Peter Stokkebye English Oriental Supreme (No.306)

Some English tobaccos are simply Latakia dumps. Some are produced with only the gentle palate in mind. English Oriental Supreme is none of the above. When you open the bag, the tobacco smells smoky and looks like any other English on the market. It is Cavendish cut and there are many different colors to enjoy. Because of the cut, I'd recommend the 3 stage packing style. That is, the first little bit is placed and packed softly in the bottom of the bowl as though a child were doing it. The second stage consists of a little more tobacco being placed and packed in the bowl with a little more force as though a woman were doing it. The final stage is where the bowl is filled as though a man were packing it. The final pack should be harder than the first two. Anyway, the packing is nice and the stuff takes to a light very well. I do confess, however, that I do occasionally have to tamp and re-light the tobacco. But when it's going there is no stopping it. The first thing to note is that the tobacco tastes of wood and not smoke like most Latakia based blends. I think that this is due to the mixture of Virginia and Cavendish tobaccos. The taste is unique within this genre. Don't get me wrong, there is a fair amount of smoky goodness in this stuff, but that taste only adds to the "wood" feel of the weed. This taste does not change much all the way down the bowl. Now, if you forget yourself and puff too vigorously, there will be the slightest of tongue-bite. When you slow back down, you can get back to business. The burn is cool and the room aroma is like a fireplace. Note that I said a fireplace and not a camp fire. A camp fire would imply more smokiness than found here. The wife hates this stuff as much as any other English, but any real pipe smoker will appreciate the unique aroma this one puts out for an English. The ash is evrything you've come to expect from a fine tobacco. The pipe is left clean and dry. I don't know how Peter Stokkebye does it, but even with all of the Burleys and Virginias, the Nicotine level seems pretty tame. And, a full pipe of this stuff can last up to an hour. If you have never smoked an English tobacco before, start here. And, if you are used to stout English blends, stop here for something unique in the genre. I will definitely purchase this again. All of this at a great price! Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!!

I initially got this because I couldn't get a hold of some other superlative Oriental I had fallen in love with. First couple of bowls and I was like, hey - this is good! Couple of more bowls and I had built some familiarity...so much so that when I got my order of the Oriental I was waiting on, I found that the Stokkebye's was actually the better smoke!! I'm a little spoiled on this now. There's a couple of other reviews on this tobacco that say that they judge all other Orientals by the Stokkebye's and I'm going to have to concur. This really is an Oriental to use as a springboard to gauge all other Oriental blends! Truly, this is a classic. Classic.

Summary: a new take on the ancient discipline of the English blend.

People are divided over Burley in Englishes and especially Balkans, the variety of Englishes with a higher proportion of Oriental leaf. In "English Oriental," the Burley broadens the flavor and gives it a bit more fullness, raising the contrast between the other ingredients. While the Virginias form the basis of this flavor, a light and sweet cheerful taste, the fusion of Cavendish with Orientals translates the flavor of Latakia from dominance of the blend into a background influence, so that a smoky molasses flavor emerges and takes the edge off the Virginia sweetness, ending up with an overall taste to the blend that is a lot like hazelnut. The Burley winks from behind with its nutty, grainy warmth, and this allows the Orientals to dominate without dominating as their isolated flavor. Light in nicotine, and with a gentle but powerful flavor, this blend makes an easy introduction to Englishes and a comforting, all-day smoke, but it must be smoked slowly to avoid some sizzle from the Virginias.

First of all I must say this is one of my favorite tobacco. The taste is so complex I have not experienced anything like this in case of any other English blends.

No bite, not harsh, no nicotine kick, but deep, creamy, complex taste.

Highly recommended for English blend lovers.

Oriental-forward on the tin note with a backdrop of musty Latakia, Stokkebye's English Oriental Supreme is a Burley-buffered Balkan with muted Virginias. Presentation is dark to light brown ribbon and on the dry side, which I find both typical and optimal for Oriental and Balkan blends.

There's a touch of unflavored Cavendish sweetness on the charring light and each of the constituent tobaccos competes for dominance until the blend settles down. This seems like a more Oriental-forward rendition of English Luxury with significantly less Cavendish and a pinch more Latakia.

The Stokkebye Orientals start off spicy with some wood and salted nut tones. By mid-bowl the Orientals flatten out a bit, offering more straightforward pepper and parchment flavors. For most of the smoke, the Latakia is earthy and musty without the damper mushroom flavors of a more Cavendish-heavy Latakia blend. By the final quarter of the bowl, however, the blend turns more dank, earthy and moist with the crisper Oriental further in the background and a mossy Latakia capturing the most notice.

The dampness on the finish is all relative, however, and English Oriental Supreme smokes down to ash without excessive moisture left in the bowl. While not dry by Oriental standards, this certainly isn't a wet or goopy blend.

Overall, I would classify this as the Oriental-forward version of several Stokkebye blends featuring Latakia and Oriental tobacco: as certainly good as it is certainly not great. For smokers on a budget, the value here is hard to beat. Nothing to complain about here - a solid blend - though vying for attention in a highly competitive field of world class offerings. That said, an inexpensive and excellent introduction to this genre of pipe tobacco.

My overall impression is that English Oriental Supreme, fancy name aside, is a meat-and-potatoes tobacco. Just like Mama's pot roast, it doesn't challenge the palate, and it could be described as one- dimensional. However, that one dimension has a name, and it is spelled G-O-O-D. At the end of a hectic day, I'm not up for a challenge. I want pot roast that I can cut with a fork, and a tobacco that smokes easy and tastes good. When my wife learns how to cook like my mom, I'll have both. Until then, I'll settle for tobacco like English Oriental Supreme. It'll be part of my regular rotation.

While this baccy does not smoke hot or bite and leaves no bad taste or odor in the pipe or mouth, I can't find any redeeming quality that makes it desirable or a stand out. It packs OK and lights OK, but the smoking is extremely one dimensional, becomes quite harsh toward the end of the bowl, and lacks any real flavor that makes it likable. Also has a humectant added that makes it impossible to dry out to any appreciable degree. Will not become a staple in my lineup and will not be reordered. Also, would not recommend for newbies.

I admit, I'm a fan of oriental tobaccos with Latakia, but this tobacco thrilled! I found it fine and Virginia and Burley and of course - great Cyprus Latakia. Although is a mild tobacco comparing them with my favorites (MM 965 or Presbyterian Mixture) has in this Tobacco something that I really like, and that is the smell of tanned skin as aftertaste. Recommended for any time of day, contemplative, best for the evening with a good book, one word - superb tobacco! Indeed, Peter Stokkebye again proved itself as the best Danish blender. For each referral!

This is a light English blend with excellent smoking characteristics. The flavor is light, even approaching bland with a slight preponderance of the orientals and little latakia contribution.

This may sound somewhat negative, but in fact I find this to be a very pleasant all day smoke. The blend burns very well, dry and cool with good smoke volume.