Ashton Artisan's Blend 50g Tin

Ashton Artisan’s Blend 50g Tin is a full-bodied English blend for connoisseurs who like their tobacco smoky, spicy and ‘authentic’. This blend is deliberately unflavoured – the focus here is on high-quality leaves and their natural flavours. Its character is evident as soon as you open the tin: a distinctive smoky Latakia aroma, underpinned by dark spice, a touch of sweetness and a piquant depth. This is precisely why Artisan’s Blend is regarded as a tobacco for experienced pipe smokers or for anyone wishing to gradually explore more intense English mixtures. The cut is easy to pack and smokes without any fuss – especially if you let it breathe for a moment and enjoy it with a steady draw.

Smoky, spicy, complex: Latakia takes centre stage

The backbone is Latakia (often described as Cypriot), which provides the characteristic smokiness. This is complemented by Virginia components, which bring a natural, slightly caramel-like sweetness and a touch of ‘brightness’ to the profile. Oriental/Turkish tobaccos, along with a hint of Perique, which adds a peppery, slightly fruity spice, provide depth and complexity. Some German-language product descriptions also mention fire-cured Kentucky and Black Cavendish as rounding-off components – this fits very well into the flavour profile: more body, more density, an even rounder smoke. The result is a full-bodied, rich blend that develops in an exciting way as you smoke it: initially smoky and spicy, then increasingly creamy, with a piquant note in the background and a long, dry finish. The room aroma is distinctly ‘English’: tobly smoky and more suited to like-minded smokers than to the kitchen on a Sunday afternoon.

Tasting report and characteristics

Cut: Loose Cut / Ribbon
Flavouring: none
Room note: smoky and tobacco-like
Type: English Blend (full-bodied)
Raw tobaccos: Latakia (Cypriot), Virginia, Orientals/Turkish, Perique (sometimes with added Kentucky & Black Cavendish)