Peter Stokkebye English Luxury (No.17)

English Luxury is an under-glorified blend, IMHO. This stuff is absolutely great. Packs and burns great. The Latakia in this blend is just sufficiently present, the nutty Burley makes itself known in every puff, smoothed out by the cavendish and somewhere in the background the Virginias give a very slight hay note. There's the slightest topping on this blend, something like brown sugar, which really adds to the experience. Rich, smoky sweet, and delicious. Medium strength, medium flavored, nicotine just below the medium mark, burns well. This blend is a great intro English, and good enough to satisfy experienced smokers as well. Top notch.

This was my first real tobacco purchase years after the terrible Captain Black and Bugler, and right after the hot vanilla air of 1Q, fished out of a glass tobacco jar at a cigar shop. I was intrigued by the look, a mix of colors from bright straw to those matte black chunks of Latakia, the suggested quality of an English tobacco (via Denmark) and that smoky note. It was a revelation when I first put the match to it and let me know that pipe tobaccos could be varied and savory.

Looking back on it now, it is a very middle of the road English blend, which is not to denigrate the blend but to suggest it is balanced and a good choice for beginners. As an English, maybe better viewed as a Scotish style tobacco it smokes cool and pretty dry, even though the few times I've bought it it has been pretty moist. The primary flavor is the Latakia, not particularly smoky and definitely lacking the aromatic incense of some, but a nice leathery tone. I have to admit that all Latakias make me salivate a bit, literally speaking. It is a sweet English, probably a result of the Black Cavendish. The straight Virginias are pretty muted. There is some tang throughout leading me to believe that orientals are part of the blend even though unlisted. The sourness gets a little stronger in the last third and I would get distinct bursts of milk sugars right before it would gutter out, very much like Mackeson milk stout. Over time the Latakia has faded and benefits by a little addition.

All in all a good blend, one to be recommended without reservation but nothing to get too excited about. It is a nice steady smoke, a good introduction both to the style and piping in general, and pretty easy on the wallet.

thomasanswered wrote pretty much what I was going to say. I've moved on to stronger blends. This is a good starter blend.

I have been smoking for almost four years. I am not a heavy, always got to have my pipe type smoker, and therefore am no expert. I have tried a variety of baccys from drug store, to bulk, to tins in a wide price range and have yet to find THE one. However, as of now, this is the one I have settled on. I don't think I have come close to finding the perfect baccy, but this one is good.

I do not like highly flavored weed (cherry, vanilla, etc) I just like tobacco. I would not like anything too strong, too weak, too hot, too cool, etc. I want something flavorful, but not overpowering. This is a good mix for that 'middle of the road' range. It is English, but it is somewhat 'soft' and even almost aromatic.

Best of all it is at least in my area easy to find and not very expensive.

Until I find Mr. Right Tobacco, or at least something better, this will coninue to be my mainstay.

Very nice, light English blend. Minimal if no casing detected which may account for the slight harshness of the smoke. It's mild, flavoursome and pleasurable. It's reasonably complex and a nice blend of Cavendish, burly and latakia, leaving a nice smoky, earthy taste. Nicotine is minimal. It burns to a nice grey ash, packs and burns well and no bite. The room note is tolerable. Smoked in a Peterson Dublin 999. 3/5 stars

This is a great, easy tobacco, a perfect all day smoke, a lovely entry-point into English blends for those new to latakia, and also a good first tobacco for newer pipe smokers who like smoky, earthy flavors. Easy smoking mechanics, packs well, lights easily, stays lit, doesn't bite the tongue whatsoever. The latakia doesn't overwhelm but it's not hiding either. There's a little added sweetness in the blend but it's subtle, neutral, and doesn't affect the flavor or smoking behavior. For the price this is one of the best tobaccos out there.

A gift sample from a friend. Already aged 7 months in a jar. Lights and smokes well with the burleys nearly as present as the Latakia (definitely not a lat-bomb). I don’t detect any particular flavor (vanilla, etc) but agree with others that there is some added sweetness, either from casing or the black cavendish. Further down the bowl I taste more spiciness, perhaps cinnamon. Can’t be from Orientals as there are none. Maybe the Latakia? The Virginias are less noticeable at this point. It’s an easy-going English for sure: a nice smoke in the winter but light enough for warmer weather, if my sample lasts until then!

A solid 3-star English.

Smoking now:

Packs and lights fine. Smells sweet for an English. My understanding is this is topped with an sweetened topping.

Has a woody, grassy, earthy quality. The Latakia is in there but it’s very mild and isn’t a smokey herbal type of flavor but a mild earthy quality. Retrohale is pleasant. There is a mild sugary molasses sweetness to this which makes it rather nice. A mild and slightly sweet English blend. Does not bite or tingle the mouth. Something that you could smoke all day. It’s mild, smooth, and not too complex by design.

Burned dry, left a lingering but short smokey after taste in my mouth. Wasn’t unpleasant but it was there. All and all it’s not bad, nothing special but it hits the spot if you like that sweetened Latakia style blend. Very mild flavor. Something I can smoke at my local lounge all night with drinks.

Really enjoy this English blend. As others have said it's lighter on Latakia. I find it to be a really smooth and mild smoke. I think this would be an easier smoke for newer pipe smokers looking for an alternative to aromatics and to try out English blends. I found it reminded me of Sherlock's Choice from Tinder Box, but it's been a few years since I sampled that one.