Seeking Advice on English Blends

[WNCLEE28466]

Title edited for clarity and removing all caps. There is another thread by WNC etc that does not have all caps in title or body.

Please see Rule 9.

HELLO. I'M LOOKING FOR LATAKIA LOVERS TO PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ENGLISH/BALKAN BLENDS YOU LOVE, WHAT IT IS, AND WHY... THANKS SO MUCH... WNCLEE28466

 

[cosmicfolklore]

WhiteKnight, it’s a balkan blend. I like it for its balance of flavors that seem to change throughout the bowl.

It seems like your caps lock is on, or you’re yelling.

 

[mikethompson]

I'm not quite sure what to say. Thread title is in all caps, initial post is in all caps, and the first reply is from cosmic who gives thoughtful advice.

What a strange week this will be.

 

[dcicero]

HELLO. I'M LOOKING FOR LATAKIA LOVERS TO PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ENGLISH/BALKAN BLENDS YOU LOVE, WHAT IT IS, AND WHY... THANKS SO MUCH... WNCLEE28466

Star of the East

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'm not quite sure what to say. Thread title is in all caps, initial post is in all caps, and the first reply is from cosmic who gives thoughtful advice.

What a strange week this will be.

My answers are always thoughtful. I just think about a lot of things.

 

[kschatey]

Arango Balkan Supreme ... It's very flavorful and also surprisingly inexpensive since it's bulk only.

Rattray's Red Raparree is my favorite though, but just by a smidge.

 

[lawdawg]

WhiteKnight, it’s a balkan blend. I like it for its balance of flavors that seem to change throughout the bowl.

It seems like your caps lock is on, or you’re yelling.

+1

Arango Balkan Supreme ... It's very flavorful and also surprisingly inexpensive since it's bulk only.

Rattray's Red Raparree is my favorite though, but just by a smidge.

+1

WhiteKnight is one of the very best latakia blends on the market right now. It's Russ Oulette's match for the old much-loved Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture.

Another excellent latakia blend is GLP's Westminster. Also, GLP Quiet Nights, which is his recreation of Nightcap, and IMO much better than the Peterson/Dunhill Nightcap.

If I could only have one latakia blend (unicorns aside), it would probably be a tossup between WhiteKnight and Westminster. They are both latakia-forward without being super heavy lat bombs.

Balkan Supreme is an excellent cheap bulk latakia blend, and punches way above its weight.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

If I may throw out a second fav... Lancers Slices. Less campfire. and balanced with those Virginias for a very leathery and chewy smoke.

 

[kcghost]

G.L. Pease's Quiet Nights is a good blend.

 

[SmokeClouds]

I would suggest GL Pease Quiet Nights, GL Pease Westminster, Arango Balkan Supreme, LJ Peretti Tashkent, G&H Balkan Mixture.

 

[WNCLEE28466]

Sorry about the CAPS. My keyboard is about shot, but my other laptop is with HP being repaired... WNCLEE28466 Thanks for the reply...

 

[Mtlpiper]

Some excellent suggestions so far, I have little to add.

I'm finally getting to the end of my old stack of Dunhill Nightcap tins (pre STG) which were my "ballpark" standard. But English can go in all kinds of directions (Balkan, English-aromatic, Lat-bomb). Some are sweeter, some have more of the campfire about them.

My favourite is probably still Plum Pudding Special Reserve (but it's a bit pricey). I also really enjoy Red Rapparee (which is more oriental with a sort of orange marmalade spice twang to me) and hear great things about the others mentioned in this thread.

G.L Pease blends (Westminster, Quiet Nights, Odyssey and Maltese Falcon) are all next on my buy list and are meant to be incredible (and readily available).

F&K Lancer's Slices and Arango Balkan Supreme are also meant to be excellent for the money (both are available bulk) but I've never tried them.

 

[mingc]

Title edited for clarity and removing all caps. There is another thread by WNC etc that does not have all caps in title or body.

Please see Rule 9.

HELLO. I'M LOOKING FOR LATAKIA LOVERS TO PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ENGLISH/BALKAN BLENDS YOU LOVE, WHAT IT IS, AND WHY... THANKS SO MUCH... WNCLEE28466

If you are successful, by the end of this thread, you will get suggestions for every latakia blend that has ever existed. Good luck!

 

[mso489]

An old favorite for many is Peterson Mixture 965, formerly a Dunhill blend but still made by the same blender despite the brand name change. You can also get good match blends of this in bulk at a savings.

 

[crawdad]

What immediately comes to mind and hasn’t yet been mentioned…

Kramer’s Father Dempsey
LJ Peretti Omega and Cambridge Flake
Presbyterian
C&D Engine #99

 

[smokeymo]

Father Dempsey is underrated.
PS52 Proper English is a classic.

 

[bullet08]

They all suck. Don't smoke English/Balkan. Really. Seriously! I don't need any more English/Balkan, so it's not me trying to prevent you buying my favorite blend. Specially, don't ever buy Artisan's Blend. Oh what horror that blend is! Stay clear!

 

[smokeymo]

They all suck. Don't smoke English/Balkan. Really. Seriously! I don't need any more English/Balkan, so it's not me trying to prevent you buying my favorite blend. Specially, don't ever buy Artisan's Blend. Oh what horror that blend is! Stay clear!

Hey don't tell people to buy Artisan's what the heck man

 

[pip01]

GLP Abington is a real winner in my book.

 

[Inspired Idler]

What immediately comes to mind and hasn’t yet been mentioned…

Kramer’s Father Dempsey
LJ Peretti Omega and Cambridge Flake
Presbyterian
C&D Engine #99

Great suggestions. I'll add:
LJ Peretti Royal
Sutliff Match Balkan Sobranie Original Mix Match (Bulk White Knight)