Ashton Artisan's Blend

If you hate this smoke, you probably either don't like English at all or you may need to clean your pipe thoroughly. When you smoke a pipe for over 5 times, the pipe would be gunky and cleaning tube is not enough. Using this kind of pipe you probably would hate every smoke. You may want to use facial puff dipping alcohol(no whisky or cognac please, it would be more gunkier and stinkier) to clean your pipe. Then you would realize why the smoke is so spicy and stinky. please do that after 4 or 5 bowls of smoke.

It is hard to find a replacement for the blend. It is in my daily rotation list with Penzence. But dont be misunderstanding, its character is very distinctive with P. P is more matured, but not as multilayered and vivid as Artisan. Penzance is good, but it let me fall asleep when puffing it. After I smoked Penzance, why not a bowl of Artisan? It always comes into my mind. Both Artisan and Penzance are decent smokes. It is thick but not harsh, spicy yet creamy,... full of Lat strength (maybe mid-strengh) but not going to knock you out, somehow bitter but sweet, very subtle but crispy sweet, which reminds me a hint of black java with milk and a little brown sugar not totally melted. Sometimes you even tasted the sweet. Topping? Maybe. But it is too natural to think it is topped, at least not as freaking topped as Mississippi River or Plum Pudding. Artisan is unbeatable!!! A must buy for each English blend lovers!!

Together with Westminster and Charing Cross this has become one of my favourite Anglo/Balkan tobaccos. If you like a classic full bodied English look no further. A tad stronger than Westminster, with some added Pèrique (but not as dense as the bygone Nightcap), this blend really brings back the meaning of a proper English. Strong but palatable, easy to fill and light up, Artisan's Blend lingers as a close friend. It's steady, reliable, perfect for an evening of contemplation or reading. The different leafs combine harmoniously, in perfect balance, and the Pèrique shines through from time to time without outdoing the Virginias, Turkish and Latakia. Think of an upgraded version of Squadron Leader and a very close relative to Dunhill's old London Mixture, with the added strength of the Pèrique. Wonderful!

Summary: a gentle English with some strength to it and a sweet, comfortable flavor.

Like many, I went looking for a substitute for Dunhill "Nightcap," but found instead a gentle, spicy English which is more like "My Mixture 965" thanks to the addition of Black Cavendish. The mixture consists of mostly black leaf, which would be the Perique, Cavendish, and Latakia, with a few shreds of light tan and brown and for the Virginias and Orientals. On first light, it gives off a leathery flavor rather than a campfire sensation, which suggests that these Latakia leaves were treated somehow (possibly just washing/casing) before cutting. Comprised of thin ribbon cut shreds of a perfect moisture level, "Artisan's Blend" starts out with a leathery flavor, then moves into a piquant spice from the Perique and Orientals in balance, and finally as everything caramelizes, merges into a tangy citrus-maple flavor from the Virginias and Orientals. The latter half of the bowl is pure English mixture delight, with the smoky Latakia taking a leathery background role, the Cavendish and Virginias sweetening the blend, and the Perique moderating the Orientals and Latakia into a zingy, spicy flavor. This is not as strong as "Nightcap," nor quite as zesty as "My Mixture 965," but it has become one of my favorite English blends nonetheless.

Blends with Syrian latakia are starting to extinct and this is very sad.Syrian latakia are unique and nothing can replace them.this blend contains Syrian latakia and my opinion is that it is a hidden star.once the tin breaks you instantly realize that this is a full bodied english blend with some sour and vinegar notes.the blend is dark with a small amount of bright birginias with perfect moisture smooth texture and ribbon cut.packs and lights easy with a few relights needed.while smoking from the first puffs you realize the complexity of this blend.latakias are the main player being sweet,leathery,coaly and woodsy.orientals are sharp,earthy and spicy.then the perique adds some great sour and spicy notes with some plums very rare.virginias are in the backround supporting the blend with some grass and citrus notes.the flavours combine perfect in a very balanced and natural way making a full bodied english blend.burns slow and medium hot to total ash with no moisture at the end of the bowl.the room note is tolerable to unpleasant as a proper english blend should smell.the nicotine level is medium and the aftertaste nice.not an all day smoke.the complexity of this blend can't be revealed if smoked fast so my advise is to pack it in a churchwarden pipe seat comfortable and enjoy it with a nice smoked whiskey!!

I really enjoyed the old Ashton line. I had smoked Celebrated Sovereign, Black Parrot, and Old Dog, and I remember offering four stars for each blend. The word was, they were manufactured under the McClelland brand.

I was distraught a bit to find that the old line had been eliminated and a new incarnation would be introduced. I cried foul, lamenting that a small user base is not an accurate reflection of quality.

Artisan's Blend is the first of the new I have sampled, and there are differences. The taste profile is different, somehow. I can't elaborate more on that, but it's a feeling I have, growing more with the readings I have incurred of frothy aromatics and sugary product. The blenders are distinctly different from the original inception of Ashton. But, that's not necessarily bad, right?

I have grown increasingly attached to this Syrian Latakia, and I cannot imagine a moment in which the supply may cease, other than an artificial circumstance of marketing. Artisan's Blend delivers the English, with Syrian in full. I understand that many have compared this to Nightcap, and though I do not fully associate this linkage, other than to say...if you want a strong English, with Syrian for Cyprian, this is your bet. It's wonderful, and I shall not back away from this assertion.

Atisans Blend is a real fine example of how Syrian Latakia should be used. This is a full bodied, full flavored smoke that puts this rare sweet leaf on full display. The tin note is uniquely Syrian: Smokey, sweet and incense like. Very fragrant but not as pungent as it Cyprian cousin.Slightly sour and with a hint of cocoa are also present in the tin aroma. The flavor is sweet and smokey. The Perique provides spice and sweetness in the background that really works well with the Syrian Latakia, it provides some backbone to the sweet and smokey flavors and additional depth. The Turkish/Orientals are woody and a bit sour that also harmonize with the Latakia. I would say the Orientals outshine the Virginia's with the wood and spice notes, but the Virginia's provide a grassy/hay like quality as well as additional sweetness and a toasty hint. The flavors come and go and make this complex smoke extremely enjoyable. One of the best Syrian Balkans I have found, just behind Balkan by Brebbia in my opinion.

If you're a Latakia Lover, you'll probably know this tobacco or you should at least check it out soon.

The tin note is already dominated by the peat smoke scent of the Latakia with only hints of incense from the Orientals, whereas I can't smell much of the Virginias or Perique.

The medium cut mixture makes it easy to fill your pipe. In doing so, I prefer the Frank method. After that, usually a quick charring and true light will do the job.

From the first draw, Artisan's Blend will deliver its flavorsome taste with the Latakia and the Orientals leading the way, supplemented by the slight tangy sweetness of the Virginias and the fruity acidity of the Perique. Enjoyed with leisure, it's a mellow and pleasant smoke, which burns down dryly leaving some graying ash.

The room note is also dominated by the smokiness of the Latakia.

Artisan\'s Blend is a wonderful blend. The Lat. is upfront and delicately smoky. I also get a creaminess that reminds me of buttermilk used in pancake mixes or the like. Not buttermilk straight out the the jug but used in something. The VA\'s add a sweet but not too sweet nuance that is similar to a bread like sweetness that is very complimentary to the creaminess that I assume comes from the orientals. The perique adds a little spice but really is there for the body of the blend itself. Puffed slowly these flavors will build and change ever so slightly and makes this blend complex enough that you must focus on it fully. I also would say that this blend should be smoked in a meer. to get everything there is out of it. I tried it is several briar pipes and in all of them I noticed a muting of the flavors. Additionally, while I enjoy lat. blends in large wide bowls I have found that there is enough complexity that this needs a mid bowl (still wide if possible, think Dublin shape) otherwise my palate is overwhelmed and I lose some of the complexity in a larger bowl. Finally, this blend cannot be pushed. You must smoke it slowly keeping the pipe cool. If it is pushed I get a smokey, pepper, peculator coffee that has been boiled too long flavor that does not do justice to all that this blend is.

On a side note for future tins. This tin came with shinny paper between the tobacco and the tin lid instead of the normal cardboard found in most blends. It seems to have some kind of smell, another blend I had sampled similarly used this paper and the blend took on this smell (Tin was much old, however). This did not, however, I would recommend for long term storage that the blend be removed from the tin and aged in jars, just my opinion for what it is worth.

**Update** I have just finished my first tin without the Syrian Lat. I received this tin in December of 2017, so this has 6 years on it and should be in its prime. The profile has changed as one should expect, still a very good blend the lat. is more forward now and does overpower some of the other elements a little. It is still a 4-star blend but not in my special category any longer. It's worth trying if you love lat.

** I am upping this to 5 stars, Artisan's is a true modern classic. When this is not manufactured anymore it will command $100 a tin. I really suggest buying a ton of tins and stashing them. With the supply of Syrian Latakia drying up this will become a treasured treat in a tin one day in the near future!!**

Out of the 165 reviews I have written over the past ten years, this is by far the most stinky blend I have ever had the pleasure of reviewing (in a good way). It's a mix of potent Syrian Latakia and Perique with the Virginia's giving a nice slight sweetness to the mix. I have never been married and am single at the moment, therefore I can smoke anywhere I damn please but anyone with a spouse will be kicked out of the room quickly for smoking this anywhere near them. I can just picture the green smoke curling up to a woman's nose like Pepe Le Pew the skunk in a Disney Cartoon. I think it's even heavier and fuller bodied than the velvet hammer Nightcap which is saying a lot but it's also VERY smooth and silky. A perfect before bed indulgence or a cold winter day, contemplating the world tucked away in your mancave smoke. Artisan's competes with Nightcap and Larry's Blend (with Syrian instead) as my heavy hitter English blend and is certainly worth your Dollar (or Euro etc.) and is a must try IMO. Delicious, creamy, spicy and yes...stinky. 4 stars!!