Upon peeling back the aluminum pop top, there is a prevalent note of vinegar presumably given off by the Virginia's. Delicious! This is followed by a nice hit of Latakia, then Orientals. Is that an alcohol topping I smell? This has been
very pleasant on my olfactory senses so far.
After getting the layers of paper off the top I stick my nose right up in there and smell old-school canvas, like WW2 canvas in an Army Surplus store and rich oiled saddle leather, along with a bit of the permanent markers we used to sniff in grade school. I loved that smell..... I am loving this tin note! It's making my mouth water.
It's a perfect Kake square so I cut off a piece with my plug cutter (I know, unnecessary but very satisfying to use
) and ball it up in the palm of my hand. It crumbles nicely and is on the dry side which is exactly how I like my smokes. Our "Good Friend Bradley" would call it Goldilocks. I think I will use the Dunhill Root Briar Dublin as the pipe is on the narrow and deeper side and it smells like it has a lot of virginias.
I load the pipe using the 3 step method with a thumb press at the end, test my draw and WHOOMP There it is! RUM! Thar be rum in this here to-bacco!? Maybe I will just suck on this unlit pipe. It's quite pleasant.... Nah, better head out to the Man-Cave and light this baby up!
After the char light and relight, I draw it in and could immediately taste the rich smokiness of the Latakia and the rum. The Orientals round out the experience with a very creamy finish. I couldn't help not wanting to smell it as much as smoke it. There is a sweetness from the Virginia as well as a tickle in the nose. There's plenty of vitamin N but not so much as to make me dizzy. The blend behaved very well in the pipe and I was able to sip a Group 4 pipe for 70 minutes. 70 minutes of excellence. If this is a Lat Bomb, I like Lat bombs!
This a a spectacular smoke and I have just ordered a pound of it to stick in my cellar. This is going in my regular rotation. It's a fine smoke at a great value
Embers, I am officially applying to be your rigger but I don't swab.....
