Just Like the Rest of My Friends, I Have Some Reviews As Wel

Germain Special Latakia Flake

I was able to score a tin of this in the last drop. I incessantly called my B&M about when their shipment would be getting in. Finally they get it in and I'm the first one to call. He reserves for me a tin of pez, stone and SLF. I just cracked the tin open yesterday to give it a try. The absurd B&M price that I paid for this tin was worth it.

Comes out of the tin a little wet. I let it dry for about 30 minutes and it was good enough to smoke. It doesn't come in cut flakes either. The flake is ripped apart along the grain and then formed into a sort of kake. I found this quite odd. Because of this I went with the rip and rub method instead of the fold and stuff. The flavour isn't strong. Very much on the mild side. The first thing I notice is this really earthy fruit flavour. The virginias are prominent to me. It's quite good. In the retrohale, I can taste the spice of the orientals and latakia. The spice is very subtle as well, it just dwells in the background. There is a lot of nuance in this blend to appreciate. Little to no bite, even in the nose. I consider this blend my perfect nightcap. Doesn't excite with strong flavour, but instead relaxes with gentle subtleties.

4.7/5

Mac Baren: HH Balkan Blend, A Viable Replacement?

Upon learning that Mac Baren had used the last of their syrian latakia stock, I rushed to stock my cellar with my favorite blend, HH Vintage Syrian. When I saw HH Balkan Blend come in stock on SP I worried that I had wasted my money buying a lot of Vintage Syrian when there was a new blend to carry on the torch. Today my worries are put to rest. HH Balkan Blend, while a very good blend, is noticeably different from Vintage Syrian. Now for the review:

To start, the tin note is very similar to that of VS. Both are creamy and rich. The Balkan Blend's note is a little less strong, though. Comes perfect out of the tin to smoke no drying required. On the charring light I only get a slightly smokey and creamy taste. After I get a good light, I am able to lean back and puff to my heart's desire. In the far background is the virginias. Light grass flavor and some sweetness. Next in line is the orientals. It adds a decent amount of sweetness to the blend, and works with the latakia to add a slight tang on the after taste. Now, the star of the show, the latakia. The typical cyprian taste is there, but subdued. This is also the big difference between VS and Balkan Blend. It as a woodsy and smokey flavor that, in my experience syrian leaf doesn't have. This is not a bad thing though. It works with the blend. Together with the orientals, and kentucky, it create a very relaxed and balanced tang. It doesn't overpower the creameyness that VS is known for. Everything works together, and nothing fights for center stage.


4.5/5

Content: Cyprian Latakia, Kentucky, burley, orientals, and virginia

Smoked out of a Tsuge Sandblasted Bent Billiard Bamboo

Source of ignition: Matches

Wessex Campaign Dark Flake

Instead of reviewing how I ussually do, with lots of adjectives, I'm gonna steal Mork 's style and review the feeling of this blend.

I'm not really a fan of straight virginia or virginia dominant blends. Tried HH Pure Virginia, didn't like it. Tried a few VaPers, thought they were only alright. When I bought this tin I didn't realize it was only virginia. If I would have, I wouldn't have bought it. That's how much I didn't care for the flavour of unbridled virginia. Even when I packed this bowl I didn't realizes what I was going to smoke. I sat down, lit up and got a pleasant fruity taste. I took a few puff and still didn't realize it. I thought for a second in the retrohale I could taste something a little spicy. I started to write this thread and thought I should know all the components before I did so. I went on tobacco review and was shocked to find what I was smoking. I thought, "this couldn't be. I swear I had read on the tin that there was more in here." I then began to rethink my dislike of straight virginias. There's a fruit flavour is much more rich than I had experienced before. Some subtle taste of the earth from which this wonderful leaf sprouted. Together creating a nice balance. I sat back and let the silk rivers of smoke pour out of my nose. "This is pretty damn good," I thought to myself, "why did I have to give so much of it away to greeneyes !" Well, now I'm happy and regretful. Happy from the smoke, regretful from my unwise decision to give away half a tin of this stuff. Lessen learned though, smoke a blend before you give more than 2 bowls worth away.



Reccomended pairing: Arizona Sweet Tea on ice


Funny anecdote: After seeing this review greeneyes sent the unsmoked portion of the sample of this blend that I had given to him. I begged him not to do it, as saying I was regretful was just a jest. Being the good guy he is he sent it back my way though. His generosity will not go unpunished.

Thanks again for sharing. We've got a good database now.