I took a city break with the family last week in Prague, where I was in search for Mac Baren St. Bruno to buy. To my disappointment they had a large selection of Mac Baren but not what I was looking for. By mistake I found another large pipe tobacco shop there, of which I have a picture should another fellow member finds themselves in Prague and in search of a b&m, but they had roughly the same tobacco selection. Any road ... the amphora jumped in my eye, and since there seems to be an uproar about this new virginia blend I figured I give it a go. Obviously ... they didn't have that one either. But since I am reviewing a tobacco and not tobacco shops and their tobacco selections, here it goes:
I bought a pouch of full aroma. Quite an impressive aromatic guys, I might add. Right of the bat, it seems to be more of a broken flake than a ribbon cut. Very moist out of the pouch, with a sweet nose resembling something in between dried fall fruit (plum, dates, quince maybe'?') and dark cocoa, perhaps a little floral but very subtle. Whenever I open a tin or a pouch I hardly have any patience to dry it out, so I figure I load it in a Dr Grabow with balsa, in order to tone down the moisture. This is one of those aromatics that actually tastes the way it smells. The burley is quite up front, but very nicely balanced by the other tobaccos, being able to feel a burley smoke with just the right pinch of Kentucky, oriental and a sweet Virginia. It burns evenly all the way, and if you are careful you can smoke it without a relight if you do not tamp that often. 3/4 down the bowl ashing may be necessary, while the balsa filter towards the end gets relay moist, giving the sensation of a wet straight casing draw. I tried to smoke it after 30 min drying, but for some odd reason I prefer it wet, as dry it gets a tad harsh. Overall, I am more than impressed with this blend, well above and beyond what one would expect from a pouch packaging. I guess, going back to mso's idea that not all pouch tobacco is bad, this graciously proves his point. Especially for an aromatic, I just may add this to my regular rotation. I bought a rich aroma as well, which I have cellared for now, but I am looking forward to reviewing that as well.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a medium nicotine, well balanced aromatic with no soapy smell and rich taste, this is something I warmly recommend.
I bought a pouch of full aroma. Quite an impressive aromatic guys, I might add. Right of the bat, it seems to be more of a broken flake than a ribbon cut. Very moist out of the pouch, with a sweet nose resembling something in between dried fall fruit (plum, dates, quince maybe'?') and dark cocoa, perhaps a little floral but very subtle. Whenever I open a tin or a pouch I hardly have any patience to dry it out, so I figure I load it in a Dr Grabow with balsa, in order to tone down the moisture. This is one of those aromatics that actually tastes the way it smells. The burley is quite up front, but very nicely balanced by the other tobaccos, being able to feel a burley smoke with just the right pinch of Kentucky, oriental and a sweet Virginia. It burns evenly all the way, and if you are careful you can smoke it without a relight if you do not tamp that often. 3/4 down the bowl ashing may be necessary, while the balsa filter towards the end gets relay moist, giving the sensation of a wet straight casing draw. I tried to smoke it after 30 min drying, but for some odd reason I prefer it wet, as dry it gets a tad harsh. Overall, I am more than impressed with this blend, well above and beyond what one would expect from a pouch packaging. I guess, going back to mso's idea that not all pouch tobacco is bad, this graciously proves his point. Especially for an aromatic, I just may add this to my regular rotation. I bought a rich aroma as well, which I have cellared for now, but I am looking forward to reviewing that as well.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a medium nicotine, well balanced aromatic with no soapy smell and rich taste, this is something I warmly recommend.
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