B&B Tobacconists, llc Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard

Your quintessential low-maintenance tasty English blend for all day every day. To give a fair comparison to 965 I would have to taste them side by side, which I plan to do, but for now it will suffice to say this is an excellent blend for the back porch. My cousin and smoking buddy, who is more into cigars than pipes, really enjoys this one too!

I don't think that B&B is marketing this as a Dunhill 965 match blend, however, if their not, they should be! To my knowledge it is only being distributed at 4 Noggins and it is being sold as a match blend there. Now with all that said, this is a very good tobacco. I was fortunate to be able to taste this, McClelland 965 match blend (925)and the real deal, Murray's 965 side by side. This comes far closer than McClelland's to 965. I find this to be very similar to 965. In some ways more full and a bit less sweet. It comes at the right moisture level and burns cleanly. I give this 3 1/2 stars instead of 4 because of a very slight soap taste. I actually think it tastes better than the Orlik 965. If you are looking for a replacement for Murray's 965, I suggest giving this a try. Recommended.

Just a few puffs in, Beck’s Ol’ Limey Bastard actually surprised me by being the best contemporary throw-back match blend I’ve tried to date, at least according to olfactory cues. The bag note sets it up with “archaic” Latakia over piquant, earthy red Va, along with sour loam and moldering Middle Eastern spices that “could only come” from Orientals, which – oddly enough – are not listed in the blend’s header, above, as this review is posted. Perhaps the ghost of Orientals survives in the Latakia? As for the Cav, not sure I get this in the bag note, but it apparently does its job when BOLB is smoked, smoothing, melding, and providing significant sweet molasses and sour notes that help define this blend. Whether we are talking “original” Dunhill’s or early Murray’s, 965 was itself, and not something else. Though it featured a pronounced sort of sour soda or quinine also sported by The Balkan Sobranie, it was never rank and gamey like early TBS was, and it was in this way more civilized, like all of the Dunhill blends, way back when this particular quality was Dunhill’s verifiable claim to fame (and high prices!), along with stuff-and-puff ease of smoking. Despite I don’t smoke much light English anymore, my remaining BOLB is doomed. I am thankful that there’s only a trace of the sandalwood I have grown ever so tired of, and I detect no Liquid Smoke at all. Strength is mild. Tastes are quite smooth, also distinct, also just past medium. Room note won’t win friends. Aftertaste is terrific, and it lingers a while, starting sour and adding sweetness over time.

IMO, Beck’s Ol’ Limey Bastard is a good enough reminder of early 965 that it’s worth trying on this basis. You can’t lose if you like this sort of smooth, Balkan-y blend, and you will at least get an idea of what its iconic target blend was like. 4 stars.

B&B Tobacconists - Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard.

The blend's presented as well rubbed ribbons, has a great moistness, appears to be an equal dissemination of black and brown tobaccos, with nothing untoward about the aroma.

It lights easily and I enjoy the smoke for the first few puffs: a touch of Lat'-smokiness, some clean Virginia traits, and a tiny amount of Cavendish. I even note a mild toastiness, it's quite a savoury smoke. But then, I begin to get a strange sort of bitterness coming through. I'm guessing this is subjective as no flavourings are listed; either way, it doesn't suit me. Assuming it's just a personal issue, I'll return to the more pragmatic things! It burns well, and doesn't get warm unless I really stress my pipe; and then it's just 'warm', not hot. It's a medium weight smoke, and doesn't bite me, at any point.

I don't like the room-note, and the nicotine's about medium.

I'll give this the benefit of the doubt and put the bitterness down to my palate. That said, two stars not one.

Somewhat recommended.

This is an unbelievable tobacco mixture. Easy to rub out. Packs perfectly. Holds a light very well. Smokes nice and creamy and mild. First half of bowl taste and smells of smoky coffee with dark chocolate overtones. Second half is smoky with a Lakeland floral aroma. Just an amazing smoke. I will add this to my daily rotation. I am always so excited when I find a blend this good. You need to try this mixture you won't be dissapointed. Peace.

This blend did not blow me away in the way it has many others below. I found it to be well balanced, good tasting and easy to smoke. In this respect, I do recommend the blend as there was certainly nothing unpleasant about the smoking experience.

For me, however, what separates it is that it fails to excite me in the way that some other similar blends do. I would opt for some Rattray offerings (jock's in particular) and 965, orlik or Murray.

My personal experience is from a sample sent from a forum friend. It probably comprised of about five bowls. Admittedly, this is less than I would normally care to smoke to form a proper opinion, but usually on blends I really like I would have had some memorable moments in those first few bowls. It is for this reason and out of respect for several reviewers below whose opinions I respect, that I have added the third star.

Speaking of other reviews, I would most closely side with that of DK below. His words echo my experience in a much better way than I am able to convey.

This limey bastard is a personal fav but Ive put off the review because properly describing this one proves quite difficult as well as intimidating. Its an English that would make an english gent proud. You want to say its easily driven by a very smooth latakia, but that is only the beginning. This is a blend of balanced Virginias burley and cavendish. I think I taste oriental in it as well, but I could be wrong. Ol' Limey Bastard wont bite no matter how hard you puff. Its perfectly balanced. One tobacco does not override the other. Its harmonious like the way nightcap works. It pimps a gentle smoky smell and taste that transfers to the fire without giving you that heavy bbq smell like some latakia blends. This blend is starting to blow up as they are now getting orders from all over the world. Pipers are discovering this great blend being pumped out by the pound from the local tobacconist in Asheville NC. I highly recommend you fill your pipe and give it a go. Just save some for me.

I really like this tobacco. It's a fairly straightforward English blend with a good honest taste. Not much else to say about it, though, I do prefer Chipman Hill over it (it hits my palate right on). Both Beck's and Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme are in my bullpen. That's a great rotation! I recommend this tobacco.

Cheers!

My first latakia blend was 965, and it was a favorite for quite a while. I moved on a few years ago when I could no longer get the bulk version in the shops. Tried the tin version when Dunhill came back out with it, but just couldn't get a good smoke out of it. Don't know if it was the tobacco or my tastes that changed. Anyway, I live in Asheville, and frequent B&B. I was given a sample of this blend when they found out I had been a 965 fan.

Excellent smoke in every way, and truly does remind me of my original experiences with 965. The latakia seems especially leathery (best word I can think of to describe what I'm trying to say) in this blend, a characteristic I happen to like. There is also a good deal more sweetness than I find in most of the other latakia blends I smoke. If you're in the mood for this kind of sweetness, and just enough latakia goodness, try this one out. Highly recommended.