What I Like Upon my Return to Latakia.

[SBC]

A couple of years ago I began to experience that much-discussed phenomenon by which long-time latakia smokers suddently grow a distaste for the stuff. As is the case for many, I began to enjoy Virginias at that time.

Happily, a couple of months ago I realized that my taste for latakia had partly returned. I could never now love it like I love VAs, but I can enjoy it again.

Title edited for upper case requirements. Rule 9.

So, I've spent the last month pulling out a bunch of my jarred latakia mixtures to see what stands out to me now that my palate has been acclimated to Virginias.

I'm finding that my palate is certainly pickier. Old favorites still rise to the top, but the others -- which were good enough, back then, and certainly worth smoking -- no longer seem worth smoking.

The ones that I'm liking best upon my return to latakia are --

Typical Full Latakia Mixture --

• Peretti Omega
  
  
• H&H Magnum Opus
  (I like this much better than either Black House or WhiteKnight, both of which I tested alongside Magnum Opus)

Class of its Own Latakia Mixture --

• Esoteria Penzance
  (I know that many disagree, but so far as I can tell, my palate isn't just pretending that a naked emperor has nice threads. The earthy, oily, creamy cohesiveness of Penzance really does strike me as unique and great)

Crossover English --

• Boswell Northwoods
  (and the room note from this one is killer)

Light English --

• SG Squadron Leader
  (To my palate, grassy VAs dominate, here)

What about you others who regained some taste for latakia after an exclusively Virginia hiatus? What did you find yourself liking upon your return?

 

[simong]

A timely post, sir!
For some unknown reason, I’ve been tanning the arse off a couple of blends lately.
Germains 1820 Flake
Germains Special Latakia Flake
Also got round to finishing off an old tin of Penzance. Good, but not half as good as the aforementioned.

 

[SBC]

A timely post, sir!
For some unknown reason, I’ve been tanning the arse off a couple of blends lately.
Germains 1820 Flake
Germains Special Latakia Flake
Also got round to finishing off an old tin of Penzance. Good, but not half as good as the aforementioned.

I hadn't pulled out the jar of Special Latakia to compare to Penzance, but you've just reminded me to!

 

[kcghost]

My best for Latakia hasn't really returned. Occasionally I get a craving for a particular blend, and it works to a degree. I have recently ordered some G.L. Pease's Westchester and that is unreal in its quality.

 

[ThermionicScott]

@SBC, are you perceiving the Orientals in those blends differently as well?

 

[boston]

My cellar was started around 2000, and did the TAD routine like some and accumulated a bit of tobacco. Later I started a shift towards VA. Recently coming back to Latakia I think I enjoy it again because of the age of the tins in my cellar. I no longer like lat bombs and some blends have calmed down a little.

Always liked 965 and frog on a log. Probably because of the cav in 965 and the good VA base in frog; I enjoy the sweet blends.

I do not think the lat blends suffer from age. For me they are better.

 

[SBC]

@SBC, are you perceiving the Orientals in those blends differently as well?

I think I recognize them more distinctly than I used to. "Englishes" were more muddled to my palate, years ago (and yet in a way I liked), whereas now the components parse out (except for Penzance -- the cohesiveness there seems inseparable).

Does this ring true for you, too?

 

[dcicero]

Skiff Mixture has brought me back a bit.

 

[Scottmi]

I’m glad your pallet is accepting Latakia again. And, brother, per the wisdom of Romeo Void, Never say Never.!

 

[Architeuthis]

Good news to hear your latakia burnout is fading. Squadron Leader is so good, it'd be a shame to have loved and lost that one. I found an even lighter latakia blend (I suppose a Scottish style) that I enjoy in Rattray's Jock's Mixture.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I think I recognize them more distinctly than I used to. "Englishes" were more muddled to my palate, years ago (and yet in a way I liked), whereas now the components parse out (except for Penzance -- the cohesiveness there seems inseparable).

Does this ring true for you, too?

Yep! For a long time, when I smoked Englishes/Balkans, I got the smoke, the incense, and a little sweet toward the beginning that seemed to help carry the rest. But I couldn't have told you exactly which components were doing what. Heck, I would not have been willing to swear on my life whether anything other than Latakia was present. But like you, I didn't mind, since the overall effect was so exotic and intriguing.

It's only recently that I can smoke one and be like, "oh yeah, I can tell what the Virginia is doing here." Spending time smoking individual varietals really helped with that, and I wish I had done it much earlier in my pipe-smoking journey.

 

[Mr_houston]

Maybe under light English: I really appreciate Chelsea Morning. It focus more on the VAs, with Latakia and orientals as enhancements. It does have perique, if that matters.

 

[canucklehead]

I've been diluting my heavier lat blends with straight Virginias, sometimes a bit of burley. For example, Pirate Kake mixed 50/50 with D&R Windsail with a pinch of cigar leaf was a pleasant smoke.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Surely Pirate Kake is one of the heaviest Lat blend on the market!

Never left Latakia, and Margate is still my favorite.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I didn't smoke Latakia for a long time for the same reason, I just grew to dislike it. My introduction back into it was actually at the GatlinBurlier pipe shop. Richard cracked some 1970s Balkan Sobrani and threw an ounce in with my purchase, so I smoked a bowl with him. Man was I shocked to find how much I enjoyed that bowl. It was a really rainy day there in the mountains, I'd been hiking all morning. It just really hit the spot.
A while after I returned home, I tried some Rattrays 7 Reserve and McConnell oriental - same thing, it just hit the spot.
I am rarely in the mood to smoke Latakia now, not even monthly. But I'm glad that a few times a year I can revisit those blends and really get enjoyment from then.
I pretty much only reach for Oriental heavy Lat blends, or VA heavy. LJ Peretti has a few of these blends I enjoy.