Key Largo by Greg Pease
Deep, earthy and creamy. A distinguished broken flake of red Virginia tobaccos, small leaf orientals, and a measure of Cyprus Latakia, spiced with velvety cigar wrapper leaf. Key Largo develops throughout the bowl, offering a satisfying and sturdy smoking experience, with beautifully balanced, richly textured layers of cocoa, dark roasted coffee, leather, and a lively, lingering finish.
Photo by Greg Pease
While in Chicago I picked up a sample bag of Key Largo. It is a blend of Red Virginia, Izmir, Cyprus, Latakia, and Cigar leaf. It is a smokey and spicy smelling tobacco in the bag. It is a flake that by the time the airport security was finished with it at Ohare is now broken flake.
I put it to flame and it burned very easily. The smoke was thick and cloudy but tasted good from first light. I can definitely taste the sweetness of the Red Virginia coming out through out the smoke. The Izmir gives an oriental dryness in the mouth (I don't know how to describe it other than that. Kind of like a bit of tartar on the tongue).
The latakia is there and predominant throughout the smoke but tasty and smokey. I am assuming that the latakia is Cyprian. It is a nice smoke. I will have to get some more of this one. The bowl burned clean and dry to the bottom. The ash was a light grey and left no dottle. Very tasty. I smoked in the new Jack Howell Acorn that I picked up there.
Thanks for the great review Steve. This is a very nice tobacco in my opinion. Like you say, the flakes are more of a crumble cake, but the taste is great in any case.
I am fond of cigar blends – and this is a good one.
I’m curious about the ‘cigar blends’ remark. Picked up a pouch of Old Port (mild) and am having one helluva time getting used to the very strong, spicy flavours. About half a bowl is all I can handle (I’s new to this pasttime). Don’t know what’s in it. Wondering if any of you — Stever or Eric — have given this brand/blend a go at one time or another. Nice site, by the way, Eric.
Bye for now. Happy smokin’, dPappy
ps – tried a parfait of Capt Black (white) in the bottom half & the Old Port atop. Tolerable, but nothing to go ga-ga over.
Some cigar blends may likely have a substantial nicotine content. And while the taste in many of them is not what I’d bet a lot of people imagine it will be, it may not be for everyone. I think it adds a nice little twist. Thanks for commenting.
While this was the FIRST cigar blend I have tried, I tend to like PW&W Churchill better…Pease’s blend is great too…the only two blends I feel out there.