Ernie's going to release this blend January 20th.
The very floral, fragrant, zesty Macedonian Prilep provides a lot of earth, wood, herbs, vegetation, tingly spices, mild sweetness, a fair amount of dry sourness, and light “unflavored soda” note, bitterness and smoke as the lead component. The “house tempered” incense-like Cyprian Latakia offers smoke, wood, earth, leather, a fair amount of floralness and spice, along with mild musty sweetness as a strong supporting player. The aspects of the Simply Red Virginia are a lot of fermented, tangy ripe dark fruit, earth, wood, some semi-tart citrus, mild grassiness, light sugar and stewed fruit, and a tinge of floral along with small spice, bread and acidic sour vinegar notes. The sugary stewed dark fruit of the stoved Virginia is its most noticeable characteristic as the earth, wood, and slight spice intertwine with the similar properties of the other varietals. The overall Virginia sweetness places these tobaccos in the third position with the stoved being slightly more perceptible. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium mark. The taste level is in the center of medium to full. Won’t bite or get harsh, but it does sport a few rough edges. Well balanced and nuanced, it burns cool and clean at a moderate rate with a mostly consistent, potently sweet and sour, savory, floral, spicy, fragrant, smoky campfire rich flavor that extends to the pleasantly lasting after taste. The room note is a tad stronger. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke. Four stars out of four.
The very floral, fragrant, zesty Macedonian Prilep provides a lot of earth, wood, herbs, vegetation, tingly spices, mild sweetness, a fair amount of dry sourness, and light “unflavored soda” note, bitterness and smoke as the lead component. The “house tempered” incense-like Cyprian Latakia offers smoke, wood, earth, leather, a fair amount of floralness and spice, along with mild musty sweetness as a strong supporting player. The aspects of the Simply Red Virginia are a lot of fermented, tangy ripe dark fruit, earth, wood, some semi-tart citrus, mild grassiness, light sugar and stewed fruit, and a tinge of floral along with small spice, bread and acidic sour vinegar notes. The sugary stewed dark fruit of the stoved Virginia is its most noticeable characteristic as the earth, wood, and slight spice intertwine with the similar properties of the other varietals. The overall Virginia sweetness places these tobaccos in the third position with the stoved being slightly more perceptible. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium mark. The taste level is in the center of medium to full. Won’t bite or get harsh, but it does sport a few rough edges. Well balanced and nuanced, it burns cool and clean at a moderate rate with a mostly consistent, potently sweet and sour, savory, floral, spicy, fragrant, smoky campfire rich flavor that extends to the pleasantly lasting after taste. The room note is a tad stronger. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke. Four stars out of four.