Smokers' Haven 20th Anniversary Mixture

My all time favorite blend is Smokers' Haven "Our Best Blend"; this is similar in cut to OBB. It appears there are more lighter-colored strands present and it also has the additional aroma and flavor of what I think is an Ale topping. I find this blend is similar to Esoterica's "And So To Bed" which has in its mixture some Maryland along with the Virginias, Turkish and Latakia. All of Smokers' Haven and Esoterica's blends are manufactured by the estimable J.F. Germain & Son Company so there should be quite a similarity. The tin aroma is that of an English - Aromatic and the Latakia smells more Syrian than Cyprian. The Ale topping is more predominate in "20th Anniversary Mixture" than the Cognac is in Smokers' Haven "Cognac" mixture. The flavor at the start seems to be dominated by the Ale but half way down the bowl this fades and the other flavors of the mixture start to take over. The strength builds nicely and by the end of the bowl it seems quite potent, both in flavor and in Nicotine.

It's the heat of August and I'm about half-way through my open (8oz) tins of Smokers' Haven Cognac and 20th Anniversary Mixture. Something about the heat of the summer makes these two fine blends taste wonderful, the slightly aromatic qualities and aroma of each blend along with the slight sweetness in my newer Altinok Meers just seems to hit the spot for me. I'll upgrade my rating and will count on these two blends as my summer mixtures. 9 out of 10 stars.

Pure and wonderful, 20th Anniversary is a natural tobacco with no additives and does present an ever so slight Lakeland effect with the Virginia leaf. Spicy Orientals and Latakia are major players as the palate is offered a sweet lullaby as the blend is smoked. I have recently been revisiting the Smoker's Haven blends and this is one of my favorites in the impressive lineup.

I try not to review a blend until I have had time to get to know it in several different pipes over a period of time. Unfortunately I was only gifted a couple of bowls of this wonderful blend. Based on that, it's safe to say that this another high quality blend by Smokers Haven/Germain. A medium English blend with a light casing that I believe to be some type of spirit. Lightly sweet and smokey and just flat out delicious. It's a shame that Smoker's Haven blends have been unavailable for the past several years. I will be keeping an eye out for the rare tin. Highly Recommend.

This blend surprises me in that I do not understand why more people have not reviewed it. Cool and easy burning it delivers balanced flavor where the Virginia and Turkish leaf combine to produce a sweet musky taste that is present throughout the smoking experience. Predominately darker in appearance it serves notice of pleasures to come. The Syrian leaf serves to resonate the complexity of the other superior ingredients. There is very little trash so one is smoking high leaf content - a mark of the blender's craftsmanship. Tangy with soft references to campfire and leather, it should be smoked indoors for best effect. This blend could easily become an all day smoke for those so inclined. It is full of flavor without being overpowering. Whether to call it an English or Balkan is difficult as it captures the best essence of both. Smoker's Haven dates the tins which informed me that my tins already had a couple of years in the can. I believe this would be even better if it was a coarse cut and pressed. I feel that this blend would be most receptive to some cigar leaf mixed in. I recommend this fine blend with no reservations.

Meerschaum Man Smoking an Altinok Smooth Canadian

One of the first blends I tried that was not cased in something sweet. I suppose you could call it my first 'grown up' blend. Delicious and flavorful! I often use mints or gum after I have a pipe, but this pipe leaves me with the mouthfeel of a nice smokey Islay Scotch that I enjoy for a long while after I've finished. Kudos to the shop and the blender! Very enjoyable and one that I've given out to many aspiring pipe enthusiasts!

I'm not an English expert by a long shot, but I am guessing this has (some) Syrian Latakia in it from the very strong and smokey pouch aroma and the slightly wine like taste. There is also some kind of flavoring (anise) added but it is very subtle. Or it could be a byproduct of the unique processing.

It is not as full in the Latakia department as Margate and not as complex, but it is a wonderful smoke. This is the kind of English mixture which blends all the elements into a cohesive whole and there is not much interplay of the various elements. Like a lot of Germain products, this has a certain unique taste which simply transports me to a rocky, windswept coast somewhere far away, much like a good single malt.

This is another fine offering from smokers have. I love the smell of latakia in the tin. It also has some sweetness. The tobacco burns well and is absolutely maintenance free. The blend is also quite flavorful and has a delightful balance of Turkish and latakia. The VA tobaccos are somewhat sweet but more of an herby taste, and the latakia is leathery and smoky. What else could you ask for. Well other than the fact that it is always on back order (for good reason).