Charles Fairmorn Lancer's Slices
(3.67)
This almost black flake tobacco combines the best grades of naturally sweet Virginia and smoky Latakia, matured together under pressure. A wonderfully smooth and mild yet full-bodied mixture. Very reminiscent of the old Bengal Slices.
Notes: The "Where to Buy" Hyperlink has changed, and the accurate Hyperlink is https://www.smokingpipes.com/tobacco/by-maker/fandk/bulk/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=39821
Details
| Brand | Charles Fairmorn |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Latakia |
| Contents | Latakia, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.67 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 41 - 50 of 90 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
For being just two components at an amazing price, this is an excellent blend for Latakia fans!
It's pretty straightforward, the Virginia is slightly tangy and grassy, with some sweetness which is rather understated. The Virginia could be a little more forward in my opinion, and that's my only critique (and easily remedied by adding some straight Virginia of your own). The real star of this blend is the Latakia, which falls somewhere between sniffing the finest leather and chewing beef jerky. There's a bit of a resinous quality to the Latakia that is not unwelcome. This Latakia is of the meaty variety, there is no incense quality to it as in say Nightcap or HH Vintage Syrian. Smokes incredibly cool with a dark brooding characteristic. Very creamy and smooth.
In the bag, it's a consistent dark brown with with occasional tan ribbons mixed in. The shaggy slices make it look a lot like a bag of beef jerky, which is amusing since smoking it reminds one of that very food product.
The closest blend I've experienced to this is Samuel Gawith Balkan Flake, which I also like quite a bit. This is better in my opinion, as the Latakia is slightly less resinous, the moisture is about perfect out of the bulk bag (unlike the Gawith which is dripping wet in the tin), and the value is unbeatable! Smokes as good as anything from a top dollar tin, at bulk prices.
Wouldn't be everyone's idea of an excellent smoke, but anybody that likes Latakia blends that are so creamy they feel like you could chew the smoke, this is about the best thing out there. I intend to stockpile large quantities of this, age should make Lancer Slices among the best Latakia smokes that have ever existed.
It's pretty straightforward, the Virginia is slightly tangy and grassy, with some sweetness which is rather understated. The Virginia could be a little more forward in my opinion, and that's my only critique (and easily remedied by adding some straight Virginia of your own). The real star of this blend is the Latakia, which falls somewhere between sniffing the finest leather and chewing beef jerky. There's a bit of a resinous quality to the Latakia that is not unwelcome. This Latakia is of the meaty variety, there is no incense quality to it as in say Nightcap or HH Vintage Syrian. Smokes incredibly cool with a dark brooding characteristic. Very creamy and smooth.
In the bag, it's a consistent dark brown with with occasional tan ribbons mixed in. The shaggy slices make it look a lot like a bag of beef jerky, which is amusing since smoking it reminds one of that very food product.
The closest blend I've experienced to this is Samuel Gawith Balkan Flake, which I also like quite a bit. This is better in my opinion, as the Latakia is slightly less resinous, the moisture is about perfect out of the bulk bag (unlike the Gawith which is dripping wet in the tin), and the value is unbeatable! Smokes as good as anything from a top dollar tin, at bulk prices.
Wouldn't be everyone's idea of an excellent smoke, but anybody that likes Latakia blends that are so creamy they feel like you could chew the smoke, this is about the best thing out there. I intend to stockpile large quantities of this, age should make Lancer Slices among the best Latakia smokes that have ever existed.
Pipe Used:
Briars and cobs
Age When Smoked:
Fresh to 3 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
The best VA/Latakia mix out there. I'm not sure what the proportion of leaf is regarding the Latakia and Virginia, but the blend is not compromised at all by the lack of Orientals.
I find that some other similar mixes, including Commonwealth and Balkan Flake sometimes smoke flat without the Orientals, but I don't get that here. The flake, which is almost black in color and comes in a rubbed out, almost splintered state, is flavorful and hearty enough that I feel satisfied after a medium sized bowl.
You can get a ton of this at a good price. Great stuff.
I find that some other similar mixes, including Commonwealth and Balkan Flake sometimes smoke flat without the Orientals, but I don't get that here. The flake, which is almost black in color and comes in a rubbed out, almost splintered state, is flavorful and hearty enough that I feel satisfied after a medium sized bowl.
You can get a ton of this at a good price. Great stuff.
Pipe Used:
Parker Dublin
Age When Smoked:
5 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
With all the great and not-so-great English, Balkan, Crossover, and Oriental Blends out there, (I've deliberately not mentioned Aromatics), it's great to smoke a straight-forward mix of nice smooth Virginias and deep, smoky Latakia occasionally. Very satifying, just the thing for slightly cooler evenings--even in Florida! As one reviewer mentioned, very similar in makeup to SG Balkan Flake, with no Oriental component other than Latakia--I think slightly smoother with no "Lakeland" overtones. Just a well crafted, nicely presented broken flake, I like to use this one to break in pipes which will be used for Latakia blends. Don't expect the complexities of say, White Knight, but just kick back and enjoy!
Pipe Used:
various
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
2 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 20, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
I'm utterly impressed with this simple, yet very high quality, blend. The taste is phenomenal, and LS burns extremely well with minimal relights. I just purchased a 500g factory-sealed bag (foil or mylar) and it arrived at a perfect level of humidification; no drying required. LS provides a HIGH volume of rich, creamy smoke. The smoke will fill a room. It comes as a broken flake and I prefer to smoke it intact as much as possible. Personally, I believe that rubbing it out changes the flavor profile a bit. If you enjoy latakia-forward tobaccos, I highly recommend sampling this tobacco. It's availability can be hit or miss at times. My favorite tobacco is Germain's Special Latakia Flake, but F&K Lancer's Slices may have just knocked Germain's down to second place. ENJOY!
Pipe Used:
JM Boswell Jumbo, MM Mark Twain
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
<1 yr
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
In the tin, I got a burst of lemon, almost like lemon blossoms. Then some smoky spiciness and a hint of fruitiness. The Perique also brings some peppery flavours. Lastly, some notes of leather, mouldy and roasted coffee beans.
Taste: Latakia much more to the fore at the beginning, but balances out smoothly as you progress through the bowl. The Virginia adds a little bit of sweetness. Those lemony aromas are also evident in the taste. Further down the bowl, the leathery notes comes through with the roasted coffee beans also noticeable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FcHsvVBSQk
Taste: Latakia much more to the fore at the beginning, but balances out smoothly as you progress through the bowl. The Virginia adds a little bit of sweetness. Those lemony aromas are also evident in the taste. Further down the bowl, the leathery notes comes through with the roasted coffee beans also noticeable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FcHsvVBSQk
Pipe Used:
Bari
Age When Smoked:
5 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
Holy smokes, I finally got around to smoking this stuff and it was fantastic! What a nice heavy, smokey, leathery meal of a smoke! Packed nicely, I used a partial twist method for packing, sort of a stuff and twist. Lights well, stays lit nicely. The room note is wonderful for those who appreciate pipe smoke.
My cigar smoking comrades in the smoke shop even commented how delicious it smelled!
My cigar smoking comrades in the smoke shop even commented how delicious it smelled!
Pipe Used:
Meerschaum Bent Billiard
PurchasedFrom:
Gift
Age When Smoked:
Roughly a year old
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 31, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
What a wonderful pipe tobacco. The Virginias used in this mixture release a fantastic molasses,Canadian rye wiskey, fermented hay taste and aroma. Mix in the top of the line smokey taste and aroma from the Latakia used. I have not smoked anything like it. It also rubs out very easy. Packs like a dream, and takes well to a match. Smokes nice and creamy and burns down to a fine gray ash. I would even recommend this to none smokers lol. Simple sometimes is better. Peace.
Pipe Used:
Peterson deer hunter
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins
Age When Smoked:
?
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 11, 2014 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
My experience was somewhere between taking a walk in a forest on a wet Autumn afternoon and having a Tom Yum soup in South-East Asia 🙂
I wouldn't give a strong opinion on the appearance of the tobacco as this was my first bulk tobacco purchase. The leaves are nice but it's not totally consistent. It was easy to load my pipe nevertheless. The tobacco was a bit too humid fresh out of the pouch. It required some re-lights, but burned to a fine white/grey ash anyway.
The smell in the package is rich, woodsy, leathery, smoky with a touch of paprika and maybe ginger and garlic as well.
It is not overly complex on the palate but it does have a nice and consistent taste throughout the bowl. It has a smoky, wet-woodsy taste with citrusy sour-bitterness. Burning wet Autumn leaves and twigs, fresh earth, cypress tree. In the SE-Asian bitter-sour department: lemongrass, lemon leaves, Galangal root. Also some Kalamata olive, at times even dill. The taste is rich and pleasant most of the time, but every once in a while it's a bit too intense - like biting into Galangal root. The smoke does deliver some infrequent nutty notes as well. I even noticed cocoa to my surprise. Throughout the bowl 3-4 times I felt that the taste became muddy for only one sip but then it returned to that savoury smokey-soury taste.
Nicotine-wise it has a nice punch but it's not overwhelming.
I really enjoyed smoking this tobacco. It has an excellent price/value ratio. My only cause for sadness is that Lancer's Slices is a tobacco not available in Hungary 🙂
I wouldn't give a strong opinion on the appearance of the tobacco as this was my first bulk tobacco purchase. The leaves are nice but it's not totally consistent. It was easy to load my pipe nevertheless. The tobacco was a bit too humid fresh out of the pouch. It required some re-lights, but burned to a fine white/grey ash anyway.
The smell in the package is rich, woodsy, leathery, smoky with a touch of paprika and maybe ginger and garlic as well.
It is not overly complex on the palate but it does have a nice and consistent taste throughout the bowl. It has a smoky, wet-woodsy taste with citrusy sour-bitterness. Burning wet Autumn leaves and twigs, fresh earth, cypress tree. In the SE-Asian bitter-sour department: lemongrass, lemon leaves, Galangal root. Also some Kalamata olive, at times even dill. The taste is rich and pleasant most of the time, but every once in a while it's a bit too intense - like biting into Galangal root. The smoke does deliver some infrequent nutty notes as well. I even noticed cocoa to my surprise. Throughout the bowl 3-4 times I felt that the taste became muddy for only one sip but then it returned to that savoury smokey-soury taste.
Nicotine-wise it has a nice punch but it's not overwhelming.
I really enjoyed smoking this tobacco. It has an excellent price/value ratio. My only cause for sadness is that Lancer's Slices is a tobacco not available in Hungary 🙂
Pipe Used:
Mersch
PurchasedFrom:
4noggings.com
Age When Smoked:
freshly bought
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 19, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Relentless, powerful steamroller of a tobacco. Not for the timid. Huge smoky aroma and flavor. At home, recovering from hip surgery, this arrived when i was out. So I ordered another pound. Will try mixing in a bit of oriental & some with a pinch of Perique. This'll make my weekly rotation of a couple dozen Lat forward blends.
Pipe Used:
Cob
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 02, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
This is a desert island blend.
Simple, elegant, rich, creamy and almost decadent. A wonderful, high quality blend for an almost scandalous price.
Its just high quality Latakia mixed with high quality VA's. The lat is fairly dominant, but the VA makes itself known with a sweet and earthy pop that gets richer the longer the bowl goes.
The smoke billows enormously, in a dense cloud, and it gets warmer, sweeter and richer as the bowl goes on.
Ships at a perfect moisture level, packs and lights easily, among the simplest but also finest English blends out there.
Simple, elegant, rich, creamy and almost decadent. A wonderful, high quality blend for an almost scandalous price.
Its just high quality Latakia mixed with high quality VA's. The lat is fairly dominant, but the VA makes itself known with a sweet and earthy pop that gets richer the longer the bowl goes.
The smoke billows enormously, in a dense cloud, and it gets warmer, sweeter and richer as the bowl goes on.
Ships at a perfect moisture level, packs and lights easily, among the simplest but also finest English blends out there.
Pipe Used:
WDC bent apple
PurchasedFrom:
4Noggins
Age When Smoked:
2 years
target="_blank"
