Ashton Consummate Gentleman

Tin note of tart fruit like wine and slightly smoky note. Tobacco ribbon cut is brown, light brown and a small amount black. Tobacco is moist, drying may improve performance, but no drying or prep is needed. Burns average with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and consistent, with notes smoky, citrus, wood, a little nutty, slight stewed fruit and a spicy retro. Virginia is leading with Burley supporting. Maryland and Latakia are providing back up. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

OK, I'm not going to wax on about the Virginia or the Burley or any of that, because I smoke what I like and I like what I smoke, and that's as far as it goes. I tried this for the first time last night because I couldn't get hold of my regular brand which is Davidoff Brasil (yellow). Consummate Gentleman is a fairly neutral to strong tobacco which is great, and I was a bit disappointed at first because it didn't hit me at the first draw. However, a few minutes into the smoke, it gained maturity and flavour, and I ended up really enjoying it. I normally leave the last quarter of the bowl, but I smoked this one right down to the wood. There is a touch of Latakia, enough to excite the taste buds, but not so much that it paralyses the tongue. It's definitely more rewarding than Borkum Riff, and I felt truly satisfied at the end of the smoke. So much so that I ended up pouring myself a Grant's to accompany it for the last few minutes! Would I change over and leave off the Davidoff? Probably not, but I'll definitely add it to my collection to smoke every now and again when I fancy something a bit simpler and more straightforward than Cavendish.

Though ive heard many complaints about this being too light. I think this might make for the perfect early day smoke. It has a light smoky quality, perfect to start the day with, then is amped up with a creaminess, and a delightful room note. Towards the end of the bowl, the latakia become a lot more present, leaving an above satisfactory experience. A solid 3.5 Stars. Perfect for someone looking for a lighter bodied English blend, that still gives a decent tobacco kick.

When I first had a whiff from a sampler bottle, question arose to whether this was truly an aromatic or not: with an aroma of cream and caramel, I had my doubts, but was reassured from the clerk and the internet, it was not.

What is is, however, is sweet. On the tongue, cinnamon is also present, alongside the notes of the aroma, and blend beautifully with a dry woodiness of sweet oak - contrary to most other blends containing Latakia, but it was a pleasant surprise. Reminiscent of Sørensen Mixture, but smokes like pure tobacco, leaving nothing but dry, white ash in the bowl. Quite enjoyable, and probably underappreciated, this makes for a truly fine smoke.

My first introduction to Latakia was a generous sample of Becks ol' Limey Bastard from 4noggins. The smell was uninviting but thinking 'Do people actually smoke this crap?' I had to try it. The taste, although too strong in Latakia, wasn't too bad. Mixing it 50/50 with Windsail Virginia it was much better for a newbie.

Which leads me to Consummate Gentleman; once my above concoction was finished, I missed that one bowl of this pungent smelling weed every night so I ordered a tin of CG. I'm glad that I did.

This is a very good introduction to Latakia for newbie pipe smokers & for the experienced who want an English blend with a not too heavy dose of Latakia.

My 50g tin did not last long. It's a shame that it can't be bought in bulk. A nicely balanced English blend. While the Latakia is obvious in every puff it does not dominate. Does not bite.

Just a touch over mild to medium in strength with mild to medium nicotine. Recommended. 3 stars.

Finally received this tobacco I was eager to get it since I saw it first online.

Cold smell is warm and mellow, sweet but of natural tobaccos. Plenty of dark brown Burley leaf inside here. Moisture level was perfect so I packed it right away.

Taste is very Burley dominant which gives a warm chocolate like body taste. The VA is also adding some sweetness. On top of this there are some spices but subtle and just a little smoky Latakia taste only noticed when smoked nasal. No big ups and downs and Al the component tastes stay until the end.

Mellow english blend that fits great with a cup of coffee or tea. Could be a lot more spicy for my taste. The wife likes the room note a lot which also is an indicator for having just a pinch of Lata inside.

So Ashton is responsible for Artisan Blend, a fantastic and deeply flavored English (if i may be so bold) so I appreciate K&KS blending prowess with this branding.

Consummate G perhaps gets less attention as it's not as ...prevalent in flavor depths shall I say. They removed all traces of the Turk & Perique and markedly reduced the Lat component. In doing so this blend still manages to pull off maintaining an English flavor profile.

After all, English blends are not Latakia dependent. .. despite what we Yanks might believe 🙂

Had I smoked this 40 - 50 blends in the past I would have surely demonstrated a naivety by expressing CG as being muted in flavor - where all components are so evenly matched in competing flavors so as to have little flavor at all.

Having no defining personality, if you will.

Not the case in the here & now though; as it's soft, gentle on the palate, and it alternates in a was between the flow of a light Vabur and an English. A very good morning smoke, not to strong in the Vitamin N realm, never hot or bitter - often sweet and smooth.

So in this case it would be Early Morning Pipes more flavorful alternative (such as Artisan Blend is to Nightcap). I only refrain from four stars because I am not a light-english fan. I smoked this for the purpose of educating my own palate -since Ashton had shown me much with Artisan Blend... that same experience I did receive from this blend.

If your considering exploring English's but don't know where to start this would be a perfect jumping off point. Vabur philes too might enjoy this blend.

Very pleasant English blend, not too heavy on the Lat. easy packing, lighting, and doesn't require babysitting. I could smoke this all day. My favorite Ashton to date.

this is my first 50g tin of this pipe tobacco..and i like it alot easy to light and very easy to smoke, a sort of tobacco to relax with, quite sweet, and nothing harsh about it, very nice room note.im going to try somemore of ASHTON pipe tobaccos...very nice indeed.