I popped a tin from 2011 a couple of weeks ago, and I had high hopes. The initial tin aroma was sweet fruity Virginias, so I was excited. I was hoping that this would be a variation on a good solid sweet fruity Virginia. And, with a moderate amount of Maduro leaf for a chewiness creaminess and Cyprina Latakia for a cool smokey spice the blend does have a unique taste. And, the label says Orientals. I keep looking for an oriental taste, and there has to be something warping the Cyprian, something that is subduing it, making it more earthy... an Izmir? Something more Turkish maybe? It is hard to pick out, and the bowl changes in flavor greatly as the bowl progresses.
It is not like a substitute for a cigar, not exactly, but it has a cigar characteristic. It gets oily, dirty almost as the bowl progresses, like a Maduro wrapped cigar. The smoke hangs in the air sticks to you clothes. When I went into the co-op today to get some supplies, I could still smell the smoke on me, unlike a clean Virginia. But, at least I was somewhere where the smell didn't matter, ha ha.
But, if you are a fan of Virginias, maybe you smoke cigars (or are cigar curious), and you want to try something different, this might be worth a try. For the hardcore Balkan smokers or lat bomb lovers, this might not be very exciting. And, if you are looking for a cigar experience in a pipe, nope, keep looking. But, for something different, something smokey, spicy, with a natural sweet fruity base, this is worth a try. 8 out of 10. The strength is there (moderate to high), the interest is there, but it has a dirty crude oil nastiness to it that some might get turned off by.
I'm going to finish this tin, but I probably won't get another. Been there, done that. Too many more to try that I might like more.
I would suggest Key Largo or H&H Virginia Spice as being more worthy of exploration. Key largo for the latakia Maduro experience with a gut wrenching stregnth. And, Virginia Spice for a better Maduro Virginia blend. But, if you are curious, go ahead. It is an interesting Virginia.
It is not like a substitute for a cigar, not exactly, but it has a cigar characteristic. It gets oily, dirty almost as the bowl progresses, like a Maduro wrapped cigar. The smoke hangs in the air sticks to you clothes. When I went into the co-op today to get some supplies, I could still smell the smoke on me, unlike a clean Virginia. But, at least I was somewhere where the smell didn't matter, ha ha.
But, if you are a fan of Virginias, maybe you smoke cigars (or are cigar curious), and you want to try something different, this might be worth a try. For the hardcore Balkan smokers or lat bomb lovers, this might not be very exciting. And, if you are looking for a cigar experience in a pipe, nope, keep looking. But, for something different, something smokey, spicy, with a natural sweet fruity base, this is worth a try. 8 out of 10. The strength is there (moderate to high), the interest is there, but it has a dirty crude oil nastiness to it that some might get turned off by.
I'm going to finish this tin, but I probably won't get another. Been there, done that. Too many more to try that I might like more.
I would suggest Key Largo or H&H Virginia Spice as being more worthy of exploration. Key largo for the latakia Maduro experience with a gut wrenching stregnth. And, Virginia Spice for a better Maduro Virginia blend. But, if you are curious, go ahead. It is an interesting Virginia.
