Butera Latakia No.2

I thought this was based on John Cotton's #1 and #2 but I see now it's based on #1. I don't recall smoking that, but I did smoke a fair bit of the 1/2. Excellent blend, but too long ago to recall the details.

This is an interesting blend. It seems to be a standard latakia/orientals/virginia but it tastes sweeter, brighter and creamier than most "balkans". There was an underlying essence that I was quite familiar with, so I did some sampling. Indeed, this tasted to me as thought the latakia and orientals were housed on a bed of McClellands Royal Cajun Ebony. That same mild but full tasting, dark roast coffee essence pervaded this one, with the condiments on top. I'm not sure if the RCE is actually used, but it certainly tasted like it. It was one smooth character, never biting or offensive, with a sweet creaminess that would be a great place for newbies to balkans to start their journey. It's hard to imagine any balkan fan not enjoying this one, although it's not my personal favorite.

Someone asked if this were similar to McClellands Oriental #14. Based on my memory of that, I think he's correct, although I didn't have any for comparison. This is a 3.5 star blend, just narrowly missing what I consider greatness. Well worth a try for someone who likes their balkans sweet and mellow.

You can very nearly classify this as a sweet English. The majority of the overall flavor is that of sweet Latakia. I do get a little Oriental woodiness to go with it. Pretty much nothing but sweetness from the Virginias. Not a bad smoke if you're a Lat fan. If you like the Frog, you should like this just fine.

Mild to medium in body. Medium in taste. No added flavoring, but some of the sweetness might be an addition. Burns very well.

So Latakia lovers ever tried Butera’s Latakia # 2? I would think that if you are a Latakia-phile you likely should give it a go. First I was surprised to learn that it was blended by McClelland and I suppose that is not a handicap as I enjoy several of their tobaccos but marketed as Butera Royal Latakia No 2. ( I haven’t tried no 1).

Out of the tin this smells like dried wood with a nu-like background. As usual it is very dry, consisting of dark medium brown with a little orange thrown in for contrast which I would think is the Virginia content. They tell me the Latakia is Cyprian but they don’t say what the Turkish or Orientals are.

It lights on first strike and won’t stop burning till it is gone to a fine white powder. The taste is pure smoky but in no way strong at all. Therefore I really wouldn't call it a lat bomb by any means. I suppose the Virginia tobaccos soften the flavour but are not in the least traceable on the tongue. So we get smoky, smooth taste without the sweetness from Virginia's. The other puzzling content is the Turkish or “Oriental” (precisely what this is I don’t know) which in no way alters the Latakia dominance but is in no way over bearing. Sometimes Orientals can lead me down a bitter path but there is none of that present.

I would not call this anything but a medium strength, pleasant Latakia smoke without being the bomb everyone seems to fear. As you know I smoke outdoors so the room note is mute. There is no flavouring and no casing. Unlike many other blend these feature Latakia in a blend promoting that tobacco unlike the usual English blends that mask it with other featured tobaccos. I would call it a pure Latakia blend that opposes such blends as Nightcap and Penzance in a positive way. I don’t think lat-philes will be disappointed. It is a refreshing orient-less Latakia featured tobacco.

Let me know if I’m right?

This is a quite nice English blend with a decent smokes. The tin note is good, nice smokey smell followed with herb and spicy flavor. Easy to pack and nice burnt, is not difficult to maintain the light and i dont need much of relight to enjoy this one.

There is no strong flavor or taste that i can detect from this one. Just a smokey taste and little bit spiciness or herbs flavor that i usually found at oriental herbal market with little bit sweetness on the edge but not too strong. This blend is just a mild to medium taste which stronger taste come at the middle of the bowl. From cherring until the first part middle of the bowl i just got a mild taste without any strong kick of nicotine also.

I think this one almost similar with H&H ten to midnight but with a better cut and better taste. Recommended for daily smoke and for those whose love mild english blends.

I have heard that this blend was an attempt to duplicat the old John Cotton #1, and couldn't wait to try it. Actually, it came pretty close, but perhaps just a bit fuller than JC #1. It seemed to be a very close relative of Ashton Celebrated Sovereign, with Cyprian latakia instead of Syrian. In appearance, it is a well variegated blend of many colors, slightly finer than medium ribbon cut. The aroma was well balanced, with the latakia, turkish and virginia components all present. Lighting the tobacco continued the pleasant experience of visiting old friends. It was rich, smokey, spicy and sweet all at the same time. Complex and with lovely nuances that I expected from Butera after tryng Blended Flake, but did not find in Latakia #1.

Excellent stuff, takes a match like nobody's business and stays lit all the way down. It's creamy naturally sweet and rich with voluminous smoke output. It does move down the bowl a bit quick a pensive pace reveals more, even with my enthusiastic puffing it never grew hot and Uncle Nic is very gentle which I appreciate.

Equally enjoyable to Latakia No.1; however, I do have a slight preference to the Basma in No.1.

I'll cellar a few tins of both, they're readily available and worthwhile.

Well that was certainly quite spicy! It was reminiscent of a maduro cigar. I certainly understand why so many smokers love Latakia. It was smokey without being overly so and I could detect a bit of virginia sweetness in the background. I would say this was a great way to start my foray into Latakias!

I have some jarred in my cellar from aroud '02. Nice mellow english blend (if you like McClellands english blends).Very smooth and smokey.RECOMMENDED.

Nothing to complain about and much to compliment, this is in the genre of the Frog Morton series. It is perhaps tastier than the original Frog, but not as complex as the latest Frogs with perique (which I do not smoke much anyhow). I have yet to review Ashton's two English blends for comparison.

This is unbelievably cool and winning. If one wanted to smoke absentmindedly, you can't go wrong here. Yet like the Frog series mentioned above, there is a ceiling that keeps the blend from reaching higher notes of flavor and complexity. Not quite muted, sooty or soapy- just controlled. Controlled has its place, particularly in crowds of non-smokers or when the tongue is fatigue.

I believe that some of the leaf is cased, perhaps the Orientals or Latakia specifically.

I do not spend much smoking time with the Frogs anymore, but enjoy them when I do. Royal Vintage Latakia #2 might replace them if I return to such friendly, unique territory. I would like to try RVL#1.