Robert McConnell Pure Latakia

Reading the New Annotated Sherlock Holmes I came across a note that stated that cigarettes were introduced to the west by Russian soldiers smoking cigarettes filled with Latakia. (For the scholarly, it is note 15 on page 1108 of The New Sherlock Holmes, edited with notes by Leslie S. Klinger, Norton, 2006.)

Having opened a tin of Pure Latakia to add spine to a weak blend, I borrowed a friend`s roll-your-own apparatus, and made myself a pure latakia cigarette. Well, It is an experience worth having once. The taste was resinous burnt cork, but the aroma was heavenly! The family has, over the years, come to love the scent of Latakia, so there were no brickbats but - if you will forgive the horrible pun - only bouquets.

It is worth experimenting with Syrian and Cyprian Latakia in pure form, just to appreciate the difference.

I purchased two 50 gram tins of McConnell's, Pure Latakia Pipe Tobacco a few months back for blending purposes/experiments. The tin features all three grades of the Cyprian leaf. It is a ribbon cut & comprised mostly of Cyprus Fine Scrap Tobacco, some fairly decent strands of regular Cyprus Scrap Tobacco (the middle grade) and a "minute" portion of the most sought after & most valuable Cyprian tobacco in very small leaf form. The color is mostly black with a minor amount of dark brown pieces. Smoked straight from the tin it had a slight sweet taste with mild to medium strength combined with the smoky, leather flavor, isn't harsh & doesn't cause chemical burn. I didn't like this straight out of the tin & it may have caused a mild headache... this, to me, is strictly for blending purposes. It's much milder but sweeter than the Syrian variety. Why smoke this straight when it can be used sparingly or even abundantly, if desired, as a condiment to create something better?

I've recently started blending Balkan varieties & have only mixed a few small batches of Balkan thus far using this Cyprian along with... aged McClelland's Blending Oriental, McConnell's aged Red VA, C & D's Small Batch Carolina Red, Wilke's Turkish Yenidje, Sam Gawith's Full Virginia Flake, Wilke's Unsweetened Black Cavendish or P & C's Green River Black Cavendish, Burley or DF Kentucky, a small amount of St. James Perique, a smidgeon of Lane 1Q, & of course, varying amounts here & there, as it were. I also plan on using some well aged Wellauer's Syrian Latakia & trying one or the other or both Latakia varieties to see how things turn out. I understand G. L. Pease's Bohemian Scandal used both Latakia varieties & of course, I feel compelled to try that option.

Obviously, McConnell's Cyprian Latakia, judging from taste, aroma & strength & from what little I know, is probably about as good or better than any other brand that can be obtained in this time period. These blending experiments are becoming a lot of fun especially when your very own "homeboy" blend turns out better than most pre-mixed Balkans available. FWIW, it is fun but very time consuming & notes must be taken on percentages of each type of varietal used in every sample. You know what's strange? I didn't even like the taste or smell of Latakia until I tried some aged (2002) Gallaher's version of the Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. Now, I find myself trying to capture lightning in a bottle. Patience is a virtue & good things come to those who... "waste?"

---

Sadly due to many issues Syria has suffered for many years now. To that end due to the civil strife and over production of the special hardwoods used to smoke this wonderful tobacco the supply is quickly shirking and will eventually no longer be available, at least for the near future. This blend is primarily for mixing (I put a dose in every tin of my Frog Morton blend) but can be smoked straight. Now some folks will not like it straight but others, like myself can enjoy that baked bread/sweet wood smoke/purfume/barbecue taste. If you like me can't get enough of Syrian Latakia you may want to stock up.

This is a follow up. I looked on the back of my new tins and there is a small sticker saying Cypress Latakia. I guess they just don't have any Syrian left. To Smoking Pipes credit they do say Cypress Latakia but McConnell still says Syrian pure Latakia. Once I smoked a new tin straight I knew it could not be Syrian as I did not get that strong sweet wood smoke/baked bread flavor I always get with Syrian Latakia. Oh well. Life is not always fair.

Being an EM fan, I try sometimes to make some homemade blends, using straight Virginias, Perique, Oriental and Latakia or adding Latakia to some mild/poor mixtures. I'm using Robert McConnell, Torben Dansk and Wellauer Latakia. McConnell's is very good indeed although a little bit flatter than my favourite Wellauer's. 4,5/5 in my personal rating system.

This is the pure joy for Latakia lover. Packaging says it is a quality Syrian Latakia for blending purposes and can be enjoyed straight if desired. Well I must say it should be smoked straight! It is not that kind of heavy, and even much more lighter than I ever expected, has a delicious taste, burns very cool. I couldn't find any reason not to smoke it straight. I feel like I have to keep one tin in my stock for all times.

According to the tin, this is the "best Syrian tobacco for blending." I will go further by saying that this is the best Syrian for smoking without qualification, without addition. The pure, intense, salty wonderful that only Syrian Latakia can supply, which Robert McConnell is providing unadulterated. Certainly will improve any English blend, but one will likely crave it for itself.

This review is bassed on thins made in october 2014 (K&K Code A/P/J/N), so the content is pure Syrian Latakia. I purchased a thin jus to try and make some experiments. I was so fascinated with the thin aroma and the delicious flavour, that I purchased some more thins to secure my personal stock for a long time. The smoky flavour is not overwelming when smoked straight, and it´s more subtle and elegant with the years. For blending it´s noticed from just a small pinch per bowl, so a silk hand is needed to blend, or this noble leaf will impose it´s law and will erase the flavour of the rest of tobaccos in a blend.

This is one really superior pure Latakia! I had been looking for a blending Latakia that was truly pure to spice up my personal blends. I am looking no further. The smoky aroma and sweet leathery flavor really adds to a good mix of toasted burley, red virginia and a pinch of black cavendish. Not overpowering, this Latakia enhances the flavor blend and takes the whole combination up a notch. Smokes very cool and is quite OK when enjoyed alone in a long-stem. I have even added it to so-called "drugstore" tobaccos or weak Orientals like London Mixture and enjoyed the enhanced boost it adds. Truly a very very good blender. Give it a try. If you are a Latakia lover, you will NOT be disappointed.

I dont understand the "dont smoke 100% Latakia, its only for real men and battle hardened pipe smokers" Well I started pipe smoking 3 month ago, I bought this Latakia to blend, and I smoke it straight. Its beautiful tobacco, its powerfull , yes , but not invasive or overwhelming, its flavoursome, elegant and interesting.

My 2 cents: Dont be afraid, you are missing the good stuff.