweet with a hint of mint as an aftertaste. The smoke is abundant and heavy which tends to linger. It can leave a residual taste in your pipe, but I dont mind it.
If you can find it, buy it. Hopefully there is some other tobacco company that will pick up this blend for future sale.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Very Full | Pleasant |
I picked up a tin of this at a B&M I found on my way home from work one day. It was one of the only non-aros in the place so I took a shot.
I am glad I did.
Very, very, smoky flavor from start to finish that developes a little sweetness as the bowl progresses. I did not taste much from the orientals, and didn't really care either.
If you are looking for a man sized portion of latakia you will not find a better blend out there, IMHO of course.
I do save this one for the end of the day, because I find that it kills the taste buds for anything else for a while.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Strong |
Over the past few years I have been dabbling in English blends with increasing amounts of Latakia in them until I found this blend. I am wowed by this blend with its mildly soapy earthiness, which turns to a deep cool woody taste mid bowl. This tobacco has moderate complexity with straightforward tastes. It is extremely consistent, and an excellent complement China Clipper tea. The room note is strong, yet pleasurable if you love smokey tobacco aroma. I have found no tongue bite even to the bottom of the bowl, and have found larger pipes a better coice for smoking this blend. A light rub of the tobacco will help with packing I have found. If you are new to English blends, and want to try Latakia I suggest this. It is full in flavor, but not the "velvet hammer", or complexity of Dunhill Nightcap. ENJOY.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
If you like Latakia in big doses, but want something beyond straight Latakia, try this. OI is Latakia with a little complexity to keep things somewhat interesting. I also like the broken flake presentation. OI burns nicely, cool and clean. A great, occasional, cold weather companion.
One more thing: popping the four year old tin reminded me of breaking the seal on one of Dunhill's Latakia laden blends from the distant past. That musty, rich sod smell was so powerful and inviting.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Here's the only problem with this blend: it calls itself a "Latakia lover's dream." It should say: "if you taste Latakia in this blend, you must be DREAMING!" This blend packs reasonably well, burns to a clean white ash and stays lit, but it really doesn't taste like much at all. In fact, it tastes like the neighbor's barbecuing with a mesquite BBQ sauce next door, and the smell's drifting over to your yard. Not unpleasant, but not knock-your-socks off.
I will say that my buddy was smoking something that smelled like Swiss Miss, and that made me happy that I had the Old Ironsides, but it wasn't happy enough to buy it again. (By the way, I lived in Boston for 10 years, and CAO's "Old Ironsides" really DOES smell like the U.S.S. Constitution. Take it for what it's worth.)
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Strong |
This would have been a good time to find out what all this talk about the 'soapy' taste of Lakelands is all about, since I've never smoked soap. I did, however, forget about and leave a tin of this in my pants pocket when I washed them! Oh, well, the first half of the tin was quite good.
That all said, this is a Latakia blend. It is very stout tasting, if not too strong in the nicotine department. This is a little bit like Pirate Kake, as far as latakia content is concerned, but it's better balanced. Guess I'll have to order the 8 oz. bag. That won't fit in my ass pocket! Yes, I said ass pocket. (that of my pants, of course).
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
This is one of the coolest tobaccos I have ever smoked, it comes out of the pipe like ice water. I love the heavy latakia taste that I get when smoking it, my wife hates it (who the hell cares). It is very easy to pack and burns nice and slow Old Iron Side will be in my rotation for a long time.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Whenever you feel that you need Latakia, you know where to find it.
Black semi-rubbed flakes. Can be smoked either fully rubbed or in flake form. I prefer a combination: Create a plug a little smaller in diameter and a little higher than the bowl, tamp it in and then fill the rest of the bowl with the rubbed tobacco.
Burns really dry and cool. The rich and creamy smoke will not let you overdo it with puffing. It is very nicely accompanied by a cup of strong black coffee.
I do not think, though, that more than two bowls per day can be pleasant. This is the exact reason for which I withhold the fourth star. You need some other tobacco for the rest of the day.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Since the TR text editor doesn't handle cut-and-paste very well, I'll just link to a full review I wrote elsewhere in the on-line tobacco world: http://forums.knoxcigar.net/viewtopic.php?t=6030
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This blend could be an all day smoke, if you like a full flavored tobacco. I hvae tried this blend in many pipes and have found only two that I found this was't good in. My Falcon and any thing with a filter. Everything from a small Peterson petite to a huge Italian Oom Paul were excellent. If you like English you'll like this.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
I know Penzance and this is no Penzance. Old Ironsides is however, a superb blend that does have some similarities to what is considered by many to be one of the finest blends produced. OI fails in two areas where Penzance shines. Ir you can live with the extra effort in lighting up, and do not believe you must always smoke complex tobaccos, you will find a real winner in Old Ironsides. The quality of the tobacco is outstanding and the flavor is wonderful. The only reason I don't give this one four stars is that I already have an abundance of blends in my tier one rotation.
Add a star if you purchase in bulk or you are not inclined to pay a premium price for Penzance.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Very Strong |
Old Ironsides is just what the package says: a Latakia lover?s dream. It is all Latakia, all the time, with no messing around. Oh, I suppose they blend it with something or other just to keep it interesting. And sometimes, late at night, in a big bowl, this is just what you need. But it lacks the complexity to hold interest over the long haul. There?s a useful contrast with Penzance: the latter sacrifices just a bit of firepower in the interest of greater diversity of flavor, but the result is that Penzance is a great tobacco while Old Ironsides is simply very good. The cut is nice: like a flake that's been pre-rubbed -- very convenient! If you like Latakia, I?d recommend keeping some on hand for a broadside every now and then. Luckily, it ages particularly well.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
this is a good and reliable flake, it is and outdoor after BBQ smoke.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Old Ironsides - Here is a rich Latakia blend that gets totally mixed reviews. If you like Latakia you will really like Old Ironsides. Though this blend has Kentucky, VA, and Orien, in it...well its hardly detected...at least by me. I even puffed really hard to draw out some VA but it stayed in the far far background and the Lata dominated.
This blend requires a minor rubbing out and in fact is so minior you can just fold it and load it. Watch out you will get a little dirty just handling this mix.
Latakia lovers give this one a try.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | Mild | Full | Extra Strong |
I've had a lot of ups and downs with this blend. It was the first non-aromatic blend I'd ever tried. I hated it. Several months later I decided to dig it out of my tobacco drawer and give it another go and somehow fell in love with it. I really loved the smokey taste of the latakia and this was my absolute favorite blend for about a year. When I ran out I put off buying another tin in favor of trying other blends and didn't go back to it until last week, when I renewed my supply.
I have to say, this new tin is not nearly as impressive as what I remember. I don't know if they changed the formula or if this tin is just a lemon, but I was mighty disappointed. There's still a smokey undertone of latakia but it's cased with some heavy, caustic flavor that produces an surprising amount of tongue-bite for a non-aromatic. I really hope this was just a bad tin, but I'm afraid to lay down another eleven bucks only to be supremely disappointed. For now I'm knocking my review down to 2 stars. It's not terrible, and I'll probably finish the tin off sooner or later, but it's just not as brilliant as I remember it.
I'll keep my old reviews below for posterity.
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This came very highly recommended to me as a fine Latakia. To me it looked, tasted and felt exactly like beef jerky. It was just -too- smokey tasting to me, like a wrack of ribs or something. I enjoy a sweet tobacco so it just wasn't my thing. It burned well and had a nice thick richness to it but I couldn't get over the mesquite barbecue seasoning.
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I guess it happens to all of us, eventually... It happened for me tonight. After reading some Sherlock Holmes and getting into the mood I decided that I would learn to appreciate non-aromatics whether I liked it or not... So I bought a cheap corn cob, dug out my tin of Old Iron Sides, sat down, and smoked a couple bowls of this stuff.
Now I'm beginning to understand what all the fuss is about. After an initial (extreme) distaste, I began to get comfortable, and now I must say that - though completely different than aromatic - this stuff is quite a wonderful experience.
Everything I hate about aromatics (tongue bite, thin smoke, hot smoke, lack of complexity) is wonderfully inversed in this stuff. Thick, cool, complex, curling smoke. Delicious but in a very serious way.
I don't think I'll be retiring my aromatic pipes any time soon, they shall still be my full-time staples, but now I know that I can comfortably sit down and begin to explore the wonders of non-aromatics.
We got off to a rocky start, Latakia, but now I'm ready to yield to your temptations whole-heartedly!
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Strong |
After trying many of its analogs, I?ve finally arrived at Old Ironsides, a fistful of Cyprian love sprinkled with VA, OR, and KY for balance.
Tin note is a subdued, slightly sweet leather-and-charcoal complex of scents. Initial moisture level in the tin was not unusually high, and an opened tin will likely balance to perfection after a few days.
The cut is more a flake that crumbles, rather than a true crumble cake or flake that 'rubs out,' and this construction is perfect for no-nonsense loading of the bowl, making it easy to reach the texture and consistency desired.
Though mostly unchanging from start to finish, O.I. has a singular complexity and wood-smokiness that would be complemented well by a peaty Islay malt scotch like Laphroaig, etc.
Yes, O.I. is another full-on latakia rock festival. No, you cannot discern the individual components and savor each flavor, nor I think are you supposed to be able to do this. What you get here is another praise-worthy, latakia-focused, but balanced blend. Penzance and Pirate Kake fans will likely enjoy this very much.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Mild | Very Full | Tolerable to Strong |
i received a 50g tin of old ironsides for christmas.it was one of the tobaccos i had put on my "wish list" to get,and try.i wanted to give it a try after reading the reviews on this site.latley i just cant get enough latakia! so...this was one i had to try.well,i was`nt disapointed! i think this tobacco is great.i had 'no" tounge bite,it burns well,tastes like a latakia tobacco should,great taste,and i like the room note!
i know,alot of people hate the smell of this tobacco being smoked,but hey,i`m not out to please them.i would recommend this tobacco to anyone looking for a good latakia tobacco.this ones going into my rotation! thankyou santa.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Extra Strong |
From the company that brought you the restrained and well mannered Gordon Pym, is a dark, tar-like Latakia powerhouse.
I agree with all who feel this is a monochromatic, single bass note of pure Latakia. That's what I like about it. Nothing exceeds like excess! If you are in the mood for Latakia, pure and absolutely, this fits the bill. Sometimes, the pure taste of that particular leaf is just what I'm looking for. A nice cup of coffee with cream and a bit of sweetner can be right- but so can a quad-shot of espresso.
The room note has all the charm of freshly laid asphalt, and is particularly effective at driving children away. If you are inside, get outside. The house will smell like the inside of a work boot if you smoke any amount of this in the home.
With that being said, I just love to push the envelope on occasion. I bought a second tin of this and vacuum sealed about 20 grams, knowing that I would not smoke all of it at once. On the other hand, a little of this can be used to spice-up the afore mentioned "restrained" English blends. So, if you try it and absolutely can't take it's merciless pounding, consider mixing a little Burley or some Virginia in, and being your own tobacco blender.
Either way, this is an adventure that I believe is worth taking.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Medium to Strong | Medium | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I got this blend one evening at a rare tobacco store that stays open until 10pm, so I could swing by and get on while coming home from my second job. I had run out of latakia tobacco and only had the lighter stuff at home, and for my last smokes of the day, I want it strong. So, I got this, and sure enough, it is a latakia lovers dream. What surprised me was how full and smooth it tasted also, as blends with this much latakia seem heavy in aroma and taste, but often taste a bit thin. Another surprise was seeing it in slice form, which I normally don't like, to me it can make a smoke bite (for me anyway), but it smokes very cool and dry. It's a smoke for one kind of smoker, but if you are that type, this is perfect. It's replaced Dunhill Nitecap as my favorite late night and after dinner smoke, and my only objection is it's higher price. I only smoke it as a late night treat to end the day, so a can goes further than if it was smoked more often. This is one blend I buy on sight.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30167) | |
Strong | None Detected | Overwhelming | Very Strong |
Latakia, Latakia, Latakia... to quote the review of this in P&T magazine, "If you want more Latakia than this you'll need an IV drip of it". It's in flake form, which adds an interesting twist to the blend that isn't present in some other strong Latakia mixes I've tried. This is a potent tobacco, not in nicotine hit but in flavor. It's the "triple-decker chocolate cake with ladled fudge" tobacco, and falls squarely into the land of love-it-or-hate-it. I love it, obviously - there's no subtlety here nor deep nuances nor shifting flavors, but it's a really luscious smoke for those times when you just have to have a rich pipe and a Taddy Porter.
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