Best Syria Latakia Options

[iamn8]

Nobody really knows how much of the stuff remains, but it's a finite amount. So I'd like to sample the blends which use it before it's gone. I went to P&C and typed Syrian Latakia into their search and was a bit taken aback at the number of blends that utilize it. Obviously there are the Mac Barens, but beyond that what have you tried? What's worth buying? What are the "must haves" in your opinion?

 

[pipebuddy]

I don't know if they are a must as I have not tried them. But there are:
Ashton's Artisan Blend (it's advertised as having some in the tin description); and
McClelland's Three Oaks Syrian.

 

[iamn8]

These all use it...

 

[stanlaurel]

I have smoked a tin of Wilderness and I loved it. I just finished a tin of Samovar - really good stuff. I have stocked up on both of these and plan to add more. I have also stocked up some MacBaren Vintage Syrian and Tudor Castle too but have not tried them yet. The Wilderness and Samovar are not what you would call strong blends but they are very good.

 

[ben88]

I can only comment on MB Solent Mixture - it is superb in my opinion

 

[edwinbaz]

McClelland's Three Oaks Syrian is a fantastic blend. It's smooth, brilliantly balanced, very nuanced, and tastes amazing. At least that was my experience with it.

 

[bonehed]

3OS is the first blend my wife said she enjoyed the scent of, so its got that going for it, which is nice...
Edit: Seriously - I share edwinbaz's sentiment. An excellent blend!

 

[ben88]

Is there any bulk blends with Syrian Latakia?

Except MB pound bags....

 

[iamn8]

Ben, I've not come across any.

 

[calabashed]

If you like the other Frog Mortons, Across the Pond is a good choice.

 

[Dutch Pipe Smoker]

Ashton, the Dan Tobacco offerings, McConnell and Peter Heinrichs do not contain Syrian latakia any more. DTM and Kohlhase & Kopp (who produce Ashton, McConnell and a lot of Peter Heinrichs) have run out of Syrian dark leaf a couple of years ago. Also see this blogpost: Syrian Latakia

 

[edgreen]

I've only had the Macbaren HH and the McClelland Syrian full Balkan. Both are really, really yummy. If Assad had only smoked a pipe all this could have been avoided.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Is there bulk Syrian available anywhere? That could be really interesting. I have a sample of just "Latakia", provenance unknown. (local B+M)

 

[jarit]

Thanks for that info, Arno!

 

[cobguy]

SSHHHHHHHHHH!! :mrgreen:
Arno beat me to the punch (pun intended) and also has a great blog site: https://dutchpipesmoker.wordpress.com/
Careful though ... that's a rabbit hole and a half right there!
btw ... HH VS is a fantastic smoke

 

[pipebuddy]

Just buy 10 of each. You'll be good for a while.

 

[pipebuddy]

Damnation I've just seen Arno's comment. That blows up most of my joke.

 

[bigpond]

Not sure any blend has a higher proportion of syrian than Wilderness (35% if I recall).

 

[carytobacco]

Mac Baren HH Vinyage syrian, smoking my first bowl now. Amazing. Smoothest, easiest smoking Latakia blend I can remember smoking.

 

[mortonbriar]

There was a write up about syrian latakia a while back, i think by Pease. Maybe it was just a question/answer thing actually. Anyway, it was suggested there are blends put out that could have a token sprinkling of syrian latakia mixed into their cyprus stuff for marketing purposes (going off memory here, sorry to Greg if that memory is off track) and that if nothing else, the macbaren and mcclelland blends were legit since they both have an actual stockpile of the stuff.
I purchased a tin of 3 oaks and HH vintage syrian last year, but still have not cracked either so no review from me sorry.
Isaac