H&H White Knight A Thought

Well, this is how my winters seem to start. Latakia mixtures find their way to the top of the cellar box. I opened H&H White Knight about three months ago, after finishing a tin of Hana's Legend. I like these Medium Latakia blends during the Spring and Summer evenings now and again, but prefer Latakia when it gets cold. Having finished Legend, I figured White Knight needed to show me what the hell he had up his horses skirt.
The tobacco comes dry and ready to smoke. The tobacco has colors ranging from black to orange. Packs easy. The first 4 to 6 bowls were nice. Similar to Hana's Legend, same style of tobacco reminiscent to those old Balkan Blends that we hear about, but I've never smoked. At times it was bitey and it didn't really move me, therefore I let it sit in the jar for a few months to see if it improved or became a dread to smoke.
With the weather getting down in the twenties at night, I decided last night to wake up and enjoy a bowl of White Knight. I brewed a cup of English Breakfast Tea(100%Keenum) and lit up a a bowl. Charing Light gives a blast of Latakia, true light brings the orientals to the for front a bit. Okay nothing new, it's behaving as I remembered. A few minutes into the bowl, A nice sweet oriental butter salty caramel over takes the palate. With a sip of tea the saltiness dampens slightly, giving the blend a creamy layer on the tongue. White Knight has a certain flavor on the tongue and in the nose. Never really changing. Very balanced. The Latakia and Virginia's really do a great job supporting and enhancing the orientals.
In my opinion, it performs better the longer it stays divorced from the tin. The addition of tea to a White Knight diet, well that's for others to decide for themselves. I will say, between Legend and White Knight, White Knight is a far better mixture. Legend appears to be mixed prior to being toasted in an oven, White Knight doesn't have this quality. White Knight is a great companion for those brisky lonely mornings.

The only other H&H blend I've tried is Larry's Blend. I loved Larry's Blend, but C&D Star of the East Beat it out. I picked up a tin of Legend, White Knight, and Balkan Blue chasing the Balkan Sobranie Clone Wars. I need to pick up Black House. White Knight is definitely on the rebuy list, nice to hear that Russ Ouelette got close to the fabled Balkan Sobraine.

Fnord and Phil, as well as others mention that WK doesn't have that fullness, which I agree. I like the Light to Medium English Balkans, but find them tasty at different times. The review above was out of the blue, whoa, where did these favors come from. I'm debating now whether Star of the East or White Knight. I think Black House was the winner of the Balkan Sobraine throw down, wasn't it? To complete the Clone Wars challenge, BH will be in the next order. Thanks for the suggestions.

So I decided on a bowl of White Knight, without the tea. Drezz01's account of soapy/floral character was in full force, also the saltiness was in full swing in spots. That caramel flavor wasn't there at all. I think the tea, had a hand in the Carmel flavor. That's why this wasn't a review, but thoughts on how to better enjoy this blend. The orientals are great if you want that "in your face"floral sourness. I failed to mention or ask, have any of you gotten to the bottom of the bowl with one Light? This stuff does not like to stay lit at all.

Thank you, fnord, for your kind words.
I guess it is a review. I wanted it to be a thread that evolved. I could have smoked the whole Tin in one week and gave a final thought. But way to often blends change on you and your taste, needing more meanderings as you say.