Sillem's Black

Granted, latakia and berry casing aren't the most intuitive combination, but Sillem's has managed to work up a very satisfying blend. One that is evocative an old sort of store that carries really fine leather horse tack for English-style riding wherein is mingled the scents of sweet alfalfa hay and various aromatic liniments. Somehow Sillem's has translated this redolence into taste in a delicious, well-behaved and sophisticated aromatic.

Description is right: a very original English/Aromatic blend. Strong hints o berries on a Latakia carpet in a blend that manage to not be boring, despite its sweetness. I suggest to dedicate a pipe for this tobacco. 3,5/5 in my personal rating system.

I love this stuff. The latakia is not overpowering. The berry topping is quite nice. I am a big fan of these cross-overs. My only problem is that the flavor kid of dissipates after the first 2/3 of a bowl. That and it could be stronger. I'm a nicotine junkie.

There is quite a few reviews here that are calling this mild, lightly flavoured, mild to medium tastes. I really don't understand how.

This is strongly cased/topped tobacco that is latakia based. A good sniff into a newly opened tin will burn your nose. It smells good enough that you'll probably go back in for a second however lighter sniff. The first time I smoked it was a year or so ago and it was fresh out of the tin. I was intrigued but it was too much chemical. Overwhelming casing and oily mouth flavour that hung around all day. I let this one air out for a while in sorta sealed can for a few months. It mellowed out nicely.

I'm really impressed. It has a really nice aromatic type flavour with strong underlying natural nutty tobacco flavours. It's strong enough to taste good at the end of the day when other tobaccos might taste like hot air. I smoke it slow and dried to the point that a pinch just barely holds a clump, just before it gets crispy, and it behaves perfectly in the pipe.

I'm normally one to have a distaste for aromatic type blends. Heavy flavourings are usually there to mask the crappy tobacco underneath in my opinion. And why bother with tongue bite. This has none of those attributes and is smooth and comforting to me. It should be a must try for anyone. I'd recommend opening the tin and letting it get some air for a few weeks somehow for the best experience.

What a nice surprise, an aromatic, that doesn't taste like a 1960's drug store blend. This is a quality tobacco , yes, with just a touch of Latiakia. French inhale, exhale through the nose, side-stream, it's all good. There is a lot going on here, but the predominate flavor is that "Lane's, Peach Brandy John Rolfe". I hate to do that, compare the two, because this baccy is head and shoulders above JR ( last time I tried JR was 1960's). This tobacco comes damp so it needs to dry before smoking, (the poor closing tin will take care of that for you), it doesn't bite and flavor seems to last through the bowl. I think this has a little N kick also. What you don't get is that bitter/sour Burley taste, it's all good. Have a big pile of cash, because this one doesn't come cheap. I'll keep this around for when I want to impress guests. They will say " ooooh I love the smell of a pipe", my wife will say "not the crap he smokes" . I'll fire up some SB and she'll be wrong again!

Upon opening a tin, scent is surprisingly strong - at least for "traditional English art of blending". Fortunately, during smoking this strong flavour is not so dominant and smoking is easy and constant.

To me, this is not "the best tobacco I've ever smoked" as someone said, but it is good aromatic. Very good for easygoing hot Summer days along Adriatic Coast.

My rate: 3.80.

arrr me salty dog get ready for my leather boot to sink far into yrrr nether regions! This needs a latakia warning on the tin,it smells really great looks even better.You can smell the tobacco through these tins but I couldn't detect the taint, its been awhile since the last latakia attack. To me this had a medicine taste not unlike what mom gave you as a kid.

This was everything described in the tobacco description. I was hesitant in trying this one as I am only an occasional smoker of Latakia blends. However, for me, it was just about right - not too strong and certainly not overpowering. Even though Latakia is the dominating factor, there is a certain something to it that I have never experienced with any other Latakia blend. I can taste what is called the "honey, fruit essence," the fruit being plum. It adds an underlying sweetness which is very complementary to the Latakia. Put the pipe down after smoking it a bit, leave the room, and re-enter a minute or two later - what a fantastic room note! It's a very unique Latakia blend. It may be a bit over the top for a handful of non-Latakia fans, but it is a very nicely blended tobacco. It does have a tendency to smoke a bit hot (even with sufficient drying), along with the nipping at the tongue that I experience with Latakia. I believe the majority of pipe smokers would appreciate its merits. Even though I am not a regular devotee of Latakia, I was pleasantly surprised enough to consider revisiting this blend on a regular basis.

Delicious smoke when Latakia is combined with black cavendish, you can get the same blend using 50% Mac Baren HH Vintage Syrian with 50% Mac Baren Black Amrosia.