I had to post this in the beginner forum because I think it's just me but right now I can't get enough blends containing Latakia... A true struggle of a pipe smoker...anyone else go through this phase?
I haven't. I have a short list of blends that over the years have always treated me well. I'm not one to go hunting for something I really don't need. Very infrequently have I read a review that tweaks my interest enough to try the blend. But, I'm also a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Dull, but satisfied with what I have.
It is not exactly your case, but I read username 'BriarPatch' from tobacco review going through his search for his next Latakia blend after Dunhill stopped producing a blend.
It seems he is now happy with SG Skiff Mixture.
I am also a Latakia person, but for me I am happy with what I have settled on and have with me until it may taste different one day because of blending inconsistency, or changes in manufacturing.
I think the only thing right now breaking up my blends with Latakia is my occasional flake and my normal evening aromatic.... Other then that it's blends with Latakia all day.
I know it's awful I got some Sam gawith commonwealth and squadron leader on my next order and also tabac Sherman 536. I now will add gaslight to that as well.
Balkan Sasieni, Mac B's Vintage Syrian, and Hearth & Home's Blackhouse and White Knight are excellent choices. I really like Balkan Sobranie, but most don't share that opinion.
I highly recommend Nat Sherman 536 as a blending masterpiece, and it has Latakia, but it is not Latakia forward, in my opinion. It's great quality is the way the tobaccos are brought together. It's not super strong, and it is more an elegant that a powerful blend, to me. You could aways kick it up with a little (or a lot of) blending Latakia.
That's a bummer... But the blending lat is now on my list and yes that nat Sherman blend I sampled yesterday and it wasn't lat heavy but it was there enough for my enjoyment.