Latakia Doesn't Age Well ... Or Does It?

[Sweet Home Alabama]

As the author noted, taste is subjective.
I’ve read those that think wine improves with and those who think otherwise.

if you think wine improves with age it does and if
not, you’re also correct.

 

[ncshawn]

I don't think it can be said it ages well, or poorly. It ages how it ages. Some people like and some don't. I enjoy both young and aged latakia.

 

[heyeveryone]

I prefer aged cyprian over fresh. It's smoother, more velvety and has less rough edges. Syrian is even more so.

 

[The Clay King]

I don't cellar tobacco - and I think Latakia sounds like a cheap car made in Syria before the uprising

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Showing your lack of sophistication, there bub!??

 

[chopper]

Good article.

I'm not a fan of Lat-bombs but do enjoy blends where Latakia is used as a condiment and smoke at least a bowl or two a day [Mostly EMP Match, Count Pulaski and Jesses Own]

When it was announced that the laws were going to change re; importing tobacco into Oz, I realised that I'd be without Latakia once my 'cellar' was consumed and then reliant on my homegrown [No way in Hell will I pay $125 for 50g of tobacco] so I ordered a pound of blending Latakia to mix with my homegrown.

Good to know that it will be fine once that time comes around.

 

[xingpao]

I love aged latakia and I do not see aged latakia prices waning, so I am pretty sure I am not the only one.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I have never aged Lat blends past the two year mark because I felt like the Lat kind of “toned down” and lost its smoky punchiness too much for my tastes. I used to order only what I’d be able to smoke in a short timeframe.

That changed when a very generous forum member (thanks, @Jwebb90 !) sent me a 25 year old flake of Bengal Slices, and WOW!
Completely changed my mind. It was phenomenal. One of those smokes you never forget. It was a silky smooth, creamy smoke that was different from fresh Latakia

So I now have tins of some of my favorite Englishes, including a healthy stash of Pease’s Spark Plug, that I don’t plan on popping for a long while.

 

[LudwigB88]

I just popped a tin (from Tinbids) of Gaslight that has, I think, over 12 years of aging. Only just smoked about a third of bowl. Definitely has mellowed. The creosote note is tempered. Jury is still out regarding how it compares to a fresh version. I will report back after a few bowls.

 

[LudwigB88]

So far, 12 year old Gaslight definitely is mellowed. Loses some if it’s edge. Starts to taste like a tangy wine-like version of Quiet Nights, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Almost enters the taste profile of a VaPer.

 

[Sig]

Latakia ages better than some tobaccos in my opinion.....like Burley. Burley doesn't seem to change much.
I like both aged and fresh Latakia blends. I usually have a couple aged jars open, and a couple of the same blend of fresh.
I believe the reason Greg even wrote the article is there is a group of pipers who say age ruins Latakia blends.
Just the other day I had to comment when a guy on FB was telling a new piper that Latakia becomes acrid and unsmokeable after a few years.
The thing was, the guy giving this advice admitted he has never tried aged Latakia, because he always heard it was horrible, and didnt want to waste money.
Ive got a bunch of old Latakia blends. I like all of them.

 

[wyfbane]

I have never been disappointed with aged Latakia, and it is a good thing. I am blessed with quite a lot of it in my cellar. lol.

 

[VDL_Piper]

I love aged Latakia and it provides a different smoking experience than fresh. Aged MB Balkan Blend and Latakia Flake are sublime and I’m very happy to have plenty in my cellar.

 

[khiddy]

Just the other day I had to comment when a guy on FB was telling a new piper that Latakia becomes acrid and unsmokeable after a few years.
The thing was, the guy giving this advice admitted he has never tried aged Latakia, because he always heard it was horrible, and didnt want to waste money.
Ive got a bunch of old Latakia blends. I like all of them.

That guy sounds just as helpful as a reviewer who begins, “I don’t like or smoke aromatics at all…” and then proceeds to give an emphatic zero-star review to an aromatic blend.

Buddy, stick with sharing what you actually know, and don’t muddy the waters for people who are interested in learning!

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

The stuff I have with 5 or 6 years of age on it seems smoother. That's a good thing to my tastes.

 

[Briarcutter]

it ages very well IMO. Although it seems to have a limit. Not that it goes bad, it just seems to stop getting better. Not like VA type blends, they just seem to keep improving.

 

[Peter Turbo]

Crazy necromancer in this thread

 

[Wet Dottle]

I’ve come across this comment about latakia and aging, but never understood why people post it. Just ignored it and moved on. I thought I was missing something, because I smoke aged latakia blends frequently (older than 20 years, sometimes 30) and never came across one that wasn’t good. Glad to see others share my view.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Crazy necromancer in this thread

I’d say it’s aging well.

 

[LudwigB88]

This aged Gaslight is definitely giving me a flashback to Penzance, which is NOT a bad thing.