Peter Stokkebye Proper English (No.52)

IMHO this is a good English. Not a great English, mind you--but a good one. Perhaps it's because my batch has been aging for a year or so, but I am finding its components very well balanced so that they each can be picked out and yet end up complementing each other.

If you are a lover of the English/Oriental/Balkan family of pipe tobacco, I would recommend picking some up, if you haven't already. Especially when one considers the price, this is worth having on hand.

Summary: spicy middle-of-the-road English blend that aims to meld flavors into a gentle, peppery smoke.

English blends are the sweet-and-sour sauce of the pipe world. The Orientals give it a tang, the Latakia adds a vinegar spice, and then the Virginias sweeten the mix. "Proper English" starts out with a blast of Latakia, not so much because of the high amount of the leaf but how much it stands out relative to these milder varieties. Then in comes the sour and slightly fruity Orientals, with the Virginia hovering in the background as an almond-sweet, autumnal flavor. As the bowl burns down, the Virginias caramelize and the Latakia takes a step backward, merging the flavors into something like a smoky molasses or honey barbecue sauce style taste. At this point, the blend reveals its real comfort, which is that if breath-smoked slowly, it emits a comforting flavor that is not too sweet but maintains a tinge of the vinegar and pepper that like a good sauce, maintains internal contrast despite being a recognizable single flavor. Like most Danish tobaccos, this blend aims for being a comfort rather than a taste fireball, and so for someone looking for a decent, uncomplicated English blend, "Proper English" fits the bill. If you are looking for one of those English blends that crackles with its own contradictions, rages inside like a Nietzschean protagonist, and maintains an intricate sword dance of flavors inside a burly exterior, this may be a bit tame, but for an everyday smoke that emphasizes comfort over drama this blend could well end up being a favorite.

I bought about eight ounces of Proper English back in 2009 and found it to be a reliable, but not an overly interesting blend which ended up in a Mason jar. Upon revisiting PE, it has grown softer with time. The Latakia, which was never used in large quantities in this blend, has softened and the Virginias have moderately sweetened. The biggest change is that the Latakia and the Orientals have really melded together, making them less distinguishable from each other and IMHO greatly improves the blend. Now, like in the past, it is cool burning and offers a nice aftertaste. PE is still straightforward and uncomplicated, and words like solid, sturdy and reliable come to mind rather than exciting, complex or unique. Sometimes solid is a good thing.

Stokkebye's Proper English presents as thin ribbon with an array of brown shades from light to nearly black. Plenty of Latakia in the tin note with some tangy Virginias and a touch of Cavendish. I realize the description doesn't mention Cavendish, but I found its presence obvious in the tin note and charring light. The sweeter notes burn off very quickly, however, and Orientals assert as the stars of this show with the Virginias muted and the Latakia experience dry rather than musty. The burley works well with the Oriental, adding some wood and parchment notes.

Interestingly, I found this blend in the first third of the bowl to be more Oriental forward than English Oriental Supreme, the latter having a sweet note similar, though lighter than, English Luxury. The Virginia asserts a bit by mid bowl to add just a touch of dampness and lighten up the blend. The Latakia is present in no small amount, but this by no means a "Lat bomb". The final third of the bowl brings the usual English mustiness - mushroomy damp tempered by the burley and Oriental. The overall experience is pleasant and a solid argument for a lower proportion of Virginia tobaccos in an English blend. To my taste the burley is a positive, by no means a "filler", and reminiscent of classic American English blends.

Overall a solid English and a great value, but competing in too crowded a field to earn four stars. You couldn't go wrong here on a budget or as an introduction to English blends. While not one for my favorites list, I could smoke this as an all day English without complaint. Another excellent Stokkebye blend.

This is an excellent English blend. Took about 2 ounces before I truly got to know this mixture. I have tried several high dollar tinned and bulk English blends and this one tops them all. This is a smooth full bodied smoke that never fails to bring me to that euphoric state.

Edit* 12/1/16 I have to knock off a star, not because it's bad or anything but because I'm much more experienced now and I've tried a lot of better English blends. This is however, a perfect starting point for those just starting out or looking for a well balanced English blend for a really good price.

Why do Northern Europeans, who are great cigar smokers, so fear Latakia?

(And why do Italians, who invented pastry, love it?? Latakia, I mean.)

"The most Latakia" that a Danish blender profers is not, dear friends, much Latakia at all. The use of the condimental Turkish stuff is pretty timid too. The result is an amiable, by-the-numbers English that might seem like the Big Bad Wolf out on the Tivoli gardens, but can only cause Nightcap aficionados to smile.

Love it! An amazing English blend. Really nicely balanced; smokey, salty and sour with a wonderful scent. I found Dunhill Nightcap to be too Latakia heavy—this is perfect for me.

Update 2020: I have aged this for two years now and it has only improved with age. Goes brilliantly with black tea, coffee or a glass of port. My favourite blend to date.

Okay, first I need to get this off my chest. If this is the most Latakia in their blends I do not want to try the least. Whew, feel better. It is a nice 'proper' English blend with an affordable price. I have had this for two years and probably smoked more today than the previous two years. I started out with a small billiard but that did not seem to cut it and then went to a large bowl pipe where for whatever reason it tasted better and produced a lot more smoke. It is good but I enjoy my coffee strong and guess for the most part like stronger, spicier, tobaccos in the English department. It has quite a few 4 stars but I just don't seem to be drawn to it personally. To each his own I say.

When I tried Nightcap for the first time, I was intrigued. A few pipes later, that intrigue grew into a fondness that made it clear that English blends would play big part in my daily rotational tobacco selection. When I tried Stokkebye Proper English, it became just as readily apparent that I would need way more than just one English in that rotation. This blend is among my favorites and I was a little surprised to see it garner only a 3.1 average. This tobacco burns smooth and cool with no bite. It is a bit moist however and leaves my bowl damp. The flavour is rich and varied like any proper English should be- Campfire, leather, spicy, sweet, meaty, and smooth. The room note is pretty much exactly how Ron Burgundy describes his apartment as smelling. A must try for English fans that will always be readily found on my tobacco shelf.