Hearth & Home Larry's Blend

This blend is one of the smoothest Balkans I've put in a pipe. Full of flavor, rich and satisfying, it burns well and yet does not have appreciable bite. Once I tasted it in the sample I obtained, I put in an order for a larger amount to cellar. This is another Hall of Fame entry if they ever get around to creating one for tobacco blends. There are no taste collisions here, just silky smooth transitions brought about mostly by the fine Oriental tobacco used. There is an almost chocolate like presence from onset to finish. I can recommend this blend without reservation.

Meerschaum Man Smoking an Altinok Smooth Canadian

The notes on the tin description (actually a misnomer as this blend is only available in bulk) pretty well tell the tale of this tobacco. At first light, it's apparent there is more Latakia in this blend than in Ten To Midnight, and more Orientals to match. The smokey taste of the Latakia, the creaminess of the Orientals, and the sweetness of the Virginias each contribute to the complexity of this blend. It burns down to a gray ash with an average amount of relights and a few light tamps needed during the smoke.

Scores for Larry's Blend; taste- 17 of 20; packing and lighting- 8 of 10; value- 9 of 10. 34 points equals **** for this fine tobacco.

Currently, I have forty reviews here at TobaccoReviews.com (not including this one). Of those forty, I have only given the top 4-star rating to four of those tobaccos. The math is easy--that every one in ten or 10 percent. This brings me to Larry's Blend from the Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe (PipesandCigars.com) in Albany, New York (USA). Russ Ouellette's creative creation is the leader in that exclusive group of what are now five. Indeed, this blender has created one of the finest blends that I have ever smoked (and he is a gentleman to boot). This truly is, by far, needless to say, the best Balkan blend currently available. Larry Loerzel, who the blend is named after, must be honoured to no end with this weed. To say that I am impressed is not enough--cool-smoking, rich, smoky, buttery, ready to smoke, easily packed, burns to a nice ash, and the list goes on. I have been smoking Larry's blend all summer and have found it, with each purchase, to be consistent. I have tried this is small bowls, large bowls, straight pipes and bent pipes all with the same extraordinary results. It is good for morning, evening, and all day. If you like Latakia-based blends (with quality Oriental that makes it a Balkan), do yourself a favour--give yourself a treat--and get this stuff. The only downfall here is that I am not looking forward to the prospect of the next new nine tobaccos that I smoke not being in the 4-star category, but very few could match Larry's Blend in any case.

This blend from Pipes & Cigars' Hearth and Home Series is truly a masterwork.

This particular blend reminds me nothing so much as the smoothness of Penzance but with the strength of Odyssey. Salty, smoky, smooth, and deliciously wonderfull. This is a pentultimate English taken to extreme levels of perfection. Larry, whoever he might be, obviously must have some divinely inspired tastes for tobacco to have guided Russ into creating this angelic wonder.

This ranks with Odyssey, Margate, and Penzance in my opinion. It is significantly more full than 965. It is also not a clone of any of these but a unique blend. If you like latakia, then you should certainly sample this magnificent blend!

Now here ia a real Balkan using top quality smokey rich Latakia and smooth buttery orientals. Packs and lights easy and burns cool, even and slow. Rich and full flavored yet smooth as silk.

Tin note of smoky, sour and mildly tangy. Tobacco is dark brown, black and tan Ribbon cut. Moisture content is good, no drying/prep needed. Burns moderate with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and mostly consistent, with complex notes of very wood, floral, smoky, lemon zest/peel, dry, quite spicy, herbal incense, mildly sweet, spices, leather, toasted bread, rich earth, mildly buttery, acidic, musty vegetation, slightly bitter, a mild sour fermented citrusy fruit, background note, and a peppery retro. Latakia is leading with Oriental/Turkish and Virginia supporting. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

This is my favorite H&H blend very good tobacco the only problem I have with Larry's blend is the quality of the tobacco some times it seems trampled and there is a lot of powder in the tin this has happened to me on several occasions out of several tins so I can only give it 3 stars

Bought it. Tried it. Gave me a headache. Threw it in the garbage. Nuff said

This is an incredible old school tobacco. It is rich, full, and strong. It has a punch but it is enjoyable.

It is also one of the most aromatic tobaccos I have ever smoked. It is as in your face as is Paladin's Black Cherry.

They may have actually smoked the latakia over camel dung for this one. The orientals are also especially pungent.

A great tobacco for everday use. Tasty and complex yet available to be enjoyed by anyone. Highly recommended