Jim's C&D Chenet's Cake Review

[JimInks]

The Virginias are a little grassy with some earth and natural citrus sweetness. The perique is high, though not as much as I was expecting. It offers tasty tanginess from the raisin, fig, and date notes, with a nice spice hit that doesn't overwhelm, but should satisfy perique fans. It's also a little woody with hints of chocolate. The nicotine content is medium. The cake breaks apart very easily, and burns slow, well, even with very few relights, no moisture or harsh spots. A well blended, under rated product that may not be an all day smoke, but if you crave perique, you'll come back to it at some point during your smoking day.

 

[JimInks]

Trailboss: I could be wrong, but I don't believe cellaring it for all the years they claim you should will improve it as great a degree as the ad copy reads. Perique doesn't get stronger with age (sometimes it mellows),and it is so expertly melded with the Virginia, which will age, that I don't see the Promised Land at the end of the aging rainbow. What I do see is a blend that's very good now, and it will be very good later, though how much more is in question in my mind.

 

[JimInks]

MacBaren Symphony from the late 1970s, McClelland #24 from 1983, McClelland Navy Cavendish from 1986, MacBaren Navy Flake from the late 1970s, G&H Dark Flake Unscented from the mid-1990s (which I smoked in 2011), Esoterica Dunbar from the late 1990s (which I smoked last year), and VaKentucky Three Nuns from 2005 (which I smoked in 2012) are what immediately come to mind. Also - and I know this will contradict my earlier post - year 2001 VaPer Three Nuns, which I opened last Christmas. The perique was not quite as spicy, but more raisin and fig-like and the Virginias aged fantastically. I've been thinking of opening another tin of that vintage for Christmas, but I have so much open stuff that I probably won't.

 

[acutabovebriar]

I really like this treat from C&D. what i like the most, although this might be just me, is the "old cheese " fermented smell that i gat when i open a new tin. Anyone else ??

 

[saltedplug]

I just called Chris Tarler at C&D to see if there any plans to release Chenet's Cake in 8 oz tins, and he said no, although maybe next year. Craig Tarler was the blender, and made Exclusive, a bulk, and Chenet's Cake is pressed Exclusive.