This goes on sale this Tuesday, November 18 at 1 p.m. EST.
This review is very close to the same as last year’s review of this blend. A couple of nuances are the only differences.
The 31 Farms St. James perique offers an abundance of spice, dried plums, figs, raisins, earth, wood, bread, some floralness, sourness, and light sweetness. It takes a light lead due to the potency of the plums and spice. The Katerini Turkish provides a wealth of stewed creamy sweet and sour, tart and tangy citrus, earth, wood, herbs, floralness, vegetation, bread, a variety of spices, some smoke, mild darker fruit, sugar and light incense. It practically co-leads the experience as its sweet and sour, spicy, floral, herbal qualities nearly equal the plum and spice from the perique. The 2023 red Virginia cavendish and the 2013, 2019, 2023 matured flue cured red Virginia produce some tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, tart citrus, sugar, a few blades of grass, and light spiciness. Due to their inherent fruitiness, they nearly equal the effect of the perique and Katerini Turkish. The most noticeable characteristics of the 2014 white burley are nuts, earth, wood, bread, sour sharpness, a little spice, light sugar, molasses, and a slight touch of anise. It is a couple of steps behind the red Va.s. The 2023 matured flue cured Canadian bright Virginia supplies a little tart and tangy citrus, floralness, grass, vegetation, sour lemon, sugar, bread, spice, and light acidity. Its floral aspects match the effect of the burley. Its other qualities are right behind the burley, and is a couple of slots above the condiment line. A smidgeon of black cavendish helps hold the topping. The fruity, sugary, fragrantly floral wildflower honey moderately accents the varietals slightly more than before. The strength and taste are full. The nic-hit is a couple of rungs below the overall strength level. Won’t bite or get harsh. It does have a few small rough edges. Well balanced, complex and mildly moist, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent tart and tangy sweet and mildly more sour, fruity, floral, spicy, herbal, nutty, smoky, deeply rich, zesty flavor that extends to the pleasantly long lasting after taste. The very fragrant, sweet, sour, mildly smoky room notes are pungent. Leaves little dampness in the bowl. Requires few relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. I recommend a wide, small to medium bowl at most for this one. Four stars out of four.
@Jim Amash 2025.
This review is very close to the same as last year’s review of this blend. A couple of nuances are the only differences.
The 31 Farms St. James perique offers an abundance of spice, dried plums, figs, raisins, earth, wood, bread, some floralness, sourness, and light sweetness. It takes a light lead due to the potency of the plums and spice. The Katerini Turkish provides a wealth of stewed creamy sweet and sour, tart and tangy citrus, earth, wood, herbs, floralness, vegetation, bread, a variety of spices, some smoke, mild darker fruit, sugar and light incense. It practically co-leads the experience as its sweet and sour, spicy, floral, herbal qualities nearly equal the plum and spice from the perique. The 2023 red Virginia cavendish and the 2013, 2019, 2023 matured flue cured red Virginia produce some tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, tart citrus, sugar, a few blades of grass, and light spiciness. Due to their inherent fruitiness, they nearly equal the effect of the perique and Katerini Turkish. The most noticeable characteristics of the 2014 white burley are nuts, earth, wood, bread, sour sharpness, a little spice, light sugar, molasses, and a slight touch of anise. It is a couple of steps behind the red Va.s. The 2023 matured flue cured Canadian bright Virginia supplies a little tart and tangy citrus, floralness, grass, vegetation, sour lemon, sugar, bread, spice, and light acidity. Its floral aspects match the effect of the burley. Its other qualities are right behind the burley, and is a couple of slots above the condiment line. A smidgeon of black cavendish helps hold the topping. The fruity, sugary, fragrantly floral wildflower honey moderately accents the varietals slightly more than before. The strength and taste are full. The nic-hit is a couple of rungs below the overall strength level. Won’t bite or get harsh. It does have a few small rough edges. Well balanced, complex and mildly moist, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent tart and tangy sweet and mildly more sour, fruity, floral, spicy, herbal, nutty, smoky, deeply rich, zesty flavor that extends to the pleasantly long lasting after taste. The very fragrant, sweet, sour, mildly smoky room notes are pungent. Leaves little dampness in the bowl. Requires few relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. I recommend a wide, small to medium bowl at most for this one. Four stars out of four.
@Jim Amash 2025.
