J. F. Germain & Son Germain's Special Latakia Flake

Sample bag. Had some white spots on it. So I’m not sure the age but I’ll say it has time on it. Smells like musty leathery Latakia. Not over powering though. Some wood, earth, and sweetness. Prepared and packed flawlessly.

I am taken back at how smooth and mellow this is while still being so flavorful. It’s not overpowering. Herbal, musty, smokey, Latakia is there in plenty but it’s very easy and mild. There’s a rich buttery quality from the orientals. Woody, nutty, earthy, umami. There’s a bit of sweetness to this too that ties it all together. Even when pushed it stays cool and doesn’t get harsh. Retrohale is fantastic, that Virginia sweetness and herbal smokey woody Latakia, woody nutty, orientals, it all comes though. It’s smooth, silky, and easy to smoke, more so than most English blends I’ve had. No harshness or bad aftertaste. Smokes to ash, a little moisture but it’s cold out today, obviously no bite. Very well done. Well deserved 4 stars.

I got the bulk version of this tobacco, which is the only way to get this blend in the UK. The unlit aroma is very peculiar, there is some of the typical English blend aromas (i.e. smoky, leather, incense-like) but with the addition of something fermented and pungent. Think about pouring a bit of whiskey in your hands, rubbing them, and then wait a few seconds to the alcohol to evaporate, and then take your hands to your nose. The taste is also very peculiar, think about the typical English blend, but without the leather, incense-like, and floral properties. What I detect is the sweet virginia. and also the earthy, slightly sour parts that, I suppose, are the input of both the oriental and the latakia. I can only detect some smokiness at the end of the bowl. Like Samuel Gawith´s blends, it´s extremely moist while new. The flakes are sliced very thinly, which helps the overall combustion of the blend once is rubbed apart. As many reviewers have noticed, this blend is very special. If you have the chance, buy some, or as much as you can.

Though not a fanboy of Latakia blends in general, this tobacco has absolutely garnered my adoration. The flakes are bright golden yellow with beautiful thick black streaks of Latakia. The flakes are stuck together so I had a hard time separating them. I gently rubbed a flake out and after a little drying time I packed it in my Peterson dublin.

The aged bright Virginias take the drivers seat and add a rich creamy profile with a delicious sweetness. The Latakia is very well balanced and provides an extra dimension of flavor that compliments the Virginias perfectly. Though there is said to be Orientals in this mixture, I cannot detect them in any obvious way. But they may add a dimension of flavor that I have not yet identified.

All in all, this may be my favorite Latakia blend ever. It is far superior to Germain's most sought after Latakia blend, Esoterica's Penzance. I highly recommend this blend to those pipe smokers who prefer Virginia dominance in a blend, as I do.

A fellow pipe smoker kindly gave me a tin of this lovely mixture. This tobacco in my view is a fine representation of Latakia used skillfully. Just enough to provide that smokiness without being overpowering. This is a woodsy medium bodied blend that comes in a nice flake that allows the smoker to better control its burning characteristics. Unlike penzance, which simply crumbles too fine in my view, I like to roll this flake into a ball and plug it into the upper half of my bowl. Highly recommended and underrated! I wish it was easier to find.

Latakia Bomb. That pretty much sums it up. Perhaps a little one dimensional, but superb latakia taste laid on a basic virginia core. Smoky, hearty. Good stinky delicious tobacco.

YEOWZA.....I have only one word for Germain's Special Latakia Flake........Delicious......absolutely the best smoke I've ever had. Predominately high quality Virginia, with the perfect marriage of Latakia. I could smoke this flake....exclusively. Heady, tasty, no bite.

I have not much to add to most of the glowing reviews here under, except that in this flake, the Latakia is more or less all in a lump somewhere in that flake, so not evenly distributed. This would be no real problem except that the slices themselves are almost impossible to seperate! But don't let this deter you in smoking this high-quality English style tobacco, real creamy and with a real Latakia flavour that is not overwhelming.

What a solid Enlish mixture! First, I love the small tin. I wish all tinned baccys would come like this one so I could carry around a lot more through the day. Inside, a nice looking flake covered with crystalized sugar and a perfect moist level. I feel really confortable with Germain's "shaggy flake", so loading the bowl is a breeze. After that, it's all pleasure from top to bottom. It's a symphony: you can focus on latakia, virginias, or orientals, or you can let them come together. That is up to your mind: the great music is there for you to enjoy. It burns so well that it hardly needs tamping, so there's no distractions either.

This baccy has entered my Top 5 list of six tobaccos (I know, I either need to rule one out or make it a Top 6 list).

Latakia, Latakia, Latakia! The name says it all. This tobacco, is one of the finest Engilsh/Latakia blends around. It has all a Latakia lover could ask for. Flavor, coolness, flake cut, and of course Latakia! I must admit, I like Old Ironsides just a bit more, but not by much. Should the supply of Old Ironsides dry up, I would be very content with Germain's Special Latakia Flake. One word of note, this is a very moist Flake cut, and is very hard to keep lit. If you take the amount of tobacco your pipe will hold, and allow it to dry out just a bit, you'll have far less problems keeping lit, and you still won't run into tounge bite. Don't let it dry out to much though, or the bite will get you. Try this tobacco, for a "Special" Treat.