J. F. Germain & Son Eighteen Twenty
(3.18)
Named after the year in which the company was founded this mixture of top grade Cyprus Latakia Oriental and Flue cured tobacco will provide plenty of interest for the experienced pipe smoker.
Details
| Brand | J. F. Germain & Son |
| Blended By | J. F. Germain & Son |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin; 50 grams pouch |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.18 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 50 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17, 2014 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Strong |
Presentation, well, not perfect. Sloppily stamped on cover - but that could also be deliberate to raise the cover somewhat to let you know what you're actually buying (the "death threat" sticker covers up the blend name otherwise). No big deal once it's peeled off and threwn in the trash where it belongs.
Inside the tin there's a tightly packed ribbon cut. The tin note is quite strange to my nose as well... some vinegar, peat and I also get the impression that it's been doused with sea water or something. I don't really know what to make of that, but I'm not exactly wild over the smell. Well, it should be noted that this strange smell dissipated somewhat after a few days and settled into something more in line of tobacco. But it's still quite unpleasant.
When smoked it strikes me as very sharp on the tongue, and also quite grating on the back of the throat. This harshness makes it quite difficult for me to distinguish the goings on with this blend. If there's anything jumping out a little it is the VA with turkish on the backend, latakia is not immediately evident to me. It doesn't last very long though and it quickly turns into something that makes me think of what burning rubber in a pipe might taste like, and the room note isn't much better either.
I'm only 3-4 bowls in as I write this, but honestly, I think that's enough to know that this is really not my cup of tea, and I really don't want to torture myself any longer with it either. Sorry, but this is just terrible - so much so that I'm starting to think that there must be something wrong with this tin, because it seems to be so far from what nearly all other reviews describe, but it's highly unlikely I'll ever get another tin to find out one way or the other.
I really can't find any redeeming qualities here. This is just awful from top to bottom.
Inside the tin there's a tightly packed ribbon cut. The tin note is quite strange to my nose as well... some vinegar, peat and I also get the impression that it's been doused with sea water or something. I don't really know what to make of that, but I'm not exactly wild over the smell. Well, it should be noted that this strange smell dissipated somewhat after a few days and settled into something more in line of tobacco. But it's still quite unpleasant.
When smoked it strikes me as very sharp on the tongue, and also quite grating on the back of the throat. This harshness makes it quite difficult for me to distinguish the goings on with this blend. If there's anything jumping out a little it is the VA with turkish on the backend, latakia is not immediately evident to me. It doesn't last very long though and it quickly turns into something that makes me think of what burning rubber in a pipe might taste like, and the room note isn't much better either.
I'm only 3-4 bowls in as I write this, but honestly, I think that's enough to know that this is really not my cup of tea, and I really don't want to torture myself any longer with it either. Sorry, but this is just terrible - so much so that I'm starting to think that there must be something wrong with this tin, because it seems to be so far from what nearly all other reviews describe, but it's highly unlikely I'll ever get another tin to find out one way or the other.
I really can't find any redeeming qualities here. This is just awful from top to bottom.
PurchasedFrom:
MySmokingShop
Age When Smoked:
About 2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 17, 2014 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild | Tolerable |
This is an excellent choice for those who DO NOT want a Latakia bomb. I'm hard put to decide if this is a light English or a light Balkan. In either case it is an ideal entrance to either of these blend styles. The latakia in particular is a background for the orientals and the virginia's add just the right amount of sweetness for a virginia or VaPer smoker to comfortably enter the English or Balkan blends. I, as others, found this overly moist upon opening the tin so I dumped it into a mason jar and left it there for a week. A bit of zing so puff slowly. I have intentionaly not compared this directly with the tobaccos I listed as similar they are there only to let you know if you like one of them then you just might like this as well. Happy smoking to all and to all a good night pipe!
Pipe Used:
Brigham 2Dot straight pot
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
3 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 07, 2014 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Untill I have the words to describe this most awesome of English style blends ..... in the mean time ... OMG ! What a blend
Pipe Used:
Mastro De Paja ... big billiard/Dublin
PurchasedFrom:
B&B Tobacconist in Asheville , NC ... a great shop ... http://bbtobacconists.com/
Age When Smoked:
Fresh tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 07, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I must confess. This is a blend I bought, tried, hated, and put away in my box of forgotten tins. The other day I was shuffling through my pipes and tins, and came across it, having forgotten it all together. I popped it open and inhaled the smoky latakia, and I got the urge to fire it up. I loaded it up in a Big Ben Fantasia billiard and an ancient Kaywoodie rhodesian. After being allowed to sit for a year, opened and then closed as tightly as possible, the moisture level was just right, it lit easily, and burned cool. It would occasionally require a relight, but that isn't a big deal to me, it kept me from over heating the bowl.....which I admit I am very guilty of when I really like something. Clean white/grey ash is all it left behind, dry as a bone in the bottom of the bowl and nary a gurgle all day. The flavors stay bright and consistent from light to heel and the volume of smoke is just right. No bite, no overdose of wood smoke from the latakia, and just enough sweetness coming of the Virginias to play off the symphony of nutty, woodsy notes that dance around in this blend. Another plus for me was that even though I had one of THOSE smoking days,the one where you over smoke the 2 pipes you brought with you, after knocking off a total of 8 or 9 bowls didn't leave me bored, or with that too much vitamin N feeling. What I did find interesting is the amount of cake this blend build in the course of a day! If you have a new pipe you plan to devote to latakia blends, this one will help you get it broken in and caked up quickly!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 27, 2009 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
Preface: I have been smoking Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium for near-on 30 years, believing that it has no equal anywhere on earth. But it is gone now, and so I begin a quest for my Holy Grail: A substitute to replace the standard on which all English tobaccos are based:
1820 is an English tobacco with a slight emphasis on Orientals. Other reviews stating a blend where nothing "jumps out" and a monochromatic experience are largely correct. The first 1/3 of the bowl is best, where it is actually quite good. But working down the Orientals begin to assert a mild harshness while at the same time the Virginias fail to achieve their inherent richness. The tobacco is properly moist, with a perfect burn. Not a great English for English fans, Balkan fans might miss complexity. It does have an "interesting" flavoring or casing, which I find neither good nor off-putting. Perhaps it grows on one with time.
1820 is an English tobacco with a slight emphasis on Orientals. Other reviews stating a blend where nothing "jumps out" and a monochromatic experience are largely correct. The first 1/3 of the bowl is best, where it is actually quite good. But working down the Orientals begin to assert a mild harshness while at the same time the Virginias fail to achieve their inherent richness. The tobacco is properly moist, with a perfect burn. Not a great English for English fans, Balkan fans might miss complexity. It does have an "interesting" flavoring or casing, which I find neither good nor off-putting. Perhaps it grows on one with time.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 03, 2007 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I bought a tin of this today, the first I have purchased of this blend since 2001. It is differs quite a bit from the blend of six years ago. Some of the differences are pleasant; others, less-so.
Most, if not all, of the differences might be the result of aging in the tin. The tobaccos were much darker than I remember, the indefinable casing less noticeable upon opening, the paper wrapping had turned uniformly brown.
As to the tobacco itself, there is nothing here to write home about; it is merely a passably respectable English blend with distinctly Oriental character, a mellow tobacco. "Mellow" is an adjective that cuts both ways; it is laudable when applied to a well-aged Single Malt Scotch; applied to Olivia Newton John...it is synonymous with "uninspired."
Let us say that 1820 is the Olivia Newton John of Germain's line. For the money, one can do quite a bit better...King Charles or any of Germain's Esoterica Line have it all over 1820...hands down.
Most, if not all, of the differences might be the result of aging in the tin. The tobaccos were much darker than I remember, the indefinable casing less noticeable upon opening, the paper wrapping had turned uniformly brown.
As to the tobacco itself, there is nothing here to write home about; it is merely a passably respectable English blend with distinctly Oriental character, a mellow tobacco. "Mellow" is an adjective that cuts both ways; it is laudable when applied to a well-aged Single Malt Scotch; applied to Olivia Newton John...it is synonymous with "uninspired."
Let us say that 1820 is the Olivia Newton John of Germain's line. For the money, one can do quite a bit better...King Charles or any of Germain's Esoterica Line have it all over 1820...hands down.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 06, 2013 | Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
A very nice blend, if very 'medium' -- strength, taste, and in the amount of Latakia. I wouldn't have minded a bit stronger Oriental flavor, but this is a satisfying smoke. It came a bit wet, but dried out to the right level quickly and stayed there, leaving only some very stained paper and a bit of rust. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is yes.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 26, 2013 | Medium to Strong | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
***This is a review of a 6 year old tin***
I quit smoking cigarettes going on 3 years and pipes and cigars went with it. In order to keep off the butts I did turn to using snus which is in my mouth every waking moment of my day I find. So take this in to consideration when I say I didn't find a lot of nicotine in this blend. I have tried this before years ago and did not like it. Someone said it tasted of oatmeal? Well it didn't then and certainly does not now after 6 years. I cracked the seal on the tin and found that it did still smell of musty tobacco. The paper wrapper was almost brown. Moisture was perfect at almost dried out but still sticks together when pressed between the fingers. I used a straight billard meer everytime I went to this. Light up is easy and the first half was clearly VA dominant with the orientals just poking through. The latter half the oriental start to take over with what seems to be a nice burley like grassiness putting its head up once in a while. Strength did progress as the bowl burned down. No gurgle, no bite. What a wonderfull experience. My rating is based on the fact that I did try this as a newly opened fresh tin and this one as a newly opened 6 year old tin. The fresh tin wouldn't have gotten a single star from me, but this would have gotten 5 stars with an aged tin. The fresh tins I did have had to blended with aromatics to get rid of them. Maybe they should age it like whisky and not sell the tins untill they had 3 years on them. Oh well...buy a couple tins and cellar them and you will see why I enjoyed this one so much.
I quit smoking cigarettes going on 3 years and pipes and cigars went with it. In order to keep off the butts I did turn to using snus which is in my mouth every waking moment of my day I find. So take this in to consideration when I say I didn't find a lot of nicotine in this blend. I have tried this before years ago and did not like it. Someone said it tasted of oatmeal? Well it didn't then and certainly does not now after 6 years. I cracked the seal on the tin and found that it did still smell of musty tobacco. The paper wrapper was almost brown. Moisture was perfect at almost dried out but still sticks together when pressed between the fingers. I used a straight billard meer everytime I went to this. Light up is easy and the first half was clearly VA dominant with the orientals just poking through. The latter half the oriental start to take over with what seems to be a nice burley like grassiness putting its head up once in a while. Strength did progress as the bowl burned down. No gurgle, no bite. What a wonderfull experience. My rating is based on the fact that I did try this as a newly opened fresh tin and this one as a newly opened 6 year old tin. The fresh tin wouldn't have gotten a single star from me, but this would have gotten 5 stars with an aged tin. The fresh tins I did have had to blended with aromatics to get rid of them. Maybe they should age it like whisky and not sell the tins untill they had 3 years on them. Oh well...buy a couple tins and cellar them and you will see why I enjoyed this one so much.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 02, 2011 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Very Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A classic from my favourite blending house.
Upon tin opening it is moist. Blenders are wise to leave the moisture management up to the person combusting it. I found after opening the oxidisation and slight drying really made this tobacco sing.
I love the balanced Latakia and the Orientals and Virginias are top notch. It packs great, burns great, and tastes great.
Certainly not for the inexperienced pipe smoker and if you're Oriental shy . . . 'beware of dog'.
Upon tin opening it is moist. Blenders are wise to leave the moisture management up to the person combusting it. I found after opening the oxidisation and slight drying really made this tobacco sing.
I love the balanced Latakia and the Orientals and Virginias are top notch. It packs great, burns great, and tastes great.
Certainly not for the inexperienced pipe smoker and if you're Oriental shy . . . 'beware of dog'.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 25, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Very Mild | Tolerable |
I was in the mood for a mild English smoke and having enjoyed the other blend I sampled from this stable I decided to see if Germain's had something to suit my needs. If they do, it ain't this one!
I would dearly love to add my voice to the paeans of praise for this blend, but I simply don't get it. Having smoked nothing else for the past few days I am consistently dissappointed at the complete lack of flavour. Every so often I think that the orientals or virginas are going to reveal themselves, but 9 times out of 10 what actually pokes through the miasma of blandness is the utterly execrable topping that not only spoils the smoke but is still identifiable in the room the next morning. Another reviewer has mentioned Iodine. After racking my brains I have realised that it reminds me of the flavour I would encounter in my school days when we were flicking ink with our fountain pens and some of it got into my mouth (yes I was a rebellious child - probably why I grew up to be a pipe smoker).
To compound the misery created by this woeful weed I have contracted a nasty case of tongue bite in my vain attempts to extract a morsel of pleasing taste, but even when I concentrate on smoking gently I still find it to be lacking in smoothness.
I have rated the room note as 'tolerable' because there isn't an option for 'mild yet persistent and nasty'.
In my search for a mild English that I can enjoy this is definitely not the answer. I think that I might give SG Skiff Mixture another try. In the parlance of my trendier friends - 'epic fail'.
I would dearly love to add my voice to the paeans of praise for this blend, but I simply don't get it. Having smoked nothing else for the past few days I am consistently dissappointed at the complete lack of flavour. Every so often I think that the orientals or virginas are going to reveal themselves, but 9 times out of 10 what actually pokes through the miasma of blandness is the utterly execrable topping that not only spoils the smoke but is still identifiable in the room the next morning. Another reviewer has mentioned Iodine. After racking my brains I have realised that it reminds me of the flavour I would encounter in my school days when we were flicking ink with our fountain pens and some of it got into my mouth (yes I was a rebellious child - probably why I grew up to be a pipe smoker).
To compound the misery created by this woeful weed I have contracted a nasty case of tongue bite in my vain attempts to extract a morsel of pleasing taste, but even when I concentrate on smoking gently I still find it to be lacking in smoothness.
I have rated the room note as 'tolerable' because there isn't an option for 'mild yet persistent and nasty'.
In my search for a mild English that I can enjoy this is definitely not the answer. I think that I might give SG Skiff Mixture another try. In the parlance of my trendier friends - 'epic fail'.
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