Taste is a bit like a cigar for me. Do not be scared of the high Latakia content. Stay tuned for the results. It was rare for me to pick out anything but the lat. Once the pipe is lit, the flavor is very rich and its sweetness catches my attention, since despite having a smaller amount of virginia, it is sweeter than other English of its kind and this is something that I like in virginia/ latakia. This is an exceptional tobacco. But on the whole, about as delicate as a horse pistol in the ribs and a genteel invitation to walk the plank. You have been warned. Now I know, and don't like it. LATAKIA! This is not a complex smoke. Choose Options. Bout to go enjoy a bowl now!!!.. It will last a long time though, this is more of an occasional smoke. Still great stuff, but only for once in awhile, like after a charred steak dinner, or for when the urge for something immense and overpowering is desired. I was also surprised at the fact that I got a little bit of complexity out of this blend. If you smoke it on a low heat like incense, you can enjoy the very delicious aroma of Latakia. The strength is mild-med, nic is mild at most. E99 is not as sweet and doesn't bring much Oriental and is very one dimensional. Smells pretty full on on the tin and while smoking. I expected this blend to be nothing more than a Latakia-bomb; 75% Latakia made it a good bet that would be accurate I thought. A very nice blend indeed, assuming you like Latakia of course! Just sitting in my apartment in south holland, enjoying a big old bowl of pirate kake and a delicious raw winter carrot. The hype is real. No need to worry because we have a winner for Latakia lovers. Any drying, IMHO, would lessen the wonderful smokiness, which is the star attribute here. Look. The fact that you can purchase large quantities at bargain prices is also a plus and encourages big purchases for cellaring purposes. I am holding this one at 3 stars, because it is good but suffers from a lack of complexity. Some say its unidimensional. Originally Reviewed on 5/29 Tin/Pouch Note: Sour apple, plum, campfires and leather. Rather than overwhelm you it works really well. A delicious rich smoke. The only heavy latakia blend I like better is CAO old ironside. It is pretty strong, both in nicotine and aroma. I find this to be quite comparable to Penzance. no joke. in my cellar and check on it every few month for the mellowing I enjoyed on my 2012 earlier order. I think if I had bought this in any quantity it would be a great blender with a dryer, easier burning, simple burley. Be that as it may, I was fixated on finding the ultimate Latakia fix and when I started ordering from C&D, I worked my way through several less Latakia-heavy blends until I reached Pirate Kake. This is now the bar for me as far as taste and just a purely enjoyable smoke goes. If you love Latakia, this is a must try. Where to Buy The cake itself has that delicious campfire aroma to it, but it doesn't seem to come out as much in the bowl. Glad I gave it a shot and a second try. HOWEVER, I just can't get past the fact that for whatever reason, Kake r eally seems to spoil at or near the half-way point; the bottom half of every bowl I smoke just simply does not have the same effect (and results) as the top half. The terpene smell so indicative of Cyprian latakia is almost not there. Life is a novel by PKD. Ive had a few tobaccos from C&D and this is by far my favorite. It's smokey alright. Similar Blends: Creosote soaked camel's dung.. UPDATE 12/20 I am not one to question the manufacturer or to doubt the voracity of other reviewers but this tobacco is one that I must break my norm Disclaimers: this is an art not a science, tobacco ages and flavors may change, all people taste things differently, etc, etc, etc 70% + Latakia means one thing: Latakia is what you taste Burley as a base on its best day isn't overpowering Latakia in any dimension except Vitamin N. I have read hundreds of reviews from a few of the TR prolific reviewers, and their variance in opinion on topics like this is remarkable. The next day PK lights right up and smokes all the way through. Cold smell is very smoky - woodfire and leather dominant. Hadnt been a fan of too many english blends but after getting this in the mail today, i have to completely agree with these other comments. The tin description says, it contains 75% (!) Surprisingly sweet, yes, but also flat. The other tobaccos are added to simply smooth off the rougher edges, as opposed to smoking it straight. An eye opener of magnificent flavor from the first draw to the last. A Latakia lover's treasure Best smoked after a meal (not before) or it will overpower one's palate. This stuff is ridiculously good. Smooth, spicy, with some of the thickest, whitest smoke I have seen. If I were stuck on an island and given the choice of only one tobacco, Pirate Kake (PK) would be my choice, except Id prefer the 8oz can, which I just added to my wish list. Without question, the different sized chunks of tobacco, with different blends of leaf, is at the root of the many different sub-flavors that manifest during the bowl. Mmmm. The nicotine will not knock you out but it is there and persistent. I should have reviewed this tobacco long ago. Very creamy, smooth in the mouth and leaves a nice coating for you to enjoy for an hour. Fantastic. The taste didn't turn me o ff, cause it certainly has a beefy bold smoky flavor to it, but it didn't keep me going with it either. this one is a big one , with strengh and interesting flavours , it needs a quiet ambiance to aassess its extent ; one of my favorites. Arghhhh, me likes dar Pirate Kake me duz! Pipe Used: Peterson Donegal Rocky 01, MM bent apple diplomat, Purchased From: Habana Port Cigars, Metairie, LA. It does have a lot of Latakia but the addition of the Burley g ives it a bit of a bite that's not exactly my cup of tea. I enjoy the honey like notes with light puffing. Its reminds me of taking a handful of fresh basil and stuffing your mouth (but not as extreme,) and once the flavor has left your palate there is still a certain feeling present. I was always a little leary of the thought of pirates boarding my ship and plundering it - however, if they bring a Kake of this along, I will welcome them aboard! I am currently puffing on this blend, in my Ser Jacopo Delecta, and I find this blend to be very mild for the most part. I don't mean to be a wet blanket or a negative guy, but it seems that a few reviewers that post many reviews are serving as marketers for blenders looking for their verbose reviews. I agree with the previous reviews that it is rather linear and lacks balance, but if you're looking at Pirate Kake like I was, it's because you wanted that lack of balance; I wanted as much Latakia as possible. Very creamy, smooth in the mouth and leaves a nice coating for you to enjoy for an hour. There is this faint sense of a very dark chocolate that drifts through at times, so this stuff is not without occasional subtleties. The Burley is woody and dry, but are detectable in this smoke. I have carefully read the reviews to get an idea, and I thank everyone for the excellent guidance and advice. The pressed cakes are good looking, somewhat moist and tightly pressed. I really enjoy Latakia, dont get me wrong, but holy cow this was a bit strong for my taste. I just ordered more of this cake and can't wait to see what age does to its already perfect cake!!! Packing and Lighting: It can be time consuming to crumble, but you must, or this will not light well. Dispite being mostly latakia it's actually not quite the punch in the mouth you'd think it would be. 4 stars if you like lots of manly Latakia, 1 star if not. If you are not a latakia lover than this blend is not for you, if you are this blend will float on cloud nine. This is not an all day smoke. There is a dash of cavendish in there but just to smooth it a little. Comparisons are almost always inadequate and mistakenly imply some presumtion of superiority. Troppo Latakia? The burley chimes in with that nuttiness that I alluded to in my earlier review and the oriental stands out a little more with some sour notes. Rich, ever-changing as it burns, long-lasting and cool, PK is one of Craig Tarler's grandest accomplishments, the stuff of tobacco dreams! It might need a relight or two. of exceptional Latakia accompanied by Turkish and Burley. I found it to be an excellent blend. You may even liken this to a creosote and tar aroma. Really enjoy it anytime of day mostly in the morning with a cup of coffee. The flavor is smooth and fulfilling. WORDS FAIL ME AS TO HOW WONDERFUL IT IS. This is a definite tobacco. This is cologne in a pipe (in a good way). No I did not say it was identical or state that it was the equal. not good. The Tobacco in Bulgaria report includes: Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends. The aroma was all latakia and the taste was pretty much the same. It burns slow and lights easy. Tasty and full , with excellent pack and burn qualities . I smoked it moist, and it got very very hot. Nose is definitely noticeable but not overpowering as some here suggest or like some aromatics. The sheer quality of the condementals and the lack of virginia is what sets this blend very far apart from many of the other popular latakia heavy favorites in the Brotherhood of Latakia Junkies. Surprisingly the nicotine content is not that high, mind you Latakia on its own is no Howitzer either. It may get my additional half star again with aging. I will say, if you enjoy this at all, go get Maltese Falcon or Ten Russiana. Whether your tastes run to Virginia, Latakia, Burley, or Aromatic blends, you will find something to please you among the broad range of tobaccos they make. I kept seeing this in all the pipe smoking groups so I thought what the heck, I'll give it a try. Hats off to C&D. Published review content of this website is considered the And third it is a fun to work with kake/plug. It lites well and stays lit right down to the end of the bowl. When smoked immediately after opening the package, the aroma becomes watery, so it is best to let it dry. This is my new all day smoke . Its actually quite satisfying to feel the the fat clouds rolling out of your mouth, taking any negativity from your day with them. I must say that I was surprised at the smoothness of this blend considering its very high latakia content. The room note is very strong. A rich, smoky and creamy experience. To each his own. when the tin was opened but that subsided to the sour apple and plum notes being stronger, especially after transferring to a jar. Pipe Used: meer. I get more flavor, sweetness and nuance from this blend then I do from other lat bomb balkans. I recommend this to any Latakia fan, and for anyone looking for a warm blend to smoke on a cold winter day. I enjoy a good Balkan or English blend, but not this much Latakia. You will love it Has become my go to pipe tobacco. Yeah this is what I wanted for a good old Latakia BBQ. You won't be sorry. Needs some dryout time or you may get a toungue bite. And at $25 a pound this is a marvel of modern, um. However, even if this blend is quite straightforward it is helped by the turkish. This is a real acquired taste. Viene con cierta humedad, as que despus de desmenuzar hay que dejarlo un buen rato para que se oxigene y adquiera el punto ptimo. ok, campfire and dead trees works for me, too. An english blend from the gods. Age When Smoked: not sure. Really like the piece I have come up with for this one. The nic-hit is medium. Before this, I've had Black Frigate and Bow-Legged Bear, which were both really old (from those crappy metal tins C&D used to use that didn't seal), and were falling apart, and Briar Fox, which I liked; but this one is really dense and really fun to play with/chop up. My smokes started off pleasant enough, especially after a full meal, but the large amount of latakia slowly pummeled me. In my opinion it is inconceivable a mixture with 75% of Latakia because it is impossible to detect any other taste. Needless to say this is something that I now smoke daily and I encourage you to as well. But I knew that would probably be the case going in. Sometimes this is the only thing I smoke all day. The tin aroma is that of hay in a barn. There are background notes of dried fruits present, however, if you let your nose acclimate. Very smoky, leathery, and herby. If you want a more balanced english this one will be too strong on the condiment for you. Sipping at this one, it didn't get too overbearing in its intensity of flavor. I also have it blended 50/50 with My Mixture 965.
March 11, 2023