Hermit had a Syrian Latakia with antique cigar leaf blend that was just too fantastic. All the other hermit blends have way too much lat for my tastes, but to each his own.
Blackhorse, I have 7 pounds aging. Its good, very good. Needs age though. Of course, I think every blend needs age. I wont touch it again for ten years.
I like the comment about the baccy ' solidifying " in the bowl. This happens with certain blends for me and I always find that if I pack much looser at the bottom this can help. just my two cents. :)
FVF ain't what she used to be, unfortunately. I have been comparing a tin from 2001 and a tin from 2009, and the difference is huge. The old stuff with the Zimbabwean leaf is much, much, bettter. Still, the new stuff isnt bad, just different.