This goes on sale December 5 at 6 p.m. EST.
The stoved Katerini offers plenty of fermented stewed, creamy, sugary sweetness, spice, earth, wood, smoke, herbs, floralness, vegetation, sourness, some tangy citrus and dark fruit, peat, and light incense as the lead component. The last of the 2003 perique produces plenty of fermented stewed raisins, figs, plums, dates, earth, wood, spice, and light sugar, It plays around the same level as the red Virginias although some of its aspects are similar enough to the Katerini to reduce the status of the Virginias to an important secondary support role. The well aged American grown red Virginias provides an abundance of fermented tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, some sugar, tangy citrus, grass, floralness, vegetation, and light vinegar. The overall strength and taste levels gain a little potency by the first third of the experience. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the center of medium to strong. The taste is almost full. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has a few small rough notes. The easily broken apart flakes are not very moist. Well balanced with a little complexity, it burns cool, clean and slightly slow with a mostly consistent sweet, fruity, spicy, floral, smoky, mildly sour, savory flavor that extends to the moderately lingering, pleasant after taste. The room note is pleasant to tolerable. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. Requires a few relights. May be close to an all day smoke for the veteran, and easily repeatable for the less experienced. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2023
The stoved Katerini offers plenty of fermented stewed, creamy, sugary sweetness, spice, earth, wood, smoke, herbs, floralness, vegetation, sourness, some tangy citrus and dark fruit, peat, and light incense as the lead component. The last of the 2003 perique produces plenty of fermented stewed raisins, figs, plums, dates, earth, wood, spice, and light sugar, It plays around the same level as the red Virginias although some of its aspects are similar enough to the Katerini to reduce the status of the Virginias to an important secondary support role. The well aged American grown red Virginias provides an abundance of fermented tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, some sugar, tangy citrus, grass, floralness, vegetation, and light vinegar. The overall strength and taste levels gain a little potency by the first third of the experience. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the center of medium to strong. The taste is almost full. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has a few small rough notes. The easily broken apart flakes are not very moist. Well balanced with a little complexity, it burns cool, clean and slightly slow with a mostly consistent sweet, fruity, spicy, floral, smoky, mildly sour, savory flavor that extends to the moderately lingering, pleasant after taste. The room note is pleasant to tolerable. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. Requires a few relights. May be close to an all day smoke for the veteran, and easily repeatable for the less experienced. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2023
