Hearth & Home Marquee Series Fusiliers Ration (2oz tin)

I hesitated to open my tin. If good - I wanted to have it around. But i couldn't wait! I finally opened 1 of the tins to a really wonderful experience. Not quite Bengal slice; but should not expect that! But so damn close and so nice. Smooth and deep and somewhat dark. Exquisite. The best I have had of Russ's stuff. Knocked it out of the park. One my favorites. Really nice job Russ! Thanks! I plan to have this around.

Ok i got this sampler for Christmas never smoked anything that had latakia I'm a cavendish smoker and moreover new to pipe smoking what can i say I'm a Fusilier's Ration nut now I've tried some of those old fashion brands you know the ones with ships and bi-planes etc, there all crap. This was a short journey to find the best tasting latakia tobacco sometimes i feel guilty i didn't have some kind of tale to tell about finding this tin of sweetness however I'm fairly certain in Fusilier's Ration everyone will find there own story of discovery.

This is a very contemplative smoke. I took it deer hunting and contemplated so much that I almost misseed seeing a good sized buck. This is a smoke that you can really get into. Great for the outdoors. Keep it in plug form until ready to load your pipe. It dries out easily when crumbled and looses some flavor.

I am a novice when it comes to English's. I freely admit I am primarily an aromatic smoker. The sweeter the better. But over the last couple months I have been smoking English more often. I must say I found this to be, for me at least, a wonderful smoke. Absolutely superb taste. I rub it out completely and smoke it in a MM Freehand Cob. Just bought a Blakemar off eBay and plan on dedicating that pipe to this fine blend. Good job Russ
Cobking. Bob

It's the manly satisfying smoke. As I crumble it before loading it into my pipe, I'm mesmorized by the aroma,texture,the residue on my fingers. I bring my hand up to my nose before wiping them off. Then fire it up and let the smoke swirl around my head in and out. Pure pleasure & relaxation.

Went the other way with moisture, added a bit to it via paper towel over Ball jar to moisten a bit more. Experienced a Diana Rigg era Avengers leathery taste, wonderful mouthfeel and lasting aftertaste. I bought 4 tins on blind faith-humbling submitting for more. Very natural in Pete Prevost pencil shank dublin sitter.

This is an extraordinarily superb blend.

Note: this product is really only for those who KNOW and LIKE what a truly fine "English" tobacco should be. Others need not apply.

Considering the very few previous bad reviews: regarding those rendering a perception who claim to like "English" but rate this blend low, there is only one thing to say: Non est censea ad gustum. And it certainly puzzles me that someone who admits he knows "NOTHING" about tobacco submits a denigrating comment regarding this product. There is a Latin phrase for that also: Cerebro suo mortuus est.

I have smoked nothing but English blends for over half a century, and this is the best one I've found. Because it so rich, on a regular basis I smoke the second greatest blend; one formulated for me by Master Blender Russ: a close proximity to the now defunct Lane 005.

Again, regarding Fusilier's Ration, the superlatives would cover every category of a great "English" tobacco. For those who know what that is, no explanation would be necessary; for those who don't know, no explanation would be possible.

Be apprised that this product is a "crumble cake" blend. When it comes back in stock, the clumps will be thinner than at first and easier to manage. As with the discontinued "Bengal Slices," Mr. Ouellette's "interpretation" must be broken up -- it doesn't come in flakes or small pieces.

Thanks Russ for this outstanding blend, Fusilier's Ration. A wonderful toasty smoke that's takes me to another time and place.

I am a fan of deep latakia blends and FR didn't let me down. First off I was delighted to smoke this blend because it was perfectly served meaning, it was easy to light & burned slow & steady with amazing smokey notes that kept my interest. The deeper down the bowl the more complex the flavor became & this blend remained free of the sometimes bitter taste that occurs with too many blends I have smoked. I've been puffing latakia blends for 40 years & I have found my nirvanna with Russ's masterpiece. I especially enjoyed what I call my nose draw where the strength of a blend becomes more obvious to me. This blend intrigued my senses from the moment I opened the tin where the fragrance along with the cut never disappointed me as I contently smoked. IMO...this is a 5 rated smoke. Great work Russ!

I congratulate Russ on another fantastic blend. I bought one tin and smoked a couple of bowls full in a Savinelli 814ex. The flavor was great. I am a Latakia and Oriental lover and this blend has some very tasty flavors in, but not to strong for a new smoker of English blends. I agree that it should dry out a little before smoking or it might be hard to keep lit without several lights and tamping. It burns slow and I love the smell. I don't smoke it in the house so I don't know about the reaction the ladies would have. Give it a try, you will love it. I also smoke Black House which is excellent too.

I prefer English blends, but since there was so much positive response from guys on Smokers' Forum I ordered five tins. I will smoke the four remaining tins, I have finished the first tin, but I'll do it after it ages a bit. My take is that this blend does not suit me like Black House and Magnum Opus. The Latakia in Fusilier's Ration is there, but not enough to give the blend the zing I look for from Latakia. The over all taste is elusive and I have not been able to experience a flavor other than a very mild Virginia taste. This is a blend for smokers who feel that most English blends are too harsh for their liking. Orientals give a blend excitement and variety. It's just not here for me.

Russ has done it again love it this is Damn good hope to see it in bulk

Normal go to blends are Fox Hound, Ajs vap and Scotch cake. Received sample of FR with regular order. First reaction was Ehhhh, ok, but nothing that out of the ordinary. Tried another bowl a couple days later. Hmmm, a little better for some reason. Tried again a few days after that and it was getting tastier with every bowl. The tin aroma is part of the allure for me and the tobacco required little to no drying time. I can't quite put my finger on what the topping is that draws me to it, but I was lucky enough to get my hands on a few more tins to keep me stocked for a few weeks. Job well done Russ!!! Now start selling it in larger tins!!

FR is a complex, tasty English blend with a twist. There is a topping that pays homage to the original Bengal Slices. In that sense, it does and excellent job. It is easy to see why this is one of Russ' most ambitious blends. It is also unique in that even when dried, it may be the slowest burning blend I have ever smoked. I can see why some here have had issues with this blend and I hope this sheds some light on the subject. FR is one of those blends that really requires careful attention to the preparation and packing method of the blend. If done correctly, buy making sure it is well dried and not packed as tightly as you may smoke other blends, you will be in for a real treat. The other key with FR is to make sure that you smoke it SLOWLY as if you were smoking a straight Virginia blend. If you don't, it will burn hot. All in all, a great new blend. Great job Russ!

I'm a Lat fiend, and Fusilier's Ration is the best tobacco I've ever tasted.

Fantastic! Russ has made some good ones but this is the best Latakia blend for sure. Sell it in bulk!

I've smoked nothing but Lane Limited RLP-6, Captain Black in disguise, for years amd years but lately I thought I'd sample some Latakia blends for a change and thought something with a name as cool as Fusilier's Ration would fit the bill. I also sampled Capt. Earl's Nightwatch, Cerberus, and Dunhills Nightcap. I only like the Nightcap.
I found the FS hard to light properly and gave of a pungent, almost acid smell and taste and immediately got as hot as the interior of the sun. Yech! I decided to experiment and also to use a well broken in favorite pipe instead of a hardly broken in new one, my Peterson Killarney. You have to learn how to pack this tobacco, and how to light it. Carefully! Once I got the hang of it I can't put it down. I reach for something else and my hand goes to the Fusiliers Ration. I like this stuff. I like the taste and the aftertaste. You have to pay attention to it but it will give a good rich smoke to the bottom of the bowl and being careful not to overheat it, you can puff up voluminous clouds. Quick! Make some more! Congratulations Mr. Ouellette.
Domenick Leonard
Deltona, Florida

From the moment I set match to my first bowl of Fusilier's Ration at Richmond's CORPS Expo, I haven't been able to stop wanting to smoke more. I have long been a Bengal Slices smoker, and this blend is faithful in flavor and in spirit to its inspiration. This is a full-flavored, but medium-bodied smoke that offers sweetness, spice, and plenty of almost Chipotle-musked smokiness. The flavor develops nicely in the bowl, becoming a bit more husky in its smokiness. This has been a big hit with all my friends who have sampled it. It was an even bigger hit at the show among those who sampled it. Everyone wanted more. Thank goodness Russ brought plenty with him. This will find a permanent place in my rotation and in my cellar.

I received two tins of this new blend tonight and also a small sample. I took about a third of the sample, cut it and rubbed it out. I loaded a full bowl in my BIG Calabash pipe and spent an hour trying to consume it all. I may have finished half of the bowl. This is a good Latakia blend but after just one bowl I find it to be likely not one of my favorites...maybe too much Latakia for my tastes. Nonetheless it is a good smoke; a little slow to get lit but once it was going I did not have to light it again. I'm sure Latakia lovers will appreciate FR, but I think I'm going to let it age in my cellar before I delve into more than the sample.

Bought 2ozs.to try out,description sounded good.I'm by far no tobacco aficionado,so maybe it's just me but did not like this one bit.Very pungent smell to it, not even lit,once lit it was even worse tasting.I ended up throwing it out because it smelled so bad just sitting on my desk sealed in the zip-loc bag.

Maybe it's just me but this is the nastiest bitter and pungent stuff I've ever smelt.Sorry Guys.

Got to get my hands on this!!!
Russ's Magnum Opus was a fantastic use of Lat', hopefully this blend will have the same Masterfull touch!!!