Hearth & Home Larry's Blend

I smoke English/Balkan blends exclusively. I don't like straight Virginia's and or Cavendish very much, I much prefer Latakia and Oriental and therefore; I enjoy this blend immensely.

The pouch smell is absolutely awesome, I can't get enough of it. I find that Larry's blend packs easily, but takes a few matches to get going. I don't dry it out, I just stick my pipe in my pouch and scoop away and pack, scoop away and pack. I find that once I get it burning good, I don't have to relight.

This blend is very smooth, cool and easy to smoke, but it isn't bland. I enjoy reading and or writing while I'm smoking and this blend is very suitable for that purpose. With the pipe in my mouth, I can puff away without worry of the smoke being too overbearing or irritating. It has a wonderful aroma and in my opinion a really good after taste. The Virgina note is far in the background on both during smoking and on the finish and aftertaste, which is what I like. The tobacco's used seem to me to be of a very good quality. So far I've been very satisfied with Hearth and Home Tobacco's.

My regular rotation, along with Larry's Blend, includes; Penzance, Abingdon, Odyseey and Westminster.

I purchased a sampler from pipesandcigar dot com along with a pipe a few weeks back, including ten to midnight and Larry?s blend. I bought these two specifically because of the rave reviews on this site. I tried ten to midnight first because the description of Larry?s blend was that Larry wanted something a bit stronger. Ten to midnight impressed the hell out of me. Larry?s blend is bit stronger; a bit more bottom heavy with the Latakia, an incredible smoke. Comparisons to Dunhill?s 965 as Murrays made it are an unfair comparison, Larry?s blend is superior, richer, more interesting, better leaf and better blend IMHO. I continue to be impressed with Russ O?s skill as a blender of tobacco.

This is my first review here at tobaccoreviews.com. I'd like to thank everyone involved here for a great site that has been of enormous help in my tobacco buying decisions.

I've selected Larry's Blend as my first attempt at reviewing because with scarcely more than 20 reviews archived, this seems to a blend that more smokers need to try.

Larry's Blend is a rich, smokey, buttery, smooth, complex blend with great flavor. This is one world class Balkan. Russ Ouellette has created a real monster here.

At less than $30 U.S. per pound, this is also a great value, considering the quality of the blend.

Larry's Blend rivals Penzance as my favorite late night smoke.

5 Stars out of 4.

Larry’s Blend is exactly what it says it is. It’s a more full bodied version of Ten to Midnight... Red Virginia instead of yellow Virginia, a larger dose of Latakia, a heavy dose of buttery Smyrna added to the brighter Orientals, etc etc etc.

A visual inspection reveals mostly black and dark brown ribbon cut with some yellows. The moisture level is fluffy dry, not crispy, just right for smoking. The pouch note is predominantly smoky Latakia with rich buttery Smyrna.

Upon first light the flavor is very bold and very much like the pouch note, smoky Latakia and rich buttery Smyrna. The Virginia is over powered and pretty much in the background.

For me the Smyrna and Latakia, albeit very good quality and flavor, are too heavy handed in Larry’s Blend. The flavor is so bold and rich that by the time I finish a 45 minute bowl I become weary of it.

I know that there are a lot of pipe smokers who enjoy a bold and full flavored Balkan-style blend like Larry’s Blend. However, I would suggest purchasing just an ounce or ounce and a half at first. If you discover, as I did, that it’s just too much then give Ten to Midnight a try.

In conclusion, I feel that Larry's blend lacks balance. The tobaccos seem to compete rather than enhance each other. For the lack of balance, I can only give Larry’s Blend a two star rating.

I could never be accused of being a hardcore English/Balkan lover, but like a good cigar, I enjoy keeping a few tasty blends around for when the mood and weather is right. Even when I do reach for one, I typically go for one with plenty of sweet perique, maybe a good amount of burley, and just a smattering of latakia for spice. Larry's Blend is the one exception to that rule of personal preference. When I want full-bodied, full on Balkan without dilution, it's Larry's blend every time.

This stuff is a powerhouse...if it's not a so-called Lat-bomb, it's close enough for government work. This you can tell immediately upon opening, seeing all that beautiful black tobacco while you struggle to regain your breath and sense of smell. If I had one complaint it would be the high amount of shake/dust present, but I found that more of a problem in bulk rather than tinned. And it hasn't created smokability issues, so no big deal, really. Full woodsy latakia flavor, with phenomenal sweet high notes from the Orientals woven throughout. Due to the high quantities of the above, I don't so much get the Virginia, but when you want Balkan you want oriental and latakia. So there you go.

I don't have much to add on taste descriptors that wouldn't be self-implied from the nature of this blend. But it's of excellent quality and masterfully done. Highly recommended. My go-to Balkan and permanent member of my shelf and cellar.

I like a good English. In this case Larry knows what he's doing. This is a good strong English or Balkan or whatever. In any case the Latakia shines. Larry loves Latakia. And so do I. It's a real man's smoke. For English lovers. I give it a 4.

Magnificent.

I like English/latakia-based blends, and this is really good. The latakia is there and a beautiful base, but this is not a one-note blend. It has a good body, yet is not overwhelming, and I love the spice. So far, this is my favorite Russ blend. (Black House and Magnum O tried and a tin of White Knight awaiting its turn.)

I call this an all-day long blend. Your mileage may vary. I don't have an official favorite blend, but this is a staple of my tobacco collection.

Cool burning, buttery and smooth - Yes! Excellent spice delivery, with floral notes on the retrohale. Pleasant smoked spiciness lingers on the palate post smoke. 4*.

I have been smoking Ten to Midnight, which has come to be more of an oriental blend to me because that's what stood out of all the components. Larry's blend is an adjustment to that blend which I like much better. There is a sweetness to go with the smoky latakia which I really enjoy. This is a top notch balkan blend in my book, and is now a nightly smoke for me when I get home. Highly recomended