Hello all.
So i admit it i used to detest latakia, within a week of me picking up the pipe nearly three years ago i picked up a pouch of gawith and hoggarths balkan mixture.
Opening the pouch i nearly went crosseyed with the musky aroma and smoking wasnt much better i ended up with tongue bite amd the taste repulsed me.
From that moment on i swore i would never touch latakia ever again or any mixture containing it.
But fast foreward to june this year and i was in pitlochry in scotland visiting edradour distillery and being as i was in a distillery i tried one of their offerings.
A heavily peated whisky of which the name i cant spell.
Smelling it i instantly thought latakia and the gentleman who served it said it was indeed popular with some pipe smokers who enjoyed latakia mixtures.
Anyways sat in the scottish sunshine savouring this whisky i really enjoyed it and balkan mixture came to mind.
So the last couple of months ive been toying with trying latakia again and this month is my birthday month so i decided to treat myself with some gawith balkan mixture.
Opening the pouch the familiar aromas rose out of the packet like a genie that had been smoked heavily but this time i wasnt repulsed i was intrigued and instead of just smelling smoke i was beggining to pick out hints of leather and a slight herbal like scent and then the virginias crept through.
Lighting up i was instantly hit with the latakia but it was a pleasant experience a nice creamy smokey leathery smoke with a hint of sweetness and as the bowl progressed with me sipping and savouring the pipefull like i did with that peated whiskey i found i was really enjoying myself and i adored having such a complex and contemplative smoke.
Before that bowl was finished i was sold.
Latakia now as i view it is a friend one that has to be respected and get to know slowly and when you do that it opens the door and unveils a whole new world and dimension to pipe smokig infact ive smoked nothing but the balkan mixture for the last few days and its something i can see becoming a regular smoke of mine.
Sadly though as much as i now love my new found friend my parents are really less enthusiastic as me.
With my dad describing it as something that smells like a tramps hat on a tyre fire.
And my mother simply describing it as smelling like camel sh*t.
Needless to say im banished outside or to my shed but i really cant wait for autumn as i think when i go walking through the forrests that are near me it will be a perfect companion.
--------------------------
Thanks for being a member and participating.
Thread title fixed.
Please use your Shift key in body text as well.
Please see rule 9 here along with the rest of the forum rules
- Kevin
--------------------------
So i admit it i used to detest latakia, within a week of me picking up the pipe nearly three years ago i picked up a pouch of gawith and hoggarths balkan mixture.
Opening the pouch i nearly went crosseyed with the musky aroma and smoking wasnt much better i ended up with tongue bite amd the taste repulsed me.
From that moment on i swore i would never touch latakia ever again or any mixture containing it.
But fast foreward to june this year and i was in pitlochry in scotland visiting edradour distillery and being as i was in a distillery i tried one of their offerings.
A heavily peated whisky of which the name i cant spell.
Smelling it i instantly thought latakia and the gentleman who served it said it was indeed popular with some pipe smokers who enjoyed latakia mixtures.
Anyways sat in the scottish sunshine savouring this whisky i really enjoyed it and balkan mixture came to mind.
So the last couple of months ive been toying with trying latakia again and this month is my birthday month so i decided to treat myself with some gawith balkan mixture.
Opening the pouch the familiar aromas rose out of the packet like a genie that had been smoked heavily but this time i wasnt repulsed i was intrigued and instead of just smelling smoke i was beggining to pick out hints of leather and a slight herbal like scent and then the virginias crept through.
Lighting up i was instantly hit with the latakia but it was a pleasant experience a nice creamy smokey leathery smoke with a hint of sweetness and as the bowl progressed with me sipping and savouring the pipefull like i did with that peated whiskey i found i was really enjoying myself and i adored having such a complex and contemplative smoke.
Before that bowl was finished i was sold.
Latakia now as i view it is a friend one that has to be respected and get to know slowly and when you do that it opens the door and unveils a whole new world and dimension to pipe smokig infact ive smoked nothing but the balkan mixture for the last few days and its something i can see becoming a regular smoke of mine.
Sadly though as much as i now love my new found friend my parents are really less enthusiastic as me.
With my dad describing it as something that smells like a tramps hat on a tyre fire.
And my mother simply describing it as smelling like camel sh*t.
Needless to say im banished outside or to my shed but i really cant wait for autumn as i think when i go walking through the forrests that are near me it will be a perfect companion.
--------------------------
Thanks for being a member and participating.
Thread title fixed.
Please use your Shift key in body text as well.
Please see rule 9 here along with the rest of the forum rules
- Kevin
--------------------------
:
Lucky for me I suppose Cyprian Latakia we have today is all I know so I don't have to lament the old days like some old timers do.
