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Welcome back to another episode of Tasting Notes. If you've been following this series recently, you'll know that I've been smoking my way through the entire Sillem's portfolio. I started with the Aromatic mixtures — the Green, Blue, Red, and Black — and I've now moved on to the flakes. Today, I'll be reviewing a blend that I'm confident you Latakia fans out there are going to enjoy. It's another of Sillem's blends with a strong cult following and a dedicated fanbase: Sillem's Commodore Flake.
No Orientals or Virginias?
Compared to similar English blends, one interesting thing about this mixture is that there is no Virginia leaf listed among its components. Latakia, Dark-Fired Kentucky, and Black Cavendish are all disclosed, but Virginia is not. Honestly, it's kind of impossible to tell whether or not any flue-cured leaf was added, but the flakes themselves are quite dark — they almost look stoved, though that could be simply a function of having Dark-Fired and Latakia in such large proportions.
The tin note is sort of on the tangy side. It definitely has those signature campfire and woody notes, like hardwood smoke or mesquite barbecue, and there is a very faint fruitiness, almost like a tangy sort of tart berry aroma. On top of that, there's a hint of leather and a little brown sugar coming through. The aroma is much more velvety, smooth, and inviting than you would expect from a blend that seems to be nearly all Latakia and Dark-Fired leaf.
The flakes themselves are very well cut and uniform. They rub out really easily, though the moisture is slightly on the high side for my taste. I gave this about five minutes of drying time, and I packed my pipe loosely. It can take a little while to get going, but once it does, it burns really well and produces a lot of smoke. I would recommend not letting this one dry too much before you smoke it, simply to preserve those subtle flavors; if you dry it too much, the sweetness seems to dissipate and those spicy notes dominate a bit more.
Evolving Depth of Flavor
Once you get the pipe going, it's a dense, thick, creamy smoke — as you would expect with a blend that has this much Cyprian Latakia in it. Immediately, those distinctive, woody and earthy notes shine through. There's definitely some umami character to this blend, but there's also a more delicate spice, almost like clove or allspice. We often talk about that signature incense-like quality of English blends, and it's definitely present here as well.
Typically blends that have a higher percentage of Dark-Fired tend to produce a more spicy character on the palate, with just a hint of barbecue-like sweetness and brown sugar, but there's a surprising amount of sweetness here. The same thing goes for the Latakia. Typically with high percentages of Latakia, those big, deep, woody notes dominate the palate for me, but here it's actually quite creamy. There are hints of vanilla, almost like a good bourbon that's been aging in a cask for a long time. The Latakia and the Dark Fired actually seem to be working together to roll off the somewhat harsh edges you may get from either of those tobaccos individually. Instead of an overwhelming amount of smokiness, or an overwhelming amount of spice, you're getting more of a creamy, slightly sweet, and nutty character from both of these tobaccos.
As you approach the halfway point of the bowl, things get a little deeper and richer. A little more of that earthiness shines through, but the sweetness and the nuttiness remain in focus the whole time. I'm not sure if it's the Cavendish adding a little extra body and creaminess, but everything is exceptionally well balanced. It's almost like a Red Velvet or Black Forest cake without the icing — it's not cloyingly sweet, but it's quite dense, creamy, and full-bodied.
A New Twist on the Genre
If you're a Latakia lover, Sillem's Commodore Flake is a must-try. Fans of C&D's Pirate Cake, Peterson's Nightcap, Rattray's Black Mallory, and G.L. Pease's signature English mixtures like Odyssey, Quiet Nights, Gaslight, and Spark Plug, will find comfort in this mixture, but it's not a 1:1 match. Commodore Flake may be in the same vein as those blends, but it brings something different to the table; the omission of Orientals and Virginias gives the genre a whole new twist.
Honestly, even Virginia/Perique fans, especially those looking for a change of pace, will enjoy this blend. The way Commodore balances sweetness and spice isn't terribly dissimilar to a good Va/Per. Yes, there is Latakia and, yes, those smoky flavors are present, but the way it's blended with the Dark-Fired and Cavendish soften those edges significantly to the point where you're really just experiencing the intricacies, subtleties, and complexities of the leaf. It's far from one-dimensional and exceptionally well blended — definitely worth a spot in any smoker's rotation.
Sillem's Commodore Flake
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Comments
Thanks for the review, Shane. I have smoked Commodore a few times in the past, but it sounds like I will have to pick up another tin.