Hearth & Home Mt. Marcy

The Tobacco Road to Damascus

I got here via a long road. Quite a few years ago I worked in a barrio smoke shop that was full-spectrum, selling many different unsavory smoking devices and sundry items. Also there was a small humidor; it was at the height of the late great cigar craze. An avenue towards tobaccos non-cigarette yawned open for me. I never looked back.

After the store's one cigar expert left, I had to teach myself. Pipes made of wood weren't at all where most of this clientele was at. But we did have some briars, and I plunged in nevertheless. We carried P Stokkebye in bulk. The few tins and drugstore blends never did it for me.

For many years hence, I carried the Stokkebye gospel; thrift, quality and reliability being major selling points. I'd taken to Latakia blends like a duck to water, even though a former co-worker compared them to cat urine. Fortunately, I like cats. With the smoke shop long gone from my life, I kept on with "Proper this" and "Luxury that" and I never did care for that Balkan of theirs.

Then, a couple years or so ago via a JR cigar catalog, I read about Syrian Latakia. It was something I seriously had to try. A good deal on a pound of Mac Baren H&H Vintage Syrian changed my smoking perceptions almost as much as my first hand-rolled cigar.

Awake and no longer content, I smoked my Syrian judiciously, as an agitated proxy war infested that nation. Selfishly, I worried about the source of my favorite winter tobacco and where it would be in the future.

Epiphanies however awaited. The first was that Mac Baren's went up in price. The second was that not very much Syrian Latakia is in Mac Baren's Vintage Syrian. A great deal of the flavor had to be coming in from somewhere else in this decidedly lighter Latakia blend- think Turkish, Orientals; stuff I knew nothing about. That was the good news.

My tobacco was out there somewhere. Last fall I absent-mindedly perused my bathroom reading material, and after having glanced at the Pipes And Cigars catalog long enough, by the advent of winter the name Hearth & Home had lodged in my brain pan. I realized that the ubiquitous Russ O had created many L blends. That was a sign. It was time that I consider his prominence and the wealth of his goods.

I surveyed the spread carefully and Mt. Marcy beckoned immediately. I bought a half pound can of it along with one of Daybreak, and while both have been great investments, Marcy's is a bit more special. She's NOT Mac B's VS, but she should be close enough to satisfy those who enjoy the VS. Both do not hit one over the head (or tongue) with Latakia, but both provide subtle complexities that are always the sine qua non of the cigar world, though rarely fulfilled. To get this so abundantly in a pipe tobacco is a rare thing as well.

I'd not call Marcy a substitute for VS; rather it stands on its own merits. VS is earthier, but Marcy has more sparkle- along with more sweetness and higher notes, not that I'm detecting topping, but it's possible that one ingredient or other might have it. Not a crime in my books- the idea of purity is for bozos. Kids like candy, but it's not just for kids. Marcy is however not anything like candy. It burns very well and finishes nicely, with little dottle left; pipers frequently laud this when I've usually found little proof in the pudding they're raving about.

I'd point out the elements that give the sparkle- a bit of pine, perhaps, camphor, maybe. Pine nuts? As a gin lover perhaps this is why I gravitate towards Latakias, and now that element is reaching a further expression, as in juniper. I frequently enjoy a Latakia blend along with gin, so I don't think that's a coincidence- maybe it's my Euro genes firing.

Mt. Marcy is as fabulous as Vintage Syrian, at first tastes. What remains to be seen is how gracefully it ages- VS has done so nicely. Also worth considering is something I've no way to judge- how consistent will the blend be on a year-by-year basis?

I only go this far to say that Marcy is a keeper I hope to be enjoying for years. Russ O's blends are new to me, but I would be forward enough so far to state that he likely knows the whole Latakia/Oriental/English/Balkan oeuvre very well. An unequivocal 4 Stars for Mt. Marcy

caveat as per early 2015: As much as I love this blend, a year or so later without it having gone dry, I have found that the remainder of the can is not nearly the flavor powerhouse it used to be. It's a shelf-life problem, but I can't say that this situation would be the same if I'd never opened the can to begin with. Similarly, the fresh can of Daybreak I opened tasted better than I ever remembered. If you tend to plow through a good blend like this because you can't put it down, you probably won't have to worry. But if you use your favorites sparingly so as to not wear them out, this could be a problem if you still have part of a can left a year after you've opened it.

Not up for typing at the moment but wanted to give this unsung gem its due. When descriptions fail I revert to comparisons, although this tobacco stands strongly on its own merits. Take Dunhill's EMP, Standard Mixture, MM 965 and a bit of London Mixture, blend, and I think you've got something like Mt. Marcy. Of the H&H offerings it's more English/Latakia than Daybreak and Sunjammer (both personal favorites) and lighter than Blackhouse and Magnum Opus (also favorites). Right at the mid-way point on Oriental to Latakia ratio. Take Early Morning and make it Late Morning. Anyway, a great all-day smoke if you, like I, enjoy lighter English offerings with both Orientals and Latakia present and a modicum of pop from the quality Virginia base.

I contribute this four star review in hopes of pulling the average for this well deserved blend in the right direction. I recieved 2oz in a sample from Pipesandcigars.com, and I have a pound in the cellar for future enjoyment now. Mt. Marcy is very high in my rotation, and finds its way into my pipe twice or more each week. Mt. Marcy has the perfect light English/Oriental balance. There is no bite, perfect moisture and burning characteristics, and a wonderfull delicate assortment of flavors to explore. It is a bargain to boot. Another bullseye from my favorite tobacconist.

I've been tagged a Venerator, as most of my reviews are 4 star. I don't bother usually unless they are either four or one. I leave the other more complex ratings to those who have more sensitivity than I.
That said, I agree that MtM is a true 4 star. Over the last ten years, I've had several iterations of it, and the new stuff is GREAT. Lights easily, even in a big bowl, and just punches through a whiff of all major components straight away.
First third is Va-Lat heavy, slightly pungent, wood-fire smoky.
Second third is more Va-Or forward, getting sweeter as it burns down
Bloom of flavor at end includes all of these both together & in sequence, never a hint of bite, smooth to the grey ash finish. Lovely stuff.

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 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!

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!