This review is the third review of the Deathmetal mixtures; Aiwass and Massacra being the other two. The blend is produced by our very own forum mainstay, Deathmetal. I wrote Deathmetal requesting some samples and, as usual, he was kind enough to oblige me with two bowl-fulls. I have recently had the opportunity to sit down, focus, and enjoy Hellhammer. Below is my review and my thoughts:
Hellhammer -- A Metal Mixture
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The sample was relatively perfect, moisture wise, from the bag; the aroma was predominantly leather and musk with notes of whiskey and hints of the woodsy outdoors.
Dry time: 15 min
Pipe Used: Boswell straight two-ring bulldog (roughly a group 4)
Overall:
Strength (nicotine): light
Flavor: mild to lowish-medium
Flavor Breakdown:
First Third of the Bowl:
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easy char and light. I am immediately greeted by a lightly-sweetened leathery hue of silky smoke with hints of spice and a refined, rustic flavor. Latakia is a wallflower in this blend; modestly lurking in the background.
Second Third of the Bowl:
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As seems to be the modus operandi for the Deathmetal blends they increase with intensity as the bowl progresses; Hellhammer is no exception. The second half of the bowl is markedly more spice-forward, musky with the bliss of mildly sweet leather tickling the second string. The body is smooth, and the smoke is cool. At this point the blend had my full attention and was satisfying, to say the least, in the mid-day heat.
Last Third of the Bowl:
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The flavor is fully mature at this point, and is simply sublime. The oak-barrel whiskey notes are playing second string to the musky, leathery forte. The spice subsides to allow the overall rustic flavor to take the center stage. The woodsy latakia notes are noticeable once more, though they remain in the background and add, overall, a distinctly refined quality to the otherwise ruggedly-sophisticated ensemble.
Overall Impressions:
------------------------
Now THIS is an all-day blend. It is complex enough to maintain your interest, with its many hues of brown and tan flavors, while in no way overstaying its welcome. It evokes images of a west Texas sendero, a lawman riding high in the stirrups, or a leatherman's shop as the craftsman sips whisky and works with focus, and intent. If I were in charge of marketing this blend I would name it something like "Sendero", "Wyatt Earp", or use some other vernacular to convey its refined rustication. Well done.
All in all: Once more, I would absolutely purchase this to include in my cell, or rotation, if it were a commercial product.
Hellhammer -- A Metal Mixture
==========================
The sample was relatively perfect, moisture wise, from the bag; the aroma was predominantly leather and musk with notes of whiskey and hints of the woodsy outdoors.
Dry time: 15 min
Pipe Used: Boswell straight two-ring bulldog (roughly a group 4)
Overall:
Strength (nicotine): light
Flavor: mild to lowish-medium
Flavor Breakdown:
First Third of the Bowl:
-----------------------
easy char and light. I am immediately greeted by a lightly-sweetened leathery hue of silky smoke with hints of spice and a refined, rustic flavor. Latakia is a wallflower in this blend; modestly lurking in the background.
Second Third of the Bowl:
------------------------
As seems to be the modus operandi for the Deathmetal blends they increase with intensity as the bowl progresses; Hellhammer is no exception. The second half of the bowl is markedly more spice-forward, musky with the bliss of mildly sweet leather tickling the second string. The body is smooth, and the smoke is cool. At this point the blend had my full attention and was satisfying, to say the least, in the mid-day heat.
Last Third of the Bowl:
------------------------
The flavor is fully mature at this point, and is simply sublime. The oak-barrel whiskey notes are playing second string to the musky, leathery forte. The spice subsides to allow the overall rustic flavor to take the center stage. The woodsy latakia notes are noticeable once more, though they remain in the background and add, overall, a distinctly refined quality to the otherwise ruggedly-sophisticated ensemble.
Overall Impressions:
------------------------
Now THIS is an all-day blend. It is complex enough to maintain your interest, with its many hues of brown and tan flavors, while in no way overstaying its welcome. It evokes images of a west Texas sendero, a lawman riding high in the stirrups, or a leatherman's shop as the craftsman sips whisky and works with focus, and intent. If I were in charge of marketing this blend I would name it something like "Sendero", "Wyatt Earp", or use some other vernacular to convey its refined rustication. Well done.
All in all: Once more, I would absolutely purchase this to include in my cell, or rotation, if it were a commercial product.
