Tobacco Review: Beck's Ol' Lime Bastard

About a year ago, my local pipe shop came up with a blend called Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard as a replacement for Dunhill's classic 965. Pretty soon thereafter it was endorsed by the Pipe Club of London and was picked up by 4noggins.com. I went to the site and made sure that I added my two cents about the blend. I think it should also be noted that this particular review has a bit of the nostagia factor for me as it was my first real pipe tobacco review:

I started smoking a pipe after the transition of Dunhill tobaccos from Murray's to Orlik, so I cannot compare this blend to what 965 was before 2005 when that switch happened. However, being a fan of English blends, I can compare this to Orlik's 965 and also other blends that I have smoked as well. When I first loaded my pipe with this blend, I first noted the ease with I was able to do so. Many English blends I have tried tend to need a little bit of extra care while packing, but in the case of Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard it simply melts into the pipe perfectly. Then of course comes the light, which is just as easy as packing.

But we don't want to know so much about how easy it packs or how easy it is to light as much as we want to know how it smokes... and the basic fact is that it smokes wonderfully! As I said, I cannot compare this to pre-Orlik 965, but compared to the most recent incantation of 965 Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard has a fuller flavor without the harshness that 965 had. It is rich with Latakia, but balancing it out is a wonderful blend of both red and yellow Virginias with a hint of unflavored Cavendish.

Simply put, it is truly a remarkable blend that is thoroughly enjoyable from the first light all the way down to the last puff.

Currently listening to: The Sleep-Over Series, Volume One