Comoy's Cask #1 - what is NOT in it?

[stonehendge]

I'm a newbie at this "hobby" and have ordered and tried a bunch of English blends. They just don't seem to do it for me because they all seem to have a pervasive tart overlay that I just don't enjoy. Its almost akin to what I view to be overhopping in most american craft beers - something great underneath but then with way too many bitter hops thrown in (which always taste the same to me). As such, I generally stick to European beer.
Its not the strength or Latakia, I am enjoying sampling Balkan type blends on the deck after dinner and have taken a strong liking to Nightcap, Balkan Sasieni, Ashton's Artisan Blend and Bengal Slices once I figured out how to smoke them.
I had ordered a few tins and a bunch of 2 oz bulk bags to sample and was pretty much about to give up on them for the time being. Davidoff Royalty Blend was pretty much the only one I found myself having a desire to to smoke again. Yesterday afternoon I looked through my stash and saw 2 oz of Comoy's Cask #1 which I hadn't tried yet so I figured I'd give it a whirl. I think its the last "English" blend I bought that I hadn't tried since it gets some very mixed reviews. And I love it and am enjoying a nice afternoon bowl at my desk as I write this now. It doesn't have that pervasive tartness that seems to turn me off. I've got to believe that this is do to something that is not in the blend that is in so many others (which is also why it has to have so many different reviews). So the question is, what is it?
Anecdotally, I live in a very dry climate so I put all of my samples into mason jars labeled with masking tape. On this jar, I subconsciously labeled it Comey's Cask #1

 

[mikefu]

I believe that Cask #1 has more dark VA with less light VA and less orientals than a lot of English blends. I've only had Cask 1 a few times, but I remember it being more smooth and sweet forward, whereas I prefer the funky sour spice of Orientals and some lemon VA. But that's why there are so many blends!

 

[unkleyoda]

The tart or tangy taste is Turkish orientals. Look for stuff with a less 'oriental forward' thing.
Try Peterson Balkan delight, Dunhill BB1938, Samuel Gawith Commonwealth, Peterson 1965 all these are orientals free.
Also give Peterson Old Dublin, 965, HH Latakia Flake, Peter Stokkebeye Proper English, these has orientals, but they are pulled back a bit.

 

[stonehendge]

Thanks guys - after doing a little research on Virginias I think its the "bright", yellow and lemon Virginia's that don't click with me. BB1938 was one of the first English blends I tried. I had put it away but smoked a small bowl last night (my new ginormous Nording freehand churchwarden with a 2.3x0.9 bowl (which will be dedicated to evening Latakia blends) arrived yesterday so I had to start breaking it in!) . The twangy lemony finish was very apparent - kind of reminded me of a Mamas Little Yellow Pils. A great light experience with a dry puckering finish thrown on top at the end that detracts from the whole experience for me. But then again, I'm a guy who's a huge German Hefeweizen fan who cringes at that thought of a lemon in it. I'm not much of a fan of cigars that have a "lemon zest" note either. The 1938 was light to me because I tried it after revisiting JC's Smyrna after I hydrated my tin. So its not those orientals - although I might not buy it again, I enjoyed it and certainly won't have a problem finishing the tin off.
I was able to pick out the orientals in a bowl of Stokkebye's English Oriental Supreme after lunch today - nice to me in a condiment mode (like a spritz of haute cuisine lemon concoction on a swordfish steak), but probably way too much for me when combined with the zingy virginians.
I can live with it - probably makes it easier picking out things to try. Plus i was pleasantly surprised to see that the Comoy's Cask #1 is only $32/lb :D
So the 2 questions that arise- red virginias would not be considered bright and don't have the (or much of a) twang? And does aging tone down bright Virginias?

 

[unkleyoda]

Cool. Yes, aging bright VAs will tone them down to a richer mellower taste.
Now that you are pretty sure it's the bright Va, and you like something with some ommph, give C&D Star of the East a whirl.
Also, I still stand by the ones a recommended before too.

 

[mikefu]

Red Va's still have some twang, but it's a different twang. Where lemons are, well, lemony in their tang, red Va's are more like a tangy dried currant or cherry flavor. It's a dark fruit tang with sweetness as opposed to an acidic citrus fruit-type tanginess. And red Va's age really well, getting more sweet and rounded in flavor as age works its wonder. I think one of my favorite tobaccos of all time is a now-defunct McLelland Dark Navy Flake, which is all lemon and bright VA's that were heavily stoved and then pressed, almost to cavendish level. I have a few jars of it from 2006-7 that are absolutely transcendent with the age...still tangy and flavorful, but sweet with incense and some light pumpkin pie spice notes as well, most of which presented themselves after the initial dominant flavors of youth mellowed out a little.