Hearth & Home Mt. Marcy

bought 4oz. in bulk to try . Really liked it in my briar pipes, not too heavy, just right when you want a taste of a balkan. if you want more, try blackhouse. it is excellent as well.

I would disagree with previous reviewers that it is a Balkan, though marketed as such, Rather, it seems to be an Oriental. But, as such it is a fine one. The Oriental component is very much prominent. Hard to detect any Latakia. As Oriental blends go, it certainly is in my rotation. For those looking for an Oriental blend, would recommend it highly. Earl

Hoo-wee, latakia...!

So far I have bought a couple tins of Louisiana Red, having eventually found it to be quite to my liking, in fact it's what I usually smoke during the day at work. Unfortunately, although I don't consider Louisiana Red to be excessively spicy, evidently my body does, as lately it seems to be giving me an occasional touch of heartburn. So off I went in search of something a bit more mild but still plenty flavorful and I wanted to stick with Russ since I liked his LR so much. Mt. Marcy is what I picked, based on the tin description.

From the fresh tin I found Mt. Marcy to be a latakia powerhouse. To be fair I'm going to rate this blend as I found it, rather than what I expected of it. And three stars even is what I'm going to give it at this point...I think "medium bodied" is a bit of an understatement, but it IS a pretty good blend. I'm reminded quite a bit of Ten Russians.

Bonus -- I mixed Mt. Marcy in about a 30:70 ratio to Louisiana Red and came out with something rich, tasty and satisfying. Right on.

The remainder of this tin, about an ounce or so, got cellared so I will continue to check back over the next several months and update later if needed.

UPDATE 4 SEPT: To each their own. My comparison of Mt. Marcy to Captain Earle's Ten Russians seemed fair and appropriate to me. The mention of Louisiana Red was intended as purely anecdotal. After being sealed in a jar for just shy of two months, I can report that the latakiitis has subsided (to it's typical condimental regimen) allowing the dubec to really come to the front...this created a minty-tingly mouthfeel that I enjoyed. Occasionally I found the virginia, way in back -- I would've liked it to have been more available. Still a good blend, but still not quite an orgasmic experience for me. Such is life.

I found this amongst the mason jars and it had been neglected/hibernating towards the back of the shelf the other day. It's been sitting for about half a year and hot damn- I'm impressed.

An excellent balkan blend without the tongue-rape! The dubec climbs aboard the latakia for a swinging good time on the VA train.

Highly recommended.

Images invoked include a sworn enemy, parched and weaponless, crawling through the desert and being suddenly stomped by the heel of my boot. The sweet anguish!

It is indeed an elegant blend, especially when you consider the value. In the flavor category, though labeled medium bodied, it goes about as far as I would want to push the envelope, according to my own tastes. For me it comes across as quite hearty, too much so for an all day smoke (that would call for the much milder McClelland 2030), but an excellent choice for relaxing in the evening hours. A premium smoke for balkan lovers. I would agree with others that have found it works best in larger bowls.

Mount Marcy may be the highest peak in New York State, but when I am looking metaphorically for a tobacco I am seeking a Mount Everest. Over the past several months, I have given 'Mt. Marcy' every chance to reach a summit. I have only found mole hills in this offering from Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe (PipesandCigars.com). Aside from the stinging harshness, 'Mt. Marcy' in smoking is anything but interesting. With that said, it is obviously made from quality leaf. It packs and burns well. The stuff is also cut well, smells wonderful in unsmoked form, and is a nice multi-coloured blend. It is a very light Balkan with a soft kick of nicotine. Unfortunately, it only gives me AMS (acute mountain sickness) not due to its rising summit but its veritable depth of ditch. Still, I am giving this two stars rather than one as some, admittedly, would rather dig trenches than ascend pinnacles. Moreover, I certainly can understand the appeal that this tobacco might have. And, frankly, I have smoked worse.

Mt. Marcy is a true medium bodied balkan that is super smooth with loads of flavor. The use of Dubec (Basma), gives this the aroma of balkans from days long gone. Packs and lights easy, burns even and clean. To be completely honest that's all that really needs to be said. Load your pipe up and enjoy!