This review is based on a newly opened tub from the 1970s. The first thing that I noticed when I popped the lid was the smell and taste of brandy and burley. It’s been suggested that birch was in the topping, and I believe it. I knew there was something else besides brandy, but couldn’t quite place my taste buds on it. I recognize birch now that I am clued in. The toppings are smooth, but it seems to me that they have likely lightly faded over time, though I don’t know how strongly they were originally applied. They are rather mild, and well compliment the tobacco taste. The burley is much more (very) nutty than molasses sweet, and I detect no cocoa, and as noted, is the star tobacco. The Virginia is a little grassy with a bare touch of citrus. The perique is a very minor component, and has light spice note all the way through. The Turkish is slightly smoky and woody, showing itself at about the same level as the perique. The latakia also offers a smoky, woody push with a touch of sweetness and is just a shade more obvious than the Turkish and perique. It’s hard to say how much time may have affected this mixture, but I believe the diminishment is not that great. The nic-hit is mild. The strength is mild, and taste is mild to medium. Burns very well with a smooth, delicately butteriness with no dull or harsh spots. Burns to ash. It’s an easy going all day smoke with a nice room note. Not in production since the 1970s, perhaps some company will revive it one day.
