Straight Latakia

[redpanda]

Andy: Special Latakia Flake is available everywhere all of the time here. Penzance however is nowhere to be found. Perhaps, I am not aware of the right places to be looking for it, but I have never ever seen it in stock in Europe.(?)

 

[andrew]

Redpanda germains brown flake and special latakia flake are about as highly mythical as Stonehaven and Penzance in North America. There was just a major group buy of special latakia flake recently on the forum from Europe. The forum member Peckinhombre or whatever his name is has been searching out the brown flake last I heard, he would be a good bet to tempt with for possible trading for penzance and stonehaven. I'm sure many other members here would happily trade some of their stash for it. You probably have access to hard to get tobacco over there you could trade tin for tin with hard to get tobacco for us.

 

[bentbob]

I prefer Gawith and Hoggarth Balkan Flake or plug to SLF. Much fuller flavour (to me of course). Another great latakia is Ashton's Artisan's Blend (I don't know if this is available in the US but beats Dunhill's Nightcap IMO).
If you are in the EU, try GQ Tobaccos Latakia Layer Kake - fantastic stuff especially after it been aged for a few months.
MacBaren Vintage Syrian is also top class stuff.
I haven't tried blending tobaccos but a friend does and his Virginia Turkish Latakia and Perique blend is awesome. He won't divulge the recipe so I guess I've got to have a go at blending myself.

 

[andrew]

There's also the SG and G&H plugs, ropes etc. you can't get in North america that would be good trading material now that bentbob mentioned it.