Can't tell you as i haven't gotten to that one yet...it's on the list though...
Ken Byron Blends
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I think it is topped with something. He doesn’t say anything about that but the bag note sure smells like there is something else in there. Same with River of Deceit honestly. I’m no pro, but I’ve never smelled an un-topped vaper that smelled that sweet in the bag.
Yeah, it's a good specimen for the definition of " topping."
Maybe we can arrange a trade! A few bowls for a few bowls?
I have VEO as just haven't tried it yet but if you want to try some pork chops and apple sauce send me your address and I will send you some.
Haven’t smoked it yet. The bag note was enough to detect a topping of somekind. That or some legendary leaf that smells like sweet sugary tobacco I’ve never smelled before, haha. PG taste would seem unlikely though, If there is a topping its pretty light and this is certainly no goop.
Yeah not sure. I haven’t tried it. I thought maybe it was just one component that had it.
FWIW it smells really good! Haha. Hoping to smoke some this week. With the wife back my ability to try new blends quickly has greatly diminished. ?
Haha it’s not about that, its about my health, and of course the “third hand smoke” the baby gets.......our baby is new, she is still in over-mommy mode haha.
Teach the baby to smoke cigs. Then say you have to teach the baby to smoke a pipe to get off the cigs? Profit?
Good plan. Although I would prefer to retain my ballsac. Or at least be able to keep putting them to use.
Almost picked up some Jupiter Slices a while back but have still yet to try anything from this blender.
The Sakura sounds excellent and it's always good to see these smaller tobacco shops/blenders getting some attention. Some of the names are cool as well. Am curious to hear more opinions.
The Sakura sounds excellent and it's always good to see these smaller tobacco shops/blenders getting some attention. Some of the names are cool as well. Am curious to hear more opinions.
Had some VEO today and it's definitely not as sweet and the pork chops and apple sauce.
It is a very good smoke and will need to pick up some more for cellaring.
Live Wire, I'd bet, is based on Three Sails, a super fine shag of gold colored Virginias. Jim Inks said in his review of Three Sails that it is a relabel of Three Castles, which was my absolute favorite RYO when I used to do cigarettes. I only smoked Three Castles in a pipe once because it bit harder than anything else I have ever smoked. Live Wire does not bite, at least it doesn't bite when taken slow or perhaps at a regular pace (YMMV). The topping is either very light or neutral, so much so that I may not have known it was topped but for the marketing blurb. The blurb says citrus and rosewater, but what I smelled was apple slices. I dried the tobacco for about 20 mins and then packed it tight. The blend did not taste like an aromatic. Or rather, the aromatics did not manifest themselves overtly, but seem only to augment the body and mouth feel of the smoke. It seems heavier than the Three Castles of my memories. It is also delicious and substantial, for a Virginia. I'd say this is brilliant, like Director's Cut is brilliant. It is more than, and completely different, than the sum of its parts. If Ken keeps making this, I will keep buying it, and I hope he keeps making it.
Pork Chops & Apple sauce. I've had one bowl (and still working on it) and can only say it reminds me of an old codger blend, both in smoke and room note. It is most definitely an aromatic, but like which one, I don't know. Tin note does bring to mind apple sauce and something else. Smoke has a strong maple (I think it's maple) component in taste and smell. I've had estate pipes that smelled exactly like it. There's nothing subtle about it. It's not my cup of tea; Otherwise, I'd be hunting and smoking that old codger blend. But it's someone's cup of tea and I think that someone will be pleased, very pleased. Oh, I think it bites a little, but your tolerance may vary.
Mountains of Madness and King's Ransom: there a degree of sameness in latakia blends that to me are occasionally punctuated by something different, like a Nightcap, which has that house Dunhill taste or Margate, which has a je nais se quoi quality to it. Otherwise, it's a question of how much latakia is in it. MOM, I think has more than KR, but not by much, I don't think. MOM is super refined and complex to my tastes. It's top-shelf stuff and I put it on close par to Margate, my fave heavy lat mix.
Byronic Slices: OK, I bought this because reviews indicated that this was the second coming of McClelland (name your favorite McC Virginia). Unfortunately, this is the most bland and boring thing I've burnt in a pipe. I need to give it another go, and another, and another, etc. to give it a chance, but it goes to show not so much its intrinsic qualities and Ken's skills, but how different my palate is from those folks who have loaded up on lbs of this. I'll try drying it more, but m'eh.
Pork Chops & Apple sauce. I've had one bowl (and still working on it) and can only say it reminds me of an old codger blend, both in smoke and room note. It is most definitely an aromatic, but like which one, I don't know. Tin note does bring to mind apple sauce and something else. Smoke has a strong maple (I think it's maple) component in taste and smell. I've had estate pipes that smelled exactly like it. There's nothing subtle about it. It's not my cup of tea; Otherwise, I'd be hunting and smoking that old codger blend. But it's someone's cup of tea and I think that someone will be pleased, very pleased. Oh, I think it bites a little, but your tolerance may vary.
Mountains of Madness and King's Ransom: there a degree of sameness in latakia blends that to me are occasionally punctuated by something different, like a Nightcap, which has that house Dunhill taste or Margate, which has a je nais se quoi quality to it. Otherwise, it's a question of how much latakia is in it. MOM, I think has more than KR, but not by much, I don't think. MOM is super refined and complex to my tastes. It's top-shelf stuff and I put it on close par to Margate, my fave heavy lat mix.
Byronic Slices: OK, I bought this because reviews indicated that this was the second coming of McClelland (name your favorite McC Virginia). Unfortunately, this is the most bland and boring thing I've burnt in a pipe. I need to give it another go, and another, and another, etc. to give it a chance, but it goes to show not so much its intrinsic qualities and Ken's skills, but how different my palate is from those folks who have loaded up on lbs of this. I'll try drying it more, but m'eh.
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My first smoke of byronic was a little disappointing as well, and as you say, I think more drying time is in order.
Dang I haven’t tried that one yet I may have to get into the jar.
YMMV. Subtlety eludes me. I need stuff that hits me in the face. ???
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