Canadian Box Pass Round 3

[yaddy306]

Solani Silver Flake.

In the bag, these flakes smelled similar to other Virginia flakes but with a little extra "zing". A sharper, acidic smell let me know that this wasn't just red Virginias; it apparently includes yellows (which might explain the sharp scent) and dark fired Kentucky.

I loosely rubbed out some a let it dry 10min. It didn't seem to dry out much, but still burned really well.

It's a little spicy, but not bitey. I usually find red Virginias bready or yeasty, which I like. This tastes more fruity (citrusy) than bready.

The dark-fired seems more prominent on relights or if you quicken the pace. It also seems to get smokier as the bowl progresses.

Lower down, I lost the Virginias, and got more of a monochromatic dark-fired with a tiny hint of anise. Plus more nicotine than I expected (I'd rate it medium).

 

[stickframer]

That silver flake sounds tasty.

 

[yaddy306]

Esoterica Stonehaven

Bag note is a little barnyard, with a deeper tangy scent. Nice!

A little drying and it burns well. It's very smooth, and flavours are subtle. I detect some chocolate, some spice (not "hot" spice, but seasoning, like coriander and nutmeg).

Coffee and Stonehaven complement each other nicely. It has just the right amount of sweetness for me. The burley seems pretty subdued, which suits me fine. The flavours are dark, earthy and complex but mild, not in-your-face. There's a faint pleasant bitterness as well. Although there are no Orientals in this, I'm reminded a little of McClelland Classic Samsun.

I was surprised by a little moisture in the bowl. Perhaps this would smoke (and taste) differently if I dried it out more.

 

[fmgee]

Yaddy: I am enjoying your reviews. Solani Silver Flake sounds like a must try.

 

[yaddy306]

Thanks, fmgee!
Germain and Son Plum Cake Mixture

This has one of the strangest tin notes I've encountered. I don't even know how to describe it. Herbal?

It's a shag cut so I didn't let it dry long before packing. First impression: strange! Sage, maybe? Some juniper? It's almost like a gin-flavoured aromatic. Definitely a niche tobacco.

Doesn't taste like any plums I've ever had, but what do I know?

 

[yaddy306]

SG Sweet Coconut Twist

Obvious scent of coconut in the bag.

I prepared a slice of this (it was less like "rubbing it out" and more like "unravelling it") leaving me with a wide ribbon of leaf. It was almost a single piece of leaf, so I thought it would burn well. It didn’t.

Not much coconut in the smoke, but there are occasional hints of it. There's lots of nicotine, but it wouldn't seem so high if it weren't for the constant need to relight. The flavour is similar to a cigar, with a much nicer room note.

 

[sw0snuff3r]

Great reviews yaddy. I agree that Plum Cake is a strange one. I'll smoke a bowl and put it away then a few weeks later when I want a change of pace it's always the first one I reach for. Very unique stuff.

 

[jkrug]

Some nice reviews yaddy...glad you're havin' fun with the box. ::

 

[jkrug]

Guys we have another forum member joining the box pass.

I've added slownumbers39 (Brian) to the list and will slide him into the middle of this pass.

I will email out the updated list shortly.
The pass order will now be:
yaddy306 (has box now)

drezz01

stickframer

slownumbers39

fmgee

Mortonbriar

sw0snuff3r

jkrug
Cheers, Jim ::

 

[yaddy306]

H&H WhiteKnight

Mild smokiness, a little spiciness. Dry, but still didn't seem to burn very well. Strange, as I seem to recall Black House burning almost too well. Isn't this supposed to be similar?

Pretty complex, and every once in a while I get a hint of some flavour that I really want more of. Is it an Oriental? Perhaps the yenidje? Macedonian? I wish I knew.

 

[drezz01]

Russ mentioned in Another Thread:

BlackHouse was modeled after a 23 year-old sample of Balkan Sobranie 759 (the black label), but WhiteKnight is based on my memory of Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture (white label) from the seventies.
Russ

Might explain the difference! I find White Knight to have a sort of soapy faint medicinal quality that doesn't float my boat. Black house however... It's my go-to balkan.

 

[drezz01]

So team, question for you. I'm next in line for the box, and although I don't know when Yaddy intends to relinquish it, I'm going to be super busy next week. My proposal is that (if he was planning to send it before then) that he holds on to it. I don't want to delay the rest of you but the upside would be that I have 8oz's of Esoterica's Dorchester, and 8oz's of Dunbar in the mail, some of which I will gladly contribute along with the Tilbury I had already planned on adding to the box. Added to the Margate and Stonehaven already contained (am I missing any?), we'll have a pretty fine selection of the esoterica's.
Alternatively we could loop in someone else but geographically that may be more trouble than we need.
Thoughts?

 

[stickframer]

Hey drezz.
Depending on when yaddy is due to send the box on it's way, I'd be ok switching spots with you. If this happens, yaddy would send to me, me to you, and you to slownumbers. Looking at where we are all located I don't think that this would drastically affect postage costs.
It's just a thought, either way I'm not bothered but switching spots would keep things rolling.
Cheers guys.

 

[yaddy306]

I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that. Shouldn't a project go from architect to builder, not the other way around? :?

 

[stickframer]

Nice one yaddy :rofl:
Heck I didn't realize you received the box just 4 or 5 days ago. The Internet effects time in strange ways.

 

[jkrug]

Well played yaddy! :clap:
Whatever works best for you fellas is good with me. ::

 

[slownumbers39]

jkrug, thanks for adding me to the Canadian Box Pass. Looking forward to all the goodies inside.

 

[drezz01]

Ha! Well technically I'm only an 'intern architect' for the next 6 months or so, I'm sure it would be fine!
We can take a look at it when Yaddy's had his time with it. By then, and with the shipping time, I may even be in the clear.
In other news, I got a delivery notice for those two esoterica blends so they will make it in to the box regardless!

 

[jkrug]

jkrug, thanks for adding me to the Canadian Box Pass. Looking forward to all the goodies inside.

You're quite welcome....the more the merrier! ::
We just need a little more participation/coverage to the east of Ontario now. :D

 

[woodsroad]

If you need refills of the Standard Tobacco blends, just let me know.