Hearth & Home Strikeforce

Along with a recent order to pipeandcigars.com, I added a purchase of an ounce of Strikeforce. I really enjoy Russ Ouellette’s Stogie blend and seeing that Strikeforce has some added cigar leaf, I was immediately interested. Many of Russ’ blends arrive very dry which is something that I like about his blends. But there is such thing as being too dry. Sadly, this review is only based on about 4 bowls as the rest of the pouch arrived as dust. This is an issue that occurs sometimes with the outstanding “Larry’s Blend” too. There are visible larger pieces of the cigar leaf that remain intact. Strikeforce is a big, bold, meaty blend that produces a lot of cool smoke. It is the type of blend that I think of after a big steak dinner. The problem for me with Strikeforce is that it lacks balance. In fairness to the blend, it could be just because of the “bottom of the bag “ounce that I received. The intact pieces of cigar leaf would appear from time to time and literally take over the blend. I not only like cigars, but I love them, but not in the way it is being used here. The other issue with Strikeforce that I have only applies to the fact that I prefer to cellar blends when possible and, IMO, blends that are this dry, won’t see any real benefit from aging. I can’t emphasize enough that one ounce doesn’t always make for a fair commentary, and when this blend hit the strike zone, it was quite good. But if this is representative of the way this blend normally arrives, it wouldn’t make a second appearance in my mailbox.

UPDATE: Shortly after this review, I opened a tin of Strikeforce, and the momentary flashes of greatness I had with the bulk version, turned into one long extend pipe full of pleasure. This was balanced, it didn't have the large pieces of cigar leaf that were a problem in my bulk purchase and rather than the cigar leaf taking over, it served to add a wonderful creamy texture to the blend. In my tinned version, all of the tobaccos came together wonderfully and this deserves a worthy upgrade to four stars!

The cigar leaf is very apparent in Strikeforce. It made for a taste that was rather strong and maybe just a tad harsh. I've tried just about every cigar blend I could get my hands on over the years and this one is as advertised.

Pipestud

This is an unusual take on an English blend and I am liking it a lot. It is a mix of Va,Perique,Turkish,and Latakia with a little cigar leaf. The cigar leaf is a condiment and never dominates the blend but does add a creaminess and fullness to the blend but the blend remains very tame and enjoyable. The Latakia is the dominant player here and remains so throughout the bowl. But not an in your face Latakia, but a very mild and rich tasting Latakia. The Va does give it a very nice sweetness and the perique is a seasoning, there but not a main player at all. This blend works and I enjoy it very much. The only weakness to the blend, is once again it tastes a little green and should be aged. It also comes dry in the pouch and ready to smoke. In the pouch, it is a mix of light brown running up to a very dark brown with the almost black Lat mottled throughout. It smell absolutely, mouth watering, great in the pouch. It is a smoky, sweet, spicy aroma that just made me want to smoke it right then and there. It is dry enough to smoke right away and it packs very well into the pipe. It lights on two lights, and stays lit well. It burns down to a dark grey ash with just a little dottle left in the bottom. It remains consistent in flavor all the way down the bowl and never sours or goes ashy tasting. The room note is typical of latakia blends, an aroma I love but is not a wife pleaser. I like this blend and I do recommend it. I think it will improve with age and am going to cellar some. but good enough to smoke now. Would make a great all day blend.

From the web page description, "A healthy amount of premium Latakia is combined with buttery Turkish, Sweet Virginias, tangy Perique and a touch of Nicaraguan cigar leaf for 'kick'."

Not overpowering in the cigar or perique flavors, but nicely blended such that all components are working together to give a good smoking experience. A good match for Larry's Blend and my other favorite Anniversary Kake.

10/3/08 : I have to upgrade this to four stars. The more I smoke, the more I enjoy Strike Force. Really one of the best.

Another solid choice from Russ Oulette and the great folks at pipesandcigars.com. The cigar leaf comes in big fluffy pieces, added to a perfectly balanced English blend. It comes nice and dry, and packing is a no fuss operation. Load it, pack it fairly firm, and smoke up. Burning is cool and easy. To me this is the perfect blend for sitting in an easy chair outside the camper on a cool Alaska afternoon.

One caution is the room note. Keep this one for outside, the smoking lounge, or the duck shack. The day-after cigar smell is really not nice, and the wife will likely not like it.

Big and Bold weed I was hoping for a bigger nicotine punch.Still a great Mixture.

Tin description:

"A healthy amount of premium Latakia is combined with buttery Turkish, Sweet Virginias, tangy Perique and a touch of Nicaraguan cigar leaf for "kick"."

This is a full, rich, balanced blend that doesn't nip, bite, or give you problems with packing or the burn. Totally well-behaved. The oriental component used in this blend (also Larry's Blend and Namaste) is simply mouthwatering.

The cigar leaf is used in a reserved way that doesn't overpower. You almost have to look for it. Same with the Perique. If you like GLP Robusto, James 123, or Bankers, but want something bigger, you love this.

Highly recommended to anyone who wants a full and robust, yet smooth English blend. An easy four stars.

I purchased a tin of Russ' new blend at the March NY pipe show. I enjoy English blends and was eager to try this one, as I enjoyed Larry's Blend and other similar English blends with cigar leaf in the Sailorman Jack tradition.

Opening the tin gives you a look at the ribbon-cut Latakias, blended evenly with the Virginias and Turkish, and you note the larger bits of cigar leaf. Moisture content is dead on. Feels like loam on the forest floor - not dried out, and not spongy or over-wet. The aroma from the tin will remind you of 965C or Paul Olsen's My Own Blend - that nice earthy leathery smell. No need to put this in your mason jar to meld and mature - this one's ready to go right out of the tin.

Packed it up easily in my Peterson dress pipe that I keep for heavy English blends. Lit well and easily on the first go and didn't require much in the way of relights. I personally like relighting because it's an excuse to send out big clouds of Latakia. YMMV.

Flavor was full from the start- rich Latakias, not sour or vinegary. The Nicaraguan cigar leaf gives the brassy note you might expect from a dash of Perique without a Perique bite or tang. The flavor was consistent throughout, all the players doing their parts without one jumping up by suprise in the middle. Many English blends tend to begin laying flat around the middle of the bowl, as the tongue says "Yup, Latakia, we get it. Are we done yet?" Not so with Strike Force. The Turkish and Virginias keep the spectrum wide enough to make the blend enjoyable all the way through. Smoked without wetness, and that's saying something - drawing heavy on a Peterson gets you gurgle if you do it too much - but Strike Force smoked cool as a cucumber.

Clean finish with nothing sticking to the sides of the bowl. A couple taps, a fast scrape and the pipe was ready for another go.

If you're after a full, flavorful English blend that doesn't apologize for being English and also shows you that Latakia plays well with others, you really need to pick up a tin of this stuff.

It seems the quality can vary somewhat from reading the prior reviews. I agree with Pipestud that this can be a bit harsh at times, especially compared to some other cigar lead blends. Comparing this to GL Pease Robusto, for example, Strikeforce is more "in your face." This is not necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps not as finished as the GL Pease offering but I actually have a preference for Strikeforce. It may be too "cigarish" for some and likely not an all day or maybe even daily smoke for most of us, but an interesting change of pace.

Very nice and rich cigar leaf blend.

Great aroma, you can smell the cigar right off the tin note, its unmistakable in its particular brand of deep richness.

Very full, the accompanying English ingredients are not only there but add a lot of good support.

Struggling for a way to do this justice, but for quite an unusual reason I smoke this more than anything else even though I enjoy others more. There is something so easy and carefree about it, it doesn't need much care or tamping, and its so gratifying that you feel like you're getting away with not having to work hard for a big result.

Takes to flavor immensely also. I put in a whiskey soaked wood barrel stave and the result was sublime.