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Post by Professor S. on Jan 29, 2021 13:13:06 GMT -5
Now, I've not been smoking a pipe for long. My experience with pipe tobacco is extremely limited, and I wouldn't even consider myself an aficionado (or even a reliable source of information) of cigars. The subtleties of taste which others describe in tobaccos and whiskeys are largely lost on me, apart from being able to detect three separate flavor changes in the H.Upmann "Banker" cigars.
Having issued that caveat, feel free to take the following with however many grains of salt you deem appropriate.
Being an English literature teacher, I was quite excited to find out there are a number of blends inspired by H.P. Lovecraft stories. As an aside, this does seem a bit odd, because HPL neither smoked tobacco nor imbibed alcohol--but some of his pen-pals and other writers of his Mythos stories did; not least of which was Frank Belknap Long. Why no-one has released a Tindalos blend, or something named after "The Space Eaters" (which seems appropriate, given the temporal distortion that occurs when enjoying a relaxing pipeful) escapes me, but I digress...
In short, I did not like this tobacco. At all. The blend ingredients are listed as Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia, & Madness. I'm guessing that the strong taste and smell came from the Latakia. It smells peppery, like a combination of incense, old diesel motor oil, and even older leather. The smoke stung my nose, and I just could not bring myself to enjoy the taste. Fortunately, the room note was far milder and more pleasant.
Unless I hear otherwise, and until I can consult with my tobacconist, I plan on steering clear of blends that include Latakia.
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Post by sparks on Jan 29, 2021 13:22:04 GMT -5
I'm guessing that the strong taste and smell came from the Latakia. It smells peppery, like a combination of incense, old diesel motor oil, and even older leather. The smoke stung my nose, and I just could not bring myself to enjoy the taste. Fortunately, the room note was far milder and more pleasant. Unless I hear otherwise, and until I can consult with my tobacconist, I plan on steering clear of blends that include Latakia.
That sounds about right. Generally, smokey, incense/floral, and leather are all scents and flavors associated with Latakia. I would say don't avoid Latakia, simply look for opportunities to try it maybe in a lower proportion in a blend. It's quite possible you don't like it, but often these things grow on us.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 29, 2021 14:37:35 GMT -5
Now, I've not been smoking a pipe for long. My experience with pipe tobacco is extremely limited, and I wouldn't even consider myself an aficionado (or even a reliable source of information) of cigars. The subtleties of taste which others describe in tobaccos and whiskeys are largely lost on me, apart from being able to detect three separate flavor changes in the H.Upmann "Banker" cigars. Having issued that caveat, feel free to take the following with however many grains of salt you deem appropriate. Being an English literature teacher, I was quite excited to find out there are a number of blends inspired by H.P. Lovecraft stories. As an aside, this does seem a bit odd, because HPL neither smoked tobacco nor imbibed alcohol--but some of his pen-pals and other writers of his Mythos stories did; not least of which was Frank Belknap Long. Why no-one has released a Tindalos blend, or something named after "The Space Eaters" (which seems appropriate, given the temporal distortion that occurs when enjoying a relaxing pipeful) escapes me, but I digress... In short, I did not like this tobacco. At all. The blend ingredients are listed as Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia, & Madness. I'm guessing that the strong taste and smell came from the Latakia. It smells peppery, like a combination of incense, old diesel motor oil, and even older leather. The smoke stung my nose, and I just could not bring myself to enjoy the taste. Fortunately, the room note was far milder and more pleasant. Unless I hear otherwise, and until I can consult with my tobacconist, I plan on steering clear of blends that include Latakia. Be sure to seal it up tightly in a Mason jar and put it back of your closet. Tastes change a lot in the first few years of smoking a pipe. I smoke stuff now that I couldn't stand when I started. I still haven't developed a taste for Escudo, but I have ample put back in case I ever do develop a taste for it. |
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Post by Professor S. on Jan 29, 2021 15:30:05 GMT -5
Now, I've not been smoking a pipe for long. My experience with pipe tobacco is extremely limited, and I wouldn't even consider myself an aficionado (or even a reliable source of information) of cigars. The subtleties of taste which others describe in tobaccos and whiskeys are largely lost on me, apart from being able to detect three separate flavor changes in the H.Upmann "Banker" cigars. Having issued that caveat, feel free to take the following with however many grains of salt you deem appropriate. Being an English literature teacher, I was quite excited to find out there are a number of blends inspired by H.P. Lovecraft stories. As an aside, this does seem a bit odd, because HPL neither smoked tobacco nor imbibed alcohol--but some of his pen-pals and other writers of his Mythos stories did; not least of which was Frank Belknap Long. Why no-one has released a Tindalos blend, or something named after "The Space Eaters" (which seems appropriate, given the temporal distortion that occurs when enjoying a relaxing pipeful) escapes me, but I digress... In short, I did not like this tobacco. At all. The blend ingredients are listed as Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia, & Madness. I'm guessing that the strong taste and smell came from the Latakia. It smells peppery, like a combination of incense, old diesel motor oil, and even older leather. The smoke stung my nose, and I just could not bring myself to enjoy the taste. Fortunately, the room note was far milder and more pleasant. Unless I hear otherwise, and until I can consult with my tobacconist, I plan on steering clear of blends that include Latakia. Be sure to seal it up tightly in a Mason jar and put it back of your closet. Tastes change a lot in the first few years of smoking a pipe. I smoke stuff now that I couldn't stand when I started. I still haven't developed a taste for Escudo, but I have ample put back in case I ever do develop a taste for it. That's good advice, Ron. Thanks! I've sent a sample to the guys at the HPLHS (along with the jar label) "for the archives." I wasn't quite sure what to do with the rest. We're working on finding another house, so I'll make sure it's well-sealed and stick it in storage along with my other curiosities. |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Jan 29, 2021 15:39:45 GMT -5
I still remember my first taste of Latakia--Astley's No. 1, Medium Latakia. I didn't know what to make of it at first. Within a few months, I was smoking Lat blends almost exclusively. The above comments make sense: try something with just a little Latakia and save what you have for the future. After a few years of heavy "English" blends, I lost my taste for it and smoked other blends. Nowadays, I have a bowl of a Lat blend once or twice a week.
Hmmm... where's that jar of Nightcap?
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 29, 2021 15:53:07 GMT -5
I like up to a 80% Latakia blend. Any more than that is one dimensional. 😜😎
This is obviously a multi-dimensional blend. Also, note that Latakia tends to fade in storage. Even a year can make a major difference.
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Post by urbino on Jan 29, 2021 15:55:37 GMT -5
Latakia is often an acquired taste, it seems. I was just saying last night that the very first and most dominant note I get when I smell it in the tin is novocaine. I'm not sure I even know what novocaine smells like, but that's the sensation I get, somehow.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 29, 2021 19:18:42 GMT -5
Be sure to seal it up tightly in a Mason jar and put it back of your closet. Tastes change a lot in the first few years of smoking a pipe. I smoke stuff now that I couldn't stand when I started. I still haven't developed a taste for Escudo, but I have ample put back in case I ever do develop a taste for it. That's good advice, Ron. Thanks! I've sent a sample to the guys at the HPLHS (along with the jar label) "for the archives." I wasn't quite sure what to do with the rest. We're working on finding another house, so I'll make sure it's well-sealed and stick it in storage along with my other curiosities. Now if you don't just love his Mountains of Madness, you just need help! 😁 🤠 |
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Post by Gandalf on Jan 29, 2021 19:28:47 GMT -5
I seem to be acquiring a taste for it.
I have some "Plateau of Leng" in the mail. We'll see.
And I just recently bought some blending latikia and perique.
Planning to mix some sweet black cavendish with a roughly equal amount of latika - and a little perique.
Seems like it would be a good mix - but in reality I may be disappointed.
I'm just tinkering.
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Post by Gandalf on Jan 29, 2021 19:30:45 GMT -5
That's good advice, Ron. Thanks! I've sent a sample to the guys at the HPLHS (along with the jar label) "for the archives." I wasn't quite sure what to do with the rest. We're working on finding another house, so I'll make sure it's well-sealed and stick it in storage along with my other curiosities. Now if you don't just love his Mountains of Madness, you just need help! 😁 🤠 I don't see Mountains of Madness available on his site. They act like Plateau of Leng replaced it.  |
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Post by taiguy66 on Jan 29, 2021 19:46:02 GMT -5
When in doubt or wanting more information about blends, check out www.tobaccoreviews.com. I found this site extremely valuable in my pipe tobacco journey. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 29, 2021 19:46:46 GMT -5
Now if you don't just love his Mountains of Madness, you just need help! 😁 🤠 I don't see Mountains of Madness available on his site. They act like Plateau of Leng replaced it. 😐😯😮🤬 |
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Post by urbino on Jan 29, 2021 19:56:50 GMT -5
When in doubt or wanting more information about blends, check out www.tobaccoreviews.com. I found this site extremely valuable in my pipe tobacco journey. It's helpful. It's not gospel, but it's definitely helpful. |
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Post by taiguy66 on Jan 29, 2021 20:40:31 GMT -5
When in doubt or wanting more information about blends, check out www.tobaccoreviews.com. I found this site extremely valuable in my pipe tobacco journey. It's helpful. It's not gospel, but it's definitely helpful. Like everything Urb, it’s a helpful tool. |
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Post by Professor S. on Jan 29, 2021 23:44:02 GMT -5
When in doubt or wanting more information about blends, check out www.tobaccoreviews.com. I found this site extremely valuable in my pipe tobacco journey. Thanks! I appreciate the tip |
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 30, 2021 0:41:28 GMT -5
Plateau of Leng (Mountains of Madness reborn) is what is called a Lat bomb. Seriously heavy Latakia for those who cannot leave behind the evil campfires of the Plateau itself. Might be best to venture forth into the world of Latakia with a milder English, perhaps Presbyterian Mixture. Cornell and Diehl also makes a HP Lovecraft inspired tobacco blend range. Visions of Celephais, for example. Just thought I'd throw that out there, if you want the madness with a little less Latakia.
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Post by Gypo on Jan 30, 2021 2:40:22 GMT -5
It took me maybe a year to fall into the world of Lat. Somedays that is all I want to smoke
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Post by Professor S. on Jan 30, 2021 7:56:02 GMT -5
Plateau of Leng (Mountains of Madness reborn) is what is called a Lat bomb. Seriously heavy Latakia for those who cannot leave behind the evil campfires of the Plateau itself. Might be best to venture forth into the world of Latakia with a milder English, perhaps Presbyterian Mixture. Cornell and Diehl also makes a HP Lovecraft inspired tobacco blend range. Visions of Celephais, for example. Just thought I'd throw that out there, if you want the madness with a little less Latakia. I have a couple ounces of Visions of Cephelais on order. I'm hoping it'll be a more pleasant smoke. I've a tin of Haunted Bookshop reserved to pick up when the Cephelais arrives. After reading some of the advice here, I mixed a bowlful with 2 parts Golden Harvest blend with 1 part Plateau of Leng. There was enough Latakia to make it a "meaty" smoke, but the Golden Harvest tamed the flavor enough to make it a really enjoyable after-dinner smoke. I'm still amazed at how that Plateau of Leng can taste and smell so strong, but leave such a mild, pleasant room note. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 30, 2021 11:35:34 GMT -5
Plateau of Leng (Mountains of Madness reborn) is what is called a Lat bomb. Seriously heavy Latakia for those who cannot leave behind the evil campfires of the Plateau itself. Might be best to venture forth into the world of Latakia with a milder English, perhaps Presbyterian Mixture. Cornell and Diehl also makes a HP Lovecraft inspired tobacco blend range. Visions of Celephais, for example. Just thought I'd throw that out there, if you want the madness with a little less Latakia. I have a couple ounces of Visions of Cephelais on order. I'm hoping it'll be a more pleasant smoke. I've a tin of Haunted Bookshop reserved to pick up when the Cephelais arrives. After reading some of the advice here, I mixed a bowlful with 2 parts Golden Harvest blend with 1 part Plateau of Leng. There was enough Latakia to make it a "meaty" smoke, but the Golden Harvest tamed the flavor enough to make it a really enjoyable after-dinner smoke. I'm still amazed at how that Plateau of Leng can taste and smell so strong, but leave such a mild, pleasant room note. He uses only the best tobacco, stuff that isn't available in a large enough amount to make it commercially feasible. That's why most of his blends are limited editions. He had one with Syrian Latakia. I got a heads up, but it was gone before I could get any. |
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