Hearth & Home: Larry's Blend

The following is a review I did on Hearth & Home's Larry's Blend on 2/21/06

Brand:	pipesandcigars.com
Blender:	Russ Ouellette
Tin Description:	Larry Loerzel, one of our regular store customers, and connoisseur of English/Balkan blends had tried Ten to Midnight, and although he liked it, he was looking for something a little fuller and different. Based on his preference, we blended a full, traditional Balkan using Orientals that were more “buttery” and amped-up the Latakia. This blend is now a big hit among our full-bodied English fans; a cool-smoking, very rich mixture.
Country of Origin:	US
Curing Group:	Air Cured
Contents:	Virginia Latakia Oriental
Cut:	Ribbon
Packaging:	Bulk Rating: **** out of ***** Larry's Blend is truly a scrumptiously delcious Balkan smoke. A very nice silky full billow smoke. When I think of packing a bowl of supreme smoke this is one I hope is on my shelf. If you like Balkans this is a for sure must try. I will be ordering more of this...right now!

Just For Him: Shortcut To Mushroom

The following is a review of Just For Him's Shortcut To Mushroom in the Middle Earth Pipeweed Series. I did this review on 2/19/06.

Brand:	Just For Him
Blender:	Bob Schafer
Tin Description:	This is the fourth blend in the Middle Earth Pipeweed Series! Rich, dark Latakia is blended with mushrooms straight from Farmer Maggot's field to produce a truly unique smooth, creamy, earthy smoke with a hint of sweetness.
Country of Origin:	US
Curing Group:	Air Cured
Contents:	Black Cavendish
Cut:	Coarse Cut
Packaging:	Bulk Rating: **** out of ***** I keep gobbling this stuff up! I have placed an additional two orders since review...and ordered some for a "box pass" I'm involved in. Yummy yummy stuff! Shortcut To Mushroom another blend from Just For Him and my favorite from the Middle Earth Pipeweed line. I enjoy Latakia most so this one fits my bill just fine. Special thanks to the blenders in dar Shire. Others have compared it to Frog Morton On The Town, one of my favorites, and thats a good comparison. As far as it tasting like mushrooms...I can't tell and I hate mushrooms. This blend just has a smoky/earthy feel and taste to it and burns cool. Sometimes this blend can give me a nice nicotine fog, eyelids a little droopy - nice and not overdone. So if you like thee ole Lata and want to smoke something with a gimiki name then fire some of this up!

G.L.Pease: Telegraph Hill

The following is a review of G.L. Pease's Telegraph Hill I did on 2/21/06.

Brand:	GLPease
Blender:	Greg Pease
Tin Description:	A sturdy foundation of Virginia tobaccos, each chosen for its particular character, is enhanced with fine flakes of perique for a refined smoking experience. Telegraph Hill is rich and flavorful, with a satisfying, lingering finish. Each sip builds upon the last, creating a marvelous edifice of taste and aroma. You won't worry about earthquakes if your pipe is filled with this wonderful blend.
Country of Origin:	US
Curing Group:	Air Cured
Contents:	Virginia Perique
Cut:	Ribbon
Packaging:	2oz. Tin, 8oz Tin Telegraph Hill is a mild VaPer...mild sweet Virginia with a mild spice flowing from the Perique...and they do their job handsomely...not best but darn well. This is a good quality smoke but not my bag of tricks...alone. Vapers find their way into my rotation as a supplement and Tele works well in this regard. As a donut is to coffee, orange slices to cigars etc so too is Tele excellent after two Latakia rich bowls back to back. I absolutely melt smoking this stuff after two bowls of Dunhill's Nightcap. Two Nighties and my eyes are a little heavy and my pallet is caked, this is where Telegraph Hill shines for me. After the nightcaps the Vapers penetrate my pallet with a refreshing flavor. My nightcaping smokes consist no longer of just a primarily rich dark Latakia blend but an added VA or Vapor to boot and Telegraph Hill rings my number in this regard...thank you Pease.

Dunhill: My Mixture 965

The following is a review I did on Dunhill's My Mixture 965 on 2/28/06

Brand:	Dunhill
Blender:	UNKNOWN
Tin Description:	For the connoisseurs of full-bodied tobacco. Choicest small Latakia impart a rich nutty flavor and coolness. Macedonia Bright is added for sweetness. The Brown Cavendish completes the blend that all confirmed pipe smokers love.
Country of Origin:	UK
Curing Group:	Air Cured
Contents:	Cavendish Latakia Oriental
Cut:	Ribbon
Packaging:	50g Tin, Bulk EU version. A bowl of 965 is a pleasant experience. Start: I enjoy the initial start-up of every bowl I smoke. Mix 965 was rather disappointing in this regard. If you’re an occasional nasal sipper the first few puffs of the bowl is not the time for that. 965 will sting your nose with an ashy bite. Nothing special or unique is noticed at this stage. Having said that lets move on… Mid-Bowl: Wow. What a difference! At this point 965 comes into its own and delivers its merits. A tasty English with a smooth smoky note. Go ahead take a sniff at this stage…its lovely. Finish: No real notable changes for me just a good smoke. An occasional ashy flavor can enter in from time to time. English blend with a little sweetness, this could be a good morning bowl. But I probably won't keep a lot of this around for the ashy notes distract...nevertheless less a very decent smoke. Update 2/29/06: The ashyness must have been from the pipe I smoked it in for I had a much more pleasant experience in a different pipe.

McCleland: Frog Morton on the Bayou

The following is a review of McClelland's Frog Morton on the Bayou I did on 3/7/06

Brand:	McClelland
Blender:	McClelland
Tin Description:	When vacationing on the dark, placid waters of the Bayou, Frog Morton prefers this smooth, rich, calming Balkan blend, to which he adds just enough of the finest Louisiana Perique
Country of Origin:	US
Curing Group:	Fire Cured
Contents:	Latakia Perique Oriental Turkish
Cut:	Ribbon
Packaging:	50g Tin, 100g Tin Frog Morton On The Bayou is a very decent smoke and I have a constant struggle between Bayou and On The Town when I reach for a bowl of McClelland. As a Balkan goes this isn't the best but its scrumpous nonetheless. Got to have it in rotation...an old faithful.

McClelland: Frog Morton Across The Pond

The following is a review I did of McClelland's Frog Morton Across the Pond on 2/21/06.

Brand:	McClelland
Blender:	McClelland Tobacco Company
Tin Description:	A cool smoking, fragrant blend enhanced with Syrian Latakia.
Country of Origin:	US
Curing Group:	Air Cured
Contents:	Virginia Latakia Oriental
Cut:	Ribbon
Packaging:	50g Tin Frog Morton Across The Pond is a very decent smoke. However, too light for my tastes to keep in rotation or supply. With this blend I almost forget I'm enjoying a bowl full of tobacco. This would be reserved at best for stacking wood, working in the garage, etc. i.e. doing something where I don't care to take too much notice of what I'm smoking, for some an all day smoke perhaps. With so many other fabulous blends within and without the Frog series, I will not be keeping this in supply but Across The Pond is no doubt a very well blended weed.