The Virginias have a fair amount of tangy dark fruit, earth, wood, bread, sugar, some grass, tart and tangy citrus, vegetation, mild floralness, a couple of cigar notes, and a pinch of spice. They are bolstered by the bold nutty, earthy, woody, sweet burleys. The fruit toppings remind me of dried fruit, citrus, and figs. They mildly sublimate the tobaccos. The strength is a couple of notches past the medium mark. The taste level is almost in the center of medium to full. The nic-hit is a step and a half short of medium. You'll need to be patient as you prepare it for smoking, and however you decide to cut the plug, you'll need to give this some dry time before lighting a match to it. Take the time, work with it, and you'll be rewarded with a mildly creamy, smooth, very deep, consistent, cool, clean flavor to the finish. It's slow burning, requires several relights, and there will be a little moisture at the bottom of the bowl. Won't bite or get harsh, but has a rough edge here and there. Has a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste. The room note is a slot stronger. Not quite an all day smoke. Three and a half stars.
Update 8-5-2022. The blend has been changed. It’s a little more floral, sour, a tad spicier, rougher, less sweet, and the toppings are a shade less obvious. The citrus is much more prominent than the dark fruit. It has a light acidity which wasn’t present in the earlier productions. These variations indicate that the dark red Virginias were mostly or completely replaced by bright Virginias though the plug looks very close to what it was before. The strength, nic-hit and taste levels have not changed. All of the other previous aspects remain the same. Three stars.
Update 8-5-2022. The blend has been changed. It’s a little more floral, sour, a tad spicier, rougher, less sweet, and the toppings are a shade less obvious. The citrus is much more prominent than the dark fruit. It has a light acidity which wasn’t present in the earlier productions. These variations indicate that the dark red Virginias were mostly or completely replaced by bright Virginias though the plug looks very close to what it was before. The strength, nic-hit and taste levels have not changed. All of the other previous aspects remain the same. Three stars.
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