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.
Of course I have only been smoking the PCCA version not the McClelland labeled tins. I heard that they were formulated with a slight variance. Dont know if thats true but it wasnt meant to be a Syrian powerhouse. Just a touch, just a touch. Which was achieved:).
MM, I love Tudor castle and Tudor castle arcade!! Both are rather delicious. I highly recommend Arcade because the Syrian is just a touch. Overall I think it tastes like some kind of exotic chocolate.