When I met Russ Ouelette this past Friday (8/17/12) with Rick (rickpal14), we were given the opportunity to try Russ' latest creation.
Fusilier's Ration is (as Russ describes) an Oriental-forward Latakia blend in crumble-cake form. It has some Virginias and some Burley in it to help round out the flavor profile.
The sample I got was fresh from the "Tobacco Lab" (my term, not theirs) at Habana Premium in Albany, NY. It was a moist, oily stick of pressed tobaccos which had a smokey, slightly-earthy "tin" note. It made Rick's fingers almost black when he rubbed his cake out. I opted for a kinda gravity-fed approach, which yielded some interesting flavors; slightly-salty,nut-like flavor with a hint of Virginia sweetness. This packing method IS NOT the best. Granted, it was a new blend, like hours old new, but I think this might work better lightly rubbed out. We'll have to see. It smoked smooth, with the Latakia in the background during the smoke with the Orientals in the forefront the entire time. It also had a slight fragrant note which was fleeting. Not a in-your-face floral note like in some Lakeland blends, just a wisp of it here and there.
Would I recommend this blend? Wholeheartedly, yes! It's got a lot going on, and it hit all my favorite flavor profiles that I've been into lately.
Russ said that it'll be "released" when he gets back to work within the next few weeks, so keep you eyes peeled. Let the questions commence!
-Jason
Fusilier's Ration is (as Russ describes) an Oriental-forward Latakia blend in crumble-cake form. It has some Virginias and some Burley in it to help round out the flavor profile.
The sample I got was fresh from the "Tobacco Lab" (my term, not theirs) at Habana Premium in Albany, NY. It was a moist, oily stick of pressed tobaccos which had a smokey, slightly-earthy "tin" note. It made Rick's fingers almost black when he rubbed his cake out. I opted for a kinda gravity-fed approach, which yielded some interesting flavors; slightly-salty,nut-like flavor with a hint of Virginia sweetness. This packing method IS NOT the best. Granted, it was a new blend, like hours old new, but I think this might work better lightly rubbed out. We'll have to see. It smoked smooth, with the Latakia in the background during the smoke with the Orientals in the forefront the entire time. It also had a slight fragrant note which was fleeting. Not a in-your-face floral note like in some Lakeland blends, just a wisp of it here and there.
Would I recommend this blend? Wholeheartedly, yes! It's got a lot going on, and it hit all my favorite flavor profiles that I've been into lately.
Russ said that it'll be "released" when he gets back to work within the next few weeks, so keep you eyes peeled. Let the questions commence!
-Jason