Ken Byron Blends

[hoosierpipeguy]

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.

Byronic Slices should have been named Moronic Slices for whomever compared it to McClelland. No comparison whatsoever inn my book. Very, very mediocre. Lots of goop on it, very hard to smoke.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

Byronic Slices should have been named Moronic Slices for whomever compared it to McClelland. No comparison whatsoever inn my book. Very, very mediocre. Lots of goop on it, very hard to smoke.

I caught that on the tobacco review site. Was the goop actually ketchup?

 

[BROBS]

Byronic Slices should have been named Moronic Slices for whomever compared it to McClelland. No comparison whatsoever inn my book. Very, very mediocre. Lots of goop on it, very hard to smoke.

I believe KB himself made the comparison.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I caught that on the tobacco review site. Was the goop actually ketchup?

I don't think so but whatever it was want good.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I believe KB himself made the comparison.

I guess then he is moronic. Or too bias to be objective.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

I don't think so but whatever it was want good.

Maybe he will release a blend called Goop to address his haters although he likely would get sued by Gwyneth Paltrow.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Maybe he will release a blend called Goop to address his haters although he likely would get sued by Gwyneth Paltrow.

I'm by no means a hater. I really like his Jupiter Slices. I applaud anyone who is creative and creates a product people enjoy. I'm looking forward to trying his VaOr blends when he releases some again.

 

[BROBS]

If someone doesn’t enjoy a blend they just don’t enjoy a blend! I like most his stuff but have tried a few figuratively stated “stinkers”.

 

[mingc]

I guess then he is moronic. Or too bias to be objective.

It wasn't just Ken's marketing hype, which one expects to be non-objective. Neutral customer reviews mentioned and compared it to McC as well.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

I'm by no means a hater. I really like his Jupiter Slices. I applaud anyone who is creative and creates a product people enjoy. I'm looking forward to trying his VaOr blends when he releases some again.

Yes well it’s good for people to be critical of products they find issue with especially if they like other things a company produces. We live in a time when people often refer to someone as a hater for not blindly praising things.

 

[skydog]

Byronic Slices had more flavor and didn't bite me as badly when I dried it more than I usually dry my tobacco. No comparison to any McClelland I've ever had though. And I can't remember the last time I got tongue burn so badly, and the majority of what I smoke is straight Red VA.

I have found that other than Jupiter Slices, most of the blends I've tried from KBV have been let downs. That said, I fully support him trying new things, especially getting into Virginia blends since he seemed so focused on lightly aromatic or latakia based blends for so long.

I'm glad to see other people have had the same reaction to Byronic Slices, I had honestly held my tongue when I first tried Byronic Slices, and not just because it was burnt to smithereens! I try not to be negative but I was pretty let down after all the hype.

From my perspective it seems a little like karma. he is quick to rag on C&D for their mold issues and their marketing. But the "McClelland-esque" Byronic Slices doesn't come near as close to McClelland tasting as C&D Carolina Red Flake in my opinion.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

It wasn't just Ken's marketing hype, which one expects to be non-objective. Neutral customer reviews mentioned and compared it to McC as well.

I have smoked dozens of pounds of McClelland Va's and I found absolutely nothing that reminded me of McClelland other than the flake was thick and very moist. KVB obviously has a following and a number of sycophants that would say the his blend was great if he ground up dog turds and flavored them with rose water. And I have no problem with that, it's all part of the fun. But to be fair to members who may read this thread, I provided my take on the blend. It's all based upon subjective opinion.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Don’t understand the McC comparisons either, other than it being dark and damp. Its not a horrible blend, I’ll smoke it for sure, but it was not like McC VAs at all to me.

 

[mingc]

Different strokes for different folks. People do have very different palates. I mean there are people who can't abide latakia. Or perique. I struggle to find taste in VaPers. And the smell of Kentucky, which I associate with Drum RYO frm the 80s, makes me a little ill.

 

[BROBS]

I just rubbed some Byronic out an hour ago to dry overnight on a tray. Smells a lot like McClelland with all the acetic acid and it being a thick chunk. Pretty damn wet though.
We’ll get to the bottom of this. You know I’ll lay it all out if it sucks.

I thought C&D Carolina Red was like smoking flavorless Novocain.

and @mingc you’re totally right. I hate Latakia, and love Dark Fired VaPers.

 

[gamzultovah]

I smoked my first bowl of KBV VEO last night and found it to be very tasty, although I didn’t care much for the lingering aftertaste. The nic hit came earlier than most VaPers and it made me drift away for good portion of the experience. It never got harsh or unruly and required very few relights. I’m loading another bowl this morning to see what else I can find, but as of right now, it’s definitely in my wheelhouse.

 

[craig61a]

Good plan. Although I would prefer to retain my ballsac. Or at least be able to keep putting them to use.

 

[gamzultovah]

Different strokes for different folks. People do have very different palates. I mean there are people who can't abide latakia. Or perique. I struggle to find taste in VaPers. And the smell of Kentucky, which I associate with Drum RYO frm the 80s, makes me a little ill.

You are correct. I really wanted to enjoy Burley because it looks, smells and tastes so chocolatey, but my palate could not handle the high alkalinity, no matter the cadence. And while I do like Latakia, I only crave it in the wintertime. Right now, Va, VaPer & VaOr are my TAD of choice.

 

[gamzultovah]

View attachment 30420

That...Is...SAVAGE!!! ???

 

[craig61a]

I don’t know anything about KBV, other than what I’ve read here. I do recall a few months ago they were selling stove SG FVF Or some such.

I’ve looked at the site, and there’s not much that appeals to me. There’s a lot of hype on the board and cult like followers... I don’t know if they’re a sponsor.

I think the board used to be a little more objective in reviewing products. Now it seems to lean slightly more towards a platform for hyping the “Freak of the Week”.

Just my opinion...