I got a tin of Sutliff's Private Stock No.5 for free in the mail over the weekend. It came in a large 1.5 oz tin and was full to the top and I tried putting it in a clean empty McC's 2 oz tin and it all would not fit ! Somebody's got problems with their wieghts and measures ! Anyway, as I popped the tin opened, that full, pungent, smoky aroma of the eveil weed Latakia assaulted my nostrils and I was delighted !! This tobacco is blended by Altadis for Sutliff and I was afraid that I would be assaulted by some very pungent casing or PG but not a trace!! Beneath the aroma of the Latakia was a nice slightly sweet/nutty scent which was the Virginia/Burley base and I was a happy puppy. This is what Sutliff says about it:
"A robust English blend with character. Plenty of Latakia, Pressed Virginia and Burley provide the base. Perfect for fans of Dunhill My Mixture #965." The comparison with 965 is a bit of a stretch as there are no Orientals in this blend, but it is a nice full, well blended "Ameringlish" style mix IMHO Takes 1 match to char and lights fully on the second and I got the heavenly smokey, tang of the Latakia in the forefront with a nice mellow sweet/nutty flavor behind it. The Aroma was similar to it's flavor so I doubt it would meet with much "better half" approval but I liked it I've now smoked 6 bowls of this stuff and it has really surprised me with it's straightforward tobacco flavor and quality smoking characteristics. It burns cool, and full and having a Virginia/Burley base can bite if rushed and power puffed. Take it easy and sip it and you will be rewarded with a nice, full, Lat forward (not a bomb) cool smoke. It will not replace my Royal Blend or Oriental #14 but I will get some more and at about $6.50 or so for the strange 1.5oz tin, it's worth having a few around ! It's not from one of "the" blenders so loved here but it is a GOOD solid smoke

Since it's an American/English, i'd only call it a 'GOOD Freebie'. If it was a Peterson or McClelland Aromatic, then I would consider it a 'VERY GOOD Freebie'.

I tried this blend a wile back and will also be ordering a few tins to have around.

So Monbla, how well do you think this would age? There's a tin of it on the bottom shelf at my B&M that's been there for at least two years. I never really paid much attention to it, but now you've got me curious.

I also got a tin of sutliff Great Outdoors in the mail for free (I remember putting in a request for a sample in February or so, and it came last Saturday. I'll update when I get around to smoking, but I will not that the timing of this sample gave me the fear. It came on Saturday in a large unpadded envelope with a Richmond return address with a company name that I didn't recognize. I also received a USPS form about a package that wouldn't fit in the box that I would have to take a trip to the post office (ended up being my ebay haul). You can't imagine my relief when I saw Kyle's post with all his delicious B.R. I finally put two and two together, and I still come out up one tin of tobacco. All is well. Just an Air Raid Drill.