Or, Aromatics: Advance To The Next Level
Anyone who has tolerated my blathering knows my leanings are more towards the non-aromatic side. Several months ago, I decided that the growing pile of topped blends in my cellar finally deserved some attention.
Rattray's Exotic Passion, formerly Exotic Orange has a good reputation with the many of you and I have had a tin staring at me for some time. I finally managed to neutralize my aro pipe well enough to give the blend a fair shake.
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Produced by Kohlhase & Kopp, the blend contains black cavendish, burley and golden Virginia, easily observed as a melange of tan, brown and black bits.
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The tin note is mildly floral and orange zest. The insert proclaims orange, mango, passion fruit and maple. The orange is apparent, the mango, passion fruit and floral notes intermingle and, to me, any maple lags way behind.
Inside the tin, the tobacco is in a cellophane bag, taped shut but not "sealed". That said, the contents were barely moist, not a hint of crispiness. Not as dry as I prefer for my non-aros but likely perfect for this blend, as aromatics reportedly lose character when over-dried.
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I loaded the Savinelli 101EX Estella, a big, lumpy bastard, and incinerated the top layer. As many have said, black tea with orange flavoring is the clear first impression.
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The mango/passion fruit slides in behind the orange, adding a bit of tartness and additional dimension to the fruit-fest. These play very well with the natural citrus inclinations of the Virginia.
Meanwhile, the burley/cavendish duo counter with a caramel or brown sugar-like essence that may or may not include the alleged maple and burley nuttiness.
This is where I reach the limits of my discernment. I can't dissect all of the "non-fruit" flavors, but I know they are complimentary and I like them.
The almost creamy side of those last mentioned team up with the orange and citrus to almost evoke the old "cream-cycle pop" taste experience, without overdoing it.
One dab of the pipe cleaner at the 2/3 mark wards off a minor gurgle. Not goopy. Light and flavorful, little nicotine to speak of and one good relight at the last quarter to get to the finish line.
It gives a nice volume of smoke that is easygoing, fun to retrohale and can be a focal point or a background experience as you wish.
If you like aromatics, or need a well behaved one to explore the genre, Exotic Passion will serve you well.
Verdict:
GET SOME!
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