Got my shipment today of bulk Nightcap and MM965 along with a tin of Orlik Golden Sliced. I sampled the first two earlier in the day and they were very good. It was my first go with MM965 and I was not disappointed. I noticed a textural difference between the tinned Nightcap and bulk, and they burned a little differently, but the flavors were close enough as to make no bones. This is my first official review.
As soon as I opened the Golden Sliced, I could smell a honey like sweetness and citrus aroma. Almost like dessert at Christmas dinner. Orange/pinapple zest? It sounds crazy and I don't know how else to describe it. I folded a slice into a thick chewing gum shape and cut the whole thing with scissors short-wise across into longer than thick rectangular pieces which I fussed with a few seconds until I was satisfied with the consistency. I packed my wide bowled bulldog to the rim and sat out on the windy porch. The char light was sweet and airy with citrus lingering like gnats around my head. The real action came with the true light. The honey like sweetness deepened briefly then retreated as the earthy Virginia rode up and made itself at home. The citrus became more complex and came to remind me of Gran Marnier as it stuck around, more or less, for the rest of the bowl. After the first few smooth draughts, I fully inhaled the smoke and exhaled through my nose. A habit I am prone to only with the smoothest of tobaccos these days. Something caught me then and I couldn't put my finger on it. I kept thinking of the countryside in Central Illinois where I spent a lot of time growing up. My Father was the only one in his family that smoked and his choice was menthol cigarettes. Maybe an old farmer with a pipe smoked this? Didn't seem likely. The Virginia flavor was smooth and dominant, but never wore out its welcome. Toward the end of the bowl it dawned on me... Prairie Grass. Spring and summer my nostrils filled with this scent as we drove to see my Grandparents. This is my first real Virginia blend, as I have been doing Latakia/English for a while with a few Burley blends in between. To be honest, I kinda thought pipers were full of shit when they would mention fruit and other stuff in their reviews. If I hadn't tasted these flavors myself, I would think I am full of shit. Well, I am full of shit, but that doesn't change my experience. Right now I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. It was a damn fine bowl and just what the doctor ordered. Happy Piping !!
As soon as I opened the Golden Sliced, I could smell a honey like sweetness and citrus aroma. Almost like dessert at Christmas dinner. Orange/pinapple zest? It sounds crazy and I don't know how else to describe it. I folded a slice into a thick chewing gum shape and cut the whole thing with scissors short-wise across into longer than thick rectangular pieces which I fussed with a few seconds until I was satisfied with the consistency. I packed my wide bowled bulldog to the rim and sat out on the windy porch. The char light was sweet and airy with citrus lingering like gnats around my head. The real action came with the true light. The honey like sweetness deepened briefly then retreated as the earthy Virginia rode up and made itself at home. The citrus became more complex and came to remind me of Gran Marnier as it stuck around, more or less, for the rest of the bowl. After the first few smooth draughts, I fully inhaled the smoke and exhaled through my nose. A habit I am prone to only with the smoothest of tobaccos these days. Something caught me then and I couldn't put my finger on it. I kept thinking of the countryside in Central Illinois where I spent a lot of time growing up. My Father was the only one in his family that smoked and his choice was menthol cigarettes. Maybe an old farmer with a pipe smoked this? Didn't seem likely. The Virginia flavor was smooth and dominant, but never wore out its welcome. Toward the end of the bowl it dawned on me... Prairie Grass. Spring and summer my nostrils filled with this scent as we drove to see my Grandparents. This is my first real Virginia blend, as I have been doing Latakia/English for a while with a few Burley blends in between. To be honest, I kinda thought pipers were full of shit when they would mention fruit and other stuff in their reviews. If I hadn't tasted these flavors myself, I would think I am full of shit. Well, I am full of shit, but that doesn't change my experience. Right now I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. It was a damn fine bowl and just what the doctor ordered. Happy Piping !!
