Ogden Ogden's Mixture

As noted by other reviewers, this is a 50/50 mix of St Bruno and Gold Block - both former Ogden’s of Liverpool blends, hence the name.

Gold Block is only available in 40g pouches whereas Bruno is available in 25g and 50g pouches so I keep 1/5th of the Bruno to be enjoyed on its own. To be honest, I don’t think that the blend would suffer from adding the extra Bruno to it; it’s all personal choice at the end of the day.

I have made up this mixture using both the flake version and the ready rubbed version of St Bruno and find that both work equally as well; the rubbed out flakes can be kept as more of a broken flake which can slow the burn of the Gold Block down quite considerably. The counter poise to this - the slow burning SB burns noticeably quicker which might put off some smokers who do not wish to alter their SB cadence.

This is very much like a cheese and onion sandwich; you can taste the cheese and you can taste the onion but put them together and they make a third flavour all of there own. I find Gold Block, on it’s own, to burn down a bowl like the clappers and it can burn the tongue quicker than a dragon trying to blow out candles on a birthday cake. When the Bruno is added, it slows the whole race down and it only bites the tongue if you reach a part of the bowl that hasn’t been mixed well together.

Preparation - onto newspaper, pour out the pouch of Gold Block, next to it pour out the St Bruno and then blend them together with your fingertips; be sure to lift and tease the tobaccos together and take some time at this stage. As the name implies, Gold Block is made from golden Virginias and the Bruno is Burley and Kentucky - mixed together it does seem like the blend is 75-80% Gold Block but don’t be disheartened, this is good stuff but it does do better with a little time for the two blends to get to know each other.

As I have noted elsewhere and to anyone who will listen, St Bruno comes with a very powerful vinegar note (as do Erinmore, Condor, Original flake I find these days) and both the Bruno RR and Flake versions do well having a few months in a jar “breathing” to use a sommelier’s phrase - the time loosens off the vinegary shackles and allows all the beautiful stewed prunes and raisins smells to come through. It is the same for this mixture - give it some time; I think I am going to make up two or three jars of this blend in the full expectation that by the half way point of the third jar I will have found a most exquisite concoction. I am even tempted to have a look on eBay and see if I can get an old tobacco jar because of the quantities involved; it is very nearly 4oz’s when made up but with the whole Brexit uncertainty looming next month, it might be advisable to get some of this made up and cellared, in case there are any problems with procurement or indeed, price rises.

Room note - the GB does add a heavy, cigarette smell to the room note, which is not as pleasurable as the SB on its own and may garner some looks of disapproval from cohabitors. The actual smell as it is burning is quite pleasant I am told but this is more of a “bottom of the garden” blend because it hangs around.

This is a gorgeous blend though - nicotine is perfect, the spicy bite of the GB is tamed beautifully by the SB but not enslaved by it, the rich burley/Kentucky is a fine supporting cast but, just when you think like that, you notice that the GB is now the support cast for the SB; it’s good stuff, to the point where I wonder if Ogden’s ever made this and sold it as it’s own blend of tobacco? I have trawled the internet looking to see if this is true but, alas, I can find nothing.

All told, this is well worth a shot and makes a not so great tobacco (imho - GB) and a great tobacco (SB) into something even greater - a cheese and onion sandwich.

This mix is one of the best thing in life, very difficult that you will fine a better smoke, does not matter if you like English Latakia oriental blends or Virginia, this mix is the best of both worlds.