Hal o'the Wynd casing

[Grovius]

Hi all!

Last month I opened my first tin of HOTW and this goes straight into my rotation (even though it is a very fresh tin, with a whiff of ammonia when I changed it into a jar and every now and then during the smoke). Anyway, my question has to do with the casing it may have. Both in the unlit tobacco and during the bowl, I get a sweet anise/fennel note which I also get in Old Gowrie, and at times it gets on a minty/geranium leaf nuance. My guess is that this has been imparted by the sauce, but what are your thoughts about it? (I often get fennel notes in cigars, which are supposed not to have any added flavours).
Also, the citrus notes are particularly strong at times. Is this the brightleaf in the tobacco or do you think it may be amped by the sauce?

 

[Ghosted Tamper]

I don't recall experiencing any of the flavors you're stating in your description here from years past HOtW. Popular opinion states that K&K (which is now just K as in Kopp) have been altering their production blends for at least a couple of years now. Hopefully this one didn't get hit, as I picked up 4 canisters recently, though it certainly sounds like Hal has succumbed to the wicked, wicked hand. O mighty Hal, what doth happeneth to ye?!

 

[Grovius]

I still think it is a smashing tobacco and you will not regret buying it, but, as always, it would be nice to know.

 

[Oddball]

I popped a 100g 23 tin and smoked the whole thing to ash in a few days. maybe I am a novice, but it was really good from start to finish.

 

[FLDRD]

I'm going to guess that's simply your individual palate interaction with it.

I find it delightful and lean toward the answer being that each of us tastes something a little bit differently than another. I find it complex enough to be exceptionally pleasing, yet I couldn't begin to elucidate individual nuances.

I too found it similar, but preferred, to Old Gowrie as well.

 

[Sigmund]

Without derailing the thread too far how does this compare to marlin flake?

 

[FLDRD]

They list Marlin Flake as "in the same vein" as Old Gowrie.
I think MF would be the mildest, least unique, of the 3, maybe because the least Perique content?

OMG. I can't believe someone might be fooled into listening to me try and explain my under-developed palate...

Reader beware!

Maybe you need tobaccoreviews.com
Far better than me

Cheers

 

[Hutch Piper]

Without derailing the thread too far how does this compare to marlin flake?

Not similiar in my opinion. Marlin Flake is a VaPer (no Kentucky). And for some reason Marlin Flake bites me and HOTW does not.

 

[Hutch Piper]

Old Gowrie, HOTW, and Brown Clunee are all made with the same components (Virginia, Perique, and Kentucky). In my opinion, HOTW has the strongest Kentucky content. Old Gowrie is Virginia forward. And Brown Clunee has the most perique of the three. All very similar.

 

[MattRVA]

Sounds like you are a great taster and I’ll bet you’re picking up the floral qualities of Kentucky.

 

[Sigmund]

@Hutch Piper I guess its just further proor how individual our response to tobacco is. Marlin doesnt even begin to bite me...Sweet and smooth as silk.

I still think I will try the others.

thanks

 

[cosmicfolklore]

There are a couple of Orientals that have a natural anise flavor, and all companies may add a tad bit of this and that without listing it on the tin. That said, I think that there is a tad bit of anise in the casing, which is used very sparingly.
Japan8 has a very anise like flavor that I like. I even grew a Cherry Red brightleaf that is an heirloom tobacco that has a very slight cherry flavor when flu cured. I smell it the strongest when I pop open the door to the flu. But, with the Japan8, I don't sense it till I have put fire to it.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I should add, that what I really like about Rattrays Virginias is that I don't taste that burned sugar acridness that i get with from some other companies Virginias. So, they must be very sparing with the casing. It also wouldn't surprise me if they are processing the leaf in a way that brings out different flavors without a need for casing. This is pure conjecture, but it would explain why it is so different from other British Virginias.

 

[Grovius]

Yep, apparently they add 41 grams of sugar per kilo, and 6.57 grams of "flavour": Navigationspunkt Tabakzusatzstoffe-Datenbank - https://service.bmel.de/tabakerzeugnisse/index2.php?detail_id=104650&ssk=dd246d17bb&site_key=153&stichw_suche=wynd&zeilenzahl_zaehler=1
It is a great blend, but I wish they were more specific with "flavour". For Ascanian, for example, DanT mention cassia bark, fig, tamarind and truffle extracts/flavours, plus rum.

 

[REO]

Brown Clunee is an everyday smoke for me. Not overwhelming but a flavorful solid smoke. Some sweet and sour but balanced exceptionally well. Could also be a base for some blending. Think some Dark Birds Eye would amp the strength up a few notched but really good on its own merits.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Yep, apparently they add 41 grams of sugar per kilo, and 6.57 grams of "flavour": Navigationspunkt Tabakzusatzstoffe-Datenbank - https://service.bmel.de/tabakerzeugnisse/index2.php?detail_id=104650&ssk=dd246d17bb&site_key=153&stichw_suche=wynd&zeilenzahl_zaehler=1

Looks like a very informative database, available in English?

I’ve got a crap palate, but I get no anise from hotw (‘23 production)

 

[UB 40]

Yep, apparently they add 41 grams of sugar per kilo, and 6.57 grams of "flavour": Navigationspunkt Tabakzusatzstoffe-Datenbank - https://service.bmel.de/tabakerzeugnisse/index2.php?detail_id=104650&ssk=dd246d17bb&site_key=153&stichw_suche=wynd&zeilenzahl_zaehler=1
It is a great blend, but I wish they were more specific with "flavour". For Ascanian, for example, DanT mention cassia bark, fig, tamarind and truffle extracts/flavours, plus rum.

Forget that comment, you’re right.

 

[krizzose]

I smell something in the tin note of HOTW that reminds me of wintergreen. If I keep sniffing it morphs into some sort of fermented aroma that is fooling my brain, but wintergreen is my first impression. It only happens in the first whiff or two of the tin note, but definitely does not manifest in the smoke flavor or side stream. Whatever it is, I’m pretty confident I could pick out HOTW from unlabeled tins because of it.

 

[Buffalo]

I'm smoking through a tin from 17 right now. I am not getting any type of flavoring from this tin, nor any of thebother tins I've smoked and the tin lists no flavoring:

 

[huntertrw]

An old Charles Rattray blend list in my collection described Hal O' The Wynd as, "Rich rust red honeydew with slight yellow streak. No latakia or dark cavendish to alter the even red colour. Quite surprising mildness for a straight Virginia, slow burning." Based upon the description on the tin shown in the image above, its composition has changed.