MAB Starý Prešporok

Starý Prešporok is a latakia-forward blend from Slovak manufacturer MAB; its name references Pressburg, the old German-Hungarian name for Bratislava. Cyprus latakia forms the backbone of the blend, accompanied by golden Virginia, sweetish oriental leaf from Greece's Basma region, and black cavendish. It's presented as a ribbon cut in 50-gram packages. The smoke is dense and full-bodied, with strength in the medium-to-high range. Latakia's smoky, woody character dominates; cavendish balances this dryness with a little sweetness, and the oriental leaf adds a tangy spice. It's reportedly positioned among Slovak retailers as the local counterpart to Peterson Old Dublin.