P&C Fusion Lab - Spartan's English

[zanthal]

This blend deserves it own thread.
I find it to be easily as pleasant a smoke as Larry's Blend and Penzance, if not more so.
By tin note you might not suspect this. Considering it has a large amount of latakia, the latakia scent is rather light. Here's the description as is seen on Pipesandcigars.com:

I have been custom blending my own pipe tobacco for years now, so when I heard of the Fusion Lab project, I became very eager to put my blending experiences to the test. I decided to create an English blend that differed a bit from those currently on the market. My strategy was to create an English blend with the omission of any Virginia leaf. With this challenge in mind, I formulated Spartan’s English as follows: A deep and musty Smyrna oriental leaf provides a warm base to which is added a generous portion of rich Cyprian Latakia. Pennsylvania Maduro leaf is added and serves to impart an earthy dimension. Finally, a small quantity of dark-fired Kentucky Burley rounds off the mixture with peppery note. I named this blend after my loyal and heartwarming dog, Spartan, who recently passed away.

It has a moderate, rich, creamy flavor, and I don't find it to have any of the bitterness or bite that sometimes follows an english blend. It also burns excellent. Here's what it looks like:

 

[spartan]

I feel obligated to purchase this... 8O

 

[zanthal]

Heh I figured you might.
But I don't think you'll be at all disappointed. The stuff is excellent. ::

 

[hobie1dog]

that's a new brand to me...where do you buy it?

 

[spartan]

Here --> http://pipesandcigars.com/fulabbl.html

 

[uberam3rica]

I want to buy it, but i dont care for burley. HOw much burley flavor is there? Oh and Hobie remember the fusion lab at pipesandcigars.com? IT allowed you to make your own blend and submit it to them, then russ would recreate it and put it up on the website. Well, they have all the submited blends availible for purchase now

 

[zanthal]

I'm not very familiar with the flavor of Burley, at least not by name.
The description says the amount of burley is small.
Anyone who likes English blends, you really need to try this one ... it is that good. This is coming from me, and I'm fairly picky about my tobacco.

 

[spartan]

Being a pal, Mr. Zanthal and I had an exchange of tobacco, and in this shippment of the leaf I was happy to get a heaping portion of Spartan's English.
I really like the flavor of Spartan's English. It's a light english in my opinion, but has a robust quality about it as well. I didn't get creamy with this blend. Definately more akin to a Cigar-like smoke. Just enough Latakia to make itself known, but light in my opinion.
It seemed like it bit VERY slighty (not enough to keep me from enjoying it), but I might just pass this off as a heat issue for now. The sample was very dry and burned hot and fast so I may rehydrate it and have another go at it.
I'll definately purchase this when it comes out because I would very much like to see how it will perform with a few more months under its wing.
This thing is only about a few months old so it's still a baby.
On a scale of 1 to 10 I give it a very respectable 6 out of 10. With my personal system, anything 7 and over is a "must cellar and keep on hand at all times". This blend might make it to a 7 for me with a little age behind it and moisture within it. Time will tell. So many blends so little time.
I wonder what the price will be when P&C starts selling this in April... hmmmm
P.S. Not in the same league of Penzance in my opinion. Penzance is a 9. ::

 

[uberam3rica]

I ordered some on ISPD. It should be here in several days. Can't Wait to try it.