Have always had a love-hate relationship with latakia as my desire for it has waxed and waned over the decades. Once couldn't stand it for 20 years before the desire returned again. Am currently in the phase of not quite detesting it but not desiring it either.
Latakia Will Be Smoked Till I'm Sick Of It
- Thread starter bullet08
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It really helps when someone smokes it close to you. I have a buddy who only smokes latakia, and when he fires up in my livingroom, it makes me want to smoke latakia more. I just love that initial leathery, old book aroma when someone else fire up a bowl of lat.
I smoked mostly latakia for over a decade, and the minority that remain favorites even now that I'm a Virginia-head are these:
- GLP Quiet Nights
- Boswell Northwoods
- SG Squadron Leader
- Country Squire Shepherd's Pie
- Peretti Omega
(I won't bother listing unicorns, only easily obtainable mixtures)
- SPC Plum Pudding
- C&D Super Balkan
English blends were my go to for many years until I hit the wall, and hit it hard to the point that even the thought of Latakia caused nausea. The change was sudden, and left me wondering if I should just pack it in. Before ridding myself of my pipes and remaining tobaccos I delved into Virginias in a serious way and never looked back.
Fortunately, my ability to enjoy Latakia has returned, though in a much more circumscribed way. A few bowls a month, and mosty employing Latakia in a condimental amount perfectly satisfies the itch without awakening any revulsion.
Fortunately, my ability to enjoy Latakia has returned, though in a much more circumscribed way. A few bowls a month, and mosty employing Latakia in a condimental amount perfectly satisfies the itch without awakening any revulsion.
Love the latakia and it was my best foundation for appreciating, learning, practicing...
But I've read so much about "losing the love" that rather early I branched out in my sampling and continue to do so.
I'm still at that stage where I still seek the leaf regularly, but I'm hoping my continual variation of blends will prevent me from hitting the wall as others have.
Thus, my reserves are both wide and deep-ish.
But I've read so much about "losing the love" that rather early I branched out in my sampling and continue to do so.
I'm still at that stage where I still seek the leaf regularly, but I'm hoping my continual variation of blends will prevent me from hitting the wall as others have.
Thus, my reserves are both wide and deep-ish.
I like it when its used in moderation. I have a lot of London Squire l like and EMP also. Dont care for the lat bombs.
I fell in love with Latakia from the first moment, and I still am. I smoke it year round and have always a tin open. Actually I can not imagine pipe smoking without Latakia, together with other tobacco kinds of course.
My favourite, despite the fact that many consider it perhaps a "second class": Mostex - Stanislaw, Balkan Latakia.
My favourite, despite the fact that many consider it perhaps a "second class": Mostex - Stanislaw, Balkan Latakia.
I’m the opposite of the OP: I knew immediately that I didn’t like Latakia, and I’m quite confident that I never will. I gave it a good try, and smoked through a few tins of various English blends. Unless the lat is in truly condimental quantities (e.g., WCC Deluxe Crumb Cut), the Latakia just overwhelms the other components for me. It’s like having conversation at dinner if one person at the table is constantly screaming.
I actually regret the fact that I don’t like the flavor, because I really appreciated how cool and creamy it smoked. I also like the Latakia room note from someone else’s pipe
I actually regret the fact that I don’t like the flavor, because I really appreciated how cool and creamy it smoked. I also like the Latakia room note from someone else’s pipe
Same with me @bullet08 .
My first "WOW" smoking experience was a freshly opened tin of Nighcap. So I went a little overboard ordering English blends. Now I have a few too many in my cellar I think, including several lat bombs like unopened tins of C&D Pirate Kake and G.L. Pease Gaslight; both of which I'm intimidated to even look at.
Over the holidays, I bought a Peterson pipe which came with a tin of C&D Ghost of Christmas Past. It's an interesting blend which includes, as the tin description states, a "fantasm of Latakia". It was quite good.
So, like @sablebrush52 said, Latakia might best serve me as "condimental" for a while. Perhaps I will use the supply I have by adding bits here and there to non-english blends I have opened.
Good luck my brother! Your courage is an inspiration to us all
My first "WOW" smoking experience was a freshly opened tin of Nighcap. So I went a little overboard ordering English blends. Now I have a few too many in my cellar I think, including several lat bombs like unopened tins of C&D Pirate Kake and G.L. Pease Gaslight; both of which I'm intimidated to even look at.
Over the holidays, I bought a Peterson pipe which came with a tin of C&D Ghost of Christmas Past. It's an interesting blend which includes, as the tin description states, a "fantasm of Latakia". It was quite good.
So, like @sablebrush52 said, Latakia might best serve me as "condimental" for a while. Perhaps I will use the supply I have by adding bits here and there to non-english blends I have opened.
Good luck my brother! Your courage is an inspiration to us all
Like many here, I went too hard on latakia when first starting out. And like many here, I only smoke a latakia heavy blend rarely. Condimental latakia I'm fine with, I love Presbyterian and EGR.
There are so many but if you want a Bomb, Samuel Gawith Commonwealth is it’s own animal entirely just Va And Lat those who like Lat gotta try itI'm a Latakia fan and always have several different blends on hand. I'm curious what others like, so how about posting your favorite Latakia blend so we can all try them out. (p.s. Please give the FULL NAME and not just some abbreviation) Thanks
Some of my favorites are Dunhills 965, London Mixture and Standard Mixture, Balkan Sobranie white can and 759. Peter Skokkebee Proper English.
I am partial to Old Limey Bastard it’s got Burley in it and Consummate Gentleman has Maryland in it , 3 very distinct blends…
Edward G Robinson. Beautiful blend with 1% latakia and the most mouth watering tin note ever.
I leave my latakia blends for 10-12 years, it puts it further into the background of the smoke. Even then it takes me a lot longer to get through an open tin of something with latakia than something without.
I love what age does to latakia. Soft as a baby's bottom.
I’ll do my best to mention easily obtainable blends, just saw bags of Gawith recently, so it looks like they are staying in stock for a bit longer?I'm a Latakia fan and always have several different blends on hand. I'm curious what others like, so how about posting your favorite Latakia blend so we can all try them out. (p.s. Please give the FULL NAME and not just some abbreviation) Thanks
Some of my favorites are Dunhills 965, London Mixture and Standard Mixture, Balkan Sobranie white can and 759. Peter Skokkebee Proper English.
Sam Gawith Skiff Mixture or Squadron Leader (for a lighter touch on the Latakia) McConnell’s Latakia Flake, The Original Oriental, Cornell & Diehl Star of the East Flake, Billy Budd, Engine 99 (C&D make great Latakia blends in my opinion). The match blends of Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture & 759 from Sutliff have really impressed me. Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding, Bengal Slices, PS/Arrango Balkan Supreme, Kramer Father Dempsey, GL Pease Maltese Falcon, Westminster… dare I say Gawith & Hoggarth Revor Plug? Haha.
I absolutely love Exotique Mixture from Smokers Haven & Margate/Pembroke (Esoterica) but needless to say, they can be very hard to get.
So what is Maryland exactly? I’ve seen it on a tin or two in the past but never really figured out what it is.
I couldn't really say exactly I just know that the blends I've smoked it in have a lighter "piney" taste it's definitely a distinct flavor in that regard. I'm sure others know more, all I know is I like it.
Hope it wasn't Old Bay Seasoning.
I have no desire to return to Latakia, I had overdose of this genre in my youth, back then when i smoked pipes it was Dunhill Standard and similar ones what i bought
I smoked so much Night Cap Im now sick of it. I hope to come back to it later with the same love I once had. When/if that day comes, I will enjoy it in smaller doses.