Not to confuse the recommendations for Finck's I have (or had) been a 10 year or more customer of theirs buying mostly cigars from early 1995 until 2009. In that time I migrated almost completely to my pipes and bought many pounds of Finck's English and Istanbul, enjoying each very much since the demise of the Dunhills. Finck's were always very reasonable in pricing and very quick in shipping.
In 2009 with the coming S-CHIP tax I decided to lay in some extra stock and ordered a pound each of these two blends- a 16 oz bag of Finck's English and a 14oz bag of Istanbul. What I got was two identical 16oz. bags of what looked to be the same tobacco with a different label on each (remember, one should be 16 and the other 14 ounces). Moreover, the bags/packaging were different for each from what I had been getting. I weighed each - 16 ounces.
Befuddled I called Finck's and a very nice customer service person verified that indeed both were the same, PS English Luxury. She could not verify that a change had been made, however. I could tell after cracking open the Finck's English that it was NOT what I been enjoying for several years and as the Istanbul was now verified to be the same, it too was not what it had been. I was peeved but they were smokeable.
Months later when I reordered I opted for Istanbul figuring I may as well pay for 14 and get 16 ounces. Silly me...I got something totally different yet again (weighing 14 oz.) - something I named Stink Weed. I called Finck's again and was told by another, less people-orientated, person that the blend was from another company (which name escapes me now - something like Commonwealth or Conroy or Conwood, whatever.)
Sad to say, that was my last Finck's order of English blends.
Sorry for semi-rant but I felt compelled to relate this scenario.
BTW, the rest of their blends, the aromatics are mostly Peter Stokkebye and Lane's. Pricing is good.