Smokers' Haven Krumble Kake

I have recently been enjoying an old stock tin of Krumble Kake from Smoker's Haven (this batch was produced by Germain & Son). It is a very nice smoke.

This Krumble Kake looks exactly like Penzance in the tin, and of course, both almost melt in your hands as they are crumble cakes rather than flakes. There is quite a difference in taste, however. While Penzance is more of an Oriental blend with a little Latakia in it, Krumble Kake is Latakia heavy and your palate will get a good belt of the stuff.

Like Penzance, Krumble Kake is pure tobacco with no added flavoring or casing. It will make its Latakia presence known from start to finish.

If you are a "krumble kake" fan and prefer English style blends with no extras, you might want to give this one a try.

I smoked a ton of this tobacco in the late 1960's and 1970's as I worked in downtown Columbus and always got my tobacco from the old Smoker's Haven. Last year I ordered a half-pound from the new store in hopes that it would still be as tasty. I must confess that my taste buds cannot remember what the old blend was like, but as near as I can recall this is very close. This one gets a three star rating for taste (smoked on it's own), it might deserve more consideration for it's blending characteristics. I have found that I can take just about any 2 star English blend and turn it into a 3 star with the addition of from 20% to 50% this blend. It really enriches, deepens, and smoothes out even the worst of blends. I do believe it contains the hard to find Syrian Latakia, so the SH supply may be small.

IMO, the only thing it has in common with Penzance is that they are both great tobaccos and have lots of Latika.

As to room note, beware. Back in the 70's, when we were allowed to smoke in offices, the women in the office banded together and offered to buy all of my tobacco if I would switch blends.

Nice dark black oily crumble cake, that basically disintegrated in my hands, so loading was the 3-step method. Lots of latakia in this one but not so much as to make the smoke "dusty" for the first half-bowl. Latakia is not only a spicy, smoky tobacco - it's also somewhat sweet, and the sweetness really stepped forward. Excellent tasting... in the first half-bowl.

Oddly enough, this one turned ashen and cloudy from about the halfway point through the end, getting worse as I progressed. That phenomenon never failed. I'd get a wonderful first half with typical latakia-blend goodness only to get a mouthful of ashy taste in the 2nd half. I haven't smoked Penzance in awhile so I can't make too many comparisons, but I did not get this from Penzance. The only other tobacco to do this to me regularly is SWR. However, I don't see this problem among the other reviewers so, as usual, it's probably me rather than the tobacco at fault.

Undaunted, I smoked the last of this one in a parfait with a few other blends as an experiment. It performed best as the top half of a Krumble Kake/GLP Meridian parfait. The oily sweetness of the KK merged nicely with the impeccable balance of the Meridian and the smoke was memorable (although Meridian needs no help!). I'm splitting the difference on my recommendation between the top half (4) and the bottom half (1) and awarding this 3 stars. The extra half-star is due to the graciousness of Premal Chedda (my spelling is undoubtedly wrong) who was kind enough to send me a free tin with a pipe purchase. No way do I reward that kindness with a grade less than 3!

The smoky, woody, rather sweet Cyprian latakia also sports a very light incense-like taste that seems slightly more obvious by the half way point. Some dry, wine-like woody Syrian is also present, though it is hard to determine how much is here. Either way, latakia is the star component. The woody, dry, buttery, creamy sweet and mildly spicy, floral, sour Turkish sits in the strong support position. The grassy, citrus sweet Virginia is just a little more than a background player. The nic-hit is closer to mild than it is to medium. Won’t bite or get harsh. Has no dull spots, but the the last third of the experience is not as complex or as pleasing as the earlier part of the smoke. The krumble kake literally falls apart in your fingers as you prepare it. Burns at a moderate pace with an inconsistent flavor as previously noted, though it does have a richness all the way through. Needs an average number of relights, and leaves just a little moisture in the bowl. The after taste is a little bitter and unattractive. Not an all day smoke.

-JimInks

I have to agree with Philo Beddoe's review below. The folks at Smokers' Haven on High stated this is just a cake form of their Our Best Blend. I have never tried a cake blend before, always considering myself to be too lazy to rub out the tobacco. However, since they've been out of OBB (and Exotique Mixture) since forever, I decided to give this a try.

This really didn't remind me much of OBB but I found it to be a very enjoyable smoking experience. If anything, it's a darker side to OBB. It has somewhat of a creamy component like OBB but not the "buttery" quality that both OBB and Exotique mixture have. Even though on the smokier side, it is probably one of the most smooth and refined moderately heavy Balkan blends I've smoked to date. Moderately heavy meaning stronger than Balkan Sasieni but not as strong as Butera's Vintage Latakia No. 1 or Bill Bailey's BB. There's also no aftertaste or that overwhelming affect some heavier Balkan or English blends can give. Recommended.

I've had this tin in my cellar for awhile now and initially was hesitant after I heard it compared to an Esoterica blend that I've decided not to waste anymore time trying to find the wonderful experience others write about. This is an excellent mottled flake that burns evenly, doesn't leave a large amount of residue in the bowl and delivers a quality smoke from start to finish. True, it is for Latikia smokers, but it is the almost coffee like overtones of the Turkish that drive this blend's experience. If you are careful, it can be smoked in the slice. The Virginia adds a silky sweetness to an otherwise buttery smooth delivery. Rich and satisfying, it provides me with a cool burning blend of robust yet refined character. The art of the blender's task has been realized in this sublime flake.

Meerschaum Man Smoking a CAO Bacchus

Many have stated that this is just Penzance with another label, but I don't think so. My review will give you some reasons to consider.

Appearance: Ahh, crumble cake in a small tin a la' Penzance, but not as dark and oily. Same krubly slices that fall apart as you grab them.

Tin Aroma: Mana!

Packing: easy, except that this literally crumbles as you grab the slices. I found it good to pack your pipe over a sheet of wax paper so you can save what ever doesn't make it from tin to pipe. I found a light sprinkle in the pipe and a slight tamp before lighting works best.

Lighting: If packed as above, normal 3-4 lights total.

Initial Flavor: Delicious, but a little sweeter than Penzance.

Mid-Bowl: We are as close to tobacco heaven as you can get folks. The three types of leaves are playing a beautiful fugue for your senses.

End of Bowl: It is over too quick, ash is grey and fine, but you do feel satiated as the flavor is definitely on the full English/Balkan side.

Overall: another winner from JF Germain. It seems to fall between Penzance and Special Latakia Flake on the fullness scale. Cons: Room note is a killer to those who don't like latakia, and this leaves its odor on everything around it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 points, a true Reformer, Tulip, and Calvinist blend, Enjoy...

Sorry, but though made by Germain, this is NOT the same as Penzance. It totally lacks the layers of complexity and refinement. It's not as briny and earthy. It also crumbles dryer and lacks the oilyness of the real article. Something happened from the time it got from Jersey Island to Columbus, Ohio. (Perhaps red states will do that to you). I sampled this at the recent Chicago P & T, and was very disappointed, especially after hearing all the hype about it. I was also upset by the people running the booth. They didn't want to talk to anyone and they weren't very friendly. I know pipe smokers can be a rather introspective lot, but these gents were downright cantankerous. If I want the very best full English mottled flake, I'll stick with Penzance.

One of five stars

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update 2007 - I apologize for my last KK review, though several things may have happened here: Penzance is not currently in production, Old Ironsides became less appealing, Pirate Kake is too hot and oily or KK just plain got better. Whatever the case, this is really excellent and I will be purchasing some the next time I order a tin of the excellent Exotique from Smoker?s Haven. Unfortunately, they were out of virtually everything I wanted at the Chicago Pipe Show 2007. They brought samples, but had nothing for sale. A strange aspect of the show this year was an excellent, boutique variety of the world?s finest pipes by some impressive artists, but an absolute dearth of fine tobaccos. I?ve indicated in a previous review that I?m done with Russian roulette guessing games from C & D. MacBaren doesn?t do anything for me. McClelland had nothing to offer this year in addition to its ?charming? owner being even more irascible, drunk and obnoxious than usual. Perhaps KK is not so great as the fact that so many other things got worse and my patience for incivility wears thin. Whatever the case, I will be ordering a small tin of this Germainy blend with its own distinct personality. If it remains consistent, I will be purchasing a bulk pack if and when I attend the Columbus Pipe Show in late August.

Three and a half to four of five stars

This was the very first pipe tobacco I smoked and it came as a free sample with a high end briar I bought from the gents at Smokers Haven. Not knowing what to expect I popped the tin and was really puzzled by the appearance...later I found out about cake. Krumble is perfect to describe my efforts to get this in my new pipe... now I'm getting kinda mad wondering if this whole pipe thing was worth it. Finally getting my pipe career underway I was pleasantly surprised with a mellow, full bodied, musky smoke that was entirely satisfying. That was the good news...the 'ol ball and chain took one wiff of this stuff and threatened legal action.Now I'm off to investigate lighter fare...God help me.

Peterson bent brandy.

I received a generous portion of this tobacco at the 2004 NASPC show courtesy of the Smokers' Haven team. (Glad I only live 90 minutes away!)

If you're not sure what Latakia smells like, have a whiff. Latakia has rented the whole Tobacco Hotel and invited its friends Turkish and Virginia to stay in the Honeymoon Suite. This is a whopper of a blend: full-on English goodness with a hint of Balkan influence. Krumble Kake is huge -- HUGE, I SAY!

The folks at J.F. Germain have squeezed the life INTO this stuff. Could they shoehorn any more depth into Krumble Kake? No.

Krumble Kake comes moist, so it's probably best to take what you need for the bowl in hand and let that portion dry out. I've smoked it wet (for laughs), and it doesn't bite or smoke too hot; however, the experience isn't as memorable as when it's just right

Sure, you get loads of Latakia in Krumble Kake. Luckily, it's of extremely high quality. No doubt about that. Same goes for the Turkish and Virginia leaf that manage to stand out in this Latakia Lovefest. Could a blend like this still offer some notes beyond the musty, earthy, leathery, and spicy Latakia? It sure can! Welcome to the top of the second third of the bowl, where the Latakia takes a breather and hands off the baton to the VAs and Orientals. Yes, the rest of the bowl is more than happy to send your tastebuds into a tailspin of swirling flavors. Sure, the Latakia is always there; however, the fact that the other components can hold their ground is nothing less than a testament to the good taste displayed by Smokers' Haven and the processing and preparing prowess of J.F. Germain.

Krumble Kake is magnificent. Give it a smoke!!