Just popped a tin of Quiet Nights I've had since September, 2014. It's just absolutely super.
Probably the most creamy, eloquent, English I've had. Very similar mouthfeel to Penzance. It's still very smoky, but definitely seems softer and sweeter than I remember from previous tins, although it's been a few years since I last tried a fresh batch.
The tin was bulging significantly (as are all my GLP tins with close to 10 yrs on them) so I opened it for fear of it popping without my knowledge. I'm glad I did. The bbq smokiness hit me immediately. My wife cringed from the kitchen.
The strips were frosty enough with plume I had to get out a light amd inspect more thoroughly to verify it wasn't mold. It was not, just perfect plume.
I proceeded to break it apart a little bit more and dried (more to let it breathe than actually dry) for about 10 minutes... Then I loaded it up in a favorite Peterson System 303.
Upon lighting, it wafted huge white creamy clouds. An unexpected volume compared to my usual charring lights. The latakia up front, smoky but softer than fresh Cyprian. It has certainly been tamed by time and lost its rougher edge. The red VA is much sweeter now too. The oriental starts slightly spicy, but after a few minutes becomes more buttery. It plays for 2nd place with the Red Va throughout. The latakia is very forward but after a few minutes (around the time the turkish butters up) it only barely come up in front of the others. Overall a very balanced smoke. Only complex enough to keep my attention. It mostly changes in the first 3rd.
Not a lat bomb at all now, but very full and VERY different from most english blends on the market. Dark and deep, soft and creamy. Ridiculously creamy. The mouthfeel is full and thick. I'm not sure what happened to the perique, as I can't pinpoint it at any specific point. But as I'm not particularly a fan of the dark and spicy voodoo leaf, I don't mind at all. I prefer perique far in the background just there enough to give some body and strength with its black magic, without calling for my attention. I'm certain it contributes to the creaminess and thick mouthfeel, if not much to the taste.
It burns fairly slow with a greater than average number of relights.
While I wasn't a HUGE fan of Quiet Nights, I now think I've found a blend that ages well enough to intentionally cellar for that very purpose. Sadly, i think it's my last one. I'll have to wait another 10 yrs until I can enjoy this experience again. In the meantime, when I finish this one, I've got a few tins of Gaslight, Sextant, and Meridian from the same year.
Probably the most creamy, eloquent, English I've had. Very similar mouthfeel to Penzance. It's still very smoky, but definitely seems softer and sweeter than I remember from previous tins, although it's been a few years since I last tried a fresh batch.
The tin was bulging significantly (as are all my GLP tins with close to 10 yrs on them) so I opened it for fear of it popping without my knowledge. I'm glad I did. The bbq smokiness hit me immediately. My wife cringed from the kitchen.
The strips were frosty enough with plume I had to get out a light amd inspect more thoroughly to verify it wasn't mold. It was not, just perfect plume.
I proceeded to break it apart a little bit more and dried (more to let it breathe than actually dry) for about 10 minutes... Then I loaded it up in a favorite Peterson System 303.
Upon lighting, it wafted huge white creamy clouds. An unexpected volume compared to my usual charring lights. The latakia up front, smoky but softer than fresh Cyprian. It has certainly been tamed by time and lost its rougher edge. The red VA is much sweeter now too. The oriental starts slightly spicy, but after a few minutes becomes more buttery. It plays for 2nd place with the Red Va throughout. The latakia is very forward but after a few minutes (around the time the turkish butters up) it only barely come up in front of the others. Overall a very balanced smoke. Only complex enough to keep my attention. It mostly changes in the first 3rd.
Not a lat bomb at all now, but very full and VERY different from most english blends on the market. Dark and deep, soft and creamy. Ridiculously creamy. The mouthfeel is full and thick. I'm not sure what happened to the perique, as I can't pinpoint it at any specific point. But as I'm not particularly a fan of the dark and spicy voodoo leaf, I don't mind at all. I prefer perique far in the background just there enough to give some body and strength with its black magic, without calling for my attention. I'm certain it contributes to the creaminess and thick mouthfeel, if not much to the taste.
It burns fairly slow with a greater than average number of relights.
While I wasn't a HUGE fan of Quiet Nights, I now think I've found a blend that ages well enough to intentionally cellar for that very purpose. Sadly, i think it's my last one. I'll have to wait another 10 yrs until I can enjoy this experience again. In the meantime, when I finish this one, I've got a few tins of Gaslight, Sextant, and Meridian from the same year.