Hearth & Home Strikeforce
(3.24)
A healthy amount of premium latakia is combined with buttery Turkish, sweet Virginias, tangy perique and a touch of Nicaraguan Cigar Leafs for a "kick".
Details
| Brand | Hearth & Home |
| Series | Signature Series |
| Blended By | Russ Ouellette |
| Manufactured By | Pipes & Cigars |
| Blend Type | Cigar Leaf Based |
| Contents | Cigar Leaf, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 1.5 ounce tin, Bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Medium to Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.24 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 02, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
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!
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!
PurchasedFrom:
pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 03, 2008 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 20, 2007 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
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.
"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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 15, 2007 | Very Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Strong |
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 2014 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Bought as part of 6 pack of H&H. An exceptional value as all 6 tins cost about $35. Strikeforce is really growing on me. I'm crazy about the tin note and find myself opening the tin just to have a whiff. The moisture level of H&H tins is a touch dry, so I tossed in a pouch moisturizer and this improved the smoking flavor. As far as flavor goes, it's delightful, but the subtle deliciousness fades to too mild unless I tamp attentively - but the effort is well worth it. I can taste the cigar wrapper, and I can taste a hint of chocolate in that as well. This tobacco is very unique and it does crumble and powder in the tin, but this is OK with me... I like to put some larger bits in the bottom of the bowl and then as I fill the bowl, I make it a point to pull finely crumbled mix from the bottom of the tin. I am able to smoke an entire bowl down to a fine gray ash. N level is mediocre, but enough to keep me happy. Strikeforce will make a mess of your pipe and it will ghost it too. I'd recommend a larger pipe with a dark finish... If you're a cob smoker like me, you might want to use an MM Country Gentleman, or maybe an old cob that you don't care too much for. I plan to stock Strikeforce regularly and will dedicate a pair of older cobs to it. Strikeforce goes nicely with Port Wine. Hope this helps.
Pipe Used:
Cob
PurchasedFrom:
pipes and cigars
Age When Smoked:
fresh opened tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 09, 2013 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
First things first: WOW! My compliments, Mr. Ouellette. Delicious aroma. Ready to smoke, burns cool & easy. Rich & full. As described, plus a little. Perfect with a cup of strong black dark roast by the woodstove on a raw late winter day. Or any other time for that matter. Stocking up for sure.
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