Old Dublin by Peterson - Pipe Tobacco

This traditional mixture of the finest Latakia, Turkish oriental, and Virginia Leaf is slowburning, cool and still blended by hand.

Two thoughts struck me as I lit up my first bowl Old Dublin. The first was "wow, this is so middle of the road, but in a good way." The second thought was "where you been all my life!" Further bowls have revealed a most pleasant English that is perfectly tolerable in every way. I think this is what I noticed when I was seeing Old Dublin in the middle. There wasn't anything extraordinary that I had to interpret, it just tastes good - it tastes like an English blend rather than an English blend but only little more this, or like and English blend, but with a lot of that. Like the tin description says - traditional English. Old Dublin was not an attempt to reinvent the wheel.

If anything stands out it is the Orientals. They are absolutely heavenly to my taste, much like a dry white wine. I love Old Dublin after a meal whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It has this dry fragrant character. Of course, when I say dry I don't mean the moisture content, but the taste. So, the Turkish is right up there with everything else. Latakia fanatics may be underwhelmed, but those of us who would rather the Latakia leave room for others will find the proportions a wise choice on the blender's part. There is more tang than sweetness from the Virginias. You have to pay attention or you may miss it.

The cut is ribbon, fine to medium. Moisture was perfect from a fresh tin. The burn is perfect and a good fill is near effortless. I had no problem with tongue bite and the strength is suitable and satisfying any time of the day. If you like English and Balkans, especially in the medium range, you'll want to try this if you haven't already. If you have tried it, or even if you haven't, please comment below.

This is from the excellent "Hearth & Home" series distributed by PipesAndCigars.com.  The manufacturer's description reads as follows:

"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."

This mixture is a classic medium cut, rather dark in color although by looking closer, there is some variety in there.  But when you look at this tobacco, the main thing that strikes you is the incredible aroma of spice, leather and molasses.

The tobacco is on the dry side to the touch, similar to C&D's usual hydrometry.  15 to 30 minutes "drying" time is all it needs.

Lighting is easy, nothing fights back or stands up.  The burn is very good and even and the pipe stays lit easily.

Initially, the main flavor is similar to that of a campfire.  The smoke is cool, salty, savory, and then becomes spicy.  The tobacco tastes lightly woody and earthy but is dominated by the spice.  There is a definite fruit element in there that reminds me of juicy cherries.  As the bowl progresses, the spice intensifies, becomes deeper and triggers the heat receptors like a habanero pepper would. 

After roughly half the pipe, the taste becomes very deep and dark, the fruity character fades and the spicy character takes over.  The earthy side of the blend really comes forward now and gives the smoke a leathery taste that intensifies towards the end of the bowl.

Larry's Blend is my favorite Balkan blend.  It is medium in nicotine but full in flavor! 

Tin description:

"Dark with Latakia and black Virginias, deeply seasoned with Orientals, this is the classic Full Scottish Mixture."

Latakia-rich blends can be monochromatic when there aren't enough Orientals. McClelland's doesn't make that mistake with Oriental 14. McClelland Virginias have a special tang and that's not lost under all the Latakia and Oriental leaf in this blend. Latakia comes in at the medium to full range and I believe its the Orientals lending not only spice but a little sweetness alongside the deep, bassy sweetness of the Virginias.

The cut makes for easy filling, and the burning characteristics are adequate to enjoy a bowl without extra fuss. Those susceptible to tongue bite from McClelland products should get away with a bowl or two a day of 14 but may not find it suited for all day smoking.

Overall this is a rich and delicious blend that will likely be enjoyed by most English and Balkan blend lovers.

Composed of Burleys, two cuts of Virginia, Latakia and Perique. For those who enjoy true natural tobacco flavor, one of my most popular lighter English blends.

Here is an example of a blend that truly uses Latakia as a condiment. This rounds out and touches up the earthy burleys and leaves the pepper from the Perique to deal with the tang and sweetness from the Virginia.

No. 72 has lots of high notes and a clean dry finish. The proportion of Perique here is pushing the envelope but doesn't quite step out of bounds. Those who like Virginia/Perique blends and burley should not be off put by the amount of Latakia here and enjoy this approach to what I'd call a classic American blend.

This will work great in warm weather or as a spicy all day smoke. Try this one in a variety of pipes as the bowl size and pipe engineering makes all the difference.

It is a light English blend of Virginias, Burleys, Latakia and Perique and is topped off with a bit of Wilke's unique fermented black cavendish. Truly a social English.

This is a very agreeable blend in all ways. While 193 does lean to the lighter side, I find the flavor and body entirely satisfying and I can enjoy this any time of the day. The foundation of Burley, Virginia, and Latakia is not obscured by the smidgen of Perique or the fermented black cavendish.

This amount of Perique is perfect for adding a tidy amount of zing to an English type blend of this sort. The fermented black cavendish is either not overly sweet to begin with or applied sparingly enough to twist in an additional layer of flavor without getting in the way of a clean finish.

Like all the Pipeworks and Wilke blends, this arrived plenty moist and required some drying to reach a moisture level that appeals to me. Once there it loads and burns beautifully with no bite. I expect this easy-going blend will appeal to most pipe smokers unless they have no tolerance for Latakia or Perique in any amount.

Blender's description:

One of the oldest Wilke recipes. Virginia and Burleys are mixed with a non-aromatic Black Cavendish tobacco and topped with a generous amount of superior Latakia creating a traditional medium strength English blend. A rich mellow blend in the true British tradition.

This blend has a medium amount of Latakia. I wouldn't want any more in this blend because I might miss the tangy sweetness from the Virginia or that faint toastiness from the unflavored black cavendish. The burley is applied just enough to round it out with some body.

This blend is well behaved and well balanced.

Tin Description:

Samarra - opulent and elegant! Several varieties of Virginia tobaccos form the structure of this blend. Smoky Cyprian Latakia, fine Turkish leaf, and just a bit of Perique are added for richness. The smoke is silky and round. A subtle, yet complex sweetness from the Virginias and just a little zest is present throughout the smoke, while layers of complexity tantalize the senses from first blush to the last puff.

Blender's comments:

Samarra, along with Cairo, Mephisto and Renaissance, was one of the first blends to be offered under the G. L. Pease brand. In a sense, it is a refinement of Sublime Porte, a blend I produced years ago for Drucquer & Sons while working there, so it reflects a much longer history than the other blends in the line.

Despite a significant percentage of Cyprus Latakia, Samarra is not a Latakia powerhouse. It is rich and complex, relying as much upon the delicate sweetness and structure of matured red Virginias, and the exotic, fragrant nature of fine oriental leaf as it does on the smoky opulence of the Cyprian “King of Flavor.” The blend is finished with a hint of zesty lemon Virginia, adding a hint of brightness to the smoke, and a touch of perique, providing its own unique spice.

I simply love this blend. When I first tried it, I was somewhat bored by it. It seemed a little ho hum at the time. No recall on what other blends I had been experimenting with at the time, but a few bowls into the first tin I was hooked. Samarra was in my pipe throughout the day. Now I have to fight the urge to hoard the stuff.

Everything is there that makes a great English blend. There's the quality of the leaf which I rely on from Greg Pease blends. With this blend there is a deft balance between teh components. Latakia is leading the way but not making a big deal about being in charge. Virginias embrace the entire experience with a touch of natural sweetness and tang while the Turkish and Perique keep things interesting. None of these flavors are lost amongst the others.

The really cool thing about this blend is it works as one of those contemplative quiet smokes that you want to dedicate full attention to not to miss a nuance, a slight turn in flavor, or an unexpected note. At the same time, the balance, medium fullness, and perfect behavior qualify this for all-day smoking.

This is the English blend. I will be recommending this to all who ask me to suggest an English blend.