Brebbia Latakia Flake Mixture No. 9

Of MacBaren's Latakia Flake, Lancer's Slices, and Balkan Flake, this is my favorite flake with Latakia as the star. No. 9 is smoky, rich, sweet, and creamy, as some might say. It's perfectly serviceable as an all day smoke, of moderate strength and never tiring. The flakes, almost black with some brighter leaf, will fall apart as you handle them. I'll admit, I can't tell the Syrian apart from Cyprian but this claims to be composed of the rare leaf. In any event, it is an excellent smoke and a favorite.

Among Latakia Flakes Brebbia has become my favorite, though Mac Baren and McConnell also have worthy contributions. Brebbia makes a semi-regular appearance in my rotation during the colder months and I visit it often enough that it has its own dedicated Rhodesian morta. If you like to put some age on your Latakia, as in 5+ years, then I’d say that maybe Mac Baren has the greater staying power. In the meantime I enjoy the complexity and subtle nuances that Brebbia Latakia Flake provides.

Jar note of sweet wood spice like cedar, myrrh and hint of woodruff. Way in the background a suggestion of ground dark-roast coffee. When I first open a fresh tin I do get some grill scrapings, but this recedes into a muted smokiness by the end of the jar. Also when fresh I get nuances of baker’s chocolate and roasted chestnuts, but these fade with age. What remains in the jar after sampling over four months are wood spice, cola notes without the sugar, hints of beef jerky and if I had to pick just one distinctive flavor that sets this apart it would be toasted pumpernickel. What I like about it, especially when fresh, is the balance between upper, middle and foundational flavors. As it ages it settles into a more muted mid-range smoke. Whether fresh or with some age, I don’t get any of the serious negatives which bother me with so many Latakia blends; no soap upon ignition, and no campfire or creosote.

Now, I’ll probably get hate mail for this, but just so you know if our tasting chemistry is similar, I’ve never been a fan of monolithic Lat-bombs like Gaslight, Pirate’s Cake, or Spark Plug. In my cellar the choice is down to Brebbia or Mac Baren. The other Latakia flake I have cellared fairly deeply is Sillem’s Commodore Flake, but that one I enjoy with a good dark ale as an after-dinner sipper, whereas Brebbia pairs better with ruby port (my favorite being Sandeman Founder’s Reserve). Good to have so many tasty options!

I’ll try to update this review in a couple of years when I compare some 5+ years aged tins of Brebbia vs. Mac Baren!