Newminster 403 vs. 400

[Dixie Piper]

Hello all. Newminster 400 is my favorite Virginia flake. I ordered some 403 from P&C but they cancelled my order and only shipped my pipe cleaners leaving me with no 403 to try.

Although I enjoy Newminster 400 and the topping they use I'm not a big Kentucky fan so far.

With that said I'm curious if y'all feel I should seek out 403 or just be happy with my 400 I was able to obtain.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Those are two totally different animals.

Dark fired is a major player in 403.

 

[Servant King]

@Richmond B. Funkenhouser is right, those two are markedly different.

As for being happy with the 400, I'd be jumping for joy if I scored any discontinued blend. No different for 400, it's a kick ass blend, easily one of my favorites in the straight VA genre, and it's got some stiff competition there.

 

[khiddy]

I’ve been smoking a lot of NM403 lately, with a bit of age (1+ year) on it, and it’s an interesting and spicy smoke with a bit of sharpness and depth with the dark fired wrapped in bright Virginia. It’s not a refined or sweet smoke by any means, but it has a nice flavor that borders on peppery. I like it for its rustic character, enough that I bought another pound for the cellar.

 

[Dixie Piper]

@Richmond B. Funkenhouser is right, those two are markedly different.

As for being happy with the 400, I'd be jumping for joy if I scored any discontinued blend. No different for 400, it's a kick ass blend, easily one of my favorites in the straight VA genre, and it's got some stiff competition there.

I stocked up as the last batch was leaving us. I enjoy Virginias and English blends but I'm not a fan of burley at all so far. Maybe my cancelled order was a blessing in disguise.

 

[BronzeAgePiper]

I don’t care for 400 at all, I can see the appeal, caramel apple strudel aromatic Virginia, the batches I’ve tried were just far too topped for my tastes. 403 on the other hand is fantastic with no less than 3 years, under that and it’s sharp, a little smoky and not sweet.

Now with age, and if you smolder it youll get a very sweet like golden maple syrup on toast, only slightly smoky with a deep rich vinegar tang that rounds out the blend perfectly for me.