S&R Pipes and Pleasures' Old English Pipe Tobacco Reviews

Rich and full and oh-so-smooth, this is the way a heavy latakia blend is supposed to be. It comes in quite a broad, thick cut that may take several matches to get lit, but it's well worth the effort. Wide strips of black and yellowish tobacco makes this a hearty-looking blend as well.

Its rich latakia-laden pouch aroma translates perfectly into the smoke's flavour and room aroma. It is very dark and has not even a trace of harshness, probably due to a good selection of Turkish tobaccos added to the mixture; it inhales easily. Once lit, it burns well, but doesn't overheat, nor does it become unduly harsh or bitter toward the end of the bowl.

I've been savouring this in a big bowled Blatter pipe. The intense latakia taste, which is smokier than it is tarry, dominates the other flavours but remains gentle without becoming rich and creamy the way Ashton Celebrated Sovereign or Bengal Slices sometimes come off.

It's a dry mixture on the fingers and on the palate and leaves a rich long-lasting latakia flavour in the mouth after smoking. If you love heavy latakia blends that are especially smoky in character, then this one is for you. Its room aroma unequivocally says latakia, but it has a slight sweetness to it.

What a beautiful smoke! I easily can see why it's Jack Tompkins' smoke of choice. Reminds me a bit of Rattray's Accountant's Blend, but much more lively in flavour.