Got this stuff as part of a Hearth and Home sampler pack. The bag has a really nice mix of black and brown ribbon cut leaves and the bag smell is very woodsy and leathery with a hint of raisin and a nice earthy aroma. One of the only Hearth and Home blends that I had to dry for any time at all, but it only took about 5 minutes of air time and it was good to go. The ribbon cut packs easily, and with the dryness of this blend and the cut I found that I could use a little firmer pack than I usually do. First light tastes of earthy hay and straw sweetness with a bit of that leather latakia taste. Second light and the latakia really comes through, nice and smoky, very rich and oily with a whole mouth coating kind of feel to it. The Virginias help round out the flavor and compliment the Latakia very well with a kind of straw, wheat, almost raisiny type flavor. The Turkish tobacco doesn't seem to be in very high amount but it is there and gives a backbone to the blend, almost lending a flavor of spice not unlike cardamom or maybe even allspice. As with all the other Hearth and Home blends, this one uses only high quality leaf and burns down to the finest of ashes and leaves no goop, and smokes very cool and with no bite at all. Honestly, I havent ever really heard anyone ever say anything about this blend, and it surprised me with a real richness of flavor and bold depth that makes it a perfect after dinner smoke or a great smoke on a night like tonight when it is bone chillingly cold outside as it has that perfect Latakia hit, not too much to be one dimensional but not so mild that you can't taste it. Highly recommended for lovers of a more stout English blend or someone who wants to give Latakia a try in higher doses.
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