Tobacco Pipes says it goes on sale tomorrow.
The musty, mildly sweet Cyprian Latakia provides a wealth of earth, wood, smoke, herbal, vegetation, leather, floralness, and spice. It is the lead component by a small margin. The dark fired Kentucky offers plenty of earth, wood, smoke, floralness, spice, herbs, vegetation, some sour sharpness, peat, vinegary barbecue, and moderate nuttiness in a close, full support role. The Katerini Orientals produce an abundance of earth, wood, herbs, floralness, vegetation, stewed creamy sweet and sour, tart and tangy citrus, spice, some smoke, mild darker fruit and incense as a competitive secondary supporter. A step behind that is the stoved hot pressed Rustica, whose aspects are plenty of earth, wood, sugar, vegetation, herbs, bread, stewed tart and tangy citrus, some peat, spice, mild smoky barbecue, sour bitterness, light cigar, tea, and leather. A mix of Virginias generates a little tart, tangy citrus, vegetative grass, spice, sugar, floralness, bitterly sour, acidic lemon, light tangy dark fruit, earth and wood in the background. The taste is almost full. The strength and nic-hit are a step behind that mark. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. It does sport a few light rough edges. The easily broken apart crumble cake slices are mildly moist, and don’t require much dry time. As always, I did not dry it for my review. Well balanced, zesty, savory and deeply rich with nuanced complexity, it burns cool, clean, and slow with a mostly consistent sweet and sour, spicy, floral, herbal, barbecue, mildly nutty, campfire, lightly bitter flavor that extends to the long lasting after taste. The room note is pungent. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires some relights. Not an all day smoke. I recommend a small to medium bowl at most for this blend. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.
The musty, mildly sweet Cyprian Latakia provides a wealth of earth, wood, smoke, herbal, vegetation, leather, floralness, and spice. It is the lead component by a small margin. The dark fired Kentucky offers plenty of earth, wood, smoke, floralness, spice, herbs, vegetation, some sour sharpness, peat, vinegary barbecue, and moderate nuttiness in a close, full support role. The Katerini Orientals produce an abundance of earth, wood, herbs, floralness, vegetation, stewed creamy sweet and sour, tart and tangy citrus, spice, some smoke, mild darker fruit and incense as a competitive secondary supporter. A step behind that is the stoved hot pressed Rustica, whose aspects are plenty of earth, wood, sugar, vegetation, herbs, bread, stewed tart and tangy citrus, some peat, spice, mild smoky barbecue, sour bitterness, light cigar, tea, and leather. A mix of Virginias generates a little tart, tangy citrus, vegetative grass, spice, sugar, floralness, bitterly sour, acidic lemon, light tangy dark fruit, earth and wood in the background. The taste is almost full. The strength and nic-hit are a step behind that mark. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. It does sport a few light rough edges. The easily broken apart crumble cake slices are mildly moist, and don’t require much dry time. As always, I did not dry it for my review. Well balanced, zesty, savory and deeply rich with nuanced complexity, it burns cool, clean, and slow with a mostly consistent sweet and sour, spicy, floral, herbal, barbecue, mildly nutty, campfire, lightly bitter flavor that extends to the long lasting after taste. The room note is pungent. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires some relights. Not an all day smoke. I recommend a small to medium bowl at most for this blend. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2024.