This goes on sale Tuesday, March 26 at 6 pm. EST.
The tart and tangy, sun cured 2018 Basma and 2019 Izmir provide an abundance of earth, wood, herbs, dry, bitter, rough sourness, spice, vegetation, floralness, some incense, mild buttery, creamy sweetness, tart citrus, and smoke as the lead components. The proprietary processed Turkish Latakia offers plenty of floralness, herbs, incense, earth, wood, smoke, tangy dark fruit, red wine-like sweetness, spice, some leather, vegetation, mild sourness, and soft feel as an important supporting player. Its presence is a little more obvious than it was in the original manufacture due to its Oriental quality. The Carolina red, orange and mahogany Virginias produce some tart and tangy citrus, earth, wood, grass, bread, sugar, floralness, tangy ripe dark fruit, moderate vegetation, spice, light vinegar, and a hint of cream. They are a couple of steps behind the Latakia as they were previously. The strength and nic-hit are a step below the center of medium to strong. The taste is in that center. These particular aspects are a little more potent than they were in the original production. Won’t bite or get harsh, but has a few small rough notes as blends in this genre often do. Well balanced with some obvious and nuanced complexity, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent floral, sour, spicy, sweet and smoky, lightly rough, very zesty, savory quality that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is tolerable. Leaves little dampness in the bowl. Requires an average number of relights. It’s not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. It’s a tad more floral, spicy, sweet, sour and smoky this time. I gave the first version three stars, but this one gets four out of four due it having a little more depth and body from the Turkish Latakia.
©Jim Amash 2024.
The tart and tangy, sun cured 2018 Basma and 2019 Izmir provide an abundance of earth, wood, herbs, dry, bitter, rough sourness, spice, vegetation, floralness, some incense, mild buttery, creamy sweetness, tart citrus, and smoke as the lead components. The proprietary processed Turkish Latakia offers plenty of floralness, herbs, incense, earth, wood, smoke, tangy dark fruit, red wine-like sweetness, spice, some leather, vegetation, mild sourness, and soft feel as an important supporting player. Its presence is a little more obvious than it was in the original manufacture due to its Oriental quality. The Carolina red, orange and mahogany Virginias produce some tart and tangy citrus, earth, wood, grass, bread, sugar, floralness, tangy ripe dark fruit, moderate vegetation, spice, light vinegar, and a hint of cream. They are a couple of steps behind the Latakia as they were previously. The strength and nic-hit are a step below the center of medium to strong. The taste is in that center. These particular aspects are a little more potent than they were in the original production. Won’t bite or get harsh, but has a few small rough notes as blends in this genre often do. Well balanced with some obvious and nuanced complexity, it burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent floral, sour, spicy, sweet and smoky, lightly rough, very zesty, savory quality that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is tolerable. Leaves little dampness in the bowl. Requires an average number of relights. It’s not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. It’s a tad more floral, spicy, sweet, sour and smoky this time. I gave the first version three stars, but this one gets four out of four due it having a little more depth and body from the Turkish Latakia.
©Jim Amash 2024.