J. F. Germain & Son Eighteen Twenty

I was lucky enough to get hold of some over a year ago and I have held off reviewing as there doesn't seem much point when something is virtually impossible to buy. In terms of hype very little will ever match what is hyped up though that being said 1820 is very, very good. The balance of the components is more subdued than you may expect and epitomise 'less is more' in regards to the Latakia especially. For a once in a while bowl to keep your palate in check I do recommend getting some if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity.

My favorite mid-morning smoke. I'm fortunate to be able to compare a tin from 2008 (now 13 years old) against a more recent production (~2018). In either case, this has got to be one of the smoothest English blends I've ever smoked. Perhaps not as creamy on the palate as Davidoff Royalty, but a smoothness from any lack of harsh notes on the palate, back of throat or retrohale.

From the newer tin I get a greater sense of the Latakia (though never coarse), flavors of raw (untoasted) sunflower seed, cashew, and even something akin to butter bean. There is also a faint dusting of baking spices that together with the nutty flavors reminds me of the layers of nutty paste used to make Baklava.

In the older tin the Latakia is way in the background and in its place there is a definite whiff of flora like one smells on old Sherry barrels. For me that is a positive and interesting nuance that gives this a unique character. The flavors have now become less individually vivid, and at first seem comparatively one-dimensional. But as I enjoy the deliciousness I'm reminded of an ice cream parlor where most people will opt for more decadent flavors like Wild Blueberry Swirl, or such, while vanilla is overlooked. But, in my opinion, vanilla done right, like good old-fashioned homestyle, can be a real treat as it melts slowly in the mouth. Just to be clear, there is no vanilla in this, I'm just saying you don't need a lot of bold flavors to make something delicious.

Pack this one fairly tight, maybe even in a tall and narrow bowl to get the most out of it. This is not a 'wow' blend, especially as it mellows with age, but it invites slow and thoughtful contemplation, and works wonders as the perfect de-stressor!

Another winner from Germain! Not quite up to the wonders of their King Charles Smoking Mixture (for a similar blend on paper) but great none the less – I can’t down grade a tobacco just because the same producer makes something else I like a little more.

Germain only do subtle – if that is not your bag then don’t stop here. If on the other hand you value quality and flavour over blatant, obvious, strong tastes then you will be hard-pressed to find any finer. Different enough from King Charles to warrant its existence, this is more about the gentle, fragrant Orientals within the cradle of rounded, sweet and bright Virginias. There is just a touch of a darker taste every now and then and a constant creamy smokiness very much in the background which rounds the mixture off perfectly.

Germain ribbon cut Virginia blends consistently smoke best, coolest and most flavourful when packed fairly firmly in a smallish bowl – give them too much room and the experience can be a mite hot and ordinary but treated right, they have little competition.

According to a trustworthy source, this tobacco is of the same composition as Penzance, but with less additives, so it is the closest match you will be able to get in the UK market. These flakes are easy to crumble, and filling your bowl is like a walk in the park due to their sandy appearance or composition. This is a medium blend with about the same body as Special Latakia Flake. It is quite easy to smoke despite its complexities with woodsy and creamy undertones. It is less spicy than the aforementioned and the virginia leaf backdrop it evolves against seems to show up here and there as you progress with your smoke. The moist content seems to be rather high, but I do not recommend drying them out as they seem to smoke perfectly fine. As for the smoking experience, I am not quite sure this would be the closest match to Penzance ever, but it is quite good in its own right. Highly recommended.

A very pleasant surprise. Smelt sublime in the tin on opening and tasted the same way. This blend is right up there with Skiff Mixture. Will certainly be ordering some more for the cellar.

I have smoked a lot of English blends and I like many of them. I don't expect the Earth to move when I try one that I have not smoked before. 1820 is not new, but I had not tried it before. I'm familiar with Germain tobaccos so I knew this would be a quality blend. When I opened the tin I found the aroma musty and unappealing unlike Royal Jersy that has the familiar English blend aroma that I love. 1820 was nicely cut in ribbons, but wet and in need of some drying out. Once lit the flavor was very nice. It tasted of Orientals, Latakia, and Virginia tobaccos. The blend was smooth without any harshness. From beginning to end I completely enjoyed the flavor. My pipe ended and I wanted more so I took another pipe, another Castello, and filled it up. Again the 1820 was delightful. This is not a Latakia powerhouse, but a smooth medium strength English that can be enjoyed from morning till the last pipe of the day. I enjoy Three Oaks Syrian very much and place 1820 on an even footing with it. If you don't like 1820 you don't like traditional English blends. Five stars out of Five.

Refined with character, for those who enjoy English blends tilted toward Latakia and Oriental tobaccos, but still want a notable Virginia presence in that order. One of the world's great English blends in my estimation.

I recently added some lightly sweetened black Cavendish to 1820 and had the immediate impression of smoking Dunhill MM 965 in its better days, before Murray lost control of the quality.

1820 was a pleasant surprise for me. The tin aroma suggested LATAKIA!!!! In reality, the Latakis was prominent but did not dominate the other components. This loaded easily, took the match readily, and burned cleanly with only the modicum of attention. The flavor seemed to catch Latakia here, then some Virginia, then some Oriental. Smoked smmoth and cool. Left a pale gray ash and a dry pipe. If variety during a days smoking is whet you are looking for, look no further. While possibly too intense for the beginner or the aromatic lover, the English/Balkan lover might fond this a great addition to the tobaco rotation. Very Highly Recommended.

OATMEAL!!! This is one of the finest English mixtures on the market. It tastes like oatmeal.The latakia is present as a supporting element in this blend. It is really the orientals that take center stage here. A very nutty and naturally sweet blend.I smoke mostly very interesting English blends that tend to be heavy on the Latakia.This one joins the ranks but on the milder side.A very smooth,cool,and naturally sweet smoke with no tongue bite. A very similar blend is Wilke's Pipemaker's Choice.If the appeal of sweet vitginias and orientals appeal to you try this.