I've smoked my way through most of a tin now, and this is some really good stuff. The tin note is amazing and I almost hesitate to say it but it almost has a grape smell to it. I say almost because it's like a really ripe grape and not in an off-putting way. The cut is a chuncky broken Flake, and either rubbed out or simply stacked and folded I found the blend to smoke beautifully. Stacked and folded did give me a much longer smoke, and even rubbed out the ribbon is quiet wide. I think either way it's for the better as I seemed to smoke this fairly fast if I don't pay attention. There is a beautiful earthy taste that I assume comes from a combo of the red VA and the dark fired. A little sweetness is there too, though not overly so. The perique is masterfully used here and is noticeable from the start to the end. It's not overly spicy, maybe not spicy at all, and lends more of that dark stewed fruit feel to the blend. There is some spice but I suspect it is a play between the dark fires and the perique. One of my favorite aspects of this blend is the consistency throughout the bowl. Some blends are like a two or even three in one, in that they change over the course of a bowl. This blend is just consistent all the way through, which each leaf playing its part the whole time. I think that takes some real though and skill on the blenders part. The topping, whatever that may be, as I can't identify it, is delicious and adds well to the blend. It is also apparent to me from start to finish. Beautiful blend and one that I will be stocking up on and stashing away for the future.
