This will be on sale March 23.
This is an updated review of last year’s ESB after having done several direct comparisons between the two blends. The year 2014 white and dark burleys provide a lot of earth, wood, nuts, mild creamy cocoa, and a sharp, dry sourness along with hints of sugar and molasses. They are the lead components. The aspects of the seventeen year old Sokhoum, Samsun and Katerini are earth, wood, herbs, floralness, spice, zesty tart sweetness, vegetation, and a mild smoky quality. They are moderately sweet, and mildly sour. They are just below being supporting players. The 2019 Canadian bright Virginia offers a lot of tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, some sugar, vegetation, floralness, tart lemon, spice, and a hint of acidity as a supporting player. It competes with the Orientals for attention. The red Virginias produce a fair amount of tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, light sugar, tart citrus, and a pinch of spice. They are a notch above being a condiment. The red Va.s add to the overall sweetness as they help mute some of the sourness from the white burley and Orientals. The casings on the burleys include a variety of flavors (honey, a drop or two of vanilla, cocoa, etc.) that very mildly tone down the tobaccos. The blend itself is not topped. The strength and nic-hit are medium. The taste is a rung past medium. There’s no chance of bite or harshness, and has a few very small rough edges. Well balanced and complex, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a rich nutty, woody, sweet, mildly floral, sour, spicy, smoky flavor. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, moderately lingering after taste, and room note. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran, and repeatable for the less experienced. Four stars.
This year’s version is fairly similar to last year’s though there are a few small differences. The white burley is a year older, and the Canadian bright is is two years younger than the 2021 ESB. The Canadian bright is a notch more obvious here, making the tart and tangy citrus and floral notes slightly more noticeable. The white burley is lightly more sharp and sour. Because the tobaccos stand out a touch more, this production is a tad smokier, floral, and punchier. The casing of the burleys is exactly the same as before. I rated last year’s taste level as medium. This is about half a rung fuller. The same goes for the room note.
This is an updated review of last year’s ESB after having done several direct comparisons between the two blends. The year 2014 white and dark burleys provide a lot of earth, wood, nuts, mild creamy cocoa, and a sharp, dry sourness along with hints of sugar and molasses. They are the lead components. The aspects of the seventeen year old Sokhoum, Samsun and Katerini are earth, wood, herbs, floralness, spice, zesty tart sweetness, vegetation, and a mild smoky quality. They are moderately sweet, and mildly sour. They are just below being supporting players. The 2019 Canadian bright Virginia offers a lot of tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, some sugar, vegetation, floralness, tart lemon, spice, and a hint of acidity as a supporting player. It competes with the Orientals for attention. The red Virginias produce a fair amount of tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, light sugar, tart citrus, and a pinch of spice. They are a notch above being a condiment. The red Va.s add to the overall sweetness as they help mute some of the sourness from the white burley and Orientals. The casings on the burleys include a variety of flavors (honey, a drop or two of vanilla, cocoa, etc.) that very mildly tone down the tobaccos. The blend itself is not topped. The strength and nic-hit are medium. The taste is a rung past medium. There’s no chance of bite or harshness, and has a few very small rough edges. Well balanced and complex, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a rich nutty, woody, sweet, mildly floral, sour, spicy, smoky flavor. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, moderately lingering after taste, and room note. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran, and repeatable for the less experienced. Four stars.
This year’s version is fairly similar to last year’s though there are a few small differences. The white burley is a year older, and the Canadian bright is is two years younger than the 2021 ESB. The Canadian bright is a notch more obvious here, making the tart and tangy citrus and floral notes slightly more noticeable. The white burley is lightly more sharp and sour. Because the tobaccos stand out a touch more, this production is a tad smokier, floral, and punchier. The casing of the burleys is exactly the same as before. I rated last year’s taste level as medium. This is about half a rung fuller. The same goes for the room note.
