This goes on sale Wednesday, July 10 at 6 p.m. EST.
The year 2005 Sokhoum, Samsun and Katerini Orientals provide an abundance of herbs, floralness, earth, wood, incense, peaty vegetation, spice, sharp sourness, some zesty tart sweetness, and a mild smoky quality. They take a small lead. The year 2014 white and year 2015 dark burleys produce a lot of nuts, bread, earth, wood, some sharp, dry, tart sourness, spice, creamy cocoa, sugar, anise and molasses with a small floral note in a full support role. The 2019 Canadian bright Virginia offers a lot of tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, some sugar, vegetation, floralness, tart lemon, spice, and very light acidity as a secondary supporter. The year 2018 red Virginias contribute a moderate amount of tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, light sugar, tart citrus, grass, floralness, and a pinch of spice. They are a couple of notches above the condiment line. The casings on the burleys include a variety of flavors: molasses, anise, rum, creamy cocoa, and light vanilla. They mildly tone down the tobaccos. There are no overall toppings. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium threshold. The taste just edges past that mark. It won’t bite or get harsh. It has a few minute rough notes. Well balanced and complex, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a mostly consistent, deeply rich, rather sour, floral, herbal, nutty, sweet, woody, spicy, mildly creamy, savory, lightly smoky flavor that extends to the pleasantly lasting after taste. The room note is pleasant to tolerable. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it’s certainly repeatable. This year’s version is a little stronger and a tad less sweet than the previous one. The Orientals are just a little more potent this time, which makes this blend a little more savory. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
The year 2005 Sokhoum, Samsun and Katerini Orientals provide an abundance of herbs, floralness, earth, wood, incense, peaty vegetation, spice, sharp sourness, some zesty tart sweetness, and a mild smoky quality. They take a small lead. The year 2014 white and year 2015 dark burleys produce a lot of nuts, bread, earth, wood, some sharp, dry, tart sourness, spice, creamy cocoa, sugar, anise and molasses with a small floral note in a full support role. The 2019 Canadian bright Virginia offers a lot of tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, some sugar, vegetation, floralness, tart lemon, spice, and very light acidity as a secondary supporter. The year 2018 red Virginias contribute a moderate amount of tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, light sugar, tart citrus, grass, floralness, and a pinch of spice. They are a couple of notches above the condiment line. The casings on the burleys include a variety of flavors: molasses, anise, rum, creamy cocoa, and light vanilla. They mildly tone down the tobaccos. There are no overall toppings. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium threshold. The taste just edges past that mark. It won’t bite or get harsh. It has a few minute rough notes. Well balanced and complex, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a mostly consistent, deeply rich, rather sour, floral, herbal, nutty, sweet, woody, spicy, mildly creamy, savory, lightly smoky flavor that extends to the pleasantly lasting after taste. The room note is pleasant to tolerable. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it’s certainly repeatable. This year’s version is a little stronger and a tad less sweet than the previous one. The Orientals are just a little more potent this time, which makes this blend a little more savory. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
