http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEpcpAUu794
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Hi Arno,
Not much info out there about the Latakia, mostly it's all about the famous #1&2, as you probably know.
This is where first-hand oldtimer accounts are invaluable and could tell us much more.
Gallaher acquired JC in 1962, I would suspect that perhaps it's the same Latakia that Gallaher's used, they also marketed a straight Lat under their own name, and it might even be the very same Lat that went into Gallaher-era Balkan Sobranie?
I like this post, he's a proper gent, I noticed he also comments on your blog, his writing is well-wrought and always brings a wry smile!
http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2008/08/john-cotton-fine-old-reek.html
FINE OLD REEK !
Here's a random quote from A.S.P.:
"John Cotton had the reputation of being the oldest extent tobacco house until its demise sometime in the early 80's. Along with the original
Rattray's, it was one of the classic Scottish tobacco companies and produced some exquisite blends. Compton Mackenzie, novelist, founder of Gramaphone magazine, and author of "Sublime Tobacco" smoked Cotton's #2 blend for years.
You two may want to give Gawith's Commonwealth Mixture a try, if you haven't already. It's not a dead-ringer for the old John Cotton's
mixture, but the toasty quality of the virginia/latakia combination is very similar, to my taste buds at least. It's the ONLY mixture I found that even begins to resemble the old JC No. 1 & 2."
Sorry I could not help you more.
And here's a few miscellaneous JC images:
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Here you can see the famous Princes St. address and just barely make out the John Cotton's signage:
...it was this location that Chief Catoonah named their well-loved blend after:
http://www.chiefcatoonah.com/ccm-2012.html
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