Chairman of the Board

Chairman of the Board is a light English mixture from Sterling Tobacco Company, which blends tobacco to order in the town of Sterling, Illinois. Per the maker's description, the blend contains costly oriental leaves such as Dubek, Yenidje, and Mahala, along with sun-cured Virginia, light-colored burley, and latakia. The weight of the oriental leaves sets this blend apart from classic English mixtures where latakia dominates.

Black latakia sprinkled among leaves in tones of light mahogany, caramel, and camel-hair stands out visually. On opening the tin, a floral sweetness comes with a biscuity grain note; on the palate, latakia stays in the background as a smoke layer, while the orientals' dry spice comes forward. Nicotine is medium, and flavor intensity is above average. Being unflavored, it suits smokers not seeking aromatic sweetness who are interested in oriental-forward light English mixtures.