Peter Stokkebye English Luxury (No.17)

This is a very mild blend, basically an English, with the addition of Burley in greater amounts, which tends to create a slightly different flavor than the standard English blend. I'm going to state that many blends that do not list the burley content, actually have some burley in it, (I believe Greg Pease will agree with me on this). While English Cavendish is supposed to be made from VA, the word cavendish can mean either burley or VA, or a combination of both, and defines more of a process than a particular tobacco. Anyway, this blend actually has a decent content of Burley, outside of any that may be present in the form of the cavendish component. I don't know the exact formula but I would wager the burley content is relatively significant. The good thing about Burley is that in proper amounts, it can add a pleasant foundation to the blend, while taking on some of the characteristics of the other tobaccos, but too much can actually reduce the dimensional aspects of the blend. This blend balances the burley content nicely with the Lat/VA. I am smoking a 5 year old sample from one of my jars, so the fact that the Latakia is pushed a bit to the back during presentation may be in part due to the age (Lat can mellow with age) of this tobacco, and there is some loss of complexity due both to the age, and to the fact that it is aged with burley which tends to absorb, for lack of a better term, some of the distinct complexities of a blend over time. Still, there is a subtle nutty and sweet flavor with a small woody element to the smoke, which would likely be more notable if the blend had not been aged. The blend smokes cool and dry. Very few relights needed. I don't recommend aging this tobacco for long periods. Buy it in amounts that you will use within a 6-12 month period.

Jan 2017 update: I'm moving this blend up to 3 stars. Not sure if my tastes have changed, or I'm just getting more of a sweet tooth, but this blend does an exceptional job of conveying a touch of sugar to the palate. It's not a full dimensional English, but it is pretty good for an all day.

2021 update: I should have updated this 2 yrs ago. I'm moving this to 4 stars. This should serve as an example of how our tastes change over time. Some of it is perhaps due to subtle shifts in body chemistry. This tobacco blend has become a mainstay in my rotation.

Yet another of the bombing gifts from BoB. I got a few ounces of it and am smoking the final bowl now. I have to say, I will miss this one.

The tin note is Latakia heavy and smokey. The cut is a finer ribbon, nice looking. It packs and lights pretty easy. Not much bad to say about this blend in general. It has a good consistent flavor that is well balanced. Nothing stands out too much. I'm not sure about any topping here. I get little hints of sweetness here and there that I can't place a finger on. The strength is mild, maybe medium for some.

I don't know if I would recommend this to those who enjoy full English mixtures. Newer smokers will love it though. I've been enjoying it as a good change of pace from my normal heavier fare in the English family.

English luxury by Peter Stokkebye is one of those stumbled-upon treasures. Just yesterday, I took a trip to the smoke shop and perchased a medico pipe. I just had to buy some tobaccos. One of these was English luxury. The store owner said that this blend was one of her highest selling tobaccos. When I got home, I started working on Calculus problems and smoking this English luxury. I noticed something unsusual about this blend. It had a smokey aroma to it which reminded me of going through the Sweat lodge ceremony with my uncle (who is now the chief or tribal chairman of the Potowatomi). For my Native American family members, pipe tobacco is a very important aspect of thier lives. Most of the tobaccos I am familiar with are the aromatics found in grocery stores. Compared to English luxery, none of those blends compare to this favored blend. It leaves a very pleasant room note. The taste is stonger than any tobacco I have tried. Out of all of the blends I've tried I would recommend this blend to anyone who needs an enjoyable smoke. I have found my holy grail!

I highly enjoyed this blend! Everything about this English blend came in perfect! The Latakia did not over power the sweet taste of the virginias and cavendish. And yet was still very present. Will be a blend I go and get a whole lot more of to stock away.i have a feeling this will be even better with a few years under it's belt

A Fantastic tobacco. Slightly sweet, but medium bodied. A good Latakia aroma without being overbearing. Perfect for someone who is new to English style blends.

Another winner in the Peter Stokkebye blends. This is an unusual English. Not overpowering like most English blends. No Latakia over-kill at all. I even detect a faint citrus taste. I would almost classify this as an Aromatic English. There's something sweet in the first light, but not overly so. Of most of the English blends I've smoked, this one would have to be in my top five.

Randy W...

I've been holding off writing this review in order to make sure I haven't lost my senses. Alas ... irrespective of the discovery I will write anyway.

I have been smoking - for the last month - almost exclusively English Luxury. It is not a Latakia Dump, it is not a flavored tobacco other than the mildest of Black Cav which of and in itself is probably the most subtle example of Black Cavendish I have ever experienced as a component of a fine blend.

This is my all day smoke of choice right now... and of course, I'm fickle, moody and always reserve the right to change horses... but... this is fine stuff, nonetheless.

Key to my experience is smoking a stock that has a year of age on it. The fine ribbon is easy to pack, lights up right away ... and never bites ... providing you remember that this tobacco is for puffing - not huffing.

For a mild to medium strength it packs a lot flavor and is interesting. It isn't complex in the sense that it changes. It starts ... hums ... and ends the same. However the spectrum of enjoyment is play of subtle orientals (although the ingredients do not list any specific orientals - I believe they exist here), latakia in condimental proportions (not unlike the amount in MC Anniversary) and the black Cavendish is also a condiment. The air cured leaf, purportedly Mexican Burley, is exquisite in tying all the flavors together, and balances the blend as opposed to introducing a distinctly burley character.

I highly recommend putting a supply of this away, and allowing some air exchange from time to time. Magnificent stuff for an all day smoke. I have never been disappointed since it has been aged. Admittedly, the first time I tried it 'green' I found it essentially nothing more than hot acrid air. What a transformation !!

Cheers,

VC

Notes from the Post-McClelland Visionquest: I think I've lowered anchor with a replacement for the lamented core Dark English 5110 of my 2017-2018 rotation in this Stokkebye offering. It's the little touch of sweet that lingers through an entire bowl, with a medium Latakia hit, and a pretty blend of Virginias, Cavendish, and burley layering out a creaminess I was missing in several C&D, H&H, Kramer's, Sutliffe, Gawith, and other candidates sampled and more or less enjoyed over the past year. And at a fantastic bargain price. Stays lit, smokes dry, pretty in the pouch, good quality control, very few stems, veins, twigs, compost. I'm loving this a lot.

Out of the three Peter Stokkebye English's offerings (17, 52 and 306) at the moment, I think this one (17) is the boldest, focus on the Latakia, assisted by the Mexican Burley to construct the very base of this recipe, the Virginia (I don't see any bright one in my Mason's jar) and the black Cavendish are clearly on the backstage, very vague sweetness is showcasing in this mixture and you will get a hint of spiciness from the Orientals, just a hint, you have to pay attention to this and perhaps at most of the times it is unnoticeable! And frankly this mixture can't make your head spins but cautiously I suggest you have to put something in your stomach before you enjoy your well-prepared bowl, just my own opinion really, everyone's stomach is different if I'm honest! Its emphasis on the Latakia but it is not a Lat-Bomb!

3.5 out of 4