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This blend contains golden Virginia, Maryland and a little dark fired Virginia that gives this blend a profound flavor. Precious Oriental tobacco gives a soft tangy flavor that is complimented by Syrian latakia. Broad-cut with a slow, even burn, especially in bigger bowls.
Notes: The name of this blend probably comes from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket"
Favorite Of 2 Users
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipestud (1829) |   |
Strong | None Detected | Full | Extra Strong |
William Serad once reviewed this blend in P&T Magazine and called the blend an exemplar. So, I quickly bought a tin and loaded a bowl.
Gordon Pym is, without question, one of the strongest smelling blends I have ever put into my pipe. The latakia was HUGE. The Orientals and Virginia were far in the background and for some reason, the Maryland leaf really exploded.
I will say this for Gordon Pymm, if you like to watch the smoke escape from your pipe, this blend will provide plenty of it. Oh, and it is a cool burning blend.
26 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StevieB (2082) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Dan Tobacco - Gordon Pym.
It's a robust mixture, containing some quite chunky pieces, has a good moisture, and is mainly three shades of brown: dark, medium, and light.
The flavour of the smoke's fairly unique. For the first third the dominant ingredient's the Latakia, although it isn't too pungent or acerbic a flavour, it's quite sweet and very smooth. After about a third the other leaves make their presence known: the dark fired Virginia increasing the smokiness, and some tartness and pizazz from the Orientals. I get no bite whatsoever, and it's cool in temperature.
Nicotine: medium. Room-note: pleasant to tolerable.
Gordon Pym? Four stars:
Highly recommended.
Pipe Used: Peterson 150th Anniversary Founders Edition
Age When Smoked: Five months
Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com
12 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| beaupipe (102) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a thoroughly delightful Virginia-dominated blend enlivened by a judicious amount of Oriental spice. I'm really impressed by the subtlety of the blend and especially by the quality of the sweet and delicious Virginias and the awesome Latakia.
My picture of this blend might have something to do with the well-aged tin I'm puffing from, but I suspect that this is yummy in youth, too. It smokes cool, billows like an old train, smells ok, and has a moreish quality that is causing it to turn to ash rather quickly around here.
If there's a drawback to this blend--and several other reviewers have pointed this out--it is in the subtlety, the lack of 'hey-look-at-me-ishness' that defines it. It's elegant, refined, delicious. But it doesn't stand out from the pack. Maybe that's to its credit in the pipe, but I can't imagine it does much for sales.
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Syrian latakia seems enigmatic to me. If a blender surrounds it with the right constituent parts (Solani 779), it's a nice smooth tasty blend. If a blender does not (Frogmorton - I think it's their Across The Pond blend), it's an odd and sour tasting concoction... IMHO, of course.
Two words strike me while smoking this blend. First, it's a very smooth tobacco that doesn't even provide the slightest tingle on the tongue that could elevate to tongue bite. This is the 30 year old scotch of tobaccos - nice and smooth. Second, and this is more important, is balance. This tobacco seems expertly crafted, with each tobacco not only adding to the whole, but also blended in precisely the right proportions so that none of the individual parts calls attention to itself. This may be one of those rare blends I call "genius blends". It's equal parts sweetness, spice, earthiness and nuttiness. Genius. A nice "set it and forget it" blend to relax with.
So if it's a genius blend, why the 3 stars? Well, I guess I tend to like smooth tobaccos but the ones I love are usually more flavorful. This one misses my rotation by lacking that pizazz I require. But if smooth and well balanced are your key words in a tobacco, this is your manna. Impresssive!
8 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentleman Zombie (729) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
In the first half the Lat, which is very smooth and of high quality, tends to smother the other components. As the bowl progresses from that point the other components push back and make a good showing. Smoke, wood, a touch of hay, a tart little sweet note and a mild spice make the second half quite nice. Wish the whole bowl was like that.
Mild to medium in body. Medium in taste. No added flavoring detected. Burns very well.
Pipe Used: MM Dagner Poker, Country Gentleman, Marcus
Age When Smoked: fresh
Purchased From: smokingpipes.com
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Sasquatch (90) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Oh man.... this stuff starts like Old Ironsides and turns sweet like Frog Morton... fantastic. Bingo.
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
While this blend does not grab you by the ankles and shake you upside down to get your attention I feel that it is a good blend. It is not very complex but has good flavor and burns very cool and even. I generaly go for blends with more complexity but sometimes I just get in the mood for this and enjoy it. This may be good as an all day smoke for some who would enjoy a medium english blend as a main stay, I like it on occasion.
Update 6-28-11:
I dont know if my palate has developed or the blend has changed but I was sure wrong when I first reviewed this about the complexity. This blend weaves between the turkish and the latakia and the virginia adds a nice sweetness. Lately I have really been enjoying oriental blends and this one sings. I must upgrade this one to 4 stars!
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Darth 69 (117) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
The leaf components in this blend are first rate. This is a bit of a softer medium blend due to the Maryland leaf which is very mild and a subtle air cured character but the Latakia seems very pronounced despite not dominating the blend components. I think this is due to the cut which is a broad rough cut instead of the ubiquitous ribbon. In my experience the wider the cut the more profound the aroma despite hampering burning a bit. The orientals when they decide to make an appearance are intense in character, sweet and have an almost funky bruised apple character. The dark-fired leaf is hard to detect on it's own since it will meld with the Latakia but provides occasional extra richness. The virginias like in many English blends are lost in all this. As to complaints... the Maryland is a little high in proportion which dulls the blend a bit and not enough of those wonderful orientals. It reminded me of the older Dunhill London Mixture when Murray's made it. That blend had what seemed to me to be a milder air-cured base to it("Virginian") being analogous to the Maryland in this reviewed blend making it cooler on the palate than a straight virginia base while maintaining the richer condimental aspects of a medium blend. But, at times this blend can seem even richer in the medium-full range.
Similar Blends: Dunhill London Mixture(Murray's).
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DenizBeck (323) | |
Mild | None Detected | Mild | Strong |
Even tho I only like blends with very(!!) little Latakia in it (f.e. Motzeks Old Curly) I somehow had a fascination for this blend and decided to order a sample of it with my last order at Dan Pipe. If its the classy, smooth looking tin art, or the well sounding name "Gordon Pym"....somehow I had to try this blend. As I'm no english smoker you may take this review with a grain of salt!
When the sample baggie arrived I was shocked: It smells intensly like Latakia, smoky, woody and I feel a slight herbal-sour undertone from the Orientals. I was expecting smell much less of Latakia, but it smells like a full-grown Latakia blend.
Smoking it shows - to my personal appreciation - that it's totally different than the unburnt tobacco seemed to promise. The smooth as silk, almost buttery, very woody and decently smoky syrian Latakia takes a relaxed backseat. It's there in every puff, but only very softly. The Orientals seem to give it a slightly herbal and ethereal, dry feeling. I can't really detect the Virginias, nor the Maryland. There's a mild sweetness to it, that may be coming from the VAs.
All in all the taste is smooth as silk, very mild in both strenght and flavor and I feel it's very suitable as beginners attempt on Latakia blend, or as a mild All-Day-Smoke for English lovers.
Gordon Pym's cut is like a square cut, and makes for a cool smoke and easy handling, just as much as it looks interesting.
As I don't smoke English blends, I can only rate this for its own merits and can't compare it to other blends of that kind. So I'll settle for solid 3 stars, because I had some smooth and delightful smokes with my sample. I'd also recommend it to people like me, who like only very little Latakia in a blend. Good smoke!
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| HabaneroHardy (403) | |
Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Unnoticeable |
I purchased two tins of Gordon Pym back in December of 1998. I decided to open one up the other day. I have mentioned this before in other reviews but I do not want to hoard so much pipe tobacco only to have it go to an estate sell. I would rather enjoy it than someone else. Upon opening I detected a nice fermented sour smell, it is loose cut and I packed it in a large poker pipe and lit her up. It smokes very cool and actually at times tickles my nostrils. Produces a lot of smoke and is an easy all day or night smoke. I am on my third bowl and no complaints.
Pipe Used: Large Poker
Age When Smoked: 19 years
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Virginia lover (218) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Nice exotic smell, burns nicely off the tin. Balanced flavors, woody, sour, spicy and mellow. An all day, cool smoke for those who want a mixture where the Latakia pushes the other flavors without overwhelming them.
A good full medium English in strength and body, highly recommended for those with a better smoking technique than mine as this tobacco is a gem for subtle flavors.
Virginia lover
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| eon (12) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
To my palate, Gordon Pym remains a solid English offering that nonetheless lacks a few crucial traits to make it a favorite in my book.
The note in the tin is very smoky, promising a quality offering of Latakia that the mixture indeed delivers. The cut makes for an easy packing a good burn rate, which further solidify Mr Pym's reputation as a dependable companion.
Where the blend falls short, for me, is the dryness, not of the leaf but the actual taste. It seems like the best way to describe what I miss in the flavour department. Of course, I prefer my blends to smoke dry. But while the flavour delivers smokiness in spades, it lacks certain subtleties that make, say, McClelland's Wilderness a blends that stands apart. I admit that I prefer my steaks on the raw side of medium and that is precisely what is lacking in Mr Pym. It feels slightly overdone and thus a little arid, dull, and ashy. It reminds me the most, perhaps, of Esoterica's Margate, which I also did not care for much.
Having said that, I am sure there are smokers out there for whom this could be a four star blend. Perhaps even the prince in their rotation. For myself, I prefer the rounder, sweeter Latakia mixtures out there.
Similar Blends: Esoterica Margate.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Noorrmm (192) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Appearance Not the usual cut for an English mixture, this is short and wide. The color spectrum runs the gamut from pale yellows, through tans and reds, to black Aroma: Just the perfect aroma for an English blend, sweet Virginias, spicy Orientals, and smoky leathery Latakia. Packing: Easily packs into medium and large bowls, not tried in small bowls.
Lighting: Takes flame readily, usual char-tamp-relight sequence gets a good coal going.
Initial flavor: Full bodied English mélange of tastes, smooth on the tongue, with good mouth feel. All of the components can be sensed easily by the palate.
Mid-bowl: Burns cool and dry. The flavors are like a musical group; sometimes all together, sometimes in solos or smaller combinations. Wonderful balance of tastes, nothing overwhelms anything else.
Finish: Always finishes too soon for me. Satisfying enough that I don?t need another bowl right away, but the next one is always Gordon Pym.
Summary: Perhaps a bit too full for an all-day smoke (YMMV), but excellent anytime of day or night
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| RCUSElder (244) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I was given a tin of this blend as a gift and after finishing the last crumbs today(02-09-2004), I am ready to review. Upon opening the tin you are greeted by a very pungent and slightly sweet aroma with no casing detected, this is straight tobac folks. The cut is almost a square cut. Moisture was perfect. Packing is a breeze and lighting was just as easy. Initial flavor was similar to "lakeland" virginia with the orientals and latakia kicking in after the second light. The flavor was borderline English/Balkan, kind of hard to pinpoint with some bowls tasting like a sweeter "scottish" blend. Overall, this was a good to better blend with enough complexity to encourage me to finish the tin. I can't say that I would buy another tin of this, not because I didn't like it, but rather due the preponderonce of excellent blends in this genre. My local tobacconist sells this for $12.50 a tin, too pricey when there are better blends for less. Overall, it burned well, didn't have a tendency to bite, finished with a nice fullness toward the bottom of the bowl with a dry, grey mottled ash left. Also, you can smoke this all day without wearing your tastebuds out. Rating 3.5 points out of 5. Try it, you may like it.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Gaius Baltar (25) | |
Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
When we opened the can we found a tobacco with a square ribbon cut ribbon. The degree of humidity is optimal. No need to dry it. The smell is smoked by Latakia, in addition there is another smell sweet and similar to some milk. Tobacco ignites and burns well producing whitish ash. In the first part of the smoke is present a spicy latakia that does not drown, in addition is present the aftertaste of milk. The smoke is soft and silky. In the second part of the smoke and latakia is in the background, manifesting maryland and the Orientals. The smoke is much more intense and dry. The finish is dry and strong. It is a valid tobacco for any time and for any climate.
Pipe Used: Missouri Meerchaum
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Duaso tobacco shop, Barcelona.
Similar Blends: Ashton - Consummate Gentleman.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| russ (27) | |
Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
What this blend is for me is a nice easy going blend. The Orientals, and Latakia seem to meld together well with some Virginias coming through. The Maryland seems to take a back seat, but over all I love this blend. Too many times the Latakia in many blends take the front seat, and literally knock out the other tobaccos. My thought on that is why even bother blending when you cannot even detect anything else but Latakia? I could easily smoke this all day--that's why I like it. I detest Lat bombs. For me this blend is nice, and dry--smokes all the way through with flavors never really changing, and diminishing. I cannot see a reason to detest, or hate this blend unless you prefer a total Lat bomb type tobacco. Me I like to be able to actually pick out the varied tastes--Orientals, and latakia melding together with a hint of the Virginias--I keep plenty of this around in my rotation--year around smoke for me. It goes great with a morning cup of coffee.
Pipe Used: Briar
Purchased From: Smoking Pipes, and local B&M
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| LV9 (85) | |
Mild | None Detected | Mild | Tolerable |
Very middle of the road blend I actually consider it a Balkan, everything here is about making the oriental leaf shine the Virginias are only here to remind you to puff gently, I don't really see what the Maryland leaf is doing on this blend and the nicotine is non existent , to make this review short and easy I would say this if you like skiff or early morning blend put this one in your rotation if not save your money and keep on searching.
Pipe Used: Savinelli punto oro
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Das German (2) | |
Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This stuff isn't my typical latakia bomb, but it's definitely one I'll keep in my rotation. More oriental/Va forward than Latakia, it does retain a muted smoky note combined with a green tea flavor. Buttery, smoky, a little earthy, no noticeable vitamin N rush, just a nice all-day puffer for english fans.
Pipe Used: Peterson 150
Age When Smoked: new
Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com
Similar Blends: H&H Black House, Balkan Sasieni.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| atomicbuster (79) | |
Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Truth in the advertising, it's definitely an English blend. It does all the good things you would expect an English blend should do. In my very fortunate experience, it burns very well, lasts quite a while in a pouch, and provides a nice, dry smoke. It's actually does cause me a tiny bit of tongue bite, but its other qualities make up for this deficiency. An excellent blend, my first from Dan Tobacco but not my last. Recommended.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| William H. Hardy (95) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Strong |
This is a very good medium English blend, I have to say. I enjoyed it immensely and I usually prefer Cyprian latakia over Syrian. However, that being said, I wholeheartedly recommend this blend to English lovers. It has great flavor, acceptable nic hit, and burns quite well. I probably won't be ordering again, though. There are so many other great English tobaccos that cost less and are equal to or better in quality. Good stuff, though.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| CTS (138) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
"...cool and gentle smoke" You can believe what's on the top of the tin with this one. The layers of fine base tobaccos complement each other quite well. It is quite "Pym and Proper" as a pipe tobacco. Perhaps not the smoothest out there - but quite enjoyable. Nice pepperiness on the retrohale. The Syrian Latakia flavor note builds through the bowl. Good as a sipper or puffed. 3+*.
Pipe Used: Basket pipe marked Israel BR 35+ years old
Age When Smoked: Unmarked tin recently purchased.
Purchased From: Smokes on Burdick, Kalamazoo, MI
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I understand that personal tastes in tobacco are completely subjective in nature. A person's body chemistry, taste buds, and olfactory senses all come in to play when appreciating or rejecting any tobacco mixture. With that said, in spite of many of the reviews that would suggest otherwise, I absolutely love this tobacco and find it to be a fine, even-burning and pleasant smoke. It makes for a great entrance into English tobaccos.
I stumbled upon this tobacco while trying to locate Butera Pelican tobacco (another somewhat panned and unappreciated blend!). After discovering that Pelican is no longer in production, a few sources told me that I would find GP to be very comparable to Pelican. The sources were correct, much to my satisfaction. I stepped away from pipe smoking for several years, and when I found myself in a position to enjoy the leaf once again, I was pleasantly surprised to find that GP allowed me to enjoy the tastes of my earlier smoking days.
GP is a mild English with enough latakia in the blend to give the smoker a distinct appreciation of the unique flavor it brings to any mixture. I highly recommend GP for those who are interested in venturing into English territory.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| TK Pipe (101) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Gordon Pym... There seems to be two kinds of pipesters, the one that smokes English blends, and uses milder American blends for a change of pace. Then there's the guys that smoke the milder American blends and use English blends for a change of pace. I'm the later. This is where Gordon Pym comes in for me, just right in strength, with fine burn characteristics, and with minimum Latakia flavor ghosting. A pleasure. For what it is, it's first class. 3 stars. My personal rating 2/5
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Mild | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is the perfect blend to enter the English Mixtures wonderful world. Very balanced and gentle. Very good the latakia. The problem is that the taste is very fine and it smokes cool only for the first third of the bowl; then the taste mysteriously disappears and the tobacco suddenly starts to burn hot. Very good only at the first puffs. What a pity!!!!
update: taste lasts for much more than I thought. One more star for its very simple smoking control.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skando (203) | |
Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
A sort of square (or cross ?) cut, mostly medium brown shades with - of course - brighter Virginias and some black flecks - not so many - of the Latakia. The tin smell calls mostly sweet, herbaceus base by the Virginias, with some malty and faintly sourish tones; my nose doesn't detect the tipical Latakia smell easily... a mild EM I would say. This also came quite wet, after six months and more-or-less five bowfuls, it's time to dig into.
GP lights easily and behaves very well, smoking slow and cool, balanced and creamy. The weed is good quality, no doubt.
Regarding the smoke: yes, the typical mild EM where the Latakia is just condimental, leaving the main parts and solos to the Virginias and the Orientals just back with some flowerish notes. I would recall my memories to the EMP of old, but that had more Latakia; or maybe even Highland Targe of old. Got the idea ?
GP is not exactly my cup of tea, and bit a strange fellow for me, giving me some very good feeling but also a sense of boredom. When in the mood for Latakia, then I'm looking for full EM. When I'm there for Virginia, then the place to look for is elsewhere.
Neverthess GP is a very honest EM and I'll consider it as a change of pace.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Just opened a tin of this that I purchased on E- Bay (not sure of it's age) but it was fantastic.A pure delight.The aroma from the tin is a light smoky/woody smell, not a strong English.This tobacco is a nice light English that doesn't overpower you,it makes you crave for more and more.It has the right mixture of tobacco's.Reminds me of sitting around a campfire as the burning wood fills the cool night air.A great change of pace from aromatics, or nicotine packed tobacco's.So far I have'nt been disappointed with any Dan Tobacco product.Glad I have more tins of this stashed away.Smokes great in a Savinelli (#320) Author.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Update September 2008
The more I smoke this blend, the more impressed I am by its subtlety, complexity and overall charm. I therefore upgrade my original rating from three stars to the full four.
--------------------
During the recent spell of outlandishly hot weather I found myself casting around for a clean-tasting tobacco that would serve me as an anytime smoke and give flavour and satisfaction. My normal Virginias had all failed the test, tasting either dull or downright rough and offensive. My English blends had similarly fallen by the wayside. Even Burley classics such as Edgeworth Sliced would not do the trick for me, and so out of curiosity I turned to Gordon Pym, a tobacco that I had previously found pleasant but stunningly ordinary. Epiphany!
For whatever reasons, the heat and humidity appeared to have worked an act of magic on this blend. Most noticeable initially was its sweetness, a refreshing, pure cleanness of taste that was in no way cloying. The touch of Syrian Latakia offered a pleasing, mild smokiness to the effect, and then the Orientals joined in, their slight spiciness giving a gentle tingle to the tip of the tongue. There was no further development in the overall flavour, simply a slight gathering of strength towards the end of the bowl, utterly devoid of harshness of any kind and with no excess moisture in the bowl. A pipe cleaner passed through at smoke?s end emerged bone dry and remarkable clean.
Subsequent smokes in a wide variety of different briars all gave the same results and the same degree of smoker satisfaction, leaving me with a clean palate and a happy smile. This is not a great tobacco, but it is one that continues to serve me well in the present sub-tropical conditions. If it works for me, it could work for you too.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| butter_side_down (12) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
UPDATE 9/16/08
Well, despite my initial enthusiasm, this did not make it into my stable of regulars. I still think it's very good, but I've sort of filled the same niche with squadron leader and kensington. I may revisit it again later to see if I'm able to recapture the initial rapture.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
Judging by the speed at which I powered through the tin, I think it's safe to say Gordon Pym is well on its way to becoming my number one blend. So why then, if I reach for it more than anything else, would I rate it only three stars instead of four? I suppose the only explanation I can offer is that I'm trying to reserve four star ratings for things which blow my mind in either their complexity or their subtlety... and to me Gordon Pym is neither complex nor subtle. Yet, strangely, if pressed, I would have to admit that's the very reason I love it so much.
While the style may be a bit vague (resting somewhere between an english and a balkan), where flavor is concerned, it's not vague at all. It's remarkably straightforward, completely unpretentious, and totally satisfying. Once lit, the Syrian dominates the beginning of the bowl, then slowly and gradually relents to the Orientals as the smoke progresses to its the end, which always comes too soon. Just thinking about it, I already wish I had some handy right now.
My tin was a bit dry when I opened it... just enough that I considered hydrating it. I'm glad I waited until after the first bowl, though, as it turned out to smoke splendidly right where it was. In general, no matter what packing technique was employed, it required very few relights. Using the Frank Method, I once even had the "charring light" keep it burning until about mid bowl.
I ordered the tin at the same time as a Mastro Beraldi thick-walled chimney shape, and the two serendipitously turned out to be perfectly suited to each other. Pym is still great in other pipes, but to me the Mastro Beraldi/Gordon Pym combo is right up there with Fred and Ginger, Bob and Bing, Abbott and Costello, Jagger and Richards, Getz and Giberto, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Jack and Meg White, etc...
Three VERY ENTHUSIASTIC Stars
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a review of an unaged tin right off my tobacconist shelf.
Gordon Pym starts out nice enough, but as things get going, it develops into a most fine English blend you'd ever want to smoke. This is worth a try for the Syrian Latakia alone. I have even smoked this with a sore tongue without fear. Simply perfect! This belongs right next to Squadron Leader and Westminster in my English rotation.
Nooorm's review says the rest I would want to say.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PeterD (91) | |
Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
As the previous reviewer, I'm not sure that I can add much more than what's been said. However, I do find this blend a bit more complex than some of the other reviews. Perhaps just some subtle differences in the processing or the fine quality leaf that is obviously used...I like this blend very much.
I find it softer, "rounder", and generally an inviting smoke. Predominantly, I smoke Virginia Plug and Flake tobaccos and have for the past 35 of my 45 years of pipe smoking. I take a couple of months every year to revisit some of my old favorites... although there are very few left anymore. I do experiment with a few new items on the market and I'm glad I tried this one.
I smoked most of this tin in a 10 panel straight stem billiard type Castello(one of the Pipe and Tobaccos Pipe of the Year pieces)in various settings and at different times of the day. All were pleasurable experiences and I have nothing but positive comments. I do think some aging would prove interesting and perhaps beneficial.
The only thing that would please me more would be for DAN TOBACCO to make this available in a plug!
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm not sure if I can add much to the praise of this most pleasingly complex orchestration of fine leaf... No one tobacco dominates. Instead, all complement each other so that the total experience surpasses the sum of it's consituents. A sweet, buttery resonnance is created from the combination of the two Virginia leaves and the distinctive, almost coffee toned Maryland. High notes of the Syrian and Oriental provide a sort of flavor syncopation found only in rare circumstance of blending genius. Presenting a visual montage of earthy colors it makes promise of singular occasion and clarity seldom found in public access. It matters not to me whether this is English or Oriental. In the symphony of tobacco blends, this is Delta Blues as fine as Robert Johnson could ever show us. Clean and even burning from top to bottom, my only regret is in it's ending. Just to be sure, I've put some back to age before I wrote this - just in case demand would prevent my being able to acquire it. Seductive and compliant, it provides satisfaction of a most provocative nature, quickly working it's way into my regular rotation. Counterpoint to the mundane, I'm sure you'd be hard pressed to find better. The sublime has a name and that name is Gordon Pym... This is one smooth smoke!
Meerschaum Man Smoking a Smooth Altinok Canadian
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| unsociablehobbit (6) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
smooth, sweet..its more of a tangy dark fruitiness, smoky and musty. moisture was perfect out of the tin and its a nice chopped codger cut so its easy to load. worth seeking out if you like full english blends, this one really stays with you when you're done.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred T (67) | |
Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
A good English, milder than Dunhill 965. Good English flavor with medium nicotine kick. The gold standard for me is 965. I go to Pym when I want a milder English smoke.
Pipe Used: Dunhill Billiard
Age When Smoked: New
Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com
Similar Blends: Dunhill 965..
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| JLong (36) | |
Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I have gone through one tin of this and I like it a lot. It is a sweet, tangy, creamy tobacco that is not overwhelming. Something to indulge in with a good book.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Tolerable |
Well at first puffs I thought that the smoke will be a medium quality one and that I will consume this tobacco ocassionally and never buy again. When the overwhelming low quality Latakia has took the principal role on this smoke I was sure that I've made a mistake choosing this tobacco.
The Virginias are nice at flavor. The orientals, if the blend has some, are not detectible, maybe just because of the bad Latakias used in this blend.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RMBittner (66) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
As others have noted, this is an English blend that doesn't wow you with an immediate punch but will absolutely grow on you if you give it half a chance. The blend of the orientals with the Syrian latakia -- backed up by a solid Virginia component -- is truly delicious.
I smoked a recent (2008, I'm assuming) tin and found the contents perfectly moisturized (if not a tad drier than I'm used to). It burns well and, for the smoker, smells divine.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Strong |
A great blend that allow for just the right amount of oriental and latakia. I especially like this when I am moving from smoking an aromatic to something more smoky and natural. 50g tin for $10.95 USD.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tabaco (112) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is my first foray with this blend by DAN tobacco, and it is absolutely excellent. Superb blending craftsmanship. I find the Virginias to be very complex and is just the right balance with the Syrian Latakia and the Orientals. Overall this blend burns very cool and I am quite impressed since many Virginias tend to be on the hotter side. The Syrian Latakia is just the right touch, barely there in the back ground yet comes through much more when you really concentrate.
There is another wonderful quality which I love about this blend. One can really focus on the Virginias, the Latakia, or the Orientals. I am not sure which Orientals are in it, possibly Mahalla. If one chooses, one can step back and enjoy it as a whole or even if you are reading a novel and hardly focusing on the pipe all, this tobacco just hums along in the background. I find not many tobaccos or blends have the ability to do all of the above as effortlessly as this one does. Many I find are demanding for very good reasons in their own perspective. A few are simply too bland and do not offer the satisfaction I am seeking.
I wish I could offer a close recommendation; however, I have not discovered one and I do not think I shall bother trying to find one; futile, unless of course this becomes extinct, as happens far too often in the pipe world especially with the revered blends.
Pack a bowl and enjoy.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I'm a pretty good fan of Dan tobacco, and this is a straight forward offering from them on a well balanced blend in my opinion. It is not heavy on latakia, and it does burn cool, but it is a little spicy. No one element overrides the others, in comparison to other blends I don't know of any quite as similar. Good for a change of pace blend, or for a light latakia smoke.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Gordon Pym is a complex tame beast. I particularly found that some reviewers here nailed the journey through the bowl from start to finish. The Latakia definitely takes a back seat to the orientals about mid bowl and it does pick up some strength and flavor, albeit in a marvelously balanced way. At no time though is there anything typical about this blend. Not typical English, not typical Balkan, not typical anything ... it is IMHO a very unique blend of high quality. I also found the room note to be very subtle and didn't draw complaint.
The overall quality of the tobacco in this blend leads me to believe that the VAs are the same genre as used in Dorisco. The Latakia is soft, understated and creamy just like it is in Torben Danske No.3 and the Orientals, while big, are not harsh as in many of the fine McClelland Oriental blends. I'm amazed at how this blend nailed three favorite elements, without being remotely similar to any of the blends mentioned.
This is a particular go-to blend and has will replace Durbar in my rotation because of its greater complexity and more refined strength.
Cheers, VC
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
This Mottled colored, square cut blend ranges from yellows and tans to browns and dark black. Packs and lights easy, burns clean, even and really cool. At first match the Latakia comes to the fore dominating the aroma. The VA's and Orientals emerge quickly, working in concert with the Latakia, which is very soft, creamy and smokey.
By mid bowl the flavors are full but never too robust. The combination of varitiels work together and the flavors deepen into a wonderful balance. Behaves well with nary a gurgle or bite no matter how fast or hard it's puffed. A unique flavorful blend, not just another latakia based "English".
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Tin Opening-Mottled, wonderful full English aroma in the right proportions
Packing-Packs well in all pipes I have tried it in.
Lighting-Two matches and tamp
First Impression-Upon lighting, the Latakia predominates the aroma and the blend burns cool. After the first few puffs, the Virginas and Orientals start to make themselves visible in concert with the Latakia.
Mid Bowl-By mid bowl, this has settled into a wonderful blend of tastes. It?s full but not heavy or overwhelming and completely enjoyable. Everything works in harmony.
Finish-Slightly stronger and even more delicious, this blend gets better as it burns down. Each puff makes me want to take the next and reminds me of why I switched mainly to English tobaccos. It?s full flavored without being heavy. Simply wonderful.
Over all-Ever met someone and knew they would be a friend for life at the same time? That?s what I found with Gordon Pym. I enjoy every time I smoke it. Through out there was never a hint of wetness and it never burned hot.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Mild | None Detected | Mild | Tolerable |
I took the advice of a more seasoned pipe smoker a few years ago, and tried this as a first forray into the world of English tobacco. It was to be the "bridge" that led me into an obsession.
Although GP is not now, nor will it ever again be my favorite English, I have fond memories of this being my first exploration into a new world of tobacco. Sort of like drinking a light beer, then being handed a friendly lager, like Dos Equis. Nothing that ten years later is going to be earth shaking, but at the time was a great introduction. GP is nostaglia and honest, albeit mild, English tobacco flavor. Maybe you had to taste it at the right time in your smoking career for it to have it's rightful place. It is however honest.
This is a nice, rounded English mix. I would go so far as to second the notion that this is, in it's own way, a benchmark of it's type. One that I would not hesitate for a minute to use as an introduction into this genre of tobacco.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazby (66) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
This is a delicious latakia blend. To me it is interchangeable with Bailey's Balkan and TD Red Virgina Superb. They all are different, but easily acceptable for one another. (To my taste)
To pipestud: I hope you just got a bad tin... I like this one.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tillmanj (73) | |
Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Tin Aroma: Sweet and Musky, a good Va/Oriental blend, judging by the 'nose'. Why don't they make 'sweet & musky chicken' instead of boring old 'sweet & sour chicken'?
Physical Characteristics: A nice, short ribbon cut, maybe a 'cross-cut'. A pleasing array of colors, though I do find the top of a tin, upon opening, to be mostly blond pieces. A good shake on it's way to my pouch and all is righted, however. Due to the size of the cut, it packs nicely and easily, but is still large enough not to be in danger of being sucked into the airhole of my pipes, a definate plus! Burns evenly and easily to a salty, granular ash.
Notes:This is uncomplicated, unfussy, and very pleasant. The beginning of the bowl is a very mellow Virginia experience, subtly toned by the Orientals and the sparse Syrian Latakia. There is a vague hint of spiciness, but not so much as to be really noticeable unless you were paying attention to it. As the bowl progresses past the halfway point, the Oriental character becomes somewhat more apparent, but never overpowers the subtly sweet Virginias. This is definately worth smoking all the way to the bottom, as the last few puffs are just about as perfect a Virginia/Oriental balance as one can find.
Verdict: While I have nothing bad at all to say about this tobaccom, there was little to really grip my attention in it. I would definately recommend it as a mellow all-day smoke.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Nathaniel (39) | |
Very Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Popping open a tin from 5-6 years back. A satisfying “shlunk” as I twist the top off and I’m immediately greeted by the tin note. Like an English, but not like an English; the tang of oriental tobaccos is here replaced by a sweetishness: grape juice is about as close as I can place it. A dark blend, mostly a cedar-chip red, with bits of black and tawny gold mixed in. The tin note calls to me: I can smell it from my lap without inclining my head, but it somehow disappears when I bring the tin up to my nose. Loads easily, with its short and choppy ribbon cut— chopped ribbon?— into a Peterson XL Aran, dedicated to English blends.
Taste from the charing light is a quite unexpected blast of sweetness, the same taste I got in the tin note. As it settles, I’m getting a fairly typical English experience on the one hand: campfires and wet leaves from the latakia (perfect weather for it too, we’ve just had a rain), spicy cumin from the orientals (especially evident on the retrohale), and that something else, also most evident on the retrohale. Grape juice is the closest I can come to naming it.
And the grape flavor remains as I smoke down the bowl. As someone else noted, lots of smoke off this blend; the little choppy pieces burn well and quickly. Not much nicotine effect. A little drying effect, which I always get from oriental tobacco. This is the first blend I’ve smoked that has Maryland tobacco, as far as I can recall, so maybe the sweetness comes from that. Further research is required.
This stuff burns quick! A full bowl smoked down to powdery ash in about twenty minutes. I have to disagree with the description of a “slow, even burn”. “Even”, maybe. “Slow”, not even close.
This is an English with something different. A little sweetness, a little oriental tang. If you tried Nightcap or Bowlegged Bear and got a little roughed up, or if you work someplace that allows you to come back from a lunch break smelling smoky, this will fit the bill nicely.
Pipe Used: Peterson Aran XL
Age When Smoked: 5 years
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FilipPruncu (89) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Now this is a tobacco that I will continue to buy, and goes on my favorites list! Top quality leaf, excellent blending! A gem for the english blend smoker!
Starting with the tin note, it is quite mellow, doesn’t deliver a strong smell. Has some notes of fermented tobacco, leather and some wood.
Aspect wise, this is a beautiful cube cut with some gold and brown leaves, some dark brown and some black bits. Comes at a good moisture, can be put directly in the bowl, but I prefer to let it sit for a few minutes.
Taste wise, the most important part. It has some spice with some sweetness, it’s woody, leathery, smoky, creamy, balanced. Notes of wood dominate this blend, but there’s also a creamy sweetness and smokiness that lets you know the latakia is here to make a stand. If smoked without a filter, the orientals will be dominant, with condimental characteristics. Has some hints of cloves and wood, sometimes giving the impression of dark fired kentucky because of the spiciness (it’s similar, but doesn’t have dark fire kentucky). If smoked with a filter, it will reduce the spiciness and will enhance the smoky characteristics of the latakia, which will be prominent. So, depending on how you like to smoke it, it can deliver spice or smoke, sharp or creamy.
Smoking characteristics? It burns well, delivers a lot of thick smoke, doesn’t bite, doesn’t get hot. Leaves a beautiful white ash.
I find this to be the perfect autumn/winter blend, which can be smoked along a mulled wine, or a hot drink.
Excellent blend and favorite!
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Bayou (60) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Strong |
Vile. I like a Latakia bomb as much as the next guy, but this stuff is terrible...
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Mild | None Detected | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Tolerable to Strong |
This stuff is no longer made and tinned, but you can get the same taste experience by going to any retail store and getting a paper bag. Take the bag and shread it into thin strips. Place the strips in the pipe you like least. Light up and enjoy.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeritus Account (30194) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
One of the tobaccos available from Dan Tobacco. I can find many words for this one - smooth, peaceful, mellow, bland, uninteresting, and vanilla are among them. It isn't a bad tobacco. It's simply a tobacco that I failed to find anything really gripping in. I tried it in a wide variety of pipes, because I liked its smoking characteristics quite well and I was sure that somewhere in my collection there had to be a pipe that would bring out some zing in this blend. Alas, I had no luck - there may be a pipe out there that will make it sing, but I don't have one. It stubbornly insisted on being a quiet, friendly, and utterly nondescript tobacco regardless of puffing style or pipe. This isn't a bad thing entirely, as it would make a nice friendly all-day smoke.
Nobody has rated this review yet.
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