GLP's Key Largo

[peckinpahhombre]

I tried this blend for the first time today. I let it dry under my tobacco lamp for about an hour and then lit it up in my new Sasquatch black blasted billiard. After the char light, and a gentle tamp, it lit right up and remained lit to the bottom of the bowl.
As a former cigar smoker, I have to say that I really enjoyed this one - the blend consists of mostly red virginia flakes with a small amount of latakia, orientals and cigar leaf. The latakia here is used purely as a condiment, but it does help I think give a nice creamy smoke. The cigar leaf was omnipresent, but certainly not overpowering, at least in my view. The taste had a lovely bitterness to it, just like the cuban cigars I used to smoke. I enjoyed this with dark cuban coffee (black only), and the coffee and the tobacco really complimented each other nicely.
Now be forewarned, this blend is surely not for everyone - as I said, there is nothing sweet or light about it, so if you swing in that direction, this one is probably not for you. It certainly delivered the goods for me though. I wouldn't smoke it every day, but it provided a really nice change of pace. I plan to buy 5 or 7 for the cellar.

 

[redinthehead]

Interesting, thank you for the review. I've wondered about this blend. Have you tried G.L. Pease's Robusto? I've been debating on whether I should get Key Largo or Robusto.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Hey Evan, I have not tried the Robusto. The Key Largo tin I have had in the cellar for about 6 months and just had never gotten around to opening it, primarily because I had read a couple of bad reviews. Shows me at least that I shouldn't always listen to other people's reviews unless I know them well enough to know that we have similar tastes.

 

[tanless1]

I enjoy the largo , and I'm on my 4th tin of robusto in as many months.

 

[gmwolford]

I like the KL myself, too. I agree with the review in almost all aspects except I do get a natural sweetness but its in no way overpowering (the sweetness). And the cigar leaf is definitely there but not in too great a presence. I find it a really well balanced blend but YMMV.

 

[mrenglish]

Key Largo is much better than Robusto in my opinion. Robusto delivered a good, solid earthy smoke like you would get from a Honduran cigar. Key Largo has more going on in terms of complexity, moving more into the Pepin Garcia range in cigars. Love the stuff.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Waiting for the big race - more Key Largo today. This stuff is really growing on me.

 

[undecagon]

Key Largo > Robusto IMO
Creamier, richer, fuller smoke. Darker and more complex flavors.

 

[scottso]

Key Largo has grown on me as well for its smooth, creamy and plentiful smoke. It is especially enjoyable in my larger bowls and I highly recommend.

 

[sallow]

I like Key Largo, I had some earlier this week. In some tins I find the cigar and in other tins, not so much. Maybe it is the time of year or my nose on a particular day, which can be inconsistent.
I have not tried Robusto. I am very fond of Quiet Nights but alas, no cigar there. They both have a nice strength to them.

 

[samanden]

I have a tin of both Key Largo and Robusto that I'm anxious to get at. I'll post my impressions when I've smoked a few bowls.
Dennis

 

[doctorthoss]

Key Largo? A "cigar" blend? Hardly.
Key Largo is a medium English with an above-average nicotine kick and just a wee bit less sweetness than I'm accustomed to finding in other blends of its type.
I know there is supposedly a good amount of cigar leaf in this mixture (and I'm sure there is a decent bit) but I have never been able to taste it. Not even a hint. Where the cigar leaf DOES come through, however, is in the mouthfeel. There is no sharpness or harshness in Key Largo. Instead, the smoke has a creamy, almost soothing quality to it -- like a cigar. Because of this, Key Largo seems exceptionally unlikely to rip up your tongue! The only other quality that sets Key Largo apart from other English mixtures is that it seems unusually pleasant to smoke in hot weather.
It's nice stuff. Personally, I consider it a three-star blend. As is usually the case with GLP products, the tobacco itself is clearly top-shelf and the cut, presentation, and even the packaging are excellent. Some guys will undoubtedly consider this nirvana in a pipe (especially in the upcoming dog days) but it's just not distinctive or complex enough to my palate to cellar too deeply, especially not when I'd rather spend all my TAD funds on Odyssey, Maltese Falcon, Filmore and Sextant....