I found a can of Old Joe Krantz that had been aging 10 years. As expected, the bowls of this I smoked were mellow and the burley, Perique and Virginias melded into a very pleasant smoke.
I never had OJK before, so I decided to order a fresh tin to compare against the effects of aging. I packed two similar cobs and smoked one until it went out, then I would light the second, and alternated thus until the bowl was gone. I did this on two occasions, the second time letting them both sit overnight with a quarter bowl left due to the late hour. I also smoked both in my favorite Ben Wade and my new Boswell freehand, as well as a Stanwell and Savinelli.
As you might expect, there is a definite difference between the two. However, that difference was far from earth shattering.
The fresh tin was brighter and the burley was more noticeable than the aged version. It was also peppier from the Perique. I would say the fresh was sharper and the Virginia and Perique components more distinct in the fresh tin - especially the Perique.
The aged version was more rounded and the flavors melded nicely, but the Perique was very subdued.
Oddly, using the Delayed Gratification Techniqe (DLT) made the fresh bowl unsmokable - tasted like cigarette ash. The aged DLT bowl was still quite tasty.
All in all, the burley didn't same to change much over the years, but the Virginias and Perique flavors were well married. I would say aging it 10 years pumped the quality up a half letter grade. Regarding the subdued Perique, it would be just a matter of taste as to whether aging improved it or not.
In summary, aging improved OJK but nothing like Stonehaven does with age. I think I would pop the tin in 5 years rather than holding out for ten.
This was an unscientific review. As always, YMMV.
Pax
I never had OJK before, so I decided to order a fresh tin to compare against the effects of aging. I packed two similar cobs and smoked one until it went out, then I would light the second, and alternated thus until the bowl was gone. I did this on two occasions, the second time letting them both sit overnight with a quarter bowl left due to the late hour. I also smoked both in my favorite Ben Wade and my new Boswell freehand, as well as a Stanwell and Savinelli.
As you might expect, there is a definite difference between the two. However, that difference was far from earth shattering.
The fresh tin was brighter and the burley was more noticeable than the aged version. It was also peppier from the Perique. I would say the fresh was sharper and the Virginia and Perique components more distinct in the fresh tin - especially the Perique.
The aged version was more rounded and the flavors melded nicely, but the Perique was very subdued.
Oddly, using the Delayed Gratification Techniqe (DLT) made the fresh bowl unsmokable - tasted like cigarette ash. The aged DLT bowl was still quite tasty.
All in all, the burley didn't same to change much over the years, but the Virginias and Perique flavors were well married. I would say aging it 10 years pumped the quality up a half letter grade. Regarding the subdued Perique, it would be just a matter of taste as to whether aging improved it or not.
In summary, aging improved OJK but nothing like Stonehaven does with age. I think I would pop the tin in 5 years rather than holding out for ten.
This was an unscientific review. As always, YMMV.
Pax