Peter Stokkebye Proper English (No.52)

As the weather drops down here it's time to break out the Latakia and Oriental blends a bit more often. I have puffed on Proper English here and there throughout the summer but plan on hitting it in earnest now. I find P.E. smokes like a p.e. should with a rich woody taste that brings open campfires, old books, and fine leather boots to mind. That is until about midway through the bowl. Like a switch flipped off, P.E. loses its flavor to the ash. Maybe I just need to spend time and figure out how this blend needs to be smoked. I love Stokkebye tobaccos and say this is worth the price I paid for it. Not the best "English" blend I've ever came across, but it's all about the hunt, no?

Well, this started out quite nice and tasty, but about halfway down the bowl it simply turned ashy and smokey, even though I had plenty of tobacco left. Not entirely sure if it was merely technique, but that's never happened before. On the plus side, it light up perfectly with one match and never once needed a relight.

SIMPLY AMAZING!

Packs good, Smokes great

So far this is my favorite tobacco due to its taste(during and after) and how wonderfull it consistantly smokes.

Not harsh, hot, or wet

Best of all is the amazing price for bulk.

Proper English is a good solid English blend. Nice taste. Nice aroma. It's not going to put Pease out of business or be confused with something like Artisan's Blend.

But it's probably as good or better than most of the other offerings on the market.

It's exceptionally smokable and highly enjoyable. For the price it's a great staple for anyone's rotation.

If it was a steak it would be a sirloin not a filet. But a sirloin done the right way is a damned good steak.

I'd suggest everyone with a taste for English blends try PE. You might fall in love and save yourself a great deal of money in the process.

By the way a not to the prior reviewer. Stokkebye does indeed make a Balkan. Aptly named Balkan Supreme. Very well received. Try it you'll like it.

I got an interesting flavor profile off of this one. On my first light I could swear I tasted something like burley, and then as the bowl progressed I got into the more Lat flavorings and spice. A hint of sweetness that was either the Orientals or the VA's, but for the most part the Latakia is the Diva and the show-stealer. It takes center stage quickly and only lets the others have a few words in edgewise until it takes it back again. If this is a lat bomb, sign me up, because I'm enjoying this thank you very much.

This is some powerful stuff. 'Proper English' may be somewhat of a misnomer. This is not a particularly sophisticated blend of tobacco though it is well balanced and not one dimensional at all. In fact it is rather uncouth, 'countrified' if you will. But it is very very good. High powered sour mash as compared to a single malt Scotch. Hearty, not delicate.

I didn't notice anyone else mention this but I tasted a tanginess when smoking this that I don't usually find in an English blend. Some cellaring may take that out of it. I put up half of what I got in a Mason jar and kept the rest out for smoking now. When I've smoked all of what I have out I'll see if what's in the jar has smoothed out some. I expect it will have. If it doesn't I won't complain. This is a very tasty, and very full blend of tobaccos that I can easily live with just as it is.

It's easy to pack, easy to light and keep lit, doesn't produce a gurgle or goop in the pipe. It will bite if smoked to forcibly, and it is not what I'd consider an 'inside' smoke.

Probably because of the Virginias, the tanginess fades into a gentle sweetness as the smoke progresses. And I thought the bottom of the bowl tastes better than the top. In fact, it is almost like having two blends in the pipe; a harsher, bull-headed, blend at the top that becomes more easy going as it is smoked.

I'd rate this tobacco high at any price, but at the price it sells for it's an unbeatable value.

Although with this blends make-up, maybe a more proper comparison would be to SG Squadron Leader, but with it's heavy latakia content, I find Proper English to be similar to Commonwealh Mixture. Neither are very complex, but between the two, PE has a bit more depth (assuming it's due to the oriental). I love both blends, and although Sam Gawith brands are relatively inexpensive, PE is an exeptional bargain!

Comparisons aside, Proper English can definately stand on its own as outstanding English blend. A new staple in my rotation, and plenty more will be added to my cellar!

This blend is definitely one that could be an every day smoke. I had a little trouble keeping it lit, but perseverance yielded one of my most relaxing smokes of the month. The latakia is not overpowering, but its presence is not lacking. I do think that this is the first blend of oriental tobacco that I have tried. I recommend this tobacco for those looking for a proper English blend for pleasure and not a nicotine fix.

Also mixes very interestingly with R C cola.

I like this tobacco. It has a good amount of latakia and orientals in it. Nice smoky-ness to the smoke, this is also my first experience with orientals, and I love them. This is the 2nd english blend I tried and it made me fall in love with them all over again, as my first blend did. Like english tobaccos? Give this a shot! Stokkebye's strongest, and best, latakia blend.