Peterson Wild Atlantic

The smoky, woody, earthy, very sweet Cyprian Latakia is a lead component that never dominates the mix. The smoky, woody, earthy, herbal, vegetative, lightly floral, mildly spicy, buttery sweet Oriental starts out as a secondary player, but quickly rises above that, especially by the first third of the experience, and eclipses the Virginia a bit. Often, it over takes the Latakia, too. The ripe, tangy dark fruity, lightly tart and tangy citrusy, mildly earthy orange Virginia also sports a couple of grass, wood and earth notes in a condimental role. A light sugary sweet topping doesn’t tone down the tobaccos much at all. The strength and nic-hit are in the center of mild to medium. The taste starts out a little shy of the medium threshold, but reaches that mark by the half way point. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a mildly inconsistent sweet and lightly savory, spicy flavor that translates to the mildly lingering after taste. The room note is a tad stronger. Leaves little moisture in the bowl. Requires few relights. An easy going all day smoke.

-JimInks

I added a pouch of Wild Atlantic to a recent tobacco order as a passing thought due to its inexpensive price here in the States. The pouch greets the nose with the Latakia amount that would be typical of a medium English blend with no scent of any topping. The cut is very thin ribbon and most pipers will find it pipe ready without the need for any dry time. Due to the cut it packs with ease and burns with ease. There is definitely a light topping applied to this blend that adds a slight sweetness to the Virginia tobacco. WA would make an excellent all day English blend at an affordable price that would rival many of its more expensive counterparts. The only thing that keeps it from being just under a four star blend for me is that it can burn a little hot when pushed, especially toward the second half of the bowl. I am not sure who makes this tobacco for Peterson, but they have created a very solid medium English blend. I will be keeping a few pouches around although for aging, I would recommend moving it to a Mason jar to ensure it doesn’t dry out.

Oriental forwarded english blend. Spicy, peppery smell of fresh tobacco is complemented with sweetnes after lightning.

These type of tobaccos are very similar. I can honestly say, that you can find sweetness and smoothness similar to Squadron Leader and flavor of pepper of Presbyterian mixture. Additionaly, maybe it is only me, I could find hint of floral essence.

STG started putting a release date on packages, which can't help but please. The Wild Atlantic I bought was released in March 2021. Opening the pouch, which was tightly sealed, I saw a mixture of golden brown in color, with flecks of darker cyprian latakia. The individual varieties of tobacco were quite easily distinguishable. The tobacco was a little moist, which is reasonable when packaged in pouches - there's no telling how long it will last on the shelf of some shop that usually sells ready-made, cheap blends.

I stuck my nose in the bag: hay, tar, leather, smoke from the fire, a bit of peppery pepper... and that was it. Each note is easily discernible, and doesn't overpower the rest. I remember that when I bought this blend a few years ago, it smelled different - more of a latakia tar with a woody aroma. The moisture and consistency makes it very easy to fill a pipe - no need to knead the tobacco. I took a medium sized billiard without filter, which I use for English blends, and after stuffing it, I easily smoked it.

The taste of the tobacco matched the smell - a bready rye note of ripe Virginia with a slightly buttery flavor of latakia and some pepper. Very simple. The tobacco doesn't bite and burns cool enough without burning. As you smoke, the pepper almost disappeared and the woody note became softer, the overall sweetness intensified, and the taste of sunflower seeds was added to the bouquet from somewhere. Apparently, the amount of Virginia in the blend became more and the amount of latakia less. The strength of the tobacco is a little below average, the nicotine hit, even in thirty-degree heat I practically passed over. The tobacco burns evenly, leaving a fine gray ash.

The tobacco smoke has the smell of tarry wood from a campfire with the same slight tannic note. It is noticeable, but I do not think that it is a serious irritant to others.

What can I say in the end? STG, after buying the recipe, clearly worked on the tobacco bouquet - it became more simple, but also smoother. On the one hand, the tobacco has clearly lost its originality. On the other hand, it became less annoying to others. As a result, this is not a bad, everyday blend. It goes great with my morning coffee, and can be smoked in small pipes. I will add to the advantages of its price, a little lower than the usual English blends in tins.

Autumn larch campfire at the begginning and well-coocked rye bread at the end. Simple, straight and and honest tobacco for every day. Not one of the famous "latakia bombs", but worth your attention.

If you are addicts to Oriental tobacco. That is your cup of tea. It is best next to Davidoff Royalty and Dunhill London mixture. For Oriental taste, Dunhill is strongest, Davidoff stronger, Wild Atlantic is strong with Latakia as background taste. However, its Oriental taste disappers rapidly. After half bowl, Latakia becomes dominant. It is complex of two different enjoyments. Does it suit for you?

This tobacco I learned to appreciate daily. It's a great product, rich in flavor that you always enjoy smoking.

While less strong than MM965 it knows how to accompany throughout the day and is very pleasant and easy to smoke.

It gives satisfaction and the Latakia is never overpowering. It is a well-balanced product of its kind.

One of my favorites.

EDIT 01/31/2023

Well, well...I had the Standard Mixture just side by side with WA. Hmmm... I tried to do one bowl after another one respectively and I can confirm WA is a great one, but one level less than the Standard Mixture. Well after all , if we consider the price as well would deserve those 4 stars, but ok, there are for sure better English. This is a great one for its own category.

Hint of char grill barbecue and very nice tase of Latakia mix with Virginia. Fragrance of the tobacco before burn is very nice and when its lit the taste of latakia is very evident and the hint of spicy barbecue

I smoked this tobacco while spending some time in Ireland a few years ago, with a new Peterson bulldog to break in. I'd bought the pipe and the baccy from the Peterson shop in Dublin - lovely chaps in there I must say! I smoked the pipe and the baccy on days out on my motorbike exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, a winding coastal road. Terrific fun on the bike, and breaks for a pipe to enjoy the peace and solitude along the way were a necessary antidote to the adrenaline which proceeds from tearing along twisty country lanes on a 500cc parallel twin...

I'm guessing the tobacco is named after the road, and in my mind it is, because it suits it well. I agree it has a subtle salty tang, there's a depth of woody earthy flavours, mossy, autumn leafy tones, and some woodsmoke from the latakia. This for me is the holy trinity for an English mixture: Virginia, Oriental and Latakia. This one sits a small notch above Dunhill Early Morning Pipe, good at any time of the day, not overwhelming, but not unduly mild. It's not a Latakia bomb, ignore that part of the description. But it is very pleasant.