Many tobaccos with half as much bill themselves as "heavy" blends. I initially bought a tin, liked it, then eventually bought a pound brick which I placed into two of the large mason jars. All in all I would rate this a 3.75. The blend smokes really smooth. So keep yer bilge suckin grimy hooks outta mee tobacco, or itll be the locker fer ya all!! To many, this would be a heresy on the order of combining several single-malt scotches (perish the thought) or good wines. if you can procure it Age When Smoked: not sure. I once bought a Dolly Parton record on the same basis, so my shallowness is not new. I bought a 1/2 lb of this product mail-order w/o first tasting it, based on its description and its reputation in latakia-addict circles. Just too much Latakia for me. Not much ups and downs and very few acidity. This is my first crumble cake, and I found it to be fun and easy to prepare. Moisture level is perfect right out of the brick, rub-out is easy, and it burns properly. Delicious flavors mend together and form a smooth, rich English blended by the tobacco gods themselves. (I dont pickup room note myself when I smoke but my wife said it smelled like hind end FWIW). It burns fine right off the kake but becomes a very tiny touch ammoniated by the end of the bowl owing to being over moist. Also this blend delivered the most pleasant aroma of any tobacco I've lit up before, and always gets me comin g back for more. It still made my tongue slightly numb, but then so does a shot of Mezcal, and I don't avoid that spirit. The result is a kind of monochromatic, but what a great color! Tobacco is soft and dry. It crumbled up pretty easy and packed up well. The smoke is abundant with each puff, and I guess some would probably find offensive. I love lats but to be honest they mostly taste the same to me (mostly but there are plenty of exceptions) and judging by the aroma I figured thatd be The case. I feel like I'm the naysayer here, I read sooo many positive things about this blend. Lighting up, The sails fill and I am presented the latakia, with the burley and orientals blending in harmony. It is too much, after a few minutes of it my senses numbed. However, I didn't find the same results in smaller pipes or even my briars so I might have just had an off day. I really want to like it, but it's too strong. When I first tried this, I thought it was disgusting. Continuando il fumo pieno, cremoso ma sempre e decisamente monocromatico, un solo tabacco prevale su tutti: il Latakia. It was a suicide. Think a peaty scotch and some nuttiness for the most part. it is full. Is it a Lat-heavy blend that explodes your palate in such a way as to make any and all future Latakia blends unpalatable? The expression Lat-Bomb has always been tossed about in such a disparaging way, I always assumed the term to be a pejorative one. I always welcome this unique cake cut from C&D. After initially trying this in a narrow billiard for the first two-three bowls smoked in an enclosed area, I tried it in a couple wider gauge pipes, a Custombilt with a more conical burn chamber and a BBB Two Thousand with a similar, though smaller bowl, out on my rear deck. It burns slow and lights easy. If you like Latakia, it just doesn't get any better than this. I'll have to smoke more, but I've found my new favorite at the moment. Digging through the packaging you are rewarded with a well presented krumble kake. Ok Im on my river Roasting fish over a campfire. This is my favorite Lat-bomb of all time, having tried many that get harsh or bitter. The tobacco smokes evenly, and burns to a white ash afterwards. But I stand by that assessment. It is top notch Cyprian leaf with solid Burley and Virginia's. Not an all day smoke,. This is the single greatest Latakia blend on the market. With that said, it would be lovely with just a little more Orientals in the mix; say, 50% Latakia with the deficit filled with Turkish leaf. I'd say it's complex, but not like Penzance or a GL Pease latakia. Full, dense, aromatic taste leaves nobody indifferent! Pirate kake retrohales like a champ. I will now compare this to Engine 99, Odyssey & Ten Russians blends for my Lat bomb fix. Pirate Kake is much less powerful than I thought that it would be. I received a free sample of this with an online order, and it quickly became my favorite. bomb! I was mainly a cigar smoker for a number of years, with pipes as a sometimes thing. No burn issues at all with minimal relights. I am a fan of Latakia and do not like a lot of spice. This stuff is delicious. I can taste it from time to time, not in a nutty burley taste but more of a vegetative way. I knew by the guy who I traded tins with ( He got an old tin from me of Kingfisher ) that it was a full bore Latakia blend, I have to say I am most pleased. But whether or not I continue to explore their blends, ofcourse i will, I will also make certain that I have a good supply of PK on order and in my cupboard before the rest of the smoking world wakes up to this blend, if they havent already. It is almost certain to flunk the wife test, and it's very strong room note is possibly best taken outside. Leaves more than average moisture and requires a few relights and smokes at a less than medium burn rate. Consistent flavor, good body, and lots of smokeyou can almost chew te stuff! Dispite being mostly latakia it's actually not quite the punch in the mouth you'd think it would be. Wont bite or get harsh, though there are a couple rough edges here and there. The scent and taste are both compkex. It does smoke cool with no bite. But, frankly, I just don't enjoy it. Similar Blends: Bengal Slices (sort of ). Have had only two bowls of it so far but it is enough to know that this stuff grows on you if you give it a chance. I will be stocking up on this heavily. Sometimes, I like that, though I smoke Virginias most often. Overall this is a must for any Latakia lover, but approach with an open mind and don't expect anything you might be more accustomed to. I can definitely enjoy a full english here and there. Simply THE Best!!! But Pirate Kake is definitely in that ball park IMHO. I like burley. A smooth, robust blend with LOTS of exceptional Latakia accompanied by Turkish and cavendish cut Burley. The presentation was a cube in the sample I got. While this tobacco is a little stout for my taste at this point, I did find t hat it has a great taste and aroma. I am not tasting the complimenting Oriental flavors, as I do in Penzance. The only downside I've found to this blend is the mouth-drying effect it has. Lat bomb that is. Cornell and Diehl should be forced to perform some kind of community service to repent for making this. I wanted to test it to make sure so I left the den for a few minutes to get a drink and came back to rolling smoke and a room that had a pleasant rich and smoky smell that was strong like there had been a pillaging and plundering and burning raid in the room.. there were even bodies laying there in the smoke.. oh wait those are passed out collies taking a nap. Choose Options. I am very glad I did. This stuff, (yes stuff is the right word) is just plain brutal. OE was suppose to cut the heavy Latakia of PK , but one thing it does is bring the Burley slightly into play, that I don't like. Actually though, the experience is more like eating a parfait rather than a torte- one layer at a time. As other reviews state, it is not for the light Latakia smoker, I believe this in on par with many other Latakia heavy blends, if not heavier. This will be one of my favorites. Is almost pure latakia! Is also a good base formmaking personal mixtures, as source of Latakia. Dont be put off by the 75% Latakia, as this smokes smooth as silk. The faint musk of slaves rowing in the galley below deck. bulk of this blend, along with 4 oz. There's not much to say about this one, except Latakia. There is zero burn on nose exhale, and no tongue bite. Awesome!.. This is a premium smoking tobacco that i highly recommend. Well, no. Had a light vinegar note on top. Easily four stars with pleasure. Just rip off a hunk, rub it out and smoke yourself to contentment. First its a great tasting Lat-Tobacco. Second the name is brilliance. The fact that you can purchase large quantities at bargain prices is also a plus and encourages big purchases for cellaring purposes. I was also surprised at the fact that I got a little bit of complexity out of this blend. Say no more, but something that seems really important, this mixture has smoke very slowly, leaving cool as possible, but it is not difficult to smoke. It actually made my neighbor come out and ask if I was burning tires. I like it. Lots of latakia which is why I bought it and was not disappointed. Much better than Star of the East as an overall impression. This is a sit down and do nothing else but smoke tobacco. I've gone through two ounces and while halfway through I ordered two more eight ounce tins. This may truly be thee fynest treasure in the seven seas!! If the ratings here at tobaccoreviews were based on letters of the alphabet instead of stars, I would give this ?Pirate? An after dinner smoke for me. A Four Star blend, IMHO. . A gentleman was smoking this at the tobacco shop I frequent and I was shocked at how strong the smell was. This lights well and burns at a great pace. The latakia is smooth, even at 75%. If you like well done, heavy Latakia blends, Pirate Kake fits the bill to a T. It does better with a little drying time than fresh out the can. I agree with many of the previous reviews that have described sensations, taste and flavor to the extent that I myself find. I love a good lat bomb every now and again, and this blend definitely scratches that itch. But as you go deeper the Latakia conquers the palate bringing with it an intensely rich, savory and smoky flavor. Had a light vinegar note on top. Age When Smoked: Fresh off the Pirate Ship. Or, at least I thought so. Enter 32 in quantity box for 2 pounds. Get this. The Latakia is of inferior quality and the blend opposes itself to the point of the abusing the poor sucker who smokes it. The turkish offers nice counterpoint, but no standard campfire, woody, earthy et al aromas to be had on this trip. Latakia value on the planet. I recommend this blend without any reservation. As the description above notes, ? A few bites in you decide that it's just ok.. then a few more bites.. nope, I've had enough. I find it to have a very rich, flavorfuly smokey, pleasantly toasty, note. Details. This is one of the strongest Latakia blends I have ever smoked. Taste is very smooth, strong and stinky. Just wanted to share as this is my first latakia experiance. I have to agree with the wxguy, it does look like a block of Hashish. OMG!!! This was a blend I have been searching for because I love latakia but it is such a mild to medium and just tends to be low on the nicotine level sadly. Palette: Smells of rich peat, ash, campfire and a little spice. If you really like latakia and turkish go for it. At one point in my life I would have run from a blend as robust as this. Power level is about two ticks below medium so those Enthusiast who like a bit more power will need to enjoy this as a snack. I hope I never take this masterful Blend for granted. It joins a favorite list and while it wont be a regular part of my rotation I definitely will smoke it when I need something different in my smoking rotation. I find I rather like it. Indeed smoking of this tobacco is a spiritual experience! I smoke mostly Aromatics and got this as a free sample. Brings me to another time and place. Even stronger in Latakia than Captain Earle's 10 Russians (also a nice, heavy-Latakia blend.) A Vitamin N bomb stronger than Nightcap. Yes its filled with Latakia to the brim, but as mentioned by blenders before, Latakia has this kind of event horizon, where if you use enough of it, its less of a lat bomb than blends with less Latakia. 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 thought that such a high volume of Latakia would overpower the blend but not so. $11.90 - $58.65. UPDATE 11-18-2009: I'm afraid I must contradict my own recent review of Pirate Kake. I like Burley tobaccos as well, I just don't think this blend uses it well. I like to smoke upon occasion - not something I break out often but when I do I really enjoy it. Of course the smoky stuff is prominent but its not all there is: smoky, sweet, zesty, and a slightly sour note on the finish combine to make a tasty and interesting smoke. only problem it smells and smokes like gramp as tobacco but thats what english is all about. CORNELL & DIEHL PIRATE KAKE PIPE TOBACCO | Cigar Standard The best prices on CORNELL & DIEHL PIRATE KAKE PIPE TOBACCO found at Cigar Standard | Shop our wide selection of products today! With complexities of smoke covering your taste buds. The aftertaste is yummy smokey incensy latakia. NOTHING. Its very smooth yet has a bit of punch to it, without the tongue bite or spiciness. 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. Absolutely no indication of bite even when puffing vigorously. I'm not a Latakia fiend, but I wanted to keep something like this on hand for cold, snowy days. Dark and rich looking, begging to be smoked. Needless to say this is something that I now smoke daily and I encourage you to as well. I'll be honest. And I would have to agree. A must for any latakia fan, especially at the great price it is sold in bulk (and the cake form allows you to cellar it without perceivable deterioration). nothing subtle here, but very smooth. I just pull it apart, load and light. of exceptional Latakia accompanied by Turkish and Burley. Sku: 011-617-0185 A smooth, robust blend with LOTS (75%!) Very smooth with little, if any bite. Purchased From: a gift from Smokingpipes.com. Purchased From: Dubini, Chiasso (Switzerland). Moisture level is perfect for smoking. I recommend a small bowl with a longish stem for best smoke. Tastes great up front, but once you get past the half way point of the bowl the flavor changes and not for the better. I could give four stars for the presentation; it's about the coolest cake I've ever seen, but since it is almost straight Latakia, detract a star. I didn't find this blend to change much in the bowl. Flavoring? The Latakia used in this is top notch however and had a great taste. I'm partial to Billy Budd myself, but this seems just like the same without the cigar leaf. McClelland's Syrian Full Balkan with it's Syrian Latakia presents a different experience with it's heavy Latakia yielding a very cool smoke - so cool one could think the blend is topped with menthol. I love the campfire smokiness of English blends but Pirate Kake is nearly too heavy with it and too narrowly focused. Enter 48 in quantity box for 3 pounds. This is top of the notch latakia. Only Latakia taste. :) Strength is mild to medium because you cant take a lot of vitamin N from the latakia or the oriental, maybe from the burley but I dont think its a lot of burley in this. It is surprisingly smooth and easy on the palate. Presentation: A hearty, dark dense block. Very creamy, smooth in the mouth and leaves a nice coating for you to enjoy for an hour. One of my favorites. A smooth, robust blend with LOTS (75%!) Press J to jump to the feed. Packs like a dream. The bottom half of the bowl, not surprising, is much more productive. And, I mean nothing. Not nearly as overpowering as some say. It packed well for me in a small LHS Purex. I might jump that to highly recommended for the latakiaphiles out there. TONS of smoky spicy and an after taste that makes you think you just the bark off a whole smoked pork shoulder. Pirate kake has that nutty burly and the sour orientals in the background of a sea of Latakia. Must try! Burning pyres to the ancient Sumerian gods in Babylon. I will probably keep the tin to use as a blending tobacco, or maybe to use as a prank on unsuspecting pipe smoking friends. I found it to be an excellent blend. Enough nicotine to keep me happy, enough stink to annoy the wife. I never really caught the Burley, but that is no big surprise, considering the general nature of Burley. Given the latakia content the taste is one dimensional but if that is a taste you crave then it's really not an issue. I don't want to ever do with out this blend. The smell in the tin is not very very strong. The flavor is one-dimensional and lacks any nuance. Similar Blends: Dan Tobacco - Holly's Discovery. This is an exceptional tobacco. I find that by the time I get to the last 1/3 of the bowl, I'm on overload. -- UPDATE -- awesome blended with some Lane 1Q 1/3 Pirate Kake, and 2/3 1Q - marinate for a week in a baggie. I have done so (with some regularity, in fact) but this tames it just enough to keep it from being a full-on blowout. The unlit note gives more than a suggestion of lots of Latakia, so on with the actual smoke: It comes as no surprise that the leading flavour's the smoky Latakia. Here I am smoking this blend out of a Nording 2008 woodcock, sitting in my office reflecting on past bird hunting excursions and dreaming about the seasons ahead. I opened the bag and was greeted by a very rich, heavy pleasant smoky flavor that was leading this charge of flavors. While I didnt pick up any dark chocolate from Pirate Kake, I did indeed find it to be buttery smooth (and slightly sweet, just like them caramels) and I also found it to be delectably salty some (and so the name, Pirate Kake perchance -- the salty)? I open the tin and bam you are smacked in the face with the leathery campfire smell of the Latakia. This blend lacks balance and should not be smoked by a newbie wishing to try their first English tobacco. What's not to love? I can hardly wait to see how this tastes a couple of years down the road. C&D got it right with this one. Opening the tin reveals a dark brown block that looks like a brownie. Great for one of those times that you don't want to think about the smoke while doing other things. I'd recommend packing half a bowl as even after you are done latkia will saturate your very being with creamy smoke scent. Pipe Used: meer. I am trying this out today as I wanted a full throttle Latakia smoke for a change of pace. Love them. yes, I am in lust at the moment, but love might follow. It is heavy on Latakia which might turn some people off but there are several other strains that come through in the smoke such as the smoothness of the Burley. I could almost imagine this as a Latakia lovers perfect morning smoke, whereas I had it more in mind as the last smoke of the day. There's also a sweet smell to it that mixes with the smokiness very well. Smoked in a new Missouri corncob to understand better the flavors and subtleties. It is what it is and I enjoy it every time I choose it. Full taste. Highly recomendednot for the faint of tounge or heart. Some would say the latakia is over dominant so much that you can not taste the other tobaccos in this blend. Conclusion: A very interesting and heavy blend. 0. Pack it in a small bowl, because if you smoke too much of it, it will overwhelm your taste buds and you will be racing to the finish line. Heavily features smokey, leathery flavors along with a little bit of sweetness to it. I give this 4Stars because it does not pretend to be anything but what it is. The bowl of my pipe is staying absolute cool to the touch. Love the pressed bricks that lie waiting in the can when it is opened. Similar Blends: the body and strength are very similar to Dunhill standard mixture, but the taste is unique.. Too much Latakia??? If you like Latakia, then this should satisfy you. Its just good, kick your taste buds in the butt good, but its good. That being said for me even staying within the same company I think you get much more nuance and flavor while remaining a great smoke from Stimulus Package or Da Vinci maybe even Mississippi Mud if youd like black Cavendish. The room note to me is exquisite! This blend will definitely make you question what you like to smoke and thats a great thing. Beautiful Latikia Kake. Cornell and Diehl's Pirate Kake is the last of the bulk samples from my recent half tinned and half bulk thin down purchase and I saved it for last. Now that I am a major ity of the time pipe smoker, I enjoy a piratey blend like this. I found a happy place with Pirate Kake. An enjoyable time except for the musk of the galley! At which point, even I had to admit that this was as intense flavor-wise as anything I had ever smoked. Did I say there was a lot of Latakia in this blend?? This tobacco is much the same.