Latakia and English blends

[Grimlineman]

My first introduction to English blends was amphora English. After a few bowls I decided that tobacco was not for me I don’t like smoking a campfire

But my last tobacco order I decided to give it one more try and picked up some match 20 ( which I guess is like 965) and was going to save it for winter because I have heard English and cold weather go together like peas and carrots. Well I broke into it early and I love this leaf. Although I can smell a little of that camp fire in the tin note I don’t get hardly any during the smoke like I did with the amphora.

Is this the way English is some is campfire heavy and others are not? If so what’s some other English’s I might enjoy with that info in mind?

 

[greysmoke]

I'm not familiar with Amphora blends, as I've not smoked any in decades. But in general, English blends occur along a spectrum, from strong or "full" to light. For example, Peterson's Nightcap is what I'd call a full English with a rich, campfire aroma. Peterson's Early Morning Pipe falls on the lighter side. So does Samuel Gawith's Squadron Leader (although I've seen differing opinions about that). I suggest you try something on the lighter side.

 

[kcghost]

Back when started out I found Amphora to be very good tobacco when you select the proper one for yourself. I really liked English tobaccos for over forty years. English's range from extremely mild stuff in terms of latakia in the blend to a bunch that are 50% or more latakia. You best bet to avoid these if you don't like them are to ask for "Scottish" blends or blends with very little latakia,

 

[AroEnglish]

I haven't had Amphora English but I love Match 20 which I find to be a lighter English. If you want something that's even lighter you could try Lane HGL which is an English crossover/aromatic English.

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

I’d recommend trying Samuel Gawith Skiff and McConnell’s Oriental. Not too heavy on the Latakia at all as they are more geared towards Oriental tobaccos. Not all medium or heavier Latakia blends are necessarily like smoking a campfire either. It depends on how they are put together with casings and other tobaccos like Virginia bringing in sweetness to the blend. For example, Hu Zulu has 58% Latakia, but it has many other complex flavors going on.

 

[rmcnabb]

I think an underappreciated English that is delicious and true to type, but not a real Lat bomb, is C&D's Awakened Elder. It's a really great all day English, and the best of that Lovecraft series in my opinion.

 

[Sigmund]

Amphora blends have their fans but the ones I have had simply tasted like dirt to me.

If you want to try a heavier English Id try Ashtons Artisans Blend. Its a "Juicy" lat blend with a lot of citrus going on. At first it was too strong for me and I cut it with some basic virginia/burley blend but now I like it as is. I know you are looking for lighter blends but its worth trying a tin.

 

[anotherbob]

My first introduction to English blends was amphora English. After a few bowls I decided that tobacco was not for me I don’t like smoking a campfire

But my last tobacco order I decided to give it one more try and picked up some match 20 ( which I guess is like 965) and was going to save it for winter because I have heard English and cold weather go together like peas and carrots. Well I broke into it early and I love this leaf. Although I can smell a little of that camp fire in the tin note I don’t get hardly any during the smoke like I did with the amphora.

Is this the way English is some is campfire heavy and others are not? If so what’s some other English’s I might enjoy with that info in mind?

I think this type of blend fits under the stinky cheese phenomenon. Where you try the stinky cheese and hate it and then something clicks in your brain and suddenly you start noticing things and actually enjoying the stinky cheese.

 

[filmguerilla]

There are some great Oriental forward English blends that are lighter in the latakia dept. I've been working my way through a tin of C&D Rajah's Court and love it; just a great Oriental forward English with light latakia that matches well with a morning cuppa. EMP is very much in the same vein.

 

[Sigmund]

A really nice change up blend is HH Latakia Flake. Its not an English. It has a lot of latakia but its got a lot more going on as well.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Arango's Balkan Supreme

 

[badbriar]

Give Kramer's Father Dempsey a try. It is a very good, smooth medium English blend that is slightly on the sweeter side. The Latakia is toned down and is more of a complementary player. Another good one is Rattray's Red Rapparee - a Scottish blend. Very nice and also smooth.

 

[Beaker]

I'm 2 bowls into the Amphora English blend. The camp fire note hit me instantly, and I feel like it wore my palette down some. Can't say I'll be putting another order in.

 

[Grimlineman]

I'm 2 bowls into the Amphora English blend. The camp fire note hit me instantly, and I feel like it wore my palette down some. Can't say I'll be putting another order in.

Don’t let that scare you away from English altogether as said I had a similar experience with it. Think it was just too much too soon.

 

[Douglas]

Arango's Balkan Supreme

This is the way

 

[Beaker]

Don’t let that scare you away from English altogether as said I had a similar experience with it. Think it was just too much too soon.

Yup, all part of the journey!

 

[telescopes]

I gravitate to English blends when I construct my own blends, but I do so while adding aromatic tobacco to it. This creates an American/ English blend. My current blend I am smoking now has a heavy Latakia influence at 25% Latakia. That’s my upper limit.

 

[trouttimes]

Try Rattray Reserve 7 or Balkan Sasieni.