John Cotton John Cotton's Numbers 1&2 Medium (re-release)

Like Bengal Slices, Mild and Medium 1 & 2, I have been lucky enough to have remaining tins of earlier versions. It arrives at great moisture content for me and in the tin; the Latakia is the most noticeable. The first word that comes to mind is “balance” as the proportions seem to be just right, offering each component tobacco to shine throughout the smoke. While not overly smoky, there’s enough Latakia to make most Lat lovers satisfied. It burns cool with more and more flavor as each bowl progressed. To me, it doesn’t taste a lot like John Cotton’s Medium 1 & 2, but I think it is better than that blend with brighter flavors. I could see myself smoking this daily.

The tobacco is a mix of brown, tan and black strands of ribbon in varying widths. Some of it looks chopped and there are a few irregular bits in there. Moisture may have been slightly drier than the #1 Mild. I loaded it as delivered.

Initial impressions are a slightly fuller body than the #1 Mild. The orientals present as a little more sour and there is the spicy tingle on the tongue. I almost get an incense when exhaled through the nose. From the looks of the blend I was expecting more of a latakia presence, but I would still call this oriental-forward with a little more bass. The Virginia tastes a little heavier, although I suspect that is the interplay of the components because a visual inspection suggests it is the same Virginia used in both. My palate is telling me the ratio of bright and red Virginias is heavier on the red side with this one.

This has been a very good smoke, and it is nicely balanced. I have a daughter who is very fond of certain orientals and likes the room note of Bishop's Move. I claim this is blend would get a similar reaction.

I think master blender Russ Ouellette did a great job of putting together this Cotton's clone of an old classic after sampling and studying the components of the original. The Latakia was very good and the Orientals flowed right into the blend beautifully. The original Cotton's 1&2 did not have to rely on the Latakia and Orientals as this one does but perhaps that's because I didn't get along with the Virginia. There is just not much variance as one works down the bowl as one expects from a blend with Virginia leaf. The backbone fell a little short of the original, but still, a very good effort and this is a very nice smoke.

I had a chance to smoke this well remembered blend in the early to mid-sixties when it came in razor cut tins. I remember great stacks of the two and four ounce tins in campus smoke shops; but, it was expensive and I was living on a few dollars a week. I picked 1&2 up a few years later in graduate school in two ounce flat round tins. Now that I could afford it, it was a frequent choice and very much in competition with Balkan Sobranie Mixture - it's nearest rival. I always thought 1&2 was stronger than BS Mixture; however, the current blend is lighter than the original and more on par with what I remember BS Mixture smoking like. I agree with reviewer Steel Cowboy 2016-02-20 that it doesn't taste like the original all that much. I also agree with reviewer Tabaco 2016-02-26 in that my preference of the three revivals is Smyrna, and for the very same reasons: 1. it has more zest and 2. it is much closer to the original blend. The new 1&2 looks like the original in packaging and overall tin appearance, with a beautiful range of colors from blond to dark umber brown. My first indication that it might be milder than the original was in the tin aroma; weaker than I remember in the original. On lighting up I knew it was similar to but different from the old blend. When you opened a tin back then, you knew from the strength of the aroma that you were opening a solidly medium English blend. The current offering is more toned down and noticeably oriental forward and, ironically, reminds me of early tins of Balkan Sobranie Mixture - a mixture that I always considered to be a little more oriental forward than John Cotton 1&2. So, all in all, not a bad experience and one that I recommend to be enjoyed by all of us, even though it might not be the old blend.

Very well done, tin moisture is just right, combusts great, fairly complex and nuanced. I found I got more out of it by paying attention going slow and combusting indoors. I've not had the original so no comparisons; however, my preference is Smyrna more zest and zing, it's also very close to the original.

I'll keep a tin or two of the medium in my cellar for a change-up but not to hoard whereas Smyrna I'll be double ordering to acquire inventory for the long run . . . good Lord willing.

This is another in the series of blends put together by Russ Ouellette guided by some great recipes from the past. Russ has done a great job with this one I think. All the components come together and play rather nicely here. The nicotine level is a little above middle of the road to me. The moisture level is great right out of a just opened tin. I can see getting more of this as time goes by. Definitely recommended.

Good English blend in itself. But, I don't know how accurate is the reconstruction. The tine note: Latakia smells first, then, Orientals and Virginias. Burning: It burns relatively well (it doesn't have so much moisture) to the bottom of the bowl. Leave almost no moisture. Nicotine level is medium, especially in the last quarter of the bowl. It is smokey and crisp. I wouldn't say it is an all day blend.

Tin note of smoky, earth, and mild fruit. Tobacco is a mostly brown ribbon with some yellow and a small amount of black mixed in. Moisture content is good. Burns moderately with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium... maybe medium to full, and consistent, with notes of floral, smoky incense, wood, herbal spices, leather, tangy citrus, earth, orange peel/zest, dry hay, musty sour, mildly spicy, a mildly sweet lemony background note, and a peppery retro. Latakia is leading with Oriental/Turkish and Virginia supporting. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.