Peretti British Blend

Bought this at the Peretti store in Boston in one of my visits and was told that this is the oldest English blend sold in the U.S. Had to take a taste of history.

Tin note is musty, smoky Latakia which is perfectly balanced with the spicy Perique and some sweetness from the Virginia. Slightly perfume and floral notes from the Balkan leafs.

It's a high quality blend that would be considered by many as an example of how a Latakia blend should be. Full flavored, distinctly sour-sweet, with great spiciness coming out, especially when retro-haling.

Easily packed and smoked, no relights, doesn't get hot in the bowl, and great all-day for those who like Latakia as an all-day despite the full flavor and certain complexity. This is not a G.L Pease type of English, but more old-style Dunhill.

3.5 stars, only because 4 is reserved for the absolutely best. But this one is definitely up there touching the greatest.

A lifelong Cavendish smoker, I recently decided it was time for a change. I have on many occasions tried English blends, usually prepackaged brands like Nightcap, but always found them to be too strong for my palate. Plus my system can't take the big nic hit. Then I stumbled on this blend. It hits the spot perfectly. Very nice blend of Latakia and a bit of Perique. Strong enough to satisfy, but not so strong that it overwhelms. I only wish I had discovered this blend years ago.

Peretti has a magical way with Burley and a competent way with English blends. British Blend best exleplifies this. For an affordable, satisfying Latakia/Turkish tobacco, it works. For a truly exemplary specimen of the genre, it is lacking. I one wants to taste Peretti's best in this type of tobacco, I strongly recommend Royal Blend.

Not that there is anything objectionable about British Blend...there is simply nothing exemplary about it. One could do as well with ALMOST any bulk English blend. C&D's Plantation Evening or Peretti's own Prince of Wales leap to mind, as does Lane's bulk version of Crown Achievement. I think British Blend aimed at Dunhill's REAL English Blend-Medium, not the sorry stuff available today. If that is indeed the case, then the Peretti boys came pretty close.

The pouch aroma promises more than the smoke delivers...there are hints of leather and cinnamon on first whiff...but they get buried in the smoke.

As this (like most House of Peretti blends) was conceived in the long-ago, perhaps the original Latakia was Syrian instead of Cyprian. That would make a HUGE difference, though without the Syrian version to compare it with...this is only speculation.

This will suffice for ANY English smoker--but completely satisfy only a few.

Two out of four stars.

This is a quality English Blend tobacco. This has a little too much peppery taste for my liking. I currently smoke Penzance about 95% of the time, but Peretti's British Blend is a nice change of pace from time to time. Lights easily and stays lit. Burns right down to the bottom of the bowl, with no tongue bite whatever. The flavor is very pleasant. The Perique is prominent through the first half of the bowl, then quiets down. This is a full bodied English tobacco with Perique and Latakia which are blended perfectly. The wife does not object to the room note, which is another plus.

This is a nice medium English, spicy, nice aroma and tastes good. This packs well though quite dry when it came to me, not unusual for an English or Peretti's which ships, IMO, at the perfect moisture level. Nice volume of smoke, creamy. The first half of the bowl was very nice, but it seemed to get a little harsh toward the bottom. A good blend, however, to be sure.

Smoke in peace, my friends.