These blends go on sale January 30 at 6 pm. EST. They are not limited editions.
C&D Toscano Maestro Allegro:
The Kentucky and Tennessee dark fired Kentucky provide a lot of smoke, spice, earth, wood, sweet mesquite, floralness, toast, vegetative grass, some herbs, moderate bitter sourness, nuts, peat ,and very light vinegar as the lead components. The smoky, woody, earthy, leathery, floral, herbal, vegetative, mildly spicy, sweet Cyprian Latakia is a secondary supporter. The stoved and unstoved red Virginias offer mild tangy dark fruit, tart and tangy citrus, earth, wood, bread, sugar, grass, floralness, mild stewed dark fruit and light spice. They are right behind the Latakia in terms of effect, and their most obvious aspect is the fruit. In order of importance are the mildly applied caramel, vanilla and maple toppings. They subtly soften the experience with their sweetness. The strength is just past the center of medium to strong. The taste is a couple of steps past that mark. The nic-hit is a notch below the overall strength level. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has a few small rough edges. Well balanced and nuanced, it burns cool, and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent spicy, smoky, floral, sweet and sour, nutty, savory rich flavor that extends to pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note has a little pungency. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. Requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it’s a tad closer to that than the other two in the series. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
C&D Toscano Maestro Concerto:
The toasty Kentucky and Tennessee dark fired Kentucky produce a wealth of smoke, spice, earth, wood, sweet mesquite, floralness, vegetative grass, some herbs, moderate bitter sourness, nuts, peat, and very light vinegar. They take a small lead. The 31 Farms perique provides plenty of spice, earth, wood, dried, sour and mildly sweet plums, figs, toast, and a few raisins with some floralness. It gives full support. The smoky, leathery Cyprian Latakia offers a fair amount of earth, wood, floralness, herbs, vegetation, mild spice and sweetness in a secondary support role. The strength is a step past TR’s strong rating. The nic-hit is a notch behind that mark. The taste is very filling. It won’t bite or get harsh, but it does have a light roughness. Well balanced and deeply rich with a little complexity, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent zesty, savory, spicy, smoky, mesquite and dried fruit, sour, floral, herbal, moderate campfire flavor that extends to the exceptionally long lasting pleasant after taste. The room note is very pungent. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Certainly not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. Unless you’re the hearty type, I don’t recommend a big bowl. It’s the strongest of the three in the series. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
C&D Toscano Maestro Sinfonia:
The very smoky, spicy Kentucky and Tennessee dark fired Kentucky provide an abundance of earth, wood, sweet mesquite, floralness, toast, vegetative grass, some herbs, moderate bitter sourness, nuts, peat, and very light vinegar as the lead components. The aspects of the leathery Cyprian Latakia are smoke, earth, wood, floralness, herbs, vegetation, mild spice and sweetness in a secondary support role. The unstoved and mildly more obvious stoved red Virginias produce plenty of stewed tangy ripe dark fruit, tart and tangy citrus, ripe darker fruit, earth, wood, bread, grass, some sugar, floralness, light spice, and a touch of vinegar. They are a slot behind the Latakia. The strength and nic-hit are strong. The taste is full. No chance of bite or harshness. Sports a few very small rough notes. The mildly moist broken flakes do not need any dry time nor did I do that for this review. It burns cool, clean and a tad slow with a mostly consistent smoky, spicy, tangy fruity, mesquite sweet, floral, moderately sour campfire, very savory rich flavor that extends to the pleasantly lasting after taste. The room note is rather pungent. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires a few more than an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. I recommend a small to medium wide bowl. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
C&D Toscano Maestro Allegro:
The Kentucky and Tennessee dark fired Kentucky provide a lot of smoke, spice, earth, wood, sweet mesquite, floralness, toast, vegetative grass, some herbs, moderate bitter sourness, nuts, peat ,and very light vinegar as the lead components. The smoky, woody, earthy, leathery, floral, herbal, vegetative, mildly spicy, sweet Cyprian Latakia is a secondary supporter. The stoved and unstoved red Virginias offer mild tangy dark fruit, tart and tangy citrus, earth, wood, bread, sugar, grass, floralness, mild stewed dark fruit and light spice. They are right behind the Latakia in terms of effect, and their most obvious aspect is the fruit. In order of importance are the mildly applied caramel, vanilla and maple toppings. They subtly soften the experience with their sweetness. The strength is just past the center of medium to strong. The taste is a couple of steps past that mark. The nic-hit is a notch below the overall strength level. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. Has a few small rough edges. Well balanced and nuanced, it burns cool, and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent spicy, smoky, floral, sweet and sour, nutty, savory rich flavor that extends to pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note has a little pungency. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. Requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it’s a tad closer to that than the other two in the series. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
C&D Toscano Maestro Concerto:
The toasty Kentucky and Tennessee dark fired Kentucky produce a wealth of smoke, spice, earth, wood, sweet mesquite, floralness, vegetative grass, some herbs, moderate bitter sourness, nuts, peat, and very light vinegar. They take a small lead. The 31 Farms perique provides plenty of spice, earth, wood, dried, sour and mildly sweet plums, figs, toast, and a few raisins with some floralness. It gives full support. The smoky, leathery Cyprian Latakia offers a fair amount of earth, wood, floralness, herbs, vegetation, mild spice and sweetness in a secondary support role. The strength is a step past TR’s strong rating. The nic-hit is a notch behind that mark. The taste is very filling. It won’t bite or get harsh, but it does have a light roughness. Well balanced and deeply rich with a little complexity, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent zesty, savory, spicy, smoky, mesquite and dried fruit, sour, floral, herbal, moderate campfire flavor that extends to the exceptionally long lasting pleasant after taste. The room note is very pungent. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Certainly not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. Unless you’re the hearty type, I don’t recommend a big bowl. It’s the strongest of the three in the series. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
C&D Toscano Maestro Sinfonia:
The very smoky, spicy Kentucky and Tennessee dark fired Kentucky provide an abundance of earth, wood, sweet mesquite, floralness, toast, vegetative grass, some herbs, moderate bitter sourness, nuts, peat, and very light vinegar as the lead components. The aspects of the leathery Cyprian Latakia are smoke, earth, wood, floralness, herbs, vegetation, mild spice and sweetness in a secondary support role. The unstoved and mildly more obvious stoved red Virginias produce plenty of stewed tangy ripe dark fruit, tart and tangy citrus, ripe darker fruit, earth, wood, bread, grass, some sugar, floralness, light spice, and a touch of vinegar. They are a slot behind the Latakia. The strength and nic-hit are strong. The taste is full. No chance of bite or harshness. Sports a few very small rough notes. The mildly moist broken flakes do not need any dry time nor did I do that for this review. It burns cool, clean and a tad slow with a mostly consistent smoky, spicy, tangy fruity, mesquite sweet, floral, moderately sour campfire, very savory rich flavor that extends to the pleasantly lasting after taste. The room note is rather pungent. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires a few more than an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. I recommend a small to medium wide bowl. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
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