Germain's Special Latakia Flake really gets its Lat on after a few years, becomes awesome.
Latakia Doesn't Age Well ... Or Does It?
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McConnell Latakia Flake is delicious. And sneakily high in nicotine. One of the few blends that has actually kicked me in the head, and I seemingly am never affected by nicotine in a pipe blend anymore.
Currently smoking some Mac Baren - HH Latakia Flake from November 2014, so 11 years of age. It's a little subdued compared to a fresh tin, but I think it's great right now. My experience has taught me that 6-9 years is excellent, and 10-12 years is great.
Well, I’ve pretty much drawn my conclusion on some 13 year old Gaslight that I bought on Tinbids. My verdict is that too much aging can destroy the beauty of a blend. The Latakia has mellowed to such a degree that the creosote element that makes this blend distinct has pretty much disappeared. The smoke has absolutely no edge, which in the case of Gaslight, is not the intent. Maybe a blend like Quiet Nights would have faired better with long aging. I’m glad I didn’t purchase some Plum Pudding I saw on Tinbids that also had been aged for a very long time. I’m happy with new Plum Pudding Reserve, which contains some leaf that has already been aged before the plugs are created. It was worth the cost to see how English blends change over time. Maybe 5 years is the most one wants to age most English blends. Lesson learned !
I've smoked some Dunhill Nightcap from 2016 and find it to be perfectly melded and balanced, though of course it doesn't have the sharpness one associates with a fresh tin. To my palate, aging the blend has improved what is already an excellent blend of (I love it fresh, too).
I imagine every blend reacts differently. I would guess most blends do get more “melded and balanced,” but in the case of Gaslight, “balanced” translates to bland, when aged.
I took a break from pipe tobacco to pursue cigars for several years. I recently opened a tin of GLP Chelsea Morning from 2010, as well as My Mixture 965 from 2022. I didn’t like them at all. Thin, and the tin from 2010 had an odd taste that I don‘t detect from a fresh tin. Alas, I also have a tin of Squadron Leader from 2013, as well as C&D Billy Bud from 2011 which I’m not going to bother opening/smoking now. Fresh - 1 year is definitely my preference for English blends.
I love cigars too. They definitely improve with age as long as they are stored in proper humidity. I recall a number of years ago smoking a Rocky Patel that I had reason to believe had been properly aged for a few years. It was unbelievable.