Missouri Meerschaum American Patriot

Tobacco is ribbon cut, fairly long strands. For Missouri Meershaum to release this I was mildly and the fact that it's sold in a pouch, I may have expected a shorter cut for a "scoop and smoke" but no matter. I packed this into a MM diplomat and got to work.

Pouch note is sweet cavendish, latakia, and a fairly strong whiskey scent.

Char and initial light - this blend is quite familiar to me (more on that later). I pick up the cavendish fairly quickly, it's sweet and rich akin to tawny port. There is a little cloy there but it's countered by latakia, which comes in as a player just to even it out. There is no evidence of the whiskey topping at all.

Down the bowl, it's more of the same. An initial burst of that port rich sweetness, followed by the latakia playing a part slightly stronger than a condiment. As much as this blend synopsis states it is a latakia-based blend, after sampling some real lat bombs I would put this more as "contains some latakia". This isn't a big deal for me, I like latakia and it is a major player here, but it's not dominant.

Yes, the familiarity. The pouch note, the flavor, even the fact that the sweetness of the smoke almost cancelled out the latakia room note. This blend is incredibly similar to Boswell's Northwoods. I would say it's mechanical properties are slightly better than Northwoods (it was a very even, cool smoke), but the way the flavor transitioned from sweet to smoky, and those flavors were very, very similar.

Very good blend if you like Northwoods, or any English tobacco with the addition of Cavendish.

I am still curious why a bourbon topping was used though, if you don't really taste it in the end product... who cares? At the end of it all, it's a pretty tasty tobacco.

A very nice blend. Nice to the nose, the tongue, and the touch. It has a slight Latakia and bourbon smell, tastes smooth and a tiny bit spicy, and doesn't get too hot. You also only have to light once. This can easily be an everyday corn cob smoke for me... And that is saying something since I usually don't like English blends! Russ hits pay dirt again. Priced well, is not wet out of the pouch, and yet didn't get too dry as it sat overnight on my counter.

Plenty of Lat on the nose, this is a stronger than typical English. Has less Va than I'm used to, the difference being Burley, giving this baccy a reasonable punch.

Has a fair bit of acidity indicating that the Oriental component here is significant, but I'm afraid the nuances were lost to me under the Lat and Burley.

This is a very good tobacco at the price point and I will probably end up smoking a lot of it in the future as a result. Objectively a 2 star tobacco but at this price I'm bumping it to 3.

As a lover of the good old, unpretentious but a classic cob, how could I not try this MM Patriot, described as latakia forward, followed in order by a virgians, then oriental, and pullig up the rear some burley. Let it be sais my real enjoyment of what I'd like to call a good and classic tobacco, at least singularly is the beautifully burning, nutty and roast burley.

Like so many other smokers I moved up the ladder from the classic aro, 1-Q, to the greatley improved BCA, to RlP-6, thence to HGL and more recently to Sutliffs 504 Aromatic English and finally Sutliffs stunning R-Blend, said to compare quite favorably with the original Einstein's Revelation. Each a bit closer to what some might call a light English or an American English. The last two in particular provide a wonderful balanced complexity and balance in which the compoents were still discernable, but with no one stealing the show. It is said to have a bit of bourgon topping, but if it's there, it's barely there, but does work to provide

To me the MM Patriot goes one step beyond. Compared to the above, the latakins - formerly a condiment - now comes forward - while the lovely burley lead now follows. While latakia lovers will cheer, burley boys will lament it's repositioning. Now the the latakia lead - and in the manner of an Islay whiskey - now is the lead performer, with all the rest in only mildly supporting roles. Since balance and integration, with no one component dominating is my forte, I'm afraid this MM - though appreciated by the latakia flock, finds far less favor with me. Yes I get it, but no it doesn't work for me or for those of similar like mind. I'm giving it a three reflecting Russ' skill, but would deduct a 1/2 or point for balance. BTW, the description indicates a light bourbon topping which is barely perceptible, but does exist. With more time I may learn to appreciate this latakia forward blend, but I rather doubt. Latakia lovers should ignore me completely though, lol...

For those like me, the R-Blend will ring your bells with more clarity and sustain...

Steel Cowboy summed this blend up perfectly. About all I can add is my pleasure while smoking it. It makes me smile, because American Patriot takes me back to the 60's and the American/English blends that were available at tobacconists throughout America. This is smooth on the tongue and a cool smoking delight. The fact that it is available at a drugstore price is a bonus. If you miss the taste of tobacco shops of a long gone era, or wish to visit for the first time, give American Patriot a try.

Absolutely surprised by this blend. Bought it for the name and the pouch looked nice. Expected some bland drugstore weed, but wow was I surprised. If it was tinned and sold as a higher end English I would have agreed with the marketing. This is a mellow, righteous burning latakia forward blend with enough smyrna to give each pull a flavor that relaxes and pleases. This is a easy going all day even burning smoke that skillfully fills the gap between a mellow country English, and an American parlor aromatic. Thank me now..... Do it.

Thicker ribbon-cut out of the pouch pleasant. As advertised with latakia that delivers a quality blend. Responsive draw that burns well. An all-day sort of smoke that if you have it, you will smoke it. I’ll buy this again when I feel the need for a good latakia forward smoke. 3 Star.

Missouri Meerschaum - American Patriot.

I've not been able to post as many reviews this week so today's my 'catch-up' day!

So, I bought this out of inquisitiveness, what will the smoke be like for such a cheap price tag?

The mixture's prominently a ribbon, with a few bigger and smaller pieces. Sadly, it's a little dry, smokeable, but not one for long-term storage.

The flavour isn't bad. The Latakia and the Oriental are the stronger of the bunch; with the Lat' being a 'tamer' taste, than some of the sharper varieties. The black Cavendish gives a subtle vanilla-cream quality, smoothing the flavour. The other ingredients are much lighter in flavour. The bourbon adds a slightly sour top-note, but isn't strong. It burns steady, but can become too warm.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: pleasant to tolerable.

American Patriot? Price aside, two stars seem fair:

Somewhat recommended.

Like a lot of neophytes, in the early and enthusiastic days of my pipe-smoking journey, as one delves deeper and deeper into the pleasures of Latakia, Orientals, and Virginias, one tends to put up their nose at aromatics.

But, like a delicious and fresh Beaujolais or citrusy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (all tropical fruit a little of that most furtive of concepts; “terroir”) they, too, have their place in the pantheon and rotations of pipe-lovers everywhere (hello! Great Dane and Lane 1Q – here’s looking at you). Sutliff’s Maple Street comes to mind, yes it tastes like pancakes… yes, that is precisely the point, the same way that pancakes give us an excuse to eat dessert for breakfast.

I have found, the more I relish and delve deeper into the world of great Baccy the more I come back, every so often, to a handful of old and new aromatics which I am beginning to truly truly enjoy.

Like pancakes being a “breakfast item,” I would barely consider this an “Aromatic” in the truest sense of the word: the ‘bourbon’ topping is barely noticeable as ‘bourbon’ alone (betraying Russ’ deft hand) instead it acts a subtle sweet and enticing background note which melds together beautifully with the supple Burleys and Cavendish letting the judicious use of Latakia peek through just enough to keep you engaged and puffing whilst allowing the Orientals (also used in ‘judicious’ amounts) to envelop the whole darn thing in a cool and relaxing smoke.

Is this akin to London Mixture? No, but it’s not supposed to be- especially at the price, this is a remarkable wine and one which shows the magnitude of Russ’s talent as a blender.

THE LOWDOWN

Recommended for… anyone, this is perfect for the newbie who is interested in beginning that jump from aromatics to, in this case, English styles. There are a handful of baccy’s in this ‘aromatic-English’ category but in fact, for the value, blend, and pure joy of American Patriot, this one’s staying along for the long-haul.