C&D XXV Reserve: Dawn (Small Batch):
The various grades of red Virginias are from years 2000, 2017, 2019 and 2022. They provide a wealth of fermented tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, sugar, floralness, sour lemon, some vegetation, earth, wood, spice, mild darker fruit, light molasses, cream, and a touch of acidity. The strength is a couple of slots past the medium threshold. The taste is in the center of medium to full. The nic-hit is medium. No chance of bite or harshness. Has a few rough notes. The broken flakes are mildly moist, and need no dry time. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent deeply rich, rather savory, fermented flavor. Has a moderately lasting, pleasant after taste. The room note is a tad stronger than pleasant. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. May be an all day smoke. Any size bowl will work for this blend. Three and a half stars out of four.
@Jim Amash 2025.
C&D XXV Reserve: Dusk (Small Batch):
The 31 Farms Saint James perique offers plenty of mildly sweet and very sour dried plums, spice, dried figs, floralness, bread, earth, wood, light dried raisins, and smoked mesquite. They start out as a full supporting player to the Virginias, but becomes the lead component at various times. The twenty-five year old, five year old and six year old red Virginias, along with the Canadian bright and 2023 bright Virginias provide an abundance of tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass, bread, sugar, floralness, spice, sour lemon, mild fermentation, light earth, wood, cream, and a touch of acidity. Their effect varies during the proceedings, and the reds lightly lead the brights. The 2019 Italian dark fired and 2019 American dark fired Kentuckys produces a moderate amount of fragrant floralness, earth, wood, vegetation, smoke, sour barbecue, spice, dark fruit, herbs, light cocoa, malt, peat, and nuts. They range from being supporting players and a couple of notches above the condiment line. The strength and taste levels are filling. The nic-hit is close behind them. Won’t bite or get harsh. Since there’s no toppings, it has a little roughness. The broken flakes are mildly moist, and need no dry time. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with an inconsistent floral, sour and sweet, spicy, fruity, mesquite, barbecue, lightly creamy, very rich, savory, complex flavor that extends to the long lasting after taste. The floral, spicy, sweet room notes are strong. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. I recommend a small to medium round bowl at most for this blend. Three stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2025.
The various grades of red Virginias are from years 2000, 2017, 2019 and 2022. They provide a wealth of fermented tart and tangy citrus, grass, bread, sugar, floralness, sour lemon, some vegetation, earth, wood, spice, mild darker fruit, light molasses, cream, and a touch of acidity. The strength is a couple of slots past the medium threshold. The taste is in the center of medium to full. The nic-hit is medium. No chance of bite or harshness. Has a few rough notes. The broken flakes are mildly moist, and need no dry time. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a very consistent deeply rich, rather savory, fermented flavor. Has a moderately lasting, pleasant after taste. The room note is a tad stronger than pleasant. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. May be an all day smoke. Any size bowl will work for this blend. Three and a half stars out of four.
@Jim Amash 2025.
C&D XXV Reserve: Dusk (Small Batch):
The 31 Farms Saint James perique offers plenty of mildly sweet and very sour dried plums, spice, dried figs, floralness, bread, earth, wood, light dried raisins, and smoked mesquite. They start out as a full supporting player to the Virginias, but becomes the lead component at various times. The twenty-five year old, five year old and six year old red Virginias, along with the Canadian bright and 2023 bright Virginias provide an abundance of tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass, bread, sugar, floralness, spice, sour lemon, mild fermentation, light earth, wood, cream, and a touch of acidity. Their effect varies during the proceedings, and the reds lightly lead the brights. The 2019 Italian dark fired and 2019 American dark fired Kentuckys produces a moderate amount of fragrant floralness, earth, wood, vegetation, smoke, sour barbecue, spice, dark fruit, herbs, light cocoa, malt, peat, and nuts. They range from being supporting players and a couple of notches above the condiment line. The strength and taste levels are filling. The nic-hit is close behind them. Won’t bite or get harsh. Since there’s no toppings, it has a little roughness. The broken flakes are mildly moist, and need no dry time. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with an inconsistent floral, sour and sweet, spicy, fruity, mesquite, barbecue, lightly creamy, very rich, savory, complex flavor that extends to the long lasting after taste. The floral, spicy, sweet room notes are strong. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. I recommend a small to medium round bowl at most for this blend. Three stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2025.
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