Aromatic Latakia Blends

gtclark · Nov 7, 2013

I know these aren't for everyone, (so please don't regale me with how much you hate them) but I really like my English/Aro cross-over blends, and I'm always looking for more. So far, I've discovered:
JFH: Shortcut to Mushrooms
Boswell's: Bear Blend
Sillem's: Black (Hear it's interesting, not yet tried it)
Anything else out there? The gold standard for me used to be a blend called "Midnight Vigil" from the now defunct piperoom.com - anyone else out there remember that one? I've been chasing that sweet, smokey taste ever since....Any leads are greatly appreciated!

fitzy · Nov 7, 2013

I would put Frog Morton's Cellar in that list and at the top.

gtclark · Nov 7, 2013

I would put Frog Morton's Cellar in that list and at the top

I've never tried that one. Does it have a distinct aromatic quality? I've heard regular Frog Morton described as a cross-over blend, but I don't get that at all - it tastes like a light English with a little bit of cavendish to me. Is the aromatic quality in Frog Morton's Cellar more pronounced?

lestrout · Nov 7, 2013

gt - a couple of overtly flavored Lats come to mind: Two Friends Valle Crucis, with ginger; and Squire's, which is kind of fruity.
hp

les

jkenp · Nov 7, 2013

Iwan Ries has long sold Dr. Bradley. A scented English created for the cleric to give a nice room note. I've smoked it. Its an interesting blend and worth the try.

wnghanglow · Nov 7, 2013

This was a recent post about a blend I had never heard of, tahkashan or something * someone please help with the name* that was compared to frog Morton on the town.

leonardw · Nov 7, 2013

Shameless self-promotion alert... Lane HGL

piperl12 · Nov 7, 2013

I tried a tin of cross eyed cricket and it's an Aro with latakia. It seems confused what it wants to be.

gtclark · Nov 7, 2013

Wow! I'm surprised at the number of responses already! Thank-you for all the prompt replies! Regarding your suggestions:
Despite smoking quite a bit of Lane product in my time (1Q and BCA primarily), I've never tried HGL, and didn't realize there was Latakia in the blend. I'll try that one for sure.
I've been meaning to explore more Lakeland offerings - I can't get past the floral essence in many of them, but perhaps its time to re-visit that genre.
I've smoked FMOTT - it's good, but not quite aromatic enough for me - like the original Frog, it seemed more like a light, slightly sweet English blend. I'm looking for a slightly more aromatic quality.
This is good stuff - keep 'em coming! I'm quickly building up my Christmas list here...

lincolnsbark · Nov 7, 2013

I have a tin of Crosseyed Cricket open and really enjoy, some people don't. It has a strong rum-punch note that smells great to me.

gtclark · Nov 7, 2013

Hmmm yet another I've never tried. Crosseyed Cricket now on the list!

msandoval858 · Nov 7, 2013

Cross Eyed Cricket is a love or hate. It's been my go to crossover for years. Actually the fist bowl of tobacco I ever smoked was Cricket so it's always had a special place in my heart.
Two Friends Chocolate English is very nice as well. It's more of a true english with hints of cocoa that are subtle yet very enjoyable. Doesn't have that driving force of an aro quality that Cricket has. C&D actually has a list of crossover blends in their bulk selections that worth checking out.

drrock · Nov 7, 2013

Uhle's Raider Blend is a tasty aromatic with a bit of Latakia in the blend. I'm not a big fan of either cherry blends and not especially keen on Latakia in general but Raider Blend just hit the spot for me.

johnparker · Nov 7, 2013

This was a recent post about a blend I had never heard of, tahkashan or something * someone please help with the name* that was compared to frog Morton on the town.

You are referring to Tashkent by Peretti. Tashkent is Latakia and Turkish. Frog Morton on the Town is Virginia, Latakia and Turkish. I think the Tashkent is a bit richer and more exotic, but FMOOT is also quite good. But I must admit I have only had one test bowl of each.

Perique · Nov 7, 2013

I've also become a fan of the English aromatic over the past couple of months.

What you're after is Two Friends English Chocolate, and Pipeworks & Wilke No. 5 and No. 13

petes03 · Nov 7, 2013

Definitely FM Cellar, as well as H&H Mazatec.

judcole · Nov 8, 2013

Altadis has a bunch of them that you might want to explore - Tartans and Bagpipes, Burma Road, and African Queen all come to mind. Alas, every crossover that I enjoy when I first try it never holds up for me over the long haul. I have tried a bunch of them,and the same thing happens every time.

gtclark · Nov 8, 2013

Thank-you to everyone for the great suggestions! First on the list for me is Frog Morton's Cellar, followed by Cross-Eyed Cricket, HGL and Two Friends.

Alas, every crossover that I enjoy when I first try it never holds up for me over the long haul. I have tried a bunch of them,and the same thing happens every time.

I agree - JFH's Shortcut to Mushrooms was that way for me. I'm still looking for that essence I loved in my first and favorite cross-over(the now defunct piperoom.com's "Midnight Vigil") but, a lot of blends from my early pipe-smoking days are a lot better in memory than reality. That being said, I enjoy the hunt almost as much as the smoke! : puffy

:

fitzy · Nov 8, 2013

I need to try Shortcut to Mushrooms I've heard it's quite good.
For me I find it really hard to find a tobacco that tops Cellar for me. If I had to smoke just one blend for the rest of my life that would be it. If I had to smoke 3 blends for the rest of my life the others would be Black House and Magnum Opus from Hearth & Home.

cosmicfolklore · Nov 8, 2013

Tewksbury has a blend called Nosferatu, which mixes a licorice/anise casing with the latakia. It's interesting.

Aromatic Latakia Blends

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