5 out of 5
This was an aptly named blend!!
I'm normally a simple strictly Virginia smoker. I love the sweet taste of that 2 day old cut alfalfa and grass hay field hay. I *have* dabbled a little with some aromatics, but I'm pretty much going to end that as they're just not...normal/natural sweet (I hope that makes sense).
I've tried different 'Englishes' - the stuff with latakia's, etc, and at first wasn't too impressed and hated the taste, much less the aroma out of the tins.
Over the past 6 months or so though, I've come to tolerate the aroma and taste of blends with latakia more and more. I even made my own mix of 5 oz of Scotty's University Professor mixed with 3 oz of Mac Baren Scottish Mixture and .5 - 1 oz of Orlik Golden Sliced...this 'blend' of mine burns extremely cool (even my Crown that gets so hot just waving an unlit match at it burns coolly!) and has the latakia flavors with the sweetnesses of the Virginias and the Scottish Mixture.
This blend though, Magnum Opus...this is simply *AMAZING*! The aroma out of the tin is almost like pure latakia, so I wasn't exactly thinking I was going to like this too much as I presumed it was going to be far too strong with that blend for me.
The leaf colors in the tin were a little strange too, at least some of them. The blend was the perfect moisture though, at least for me, as I've found I do not like a dry blend at all.
Then, stuffing one of my Missouri Meerschaums and going out to sit on my stoop, I was almost knocked off my feet (if I'd been standing!) by the spectacular taste of the *whole* blend. The latakia was nothing near as strong as I was thinking it would be, and there was a superb sweetness of the Virginia hay I like that was far superior to the taste I get from smoking a bowl of pure Orlik.
No one tobacco overpowered any of the others in this blend. Everything literally complimented the other. This blend has cemented me to smoking English from now on...*THIS* blend!
4 out of 5
Good smoke, a tad sweet to me, but I’m more of a strong Smokey flavor person. I’ll still use it for variety and I do recommend it for others to try if looking for a pipe filler with a Smokey sweetness.
5 out of 5
The best balkan on the market . Oriental forward w/ yendije . Light on the latakia with bright Virginia sweetness. Perique adds some body . Very fragrant and incense like . Has a sparkling taste .
5 out of 5
I love a good English and this one is great! It's a nice milder blend that can easily be an all day smoke. Thanks Russ!
5 out of 5
Nice smokey blend which I personally find much better than Blackhouse. Would definitely recommend. Recent sale on Marquee series was great.
4 out of 5
Hard to keep lit
5 out of 5
It is as it's named! Very good stuff!
5 out of 5
Just had my first taste of the Magnum Opus tonight. It was a very pleasant smoke and I'll be buying more. I have dusted off my pipes after a long recess; when I realized that McClelland stopped production and I could no longer get my Toad on the Bayou fix, I started looking for my next muse and Magnum Opus was mentioned. The wife shares my pipes occasionally and she agreed that this is a pleasant, flavorful smoke.
4 out of 5
This has been one of my favorite tobacco's since the first I tryd it. English lovers must try it.
5 out of 5
Excellent English blend, as the name would suggest!
4 out of 5
Half way through my first tin. Been meaning to try it for years. Such an enjoyable blend, I look forward to each bowl.
5 out of 5
Love it, will be stocking up in this blend
5 out of 5
Started smoking pipe about 7 years ago. This is the first time smoking something other than an aromatic (usually smoke Lane 1-Q or Dan Blue Note). Im glad I tried this, smooth smoke with a somewhat peppery flavor. Great blend!
4 out of 5
One of my favorites
5 out of 5
Since the ( again ) demise of my favorite Dunhill blends .. Nightcap and Standard I dreaded the prospect of once again attempting to stock up in the hopes that they would return, like they did the last time this happened. I don't have those kind of resources at my disposal, so instead I chose to try various other blends in a similar english/balkan style to find a worthy substitute. This is it. By nearly all measures. While lighter on the nicotine the strength and body of the flavor are at minimum equal ( IMO ) and as the bowl progresses there are some wonderful undertones that show themselves. No need to mourn the lost dunhill blends anymore. I'm not sure that I will bother with them if they ever make a comeback. Magnum Opus has permanently taken their place.
5 out of 5
Great substitute for dunhill early morning came just in time
5 out of 5
This is basically my favorite tobacco. Hits all the great notes. I enjoy this every time.
5 out of 5
As a new pipe smoker, I have been trying a lot of blends. This will definitely stay in my rotation. I have really liked all of the marquee blends I have tryed. Will not be disappointed.
4 out of 5
Not quite enough Latakia for me.
5 out of 5
Scroll down to James R.'s review from 2015...this mirrors my happiness with Magnum Opus!
My tin was a bit dry, so I adjusted the humidity and gave it a few days. It packs well, lights well, and burns well. The flavors are complex and pleasing. I don't smoke indoors, so the room note is, based on a windless day, quite nice and clearly Balkan. The flavors change from moment to moment, but all - spices, pepper, herbal - are a delight.
On a quiet Sunday I dug out an old Meerschaum (circa 1978) with an early acrylic bit, which was like biting a 2x4. The tobacco was excellent from start to dottle, no bite, loads of smoky goodness, and it whetted my appetite. I will be back for more!
5 out of 5
Comfortable smoke. cool with no bite.
5 out of 5
A very robust and tantilizing bouquet of latakia spices and night time after dinner english tobacco blends making it a very needed drink of calming relaxent to a monotinous day!
5 out of 5
Sweet, creamy, smoky, pepper and spice with a hint of baking soda. It’s amazing. Bought 6 more tins.
5 out of 5
Unique, complex, delicious and more than worth a try!
5 out of 5
I'm a long time cigar smoker who just got into pipe smoking and this is one of the best pipe tobaccos I've tried so far. This one seems to smoke nice and cool with lots of creamy smoke. Mild to medium in strength. Not very complex, but the flavor is consistent and very enjoyable from start to finish.
5 out of 5
The Magnum Opus tobacco blend from Hearth and Home is one of the greats in smoking pleasures. Anytime of the day cool burning and uniquely flavored blend makes this brand a top tier recommendation.
5 out of 5
Very nice smoke that has been added to my weekly rotation. Not too strong but has some strength to it. Worth a try!
4 out of 5
an english blend more towards the heavy side. for an all day smoke would rather recommend frog morton and family. for a heavier smoke when needed is is ideal. smooth.
5 out of 5
This stuff is so good. Just became my go to tobacco. It is creamy and delicious and smokes great. A true master artisan blend. Russ you are the man!
5 out of 5
Best tobacco I have ever smoked!
5 out of 5
I am surprised how this Marquee Magnum Opus is such an excellent smoke. I have tried many different types of pipe tobacco during my years and this is without a doubt an EXCELLENT SMOKE to me and will be ordering more of it.
1 out of 5
Dont buy any, i want it all for myself.
4 out of 5
It has been many years since I have indulged in pipe smoking. I ordered many different types of tobacco and found Magnum Opus quite enjoyable.
5 out of 5
My favorite English mixture. Smooth, great balance, delicious. Lights and burns easily.
A masterpiece.
5 out of 5
My favorite English mixture. Smooth, great balance, delicious. Lights and burns easily.
A masterpiece.
5 out of 5
One of my favorites. Full bodied an full flavor with a mild base.
3 out of 5
Disclaimer: relatively new pipe smoker about 2 years. Burns well and complete with zero tongue bite. Was really excited to try this based in the reviews but found the room note too bitter for the wife and too peppery for my taste.
5 out of 5
This is really good stuff from my end but I did get some complaints about the room note. It reminds me some of Balkan Sasieni which is my daily smoke and is as good but BS is $2.00 a tin cheaper so I will probably stick with that and make this an occasional smoke.
5 out of 5
I can't say enough good things about this blend; it's what turned me on to Latakia and what I hold all other tobaccos to in regards to taste (which is complex and marvelous). You will not be disappointed!
5 out of 5
Favorite blend ever.
5 out of 5
5 Stars in just the first five minutes. Sometimes a blend is love at first light. And it will only get better from here as I smoke my way thru the rest of this tin. Great job, Russ!
5 out of 5
I wanted to try something new and reviews led me to this. Good buy i plan on buying another tin in the future.
5 out of 5
I was curious about trying an original style English blend and after visiting the west coast I had been introduced to a tobacco that was a "Macidonian" bend of sorts. After that expierence I decided to ask around and Russ steered me to his Magnum Opus, glad he did because it was exactly what I liked and not to spicy very smooth. Unfortunately I am not a very good at describing tobacco however the other comments are right on target. Big thumbs up.
5 out of 5
Don't know from "Classic" English or whatever, just know that I have been edging away from aros lately and while some "English" or Balkan, whatever is enough to make you want to go gargle with Listerine! THIS stuff? LOVELY! Smooth, very rich, mild and BEST of all, easy to light and keep lit.
5 out of 5
Based on no first hand experienced, I ordered 12 tins. After smoking some, I should've ordered 24.
My favorites are JALF, Escudo, Bohemian Scandal, Stonehaven, and Penzance to name a few and give context. Magnum Opus is on my list of The Best of The best.
5 out of 5
If you want an English-Balkan blend with a fantastic complex flavor that is mild enough to smoke all day, look no further. Magnum Opus is as close to perfect for this type of tobacco as I have ever found in 40 years of pipe smoking. If you try it, you will become a disciple. I have been looking for decades for an English-type blend that I didn't have to give up on halfway through the bowl. Not to mention my wife's objections when I smoked them. There are so many different tastes in this blend and the miracle is that you can identify many of them. As a whole it has no real faults. My search is over. I have found my go-to blend for a medium bodied English, bursting with flavor, that never bites.
5 out of 5
full flavor and light body
Customer Testimonials