Captain Earle's - Ten Russians

Ten Russians is a full-bodied English mixture built on Latakia, Oriental leaves, and Virginias. It's presented as a pressed crumble cake, opened by hand before filling. Latakia stands pronouncedly in front; the Orientals give a tart-spicy edge, while the Virginias give a measured sweetness that rounds out the smoke. Given its high nicotine and flavor intensity, it calls for slow smoking.

The blend's name comes from the story in which Captain James A. M. Earle is said to have rescued ten Russians adrift in a small boat in the Sea of Japan. Like the other Captain Earle's blends, it's produced by Cornell & Diehl for Hermit Tobacco Works. It suits smokers familiar with heavy Latakia mixtures.