Barling Tradition

Once the plastic bag inside the tin is opened, it’s easy to tell that Tradition is going to be a bold English blend. Many pipe smokers will find this dry enough to smoke right away, however I like my tobacco on the dry side so a few minutes of dry time was preferred. The blend of the two different Latakia’s offer both smoky and incense qualities to the smoke. Tradition is full to very full in flavor, but not strong in the nicotine department, but average. It burns cool and, personally I find the Syrian to really add the key dimension to this blend. It is what distinguishes this blend from other full English blends IMHO. The interplay between both Latakia’s is very pleasant. The broad cut Virginia, while adding a needed dimension, doesn't offer much sweetness. After being less than impressed with Garnet, Tradition is a well done smoke that lovers of full English blends and Latakia lovers will enjoy.

A very nice blend clearly quality leaves were used, I take my hat off to Planta.

Tin-moist is just the right level, the first few bowls I dried out on a piece of paper for 5 to 10 minutes and the taste was a bit too bitter for me. There's some bitter in general from the Syrian Latakia which also adds a nice church incense note on the palate, mind you occasionally Cyprian can do that too. Both styles of Latakia are noticeable, interesting and quite enjoyable.

This is not a Latakia bomb nor is it a massive blend although biggish and somewhat full but that's subjective and I prefer big rich flavours anyway; jaded palate. For less experienced folks it may be over the top. A touch of Uncle Nic, which is just right I can pack bowls consecutively if the mood suits. For those whom desire a bowel moving Nic-blast you'd be better off with something else.

Quite a nice mouthfeel a touch creamy which often does not coincide with bitterness, this one's an exception. Another big exception and a big positive in my books, after popping the lid with oxidisation it gets better deeper and richer too. Far too often tinned blends tend to fade quickly and become quite mute with oxidisation some do recover but not all. I'd recommend a briar with a large 1" diameter bowl mind you most English and their cousins tend to show better in a larger bowl at least for me.

I'm not sure what it reminds me of perhaps something from Sam Gawith or JF Germain/Esoterica, maybe Murray era Dunhill too. Regardless it does have that certain 'British taste' to it, mind you the Germans adore that style being quite proficient at it.

Good stuff, I've plans to cellar a few tins and always nice to find something new and very tasty I hope it's around for awhile. Since I enjoyed this one I'll have to buy a tin of the Garnet Red medium and see how it goes.

Summary: a strong English with dark fired Kentucky Burley making the Latakia spice pop to the surface.

Some English blends are designed for relaxation late in the day, and taste like gingerbread or cinnamon toast, but "Tradition" roars to life as a spicy, zingy, and energetic blend that seems a perfect complement to a crisp, bright winter day. The broad-cut leaf comes at a perfect moisture level, and when lit, the sage and pine flavors of Latakia -- both Cyprian and Syrian feature in this mixture, up to half of the total weight -- rise to the foreground like a firebird from the depths of Hell. But then, and here is the magic, that dark fired Kentucky Burley comes from nowhere and turns the spice flavor into a spicy, smoky one. At this point, the Virginias distinguish themselves mostly by subtlety, shaping this into a holiday flavor like habanero-infused pfefferneusen, but this blend of smoke makes for a tingling tongue and eye-opening blast of flavor. All Englishes may feel under-dressed without the dark fired leaf in the future. I am sad to see this one is discontinued, but if I brought it back, I would swap the proportions of dark fired and Latakia, and use white Burley instead of half of the Virginias. This was a great blend and occupied a unique place on the English mixture spectrum.