Hearth & Home Admiralty

Sometimes in life, surprising things can happen. One such thing just happened in my test run with Hearth and Home Admiralty. I needed a "lighter" English tobacco in micro blending and decided to open this tin for that purpose. I read our reviews and examined the contents statement and popped it open. What I found was a surprisingly darkish blend that ranged in color from medium ruddy brown to brown to almost black and it didn't translate immediately into a "light English" appearance. At first I thought it was tinned by McClelland, based just on the appearance, but it was actually a Cornell and Diehl tinning for Hearth and Home. The tin aroma was, likewise, some what strange for a light English. It had only a feint Latakia component, but, was more insistent in the oriental and Virginia departments. Now confused, I decided to light up this, some what, dry blend that was immediately ready to go. Smoking this bowl was more a tipping of the hat to it's tin aroma, rather than it's tin appearance. Admiralty is a very light English smoke and I couldn't tease much taste or aroma out of the top third. In the middle third it grew a little backbone from the orientals and Virginias playing together with the Latakia still a very distant third. In the bottom third it settled into a weaker version of the middle and that was that. I am in complete agreement with the entire review of Knightsmoker 2013-07-30, so, give it a read. Just as I was contemplating a two star review (it isn't offensive or anything), I put it into my current medium English formula to see what it would do. The effect it had was so startling that, at first, I simply couldn't understand what was happening. How could such a tepid and timid English blend have such a wonderful effect? The answer is: What the heavier English I was using lacked (it was Lane BS-005), the lighter English had in spades. The Admiralty lacked Latakia back bone and found it, abundantly, in the BS-005. The marriage was a good one and the offspring is a three star rating.

Halloween just happened and when I found myself awake around 2:30 AM, I remembered I'd planned on opening the half pound can of this which recently arrived.

I smoked this while reading a book of short stories, and it evolved considerably as I smoked- much to my delight. A flavor cornucopia, to say the least. Complexity in spades. Very much like Mt. Marcy. While this is a latakia blend, the latakia never overwhelms but is always there. The can says there are a few types of Latakia in the blend; we might hope for Syrian being one of them. Are there different varieties of Cyprian? Russ might answer these questions if asked; I don't know anyone else who might know for sure, as Russ created the blend.

This does burn quickly so a larger bowl is not a bad choice, and mine arrived dry unlike some of the earlier reviewers.

I went through so many flavor modes it was nearly disturbing. I've had another bowl just now while having a lime drink, and it seems that the lime has kept some of the flavors from coming through. I know I will find the full flavor again while I smoke again, this time with water as I did initially.

But how long will I get that? So much has been said and written about the effect of aging on tobacco. Virginias age well, but Latakias don't. What we have here is a blend of BOTH. Time was not kind to my can of Mt. Marcy, and I'd enjoyed it so much I decided not to smoke it often, so I could savor the magic at more special times.

I found that to be a mistake. The flavor of the Marcy went flat after some months, and I don't think it was my palette. While I love Admiralty, I urge those who try it to fully indulge in it right off- the subtleties might not last. I think Russ O. should take note of this.

This is another blend of Russ's that's prompted me to stash pounds of in my cellar. Yes, it does have the presence of older Dunhill blends, but provides what I believe to be a smoother smoking experience. Is it stellar? I think not, which is not to say that it is somehow lacking. I do think changing the cut to one more coarse, could turn the Oriental's contribution up a bit. It seems to me that the blender's hand was prone to balance rather than provision of a stage for some dynamic leaf to perform on. Make no mistake, this is certainly a complex blend - not from overpopulation of elements but from harmony as is demonstrated in a number of enduring English blends. I wonder what pressing would do here? There is no problem for me to recommend this blend to others.

Meerschaum Man Smoking a Gezer Flying Dragon

I managed to get a few tins of this, rather than the bulk. I found the bulk good, and when tins were offered I snatched a few up. The tinned version is much much better. I do hope they'll tin more, because otherwise I can't say I'll get more. Bulk-3 star, tinned, nearly 4 star.

Appearance: Well variegated array of colors in a ribbin cut. Ribbons are varied length, neither too long nor too short. Aroma: Definitely an English blend. Virginia based with fair amounts of Oriental and Latakia (Cyprian)

Packing: Packs easily into any size bowl.

Lighting: When aired out a bit, lights easily for me. Otherwise, just a little slow to get going. Since I like my tobacco drier than some, it may be just right for others.

Initial flavor: Just as described, this is similar to an older Dunhill blend, namely the original Early Morning Pipe . Not a ?mild? blend by any means, there is considerable depth of flavor contributed by the condimental leaf.

Mid-bowl: Nice interplay between the Virginia sweetness and the slightly smoky and spicy additions. Good balance between the elements, nothing dominates. Finish: Like many bulk tobaccos, there seems to be some PG present. As a result, I have to relight several times at the bottom. Otherwise, the flavor holds well all the way down.

Summary: A very pleasant English blend, possibly an all-day smoker for many.