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About Me:
I'm a blend gypsy wandering from one thing to another. Tend to favor VA blends including VAPERs, Balkans & Scottish styles.
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HU - Asmara 100g
Oriental Blend with a Balkan Flair
Judging from the tobacco proportions on the label I drew a quick conclusion that this blend was done in the Scottish style: mature Virginias on top supported by Orientals in the second position with Perique and Latakia mere condiments. Well, so much for quick conclusions--Asmara is not blended in the traditional Scottish style. It's much closer to a Balkan in flavor and character. The Orientals have more than sufficient character to display a prominent spicy Balkan taste and personality along with a pretty fair amount of herbal fragrance. The Virginias are rich, a little sweet, and just below the Oriental element in dominance. (Though, it's close to an even balance.) I don't detect much from the Perique, but I do get just a little wood smoke from the Latakia. Asmara is not quite great and wonderful, but it is nevertheless quite good and very worthwhile. It's a happy 4 out of 10 for strength and 6 out of 10 for flavor and taste intensity
HU - Louisiana Broken 100g
VAPER with a Variation
When you employ quality tobaccos the chances are pretty good that you're going to get superior blends. Such is the case here! The Virginias used in this blend are upper tier--very rich and very flavorful. I've only smoked about half of a 100gm tin over the course of a couple of weeks, but it's enough to convince me that this belongs with some of my other favorites. This is a variation on a VAPER simply because it adds Dark-Fired Kentucky (DFK) to go along with the Virginias and Perique. For me, the DFK displays more personality in this blend than the Perique, but the DFK it's not so strong that it smothers the Perique as sometimes happens in other blends using these components. You can still readily taste the Perique. Nevertheless, there's a pretty fair amount of wood smoke. The strength is a 5-6 out of 10 for strength and a 6-7 out of 10 for taste and flavor. It does display a very slight rough edge, but I believe that that is primarily due to the DFK. Otherwise, a truly exceptional blend overall and very worthwhile. This may be considered a broken flake, but it's a narrow cut broken flake--almost a ribbon in thickness.
Rattray's - Sir William 100g
Very Nice, Softly Aromatic Smoke
This is a very tastefully executed softly aromatic smoke that should have some appeal even for the smokers who don't typically enjoy aromatics. I think it's a great change of pace for the "straight" tobacco smoker. This is one of those boozy blends that I sometimes enjoy--Sir William has a light whisky topping. Primarily Virginias with some added dark-fired Kentucky, cured Indian and Thai Burley for taste. I would give it a 5-6 out of 10 for strength and flavor and it's aromatic qualities are just above a 3--noticeable, but not over-powering. The "whisky" does not interfere with the tobacco taste--it enhances it. I could certainly find myself smoking this every day.
Rattray's - Red Rapparee 100g
Unique Blend
One of the finest English blends on the market today. I lean a bit more toward classifying RR as a Balkan rather than just an English blend due to the strong influence of the Oriental element (non-Latakia). But at the same time the Latakia presence is a bit more than you might find in any number of blends classified as a Balkan. I'm not sure that a classification really matters--not everything fits in a pigeon hole. I've been smoking Red Rapparee (RR) since the 70s--that's when it was still produced in Perth, Scotland. The flavor is faithful to my memory of the original with the exception of a bit more sweetness. Balkan Orientals on top, Virginias in support as the base, a pretty fair amount of Latakia and a bit of Black Cavendish to add sweetness and perhaps a little more depth. That's basically how my palate interprets this blend. Deserves 3-4 out of 10 for strength and 6 out of 10 for flavor. I can be a little old-fashioned in my views; I am always torn by the inclusion of Black Cavendish in what should be a quality blend. I often find that Black Cavendish "cheapens" a blend--it functions more as a filler. But sometimes its inclusion does help to expand the blend's flavor profile. With RR I consider the inclusion of Black Cavendish to be an enhancement offering a slight improvement over the original. The tobaccos meld together in a wonderful manner resulting in great flavor. It's certainly possible to spend more, but I think it's difficult to find better. Even though prices have increased, Rattray's blends continue to be worth the price.
Rattray's - Old Gowrie 100g
Civilized Variation of Hal O' the Wynd
I have admired and appreciated the Virginias in the Rattray's blends for over half a century. They are some of the very best available. The biggest problem with Rattrays has been the sporadic availability of the brand over the years. If you enjoy Hal O' the Wynd (HOW), but wish that it displayed a more temperate personality, this is the blend for you. Old Gowrie is very smooth and displays good manners with none of the sharpness and ill-temper of HOW. Simply put, Old Gowrie is primarily a mix of Virginias augmented by a little Dark-Fired Burley and Perique for additional flavor. It can be smoked anytime and anywhere or even all the time if you are so inclined. This blend is tough to beat!
Rattray's - 3 Noggins 100g
Great Old-School Blend
This is a primarily Virginia blend spiced with Latakia and other Orientals. The Virginias display a relatively full and rich taste and the flavors of the Virginias dominate the blend. The Latakia and Orientals, while there, are not overly intrusive. This is an English blend only in the purist sense--it does contain some Latakia, but its presence is relatively restrained. I'm certain that this is a blend that will appeal to those Virginia lovers who enjoy just a bit of Latakia for spice...but just a bit. I would place the strength at about a 5 on a 10-point scale and the flavor is easily a 6. Overall, 3 Noggins is smooth and displays good manners. It's somewhat pipe selective, but aren't they all.
Drucquer & Sons - Loch Ness 100g
BEST Scottish There Is
I'll keep it simple, there is no other Scottish style blend that beats this one. Wonderful mature Virginias on top supported by a solid mix of Orientals and a bit of Perique and Latakia. Classic. I believe that the 25%+ increase in the price of a tin over what it was not terribly long ago is too much. I can readily accept $20 for a 100gm tin, but not almost $27.
Drucquer & Sons - First Amendment 100g
An Enhanced Virginia Blend
An English blend in the sense that it follows the English purity standards. It does not contain anywhere near a substantial quantity of Latakia and there are no other Orientals--but that's not to say that they're necessary, only missing. First Amendment is a blend driven from the Virginia and Burley mix and they are pretty well-melded (Sometimes C&D sourced Virginias act more like Burleys and their Burleys act more like Virginias.) But In its all-together this blend is pretty rich and a little earthy. I think that the other tobaccos perform more as flavor enhancers. The Perique appears more in the latter half of the bowl adding a bit of pepper, the Latakia adds just a wisp of aroma in the side-stream smoke and only a hint of taste. The presentation is a flake broken lengthwise and it has in all likelihood been steamed and pressed--the color is mostly a very dark brown. This is a worthwhile blend that I smoke whenever I want a heavier taste, so it's only occasional smoke for me. Slow-burning, cool, and dry. Not all blends benefit from a little extra aging, but this one does. My tin has about an extra year on it. It's smokable right out of the tin (after some air exposure and about a week of just sitting), but the extra time improves the blend.
Drucquer & Sons - Trafalgar 100g
Fairly Traditional English
A traditional approach to a classic English with the exception of the addition of a bit of Perique--not much, but rather uncommon in a blend that is not a Scottish. I would put the Virginias in the first position with the Orientals (non-Latakia) just behind. The Latakia is what I would consider to be enough, but somewhat restrained. The Perique is barely there. Trafalgar is about an overall medium in all respects--perhaps a tad less. It's a solid and predictable blend that should have a broad appeal because of its moderate approach. I do enjoy it from time-to-time--it's interesting, but not fascinating. I think this might be considered a day-to-day standard smoke.
Drucquer & Sons - Inns of Court 100g
Great Tasting Blend
If it was good enough for Byrd to carry to the Antarctic I think it's certainly good enough to carry off to a desert island. This is a blend that will please lots of folks and offend no one. It's primarily all about the Burley/Virginia mix--exceedingly well-proportioned with the nutty Burleys a little in the lead position for my tastes. There's plenty of flavor and I find it to be very pleasing and satisfying at any time and on multiple occasions during the day. In my opinion this hardly qualifies as an "English" blend because the Latakia is far from substantial--not much more than a pinch or two. And the Perique is also equally reserved. Straight-forward tobacco taste and aroma--tastes like tobacco and smells like tobacco. Deserves closer to 3 circles for strength rather than just 2 circles--this is not a mellow blend, but it is quite smooth and flavorful. Absolutely no detractors and extremely worthwhile!
Drucquer & Sons - The Merry Monk 100g
Wonderful Stuff!!
A very rich, complex, and tasty flake where the individual components display their individuality--at least while young--you can taste everything. My tin had only about a month on it and I'm just not sure that aging will prove beneficial. Not all blends improve from aging and I believe this may be one of them. (Haddo's Delight is another example that I believe must be smoked young before the blend becomes too integrated and the tobaccos and toppings lose their personality.) I would reverse a couple of the circle ratings--I think it deserves 3 circles for strength, but 4+ for taste, but my views are subjective. I especially enjoy the flake format because I can prepare it the way I want. For me smoking is all about flavor and of all of the D&S blends I find that this one delivers a bit more. Get it when you can.
Drucquer & Sons - Red Lion 100g
Even-Bodied & Slightly Sweet
This is a smooth, even-bodied, slightly sweet and tasty English with a restrained measure of Latakia. The Latakia is enough to notice in the taste and the aroma, but not enough to intrude. The Virginias are in the lead with pretty much everything else in support. I believe that the Black Cavendish is the source of the little bit of extra sweetness and I'm relatively certain that it acts as a binder for the other components in the blend. Aside from the Virginias I don't find that any other tobacco really stands out. It's a pleasant blend that leans a little toward the mellow side of medium in all respects. It's worthy of your attention.
Cornell & Diehl - Sea Dog 2oz
Very Pleasant Americanized English
An Americanized-English blend with Dark Burley in the lead position. There is a enough Latakia to provide some charred wood to the overall flavor throughout the smoke, but it's not an overly dominant feature. Virginia Flake (that has been fully rubbed out and cut into ribbons) undoubtedly acts as a mitigating force on the power of the Dark Burley while contributing some additional richness and perhaps a little extra sweetness. The Black Cavendish undoubtedly provides a bit more sweetness and works as a binder bringing the other components together. The Turkish Oriental is obvious and provides some sour herbal notes and is mixed at a level that strikes me as more than a condiment--it is noticeable on every puff. Sea Dog approaches medium in both power and flavor. There is a noticeable sweet/sour and earthy interplay between the various tobaccos and there is plenty of body and flavor. I find that the smoke aroma is not nearly so offensive as many other Burley and Latakia combinations. This is not a love at first pipe kind of blend—it requires a few acquaintances.
Cornell & Diehl - Epiphany
An Everyday Good Smoke
I smoke this quite often when I have it on hand. I can't explain precisely why, but this blend just works for me. It might not be the greatest and most wonderful blend ever created, but it is easy to smoke and enjoy anytime and anywhere. The overall flavor is driven from the combination of Burleys--white, dark and cubed. But the dominance of the Burley flavor is tempered a bit by the Virginia flake which smooths the blend and helps to eliminate some of the inherent bitterness in the Burleys. There is just a small measure Perique that I think imparts some extra sweetness, but it's subtle. And Epiphany is only slightly spiced with a bit of smoky Latakia. The last bulk batch that I received about a month ago had more scattered Virginia flakes (as large as 1/2 inch wide X 3/4 inch long) than I've seen before and they were scattered throughout the blend--I believe that this is a relatively recent modification. These flakes do require some manipulation before smoking since I thought that they were a little too large to simply stuff in the bowl. This blend is allegedly based on the original Revelation (Phillip Morris version) which goes back a century. Call it a codger blend, an old-timer's blend, a geezer blend or whatever, it's just a solid blend that always seems to suit and satisfy. It certainly manages to push all of the right notes on the keyboard.
Cornell & Diehl - Rajah's Court 2oz
Even-tempered Balkan
This is a Balkan blend that is balanced just right. The tobaccos complement each other quite well. The Orientals are slightly in the lead with the Virginias (I think more Bright than Red) just behind and a Latakia element that doesn't fight for control. I notice a decidedly "creamy" quality in the smoke. I would characterize the strength and flavor as about a “medium”--4 to 5 out of 10. It is quite refreshing even in Florida's torrid summers. I don't smoke it all the time or even every day, but I do try to keep some on hand.
