cwpiperman
Junior Member
Posts: 234
Favorite Pipe: Radice Rind Pure Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate/Mississippi River/Plum Pudding/NightCap/Gaslight
Location:
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Post by cwpiperman on Feb 25, 2019 15:28:04 GMT -5
Hey all,
I've really been loving AAB, and I was noting that TobaccoPipes had a sale on it......was all ready to buy some more until I noticed that these Artisan Blends had been updated to contain Cyprian Latakia vs the original Syrian. I know that's a vanishing quantity, and that we've probably seen the last of the Syrian, but I was wondering if anyone had compared the 2 Artisan's Blends and had come up with a review or comparison? Be interested to know how much difference there is.
Thanks!
CW
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Post by slowroll on Feb 25, 2019 16:13:21 GMT -5
I've tried it,not bad, but it won't replace my Engine 99 or Arango.
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cwpiperman
Junior Member
Posts: 234
Favorite Pipe: Radice Rind Pure Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate/Mississippi River/Plum Pudding/NightCap/Gaslight
Location:
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Post by cwpiperman on Feb 25, 2019 17:45:48 GMT -5
I've tried it,not bad, but it won't replace my Engine 99 or Arango. Won't replace Arango for me either. That stuff ROCKS. CW |
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Post by kbareit on Feb 25, 2019 17:50:28 GMT -5
Picked up 5 tins since it was on sale. Never had it but it sounded good.
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 25, 2019 17:57:24 GMT -5
I'm not sure what leaf is in mine but it's good, whatever it is.
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Post by Dramatwist on Feb 25, 2019 18:24:17 GMT -5
Syrian has essentially disappeared, unless you purchase vintage tins at a healthy markup.
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Post by kbareit on Feb 25, 2019 18:29:46 GMT -5
This might be a dumb question but what is the difference between the two? Is it the same tobacco but grown in different regions or are they completely different strains and processed differently?
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Post by slowroll on Feb 25, 2019 18:42:36 GMT -5
This might be a dumb question but what is the difference between the two? Is it the same tobacco but grown in different regions or are they completely different strains and processed differently? As i gather the leaf is somewjat different, the Syrians had their own type of leaf, and the Cypriots use something similar, but not exact. And the wood used to cure is different as well. But, it's still good. Not having latakia would be a catastrophe, so long live Cyprian latakia, however the hell they make it. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Feb 25, 2019 18:49:54 GMT -5
Its a "deepness" of flavor, to me. You can also throw in the idea of not being available anymore. Greg Pease calls the Syrian "sublime". Never heard anyone say that about Cyprian.
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Post by slowroll on Feb 25, 2019 18:57:52 GMT -5
Its a "deepness" of flavor, to me. You can also throw in the idea of not being available anymore. Greg Pease calls the Syrian "sublime". Never heard anyone say that about Cyprian. On the other hand most of the Syrian used for pretty near 20 years was old stock, so it would be pretty subdued. When I smoked all those latakia blends 40-50 years ago with new Syrian, I recall them being very sharp and tangy. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 26, 2019 6:47:21 GMT -5
I had a quick look at my tin of Artisan's blend to see if it had Syrian or Cyprian latakia in it. There is NOTHING on the tin apart from the name and a load of 'smoking might not be the best thing to do' stickers.
Shame
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Post by monbla256 on Feb 26, 2019 12:36:58 GMT -5
From what I've been told, when the war in Syria started and we and Pres. Assad bombed them, the Latakia farmers stopped growing the tobacco. So the only variety we have available is that grown in Cypria. My own impression is that the Syrian variety was sharper in taste than the Cyprian.
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Post by sperrytops on Feb 26, 2019 12:57:28 GMT -5
I just opened a 2 year old tin of McClelland 3 Oaks, which uses Cyprian Latakia. The blend is amazing and rich. I think a little age improves Latakia as well as Virginias.
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captblack
Junior Member
Posts: 224
Favorite Pipe: Peterson, Tsuge, Savinelli
Favorite Tobacco: Aromatics and English Blends
Location:
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Post by captblack on Feb 26, 2019 15:27:17 GMT -5
Syrian Latakia is hard to come by in blends, but not impossible. Syrian latakia was a victim of the Syrian conflict as well as endangerment of the wood used to fire it... So I guess we have to get used to the Cyprian variety as Syrian is not coming back anytime soon.
The sale on Ashtons Artisan Blend is a good jumping off point to try a Cyprian blend.
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cwpiperman
Junior Member
Posts: 234
Favorite Pipe: Radice Rind Pure Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate/Mississippi River/Plum Pudding/NightCap/Gaslight
Location:
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Post by cwpiperman on Feb 26, 2019 17:34:41 GMT -5
I had a quick look at my tin of Artisan's blend to see if it had Syrian or Cyprian latakia in it. There is NOTHING on the tin apart from the name and a load of 'smoking might not be the best thing to do' stickers. Shame Mine all say "Syrian Latakia", so I would assume yours contain Cyprian, as the tins on sale now at SPC and TobaccoPipes don't designate either, but the notes on the page says that the Syrian has been replaced with Cyprian. CW |
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 26, 2019 17:38:45 GMT -5
I had a quick look at my tin of Artisan's blend to see if it had Syrian or Cyprian latakia in it. There is NOTHING on the tin apart from the name and a load of 'smoking might not be the best thing to do' stickers. Shame Mine all say "Syrian Latakia", so I would assume yours contain Cyprian, as the tins on sale now at SPC and TobaccoPipes don't designate either, but the notes on the page says that the Syrian has been replaced with Cyprian. CW Thanks for that. It's still a good blend in my books. |
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