Robert Lewis 123 Mixture

I have recently developed a taste for English blends with full bodied cigar leaf added. I have little to no experience with cigars, so I cannot relate to the claim of Cuban cigar flavour. This is an entertaining smoke where sweet Virginia leaf submits to the smooth & mellow Cuban leaf in a pleasing way for a smoking experience that builds as you burn it. Light & dark browns mix with near jet black in this ribbon cut mixture by Kohlhase & Kopp. A sweet bouquet drifts from the tin. Imported by Monjure, it speaks well of another German blend. The slightly acrid taste of the Virginia leads me to suspect that my tins have been sitting in a B&M for awhile - ignored by the masses. The only matter I would change would be to change the cut from fine to coarse. Also, I wonder what a good pressing would do for this already excellent blend. I recommend this blend to those seeking a rich tasting, slow burning smoking expreience.

Meerschaum Man Smoking a Yanik Inverted Skull

This tobacco is for those times when I want a full, strong smoke and I'll be smoking outside. I wouldn't know Cuban leaf from Carolina but I do know that 123 has substance without being overbearing. It's easy on the palate, has a good dose of nicotine, tastes wonderful, and burns even without need for relight if I've done a good job with packing. I let this tin sit for a couple months after opening and the moisture level is perfect. It's a little too moist when first breaking the seal.

A quality smoke I have no hesitation recommending.

This tobacco is, in my opinion, almost as good as its more venerable counterpart, Fox's The Bankers Mixture. Both purport to use Havana cigar leaf, high grade Virginias and a very peculiar type of unsweetened (in fact a rather bitter variety) of Black or Brown Cavendish, which other reviewers, I think, tend to mistake for Latakia leaf.

The difference, however, resides in the strength. Though both tobaccos are blended by the same house, a fact that is evident in the exceeding amount of moisture in the tin, RL 123 is far less strong and captivating than the Bankers. Whereas the latter is rich and dense (very much like a formal dinner at high table), the former is almost playful and light. By this I do not mean to say it is not as good or tasty. They both are excellent mixtures, and the spirit (if not the actual leaf) of a good Havana cigar is somewhere there: in the taste, in the aroma, or in the languidness of the creamy flavor as it rolls round the palate. But I do think that RL 123 is an early morning smoke?a panetella?, whereas The Bankers is a more serious affair?an Hoyo de Monterrey.

If you like a rich, dense smoke, one that is similar to Latakia Cavendish mixtures, or a plain rich Cavendish Virginia blend, you should try both. Personally, I smoke 123 after a light breakfast, with a good cup of coffee, and The Bankers after a hearty dinner, in the company of cognac or a straight Scotch.:

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's supertobacco!

Thanks to Joe and Steve Monjure at our local Tinder Box Pipe Night in Metairie, La., and Tim of paylesspipes, I secured two tins of this grand tobacco in September 2002. The last of those is nearly gone, and I will secure others for my cellar from Tim. HaHa! I smoked it in a new giant Ardor and in a medium large GBD from old (that is dedicated to cigar leaf). It's darn good.

This is a full bodied, natural smoke. A quality cigar leaf permeates the flavor. This has a grand enlish blend, including latakia, underneath. The cigar leaf still dominates the flavor, but it is not overdone (maybe more than 10%). It is cool, dry and slow burning but heavy, so it is best for an experienced smoker who enjoys a full tobacco smoke. No bite, but on the strong side but not too strong to me.

It compares favorably with Fox's (which bought out its competitor Robert Lewis years ago) Banker's blend, which has a rich cigar note too but is more of a medium smoke (also a great smoke); is not as potent as the Swiss Mogamo blend (I guess thank goodness and which has more of a latakia note); is somewhat smoother than Wilke's Churchill blend (but good); is heartier than Connoisseur's Special Reserve (all quality cigar leaf); and not a spicy as Peretti's 500 blend (which has perique too). All of these are cigar pipe blends. It's also heavier than Germain's Brown Flake (which is cigar-like) but not Gawith & Hoggarth's unscented Brown Flake (which is not cigar leaf but replicates the body of one).

I'd recommend this to a person who likes the fullness of Dunhill's 965 or Fox's Provost, and also occasionally smokes a cigar. The rich earthiness of the cigar leaf is what you can appreciate most from this blend. A step up in strength from Bankers. The english tobaccos (Latakia, etc.) give it the coolness and body to boot. A winner to those who want no-nonsense, real natural tobacco flavor.

Undeniably blended with latakia, unsweentened or lightly sweetened Virgina cavendish, some brownish, flue-cured leaf and cigar leaf. It appears to be about 60/40 darker to lighter brown leaf, with no bright leaf.

The cut is thin, medium length ribbons. 123 packs easily, burns evenly, cleanly and completely.

123 has a heavier, complex profile of flavors than most medium to med-full English blends on the market, though most of the time it is hard to taste one, single varietal.

The only leaf that comes forward to my palate, and this only occassionally, is the Virginia component. The latter is also where the potential for too much heat rests.

You will want to puff this hard because it tastes so good. Do not give in to temptation lest a sore tongue appeals.

It is to the nose that 123 has for me the greatest appeal. It smells, unburned and burned, just fantastic. I cannot get enough of this quality blend, but because it is rich and different, it is only occassional for me.

The trick to this blend is reducing the moisture present upon opening the tin. It does not work near bone-dry, either. I have Caminetto Canadian briar dedicated to it.

Here is a blend that wants its own pipe.  Or, at least, a pipe accustomed to cigar leaf blends.  In Virginia pipes, it is a bit harsh and a little hot.  Much of the "creamy" character is lost.  In pipes reserved for English blends, it's too subdued.   As I had set aside a few pipes for another favorite, GLP Robusto, I tried out 123 in them.  There, it found its stride.  The cigar leaf is highlighted, the Virginia adds sweetness, and whatever that other leaf is (some sort of fire cured VA?) adds a wonderful fullness.   It may also have been riding the coattails of Robusto's flavor.  So, to be fair to 123 (not to mention Robusto), I've set aside another pipe for it.  While not as exquisitely balanced as Robusto, it is nevertheless a full and forgiving blend.  It suffers my occasional rapid puffing abuse with no bitterness or bite.

If for no other reason, get a tin to run through those pipes that have yet choose their tobacco-- this may just be it!