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

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.

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.

Admittedly, I am not the most experienced of smokers when it comes to trying new things. I found MM965 while in college, or shortly there after, and thought it was horrid. I stuck with aromatics for years, and then, doing some part time work at the local "mall" tobacconist, I re-discovered 965. I assume my tastes had changed because it became my regular smoke for years. When it changed/disappeared/reappeared/changed again I kept smoking it. By the end I was simply tired of it, the constant inconsistency. I admit I have not even tried the newest reincarnation. But I did read the reviews of OLB and decided to give it a try.

Beautiful appearance, great feel, good moisture. Packed a bowl full, lit it and waited to find something to complaint about. I still haven't. No, it's not MM965, but it is excellent. Has, to me at least, what the old 965 did. A comfortable and willing feel. It simply tastes like pipe tobacco should. It may not be a pipe tobacco you look forward to smoking on special occasions, but it feels like I have found a long lost old friend. It has become my daily/almost only tobacco. Guess I should stock up on a few pounds, my Dunhill paranoia is starting to kick in.

I'll add my kudos to the others posted here. I can only compare Beck's 'Ol Limey Bastard to the Orlik version of Dunhill MM 965, but the smell from the bag is very different. Orlik's 965 has a stronger Cavendish smell to it, whereas Beck's has a dominant Latakia scent. I don't smell Cavendish at all.

The real issue, however, is how it smokes and while it's not exactly the same as the Orlik 965 I know and love, it's similar and a great blend in its own right. Beck's helps fill the 965 void for me and I recommend it to people looking for a replacement or to those who are simply looking for a very smooth medium English tobacco.

Wow. This is great stuff. Never having tried the new Peterson 965, this only makes me more excited to try the “original” blend. But based on its own merit, Becks OLB is a wonderfully blended smoke.

This mixture is delightfully balanced between the smoky, earthy Latakia and the sweet, full-mouthfeel cavendish in a supporting role. It’s perfect for early morning or late night smokes and will become a part of my regular rotation.

Burns clean through with very little to no moisture left in the bowl, consistent taste throughout.

I would recommend this blend to those who want to explore Latakia and need a little sweetness to help along the way. Or those who enjoy English blends that are not Oriental forward.

The strength of this blend is certainly its price point and availability (since I live in Asheville)

The only weak point may be the cut. Big chunks of latakia in the mix sometimes require a bit of crumbling to get into the chamber. Besides that, no complaints here!

When I bought this from 4-noggings for the first time I was attractive to it's name. Back then I did not even know there are so many differences among English blends. It tastes wonderful and flavorful. Definitely better than present MM965. Great English blend!

I started pipe smoking with 965, and this excellent blend reminds me much more of 965 from 15 years ago than the current Orlik version. Irrespective of Dunhill comparisons, though, it's a great smoke in its own right. By turns creamy, spicy, chocolately, leathery, smoky, it burns cool and is really very pleasant. Full marks to the blenders!

It was recommended by fellow pipe smokers as perfect Latakia blend. So I gave it a try. OK, it's not perfect. Ok, it's not straight latakia blend at all. But it's good, full of flawor and has its own unique taste. Can not say if this mixture is the same as old 965, because I don't actually like 965. But it has own character and deep taste. If you able to smoke cool and slowly - you will have a good bowl definitely.

Yes, as many reviewers have said this is a fine English blend. Latakia is lightly loaded in the mix so if you are a Bill Bailey fan you will find this unsatisfying. If you are new to English mixtures or tired of heavy latakia offerings, this is a fine place to be as the mix is very well balanced with no single component dominant. The cavendish is a nice sweetner without erasing the natural virginias. The ribbon cut is just right holding some moisture but easy to pack and easy to light. Smokes cleanly to an almost white ash with only a few black bits (not wet ones) at the bottom of the bowl. I have not yet tried the Orlick 965 but this blend is a least as satisfying as the Murray 965 incarnation although a tad less sweet. The price point puts it ahead of Squadron Leader for the frugal pipester and the fact that no tongue bite occurred in my unfiltered ser jacopo puts it ahead of Mac's Plumcake. I give it a solid 4 stars and if you cannot go to Ashville you can order it from 4Noggins. Order some NOW! You will not regret doing so.