Dan Tobacco Old Ironsides

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....

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

....10/10....Your significant other Wld-probably"Divorce You"if you smoked this mix Indoors(Good Hunting Shack-Smoke)...BUT I LOVE THIS MIX !!! :+))

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.

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."