The Katerini provides a moderate amount of smoke, herbs, floralness, earth, wood, spicy, sourness, and light sweetness. It takes a very small lead chiefly due to its inherent floral quality. The red Virginia offers some tangy dark fruit, earth, word, bread, mild sugar, floralness, and a couple of pinches of spice and vinegar. It is almost a co-leader. Close behind it is the bright Virginia, which produces some tart and tangy citrus, grass/hay, bread, sugar, floralness, vegetation, and spice. The aspects of the dark fired Kentucky are very mild earth, wood, herbs, floralness, spice, and a bare hint of barbecue. It’s just above the condiment line. The sugary, bready black cavendish is a condiment. The toppings are in order of recognition, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, chocolate, and rum. They have a moderate effect on the proceedings. The strength is medium. The taste steps over that line. The nic-hit is a notch below the overall strength level. No chance of bite or harshness. Has a few minute rough edges. Well balanced and deeply rich, it burns cool and clean a a reasonable rate with a very consistent sweet, fruity, spicy, floral, rather mild sour flavor that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is fairly pleasant. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. Requires few relights. It’s not quite an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. About the only difference I note from the last version is that the bright Virginia seems a tad more obvious. Three and a half stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
©Jim Amash 2024.
