Dan Tobacco London Blend No. 1000

The African Virginias are very earthy and woody with some dark and stewed, tangy dark fruitiness and a hint of grass as they form the base for the other tobaccos to play with. The luscious Turkish is smoky, spicy, earthy, herbal, vegetative, floral, and fairly woody with a bit of sweetness as well as a very minor sour note, all of which adds a bit of complexity to every puff. It is a competitive player. The rich Cyprian Latakia is very smoky, very woody, earthy, musty, and lightly sweet as it comprises a healthy percentage of the blend without overwhelming the other components. Well balanced with a significant depth of flavor that remains consistent from the first light to last with no harsh or dull spots, and slight creamy quality. Won't bite, but it dose sport a few small rough edges. The nic-hit is a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium. Medium in strength and taste with no topping. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires few relights. The lightly lingering, pleasant after taste and room notes are campfire sweet, and won't chase away the ladies or the cats.

-JimInks

Well, I think this may be my favorite tobacco. Pair it up with a cup of bold coffee and some creamer to compliment the dry smokiness this blend offers, and sit back while time goes on somewhere else.

I was in a cozy little shop opening and smelling bulk tobaccos, then this blend stood out. I normally don't buy 8oz of a blend the first time around, but I was probably racking the lady's brain behind the counter with questions. She was either experienced at hiding bitterness, or was being genuinely helpful out of the goodness of her heart. I spent over $100 in the shop that day as a thank you for her help. I'm not rich, so that was a lot for me. I've talked with people who have a six figure price on their pipe collection, people who spend more annually on tobacco alone than my income. I've seen people post on forums about hauls including ten+ different tobaccos with 50+ containers of each one.

I've had this blend for some time now, and while it was love at first taste, it is now ripened with age. The way it should be. Any possible bitterness between this blend and I has matured into a smooth, delicate complex. Now don't get me wrong, because this blend has been a pleasure since day one. This tobacco is for those who adopt a "Liquor hard, meat bloody, coffee black" attitude.

If you don't smell the pungent Latakia in this one, you're probably sitting on the moon. There is a subtle yet complimentary soap note that steps forward upon opening. A tight sweetness from the Virginias, but not enough to rob anything from the blend. The right amount of rich, satisfying Turkish leaves(the potatoes), play their parts respectfully. Everything comes together solid as a rock. It doesn't matter how old you are, your gender, or if you shaved today. When you smoke this blend, you better make sure you have a razor handy because you'll sprout a mustache that earns disorder by the minute.

This tobacco fills the pipe with little fuss, and lights easily. This full bodied English stays true to it's name throughout the bowl. There is a prominent, though not overbearing spice aspect that as every component, plays it's part respectfully. And the room note? Well, it is an English, after all. If you want a good English, give London Blend 1000 a try.

Since I was smoking Dan this.morning I thought I would grab a can of this as well to toss into the truck today while I travel. Of all the tobacco I smoke I enjoy this London Blend in the top 10 of my all time favorites. The blending has changed over the years but the ability to cellar this make it all worth while. I carry a very large stock pile of this blend. I tell few people about it because I want it all to myself. I counted up 87 cans of this so I think I am safe from running out in my lifetime at this point. If you buy a can. Quickly run back and buy 2 more. Store them and after 3 years the gold will be with you. This ages very well.

The tobacco comes as a medium coarse ribbon cut in a fairly short length with lots of dark brown and black bits and just a little bit of golden leaf. It packs easily into any pipe with just a few taps to the side of the bowl and light pressure to clean up the loose tobacco on top; very little springiness and no long strands to fight with. This tin, at least, was at a good moisture level for smoking straight away with no drying necessary. Burn characteristics are excellent with normal tamping and long periods between relights. Burns cool in the pipe and on the tongue.

The flavor of London 1000 is that of a perfectly balanced full Latakia iteration of an English/Balkan mixture. Cypriot Latakia lends a good amount of meaty smokiness without stepping over the line into creosote territory. The Orientals contribute a nicely complimentary sour note, but are not sweet or musty. The right portion of earthier African Virginia keeps the blend from tasting too dry, but doesn't distract from the basic flavor with tanginess or excess sweetness. There is always a danger of balancing a blend to the point of it tasting flat, but here complexity reigns supreme, and all the elements are perfectly orchestrated to bring out the best in each other.

I have smoked many different English/Balkan mixtures, and consider the genre my personal favorite. There are a few mixtures I enjoy a little more, and variations of the style that I smoke more often. There are notable blends that I haven't smoked from quite accomplished blenders. Nonetheless, as a full, balanced Latakia mixture this is my benchmark, and I would be surprised if it were ever surpassed. Among many different and well respected blenders making excellent mixtures, Dan Tobacco still stands out with this one.

Dan Tobacco is to be commended for the many truly fine tobacco blends we have available to us on the market today, including Timms London 1000.

This heady brew contains a moderate amount of high quality latakia and sumptuous Turkish leaf that combine with the Virginia base to make this one really shine.

There are many fine English blends on the market today, but to find one with this much strength is rare.

This blend was brought up at our pipe club today but at $44.50 plus sales tax for a 100-gram tin no one wanted to bite the bullet. You can buy it online for around $25. No fault of the retailer, which needs to be supported by the way but just an example of how high California tobacco taxes are, 28.95 percent excise tax alone. A member was gracious enough to buy a tin for all to try. The tobacco is a really deep dark brown, with a fantastic smoky, leathery, earthy tin note. The other tobaccos while smoking really came through more so than the Latakia at least from my impression. Really darn good stuff and one I look forward to smoking again next week. I am surprised that this one has only 37 reviews. A real sleeper in my book that should be tried. This also had the name Timms on the side of the can, maybe the original blender, no way of knowing for sure.

My oh My, apple pie! This is one fine blend with a strength that just suits me well. I found that the VA is the star, but the Latakia and Turkish additions are good supports. I liked the sweet/sour interplay and the hints of mustiness and smokiness were very pleasant. Though not as complex as some other English blends, I really enjoyed that this mixture was right at my level of tolerance regarding strength and did not cross that threshold. This is an after meal dessert to be sure...better than apple pie 🙂 All other aspects were in order, packed and lit well, remained lit, good moisture level, excellent VA dominated aroma and a good volume of smoke. I really like the way this just came at me and I knew immediately this would be an arm wrestling match with no winner that turned into a friendly handshake just as quickly. Well done. Highest Recommendation! JCITLATW

Review based on a 2008 8oz bag, opened 3/10/10.

I am dismayed at the low ratings this blend has received from some reviewers. It is a high-quality, latakia-forward English -- with NO added casings/flavorings/sweetening of any kind, despite what some here have noted -- that delivers a wonderfully rich, consistent, and satisfying smoke.

I should note that I prefer English blends that put the Virginias a little bit in the background; too much in the background, and you start to move into Balkan territory. . . too little, though, and I lose the smokey oriental aromas and flavors that help to make an English an English. So I look for balance.

Dan Tobacco's mixture delivers beautifully. For me, it helps that the Virginias being used are African; they naturally have a darker flavor that helps them sit nicely in the mix.

For me, this is a fine example of a standard English blend, and I highly recommend it as such.

This is a nice late night smokey tobacco which is best smoked in large diameter pipes. It doesn't seem very popular but I think it is worth the price ($15) I pay for it. It does not bite and is full of leathery latakia and quality Virginias. Give it a try! Better than, but similar to, Dunhill middle strength English blends except of course 965 which contains cavendish.

Upgrading my rating of this tobacco. Blend stays consistent from tin to tin. A lot of complexity, becoming my regular English.