Two Friends Deacon's Downfall

The Cyprian latakia is richly smoky, woody with some deep sweetness, and while it is the dominant tobacco, it doesn’t overwhelm the other components, so this is not a lat-bomb. The dark stoved Virginias offer some earth and an ample amount of dark and stewed fruit sweetness as the base that holds the blend together. The black cavendish appears to be unsweetened as I detect no vanilla, and helps smooth out any rough edges with a little brown sugar. The Oriental adds some spice and wood, and a little dry sour note in a minor role. The perique is an important supporting player with some spice, raisin and fig characteristics. As others have noted, it seems more obvious at the half way point, and holds on to the end without taking a lead. Has a mild to moderate nic-hit, and won’t bite or get harsh. Well blended with a flavor richness that just barely weakens at the finish. Burns at a moderate pace with no dull or harsh spots, and leaves very little moisture in the bowl. Needs an average number of relights. Has a very pleasant smoky, woody after taste and room note. Not an all day smoke. Three and half stars.

-JimInks

Four years on the shelf have done nothing to 'tame' the richness of this blend. This is heady stuff. The black Cavendish seems to hold the Perique at bay, allowing the Latakia and Orientals to have their say. But I hasten to add that the Perique is present, in all its glory, from midpoint onward. Perfect complement to viewing an espionage film, a who-done-it mystery or simply contemplating one's navel.

Dark chocolate colored with a bit of milk chocolate as well, this chunky ribbon has a tin note (8 oz tin, with about 3 oz smoked so far) of latakia and old cheese. Very pungent. Some of GLP's latakia blends have this aroma as well as a couple of the C&D Burley Flakes, all of which I thoroughly enjoy, so I was pumped to get this going. I was not disappointed. Picked this tin up in a trade.

This comes across the marquee as Latakia and the Supporting Players at first, but then the lat tones down a bit and the orientals rear up, with the Virginia next and the perique far to the rear but noticeable. The perique makes a bolder statement during the last half-bowl but never threatens to become an equal partner, let alone take over. This is what I would call a meaty blend - kind of like a stew, where every component is a major one in its own way. It's a chewy meat rather than a tough one, and quite tender. The emphasis is on spicy rather than sweet, and on bold rather than nuanced. Hard to describe but the best I can say is that even the subtleties were forceful. Complexity was moderate but noticeable, and I'd say it was complex but not arrogant about it. But it was not a latakia bomb by any means, although it seemed loaded quite nicely with that condiment. Overall it seemed expertly blended, and I would expect nothing less from these two giants of the American blending world. The Virginia seemed to be the glue that held it all together, although it was only mildly sweet. The blend was very much stew-like and if you like your tobacco blends bold but not "in your face" and something that you could pick up around, say, noon forward, this is an excellent one to try. Not destined for my rotation but I'll be enjoying what I have left.

A solid blend with nuances of smoke, cheese, butter, and toasted bread. Rich flavors and medium bodied. An enjoyable smoke. Can't give it four stars, but it's a firm three.

On first opening the tin, which looked like it was about to explode, both the tin note and the flavor of the smoke were extremely funky. Something similar to how straight perique smells, which is not at all nice. Not to mention, the elements didn't seem to gel very well with each other.

However...

After three days or so, everything changed. It's not uncommon for some tobaccos to settle down a bit after being opened, but I have never experienced such a dramatic change as with the DD. Perhaps the downfall of the Deacon was getting a little impatient on his search for bliss. In any case, the funk disappeared, and everything melded together into a sublimely rich smoke that is simply fantastic. I dig it in a large conical chambered pipe.

The latakia is definitely present throughout the smoke, but is well balanced by the other elements. They all work together to produce something more than the sum of the parts, which is as much as you can ask for with a blended tobacco. Some delicious flavoring peeking out from underneath it all but I couldn't tell you what it is.

Always on the lookout for blends with a decent amount of latakia that have a richness of flavor from the other tobaccos to balance it out and fill in the gaps. Not all that easy to find sometimes. Here is one.

This tobacco was just OK. Nothing jumped out at me. As with any blend that has virginia, latakia and perique, it's either a dud, or is stellar (nightcap). This one just did not pull it off.

the first bowl I had of this I wasn't sure what I thought, made by two of the best blenders out there and I was a little disappointed, I tried a few more bowls and still had the same outcome, I jarred it up and set it on the shelf 6 months later I try again, and wow what a big difference the short time on the shelf did, I don't know if there was any age to the tin to begin with as it was a gift, but I think opening the tin and giving it fresh air, and then putting it away for a short time really changed the flavors of this blend, Very Smooth, Smokey, spicey and lively to the tongue, the oriental leaf in it stands out and lets you know there is more to it than just latakia.
I happen to be drinking a Chai tea Latte with it the two go together like Peas and carrots

The "steak and kidney pie" of Latakia blends. That is how I would analogize Deacon's Downfall. Rich, strong, deeply smokey, a bit spicy and meaty in a crust of savory dark Virginias and Cavendish.

If that reference doesn't resonant, how about Nightcap with a touch more complexity? Woefully ignored during the now defunct "Nightcap replacement" era. I am not a fan of Nightcap, but I really like DD. Why? For all the reasons given in the tin description. I find it apt.

Smoke some fresh or aged (I'm smoking DD from a 10 year aged tin). It is edgier fresh, but still quite full-flavored with significant age. I like it best in wide bowls, such as a pot or billiard. Deeply intense in a conical chamber if you need more intensity. I prefer DD in a cylindrical chamber for a rounder result.

A very easy blend to lose oneself in daydreams or contemplation. Fine choice for the experienced Latakia and perique smoker. Probably not a good choice for the uninitiated.

Deacon is a flavor packed tobacco that turns hot smoking at the 1/2 way point to the finish. I like the flavor but the heat is to much. I'm going to try this in some other pipes and see if anything changes. I will update at some point....I'm sure you all will be waiting :)haha!

UPDATE: Ist time I smoked this it was in a Castello start to finish. 2nd time in a Ascorti New Dear and a re-light from the night before. Much better working off the re-light better flavor, a little sweetness and just a touch of Latakia. Changed my rating to 3 stars!The larger the pipe the better it smokes.

Maybe I expected too much from this blend based on the fine pedigree of the blenders. It was not a bad blend but not an amazing smoke.

I managed to get a a hold of a 3 year old tin, on which this review is based. Upon opening opening it, there was something in the tin aroma reminiscent of vomit, like others mentioned. Though this faded away after a few days of being opened. After which all one is left with is the smell of latakia.

Flavorwise, to me this was rather one note with latakia predominent. None of the sweetness of the cavendish or virginias came through. If I was not told there was perique present I would never have guessed it. Also the orientals were drowned out by the latakia.

Also it smoked wet for an english/scottish blend.

It is a decent latakia blend, though I probably won't buy it again. Full flavored but very one dimensional.